The dismissive tone in his voice said it all.

New boss same as the old boss.

We are gonna have to approach this from a state legalization route.

One by one as states legalize marijuana it will become more and more difficult for the Federal Government to continue to keep marijuana illegal.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

It probably says what a lot of polls have said. People are sick of paying exorbitant taxes to have their friends and family locked up for victimless crimes. People are sick of our legal system bankrolling violent criminal enterprises by creating unnecessary black markets. People are sick of police forces distracted from catching real criminals so they can lock up unlucky slackers. People are sick of the hypocrisy of having the President dismiss this injustice when if he were less fortunate and caught in his "youthful indiscretions", he would have had a much different life.

Oh well, maybe next President. What a shame.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I'm sure Obama was advised to answer this for political reasons, but the reality is that his answer probably didn't earn him a single new supporter, and probably lost him more than a few.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

the minute he chose former drug czar Joe Biden for VP, it was clear that his flip-flopping to being against legalizing cannabis was clear. Cannabis is the crop that would tremendously benefit the working, lower, and middle class and revive out otherwise ailing economy and actually pave the way for a real economy rather than a fake prop. Barry's dismissive answer further infuriates me about him and his cold-hearted attitude.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

"I'm not at all convinced that this (legalization/decriminalization)is a solution to the various problems our current laws are said to be causing, that the cure won't be worse than the disease - but I intend to propose a commission to study this problem from all angles, from the enormous cost to our society involved in imprisoning so many, to the enormous profits feeding the drug war in Mexico, to the overall health implications."

"This will be a bipartisan commission composed of sober individuals willing to set aside previous beliefs, examine the evidence and make solid recommendations to me and the nation. Here and now, I will make the commitment to actually follow up on these recommendations. I don't know what the solution is myself - but there has to be a better way."

[snip - my comment now]

Yeah, I know Nixon did the blue-ribbon panel thing and completely ignored the recommendations of his one conservative-stacked panel (essentially decrim/legalization as I recall)

And I know that commissions are often used as sops to replace action - but Obama isn't Nixon and commissions can provide political cover for a politically hazardous action; can keep the issue front and center for a considerable time.

Think about it, Mr. President. We supported you. Time for you to return the favor - in the interest of justice.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Join the Green Party.

www.gp.org

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

You crawl before you walk. We need to push for Nationwide DECRIMINALIZATION. It is a much more palatable term & concept than legalization. Its more achievable, more realistic & MUCH more serious.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

that he is not serious about the economy, health care, the environment, or the difficulties on the mexican boarder...and proved he is a shill for big pharma, big agra, big finance, big insurance, big coal, and escalating the violence in mexico...the only change obama brought to washington is a semantic one...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

He's already passed a stimulus bill flawed as can be and has disappointed us with mostly lackluster appointments to his cabinet and even retaining the ones who served under Bush. Cannabis helps put a lot of calm and patience in us all plus it helps us take proper control of ourselves and can help put forth peace for one another. If Obama wants to risk losing and very badly in 2012, then his "no" vote is just the ticket.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Obama is a terrific public speaker.

Unfortunately, his policies do not answer the needs of America.

You can usually predict his position on any issue by asking the question, what solution best preserves the power of wealthy elites?

Criminalizing marijuana pleases the drug industry, because THC, which cannot be patented, is a better treatment for glaucoma and chronic pain than the patented drugs they are selling. It pleases the prison industry, now that much of it is privately contracted and just loves to see more prisoners. It pleases just about everyone among the elites who think that government must exert more control, not less, over the peasant rabble.

Truly, the best hope for decriminalization is in the states. They are hurting, financially. Hurting bad. Being able to take thousands of nonviolent offenders off of their prison rolls would do their budgets a world of good.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

There is an extraordinary number of pot-smoking Republicans out there, who conveniently accept this bit of hypocrisy in their lives (I mean, what's one more little bit when you already subscribe to so many others). This group of "moderate" (and not so) card-carrying GOP members are largely one-issue Repubs - they don't want to pay more in taxes for fear it will cut into their excessive and over-indulgent lifestyles. If this became a ballot issue, they would likely all vote "yes," but would never admit to it in public. Nonetheless, Obama knows how he would be crucified if he became a proponent of legalization. However, just as the raids on medical marijuana purveyors has been dropped to low priority by Att. Gen. Holder, I'm willing to bet that if state began passing pot legalization propositions, the Feds would take a laissez-faire approach.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The head of the organization they call Mr President. The members of the crime family are called Senators and Members of the House. They pass laws to make events like 911 legal to promote their agenda. And if any one crosses them they kill em.
They also control all the drugs and profit from them. The people in jail is the competition. Marijuana and Heroin are legal
if your in the CIA. That's why Obama sent30,000
troops to Afganistan to protect the Poppyfields
for Heroin. AL CAPONE would be proud...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The jail's bed space -for all of the lame shucks maladministration- must come from somewhere. Their recalcitrance is hardly isolated.

They put the citizenry in the cross-hairs of blow-back from The cheneydick's War BY Terror marketed as War "on" Terror. So the differently pigmented administration can safely subject us to the return of these herb offenders to the american society, if that is what it takes.

