Obama on Pot

[Britethorn]

Run time: 01:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjber9fvOF0   Posted on YouTube: March 27, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: March 27, 2009 By DU Member: Britethorn Views on DU: 941

 
There was almost something pathetic about the Legalization question which President Obama answered at his Online Town Hall Meeting today. I know that there are a LOT of people out there in cyberspace who were praying that the time might finally have come to take the first tentative step onto the road to legalization, but today wasn't destined to be that day. Obama has way too much on his plate that he needs to get done to risk jeopardizing it all for the right to possess weed.

http://www.britethorn.com

[babylonsister]

1. Go away. nt

[Name removed]

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[AtheistCrusader]

2. Speaking of pathetic

That's some interesting animation there.

[Name removed]

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[Oldenuff]

5. Gee thanks Mr President

for asking what we think,and then short-shrifting us.So much for the "I will open the doors of Government and ask you to be involved in your own Democracy again"- President-Elect Barack Obama

So,what change do you hope for today?..Good luck with that.

[Wizard777]

6. I would rather be grateful for what he has given us in this area. Than angry over what he hasn't.

Obama has already done more for marijuana rights than any other President. So I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. There is always his second term. That's one of the wonderful things about being a lame duck. You can do bold and daring things you wouldn't even consider while seeking reelection. So there is plenty of room for us to continue to hope for more positive change.

[wysimdnwyg]

7. Meanwhile, back in the real world...

I am a firm advocate of legalization of marijuana. I believe all of the arguments against this are fallacious or outright absurd. But for any of you who believe that President Obama coming out in favor of legalization is either productive right now or likely to make a difference right now, I have to let you know you are living in a dream world.

First, this is not the time. California is finally getting back on track with legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes (thanks to Obama's decision to stop pushing federal law over state law for this). The next step will be for other states to follow California's lead and legalize it for medicinal use. After several states have done this - and only then - the FDA will be more amenable to reexamination and possibly begin to advocate for medicinal use. THEN it becomes prudent for Obama to come out in favor.

Second, with everything else on his plate, how high up the list could legalization possibly be? And what difference could his advocacy make right now? Well, it's justifiably low, and the only impact would probably be to lower his approval ratings. And it would certainly give the GOP some ammunition in their desperate attempts to paint Obama as a hard-core lefty. (Yes, I understand it would be antithetical to their "liberal socialist" claims, but try telling them that.)

Would I like to see Obama tell the world that marijuana is no more harmful than cigarettes and alcohol and it should be legalized? Of course I would. But that doesn't make it the best course of action - either for Obama or for the goal of legalization. We can't expect to go from demonization under Bush to legal and available in convenience stores in a few months. And besides, does anyone think legalization would even make it out of a congressional committee?

[Enrique]

8. lol at Supernintendo Chalmers

I guess that's supposed to be Limbaugh. :shrug:

[Dogmudgeon]

9. You want pot to be legal?

It's going to take a lot of work -- something other than blaming Obama. But that seems to be 100% of the recent action.

A few kicks in the shin for Mr. O. should do fine. After that, it will be important to keep the issue AWAY from him. There is no way he can appear even a little "soft on drugs". And the GOP will try to hang it around his neck.

And it would be good if the pro-legalization people stopped thinking that Obama could stop all the federal busts simply by waving his hands and issuing a few orders. It doesn't work that way. A couple of Republicans could file suit with the Supreme Court to enforce enforcement (!) and throw everything into the fire. Who would dare oppose it? Better that it be a pro-active legislative move. That would be extremely difficult to demonize or overturn.

Sadly, most pro-legalization people are satisfied to complain and gripe -- and then shut up. Remember Belushi's rant on SNL in 1977?

This could be an excellent time to push for legalization, but it's going to take some political "pushing". The brushfire drug cartel civil war in Mexico might just be the opening that's needed.

--d!