Ed Show w/ Cenk: Should We Legalize Marijuana?

[ihavenobias]

Run time: 05:18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skDCRqMaAcY   Posted on YouTube: August 19, 2010 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 307   Posted on DU: August 19, 2010 By DU Member: ihavenobias Views on DU: 1277

 
Summary: Cenk Uygur (host of The Young Turks) talks to former NM governor Gary Johnson of Our America Initiative about Rand Paul's comments regarding the failed war on drugs and the possibility of legalizing marijuana.

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[abq e streeter]

1. For those who don't know him--Gary Johnson is a rather right wing libertarian

not a Rand Paul type lunatic by any means, but a libertarian republican nonetheless. To my mind, he was quite anti-labor and to a lesser degree anti-education (although I know fellow progressives who disagree with me on the latter; but he was pretty openly anti-labor from that libertarian bent). When he proposed and advocated legalization,much of the state's Democratic establishment, including our current candidate for governor, Diane Denish , fell all over themselves to denounce him and ridicule the very idea. So he's right about this being bipartisan gutlessness. A disclaimer: I know Gary; only slightly, but I do know him. Mainly through a mutual friend who died young from cancer in the 90's...Anyway, he appointed a good friend of mine, a very liberal Democrat, to be head of his drug policy commission that ultimately recommended legalization. Both he and another friend who is now on the state supreme Court (appointed by Bill Richardson) both have good things to say about Johnson in that even though they disagreed with him on most issues, they found he was a refreshingly straight shooter for a politician and that he generally meant what he said, and would not try to bullshit people. He's also an impressive guy in that he ,believe it or not, climbed Mount Everest at 50 years old. But for all the people who because of this one issue, would like to see him run for higher office, (and I've seen people who support him doing that, just for this) , a reminder that while being a nice guy and on the right side of this issue, he IS a right wing/libertarian republican.

[oldhippydude]

4. yep..

nevertheless.. I'm glad we have a democratic governor, and now the whole congressional delegation..im rather disappointed in Bill however, we knew going into it that cronyism would be involved in the appointments.. but there were a hell of a lot more competent Dem's around than Bill appointed..

[aquart]

2. Yes, we should legalize marijuana. Next question.

[20score]

3. A huge K&R!

[abq e streeter]

5. Bill Hicks on the "war on drugs"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy-y-uamSiE&feature=related

[theaocp]

6. Until anyone who is against regulated cannabis

comes out in favor of making alcohol and tobacco Schedule I substances, they can STFU. End of discussion. I have no interest in drug war hyperbole and willful hypocrisy.

[Capitalocracy]

7. Hear f*ing hear.

And K&R for the OP. Awesome to see this issue getting some mainstream coverage. And it's cool that it's on the ballot in Cali, although honestly, I think marijuana use is protected under the right to privacy (which the Supreme Court in Argentina recently upheld, not that that means anything in the U.S.)

[ElectricLightDem]

8. This shouldn't even be an issue anymore.

This is somehow, miraculously, still an issue with a large segment of the population. I was passing a petition to put the issue of legalization on the ballot in Nevada just a few months ago. It amazes me at the level of ignorance regarding this substance that still exists. It is also amazing how people, once their minds are made up on something, are so closed to anything that might challenge that mindset. I'd say this is an American phenomona, but I realize that's just frustration 'talking.'

[AlbertCat]

11. This shouldn't even be an issue anymore.

Except that it's a great "scare the ignorant!" issue... and it makes lots of money for the private prison system.

But 3 hundred and something for an oz.????? down to $38???? I have a friend who gets it for $120....so he says :hide: and when I was in high school it was $15 for a "lid" (4 fingers high in a baggie)!

What the hell are people buying these days?

[ElectricLightDem]

12. They're buying some really good shit.

That's what they're buying! I don't know the statistics, but the THC content now goes as high as 13-14% on some strains. Something like that. Don't take my word for it. I'm sure there is somebody out there who actually knows what they're talking about and will say I'm talking out my ass. Which I probably am. :P

[jimlup]

9. "The public is ahead of the politicians on this one..."

Duh!

[Shining Jack]

10. I second that Duh!

:)