We are hoping that sooner or later Mr Holder will realize he is getting a paycheck to defend and uphold the CONSTITUTION - not the liquor industry.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I hope he runs again next term, I've been waiting to see how he backs us up, well now we know and he will NOT get my vote again no matter who he runs against.I'm so mad I will help whoever runs against him and I hate republicans but I hate people that have a forked toung worse!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I'm really wondering how much longer the Obamatons will continue to defend their man. The vast majority of his decisions are blatant attempts to defend the status quo. The gigantic ripoff Geithner is now proposing where the rich sweep in to grab up the booty left by the bankrupt middle class is breathtaking in its audacity, but few are raising that point. Obama's escalation in Afghanistan, his uninspired cabinet picks, his backtracking on don't ask don't tell, his delay in closing Guantanamo, his support of FISA ... the list of his treacheries is becoming endless.

I didn't vote for this clown because I wanted a true progressive, not an obvious corporate shill. He never fooled me because after 65 years of life, I'm a total cynic when it comes to the American political machine.

Fortunately, the entire house of cards is going to come crashing down over the next couple years despite all Obamaco's efforts to prop up the corpse of unbridled capitalism. There's no point bemoaning Obama's failure or the fact he turned out to be such a weasel. Rather, let's start thinking about the potential Phoenix that can arise from the ashes of our folly. Economic and social chaos is coming and progressives had better be ready to fight with the same intensity and unscrupulousness as the Far Right if we wish to prevail. If any trace of the malignant status quo is allowed to continue into the new nation that emerges, we'll be doomed to repeat the same cycles of corruption and violence that mark the present system.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I am reposting this comment by Quasar (made on Pot Saved My Life, Mr. President) here because I think so highly of it:

Toke on this
Posted by: Quasar on Mar 27, 2009 8:13 AM
Current rating: 5
Your rating: 5

For all the good agruments for legalization, we should take heed of a few things as we proceed:

1) So long as pot is the drug of Cheech and Chong and The Pineapple Express, puttting its legalization forward as a strategy for "economic stimulus" is probelmatic.

- Therefore, now is not the time (economic reform) nor is this the context (Town hall meeting at WH) to make that particular argument.

2) Pot is not the only illegal drug. We need to broaden the argument to include ALL drugs. If we can't make that argument, we will continue to be seen as simply wanting its legalization because we like to smoke it, but not for any other more sober reason.

- For example, the best way to fight the war on drugs is to win the war on addiction. The new "parity" law is a good place to start. Addiction is now seen as chronic disease and leads to all kinds of negative things left untreated.

3) Don't go into a battle that you can't win. Or, as lawyers say: don't ask the question if you don't now the answer.

- Decriminalization (of all drugs - for users), Hemp, and medical marijuana are all battles that we can win and are winning.

On last thing: the fact that Obama even mentioned it should be seen as a good sign. He brought it up himself and easily could have ingnored it altogether.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

will legalizing marijauna stimulate the economy and create jobs. He said he didn't think it was a good way to do that. And he's right. Someone needs to ask a different better question. For example: "Is spending 40 Billion a year on the War On Drugs and incarcerating about half a million citizens for simple possession of marijauna a good way to stimulate the economy and create jobs?"

Legalization of industrial hemp could make a valuable contribution to the overall stimulus strategy, create green jobs and offer ecological benefits. Decriminalization of smokable cannabis is the right thing to do because the war on drugs (as it pertains to pot) is a waste of money, a burden on the law enforcement and jusicial systems and damaging to the lives of millions of Americans. There is no upside to criminalization of cannabis other than for competing products that would lose market share if it were legal. Politicians who pretend otherwise are simply fearful of losing votes from the still substantial conservative minority, who base their lives and votes on fear.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Democrats and Republicans DO NOT respect or represent the social justice values of the drug policy reform community. You should not allow them to misrepresent your vote.

You can download voter registration forms and change your registration from Democrat or Republican, (the two dominance parties), to Independent, Green or Libertarian. The three groups that respect and reflect the social justice values of drug policy reform. The Democrats and Republicans do not reflect or represent your drug reform values so don't allow them to represent your vote.

NO MORE DRUG WAR!

NO MORE DRUG WAR!

NO MORE DRUG WAR!

NO MORE DRUG WAR!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

for Byrne Grants to police drug task forces will stimulate more arrests. More drug courts. More coerced rehab. More prisons.

The only thing that will change the minds of the Democrat and Republican drug warriors in congress and the state legislatures is masses of Americans in the streets screaming at them:

NO MORE DRUG WAR!

NO MORE DRUG WAR!

NO MORE DRUG WAR!

NO MORE DRUG WAR!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

... a smart political, but a real dumb political response.

Are all the politicals that far out of touch with voters...
and Law!
and Religion!
and Faith, Hope & Grace?
and finally, out of touch with reality!

its a plant for christs sake... a plant! and its the driving force to a rather large un-reported stream of cash to the underground economy which needs our full unfettered attention to detail!

It's the same old tired Washington 2 step we've all been witnessing since Nixon's creation of his best political boondoggle ever with the creation of the DEA and the ATF!

I'm already disappointed with the multiple decisions maintaining the status quo...
change indeed... where?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]