Obama laughs at the marijuana legalization question after admitting using it multiple times.

[GarbagemanLB]

It's not like the war on drugs has destroyed tens of thousands of lives and is currently the cause of thousands of deaths in Mexico right now. It's not like it wastes billions of taxpayer dollars in a pointless and endless war. Let's just laugh off the question and not even take it seriously.

Legalization of weed obviously wouldn't end the cartels and drug trade, but it would take out a major leg.

Some may say he has other priorities right now, but I say that at a time when states are desperate for funds and a war is ravaging our southern neighbor, talk of legalization and regulation/taxation is EXACTLY the thing we should be talking about at this point in time.

[ellacott]

1. Your title is funny

Yes he admitted to using it and says that it was a mistake.

[GarbagemanLB]

2. Does he believe he should have gone to jail for it?

[ellacott]

10. If caught I'm sure he would have taken responsibility for what he did

Most people who smoked weed understood that there was a chance they would be arrested if caught.

[Romulox]

12. Er, he has been "caught". So when can we expect the responsibility part? nt

[ellacott]

18. He wasn't caught by the police

Are you saying because he admitted it means that he was caught?

[Romulox]

22. Right. He admitted it, and says people should be jailed for doing it. Time to report to jail! nt

[ellacott]

26. You can always make a citizen's arrest

[Romulox]

11. Shouldn't he report to jail then? nt

[ellacott]

19. Nope

That logic is funny too.

[polmaven]

20. Besides being a ridiculous statement...

there is a little something called "statute of limitations".

[Romulox]

23. What's the statute of limitations on hypocrisy, just out of curiosity? nt

[polmaven]

25. Depends...

Is misdemeanor or felony hypocrisy?

[BeyondGeography]

3. Try to think it through

If he said he was in favor of decriminalizing weed, his whole presidency would immediately become a cartoon, and all of the things that matter so much more would be put on hold for the next Republican president to ignore starting in 2012.

[Uzybone]

5. Some folks don't think

they just say what sounds good and put no thought into what the outcome would be. Decriminalization needs to come from the grassroots and the states.

The 1st black president coming out in favor of marijuana would be too good to be true for the GOP.

[GarbagemanLB]

7. The point is this goes beyond simple 'stoners want weed legalized'. There are serious policy implica

tions that legalization could have (positive ones, at that). My problem is with the laughing it off as if it was some 'out-there' idea.

[sammythecat]

21. That was my problem with it as well n/t

[Dawgs]

9. There's a difference between saying he's in favor of it and talking about it seriously.

He joked about it like it was a stupid issue.

I don't think anyone seriously believes that he should legalize all marijuana; just look at it for what it is; a serious problem.

[sammythecat]

24. Exactly. It is indeed a serious problem

that needs to be taken seriously. I think he does, and will, take it seriously. At least I have faith he will, but I was disappointed in the dismissive nature of his response even though, technically, his answer was correct.

[monmouth]

4. I don't exactly disagree with you, but if you look at the big picture;

can you just imagine the backlash that would evolve if he were to say "yes, I'm for legalizing marijuana." My gawd, he'd immediately be called an addict, an enabler and the beat goes on. People make a big deal out of POTUS smoking a cigarette for heavens sake, imagine if he were to go for the legalization of pot. I can't imagine it.

[ejpoeta]

6. did you see the questions on the site???

there were A LOT of questions on legalizing marijuana at the top of every category.

[countingbluecars]

8. And don't you think

that conservatives and the press would have a field day with this issue right now? Now is not the time.

[ecstatic]

13. It should be decriminalized

and I think it will be before his term is complete. But the tax idea I don't really like.

[tridim]

14. I missed his answer. Did he say anything about leaving it up to the states?

What about rescheduling Cannabis because it has "medicinal value"?

[Faeya]

15. That's the problem!

He didn't say ANYTHING about it...he just LAUGHED at it, and then the rest of the audience laughed as well. I mean, totally blew it off to laugh and insult his online base: "It was popular...I don't know what it says about the online community...hahaha". It was JARRING. It was COMPLETELY different from the style of answer we're used to. Even if he is against legalization, the question deserved the same consideration and seriousness as all of the rest of the questions.

[memory]

16. NO. He just laughed.

He acknowledged that it was one of the most popular questions but then said (paraphrasing) I'm not sure what that says about the online community. He then just said no, I don't agree that this is a good thing for our country right now. The audience applauded.
That's it.

He also said he does not want to completely overhaul healthcare to single payer because it would be too hard.

I am not happy with these answers.:-(

[cbc5g]

17. His response was ignorant and insulting

I thought Obama was better than this.

[Fire1]

27. Political suicide.

[Bluenorthwest]

28. He is wrong

And a hypocrite, and rude to citizens who asked a very popular question.