So those expecting this Pres to do a magic trick and change everything, need to pick up a dictionary and get in touch with reality.
I beleive Pot should be legalized without restricitons- but I am not so deluded to think it will happen in 67 days- or 4 or 8 yrs. Said but true- there is 30 yrs of 'War on Drugs' psychology which must be combatted. Only thing th eWar on Drugs did was ignite the War of Gangs. If the shit wasn't illegal, they wouldn't have a business to fight over (or turf)- Hell they might have to get real jobs and possilbly live to old age.The War on Drugs was more likely an attempt to proliferate self inflicted genocide on Urban dwellers. Make the Drugs profittable, and psychotic/neurotic inducing (Crack, PCP) and let them eliminate themsleves. Proof of Reagans hatred of miniorities is in th efact he allowed GRID to mushroom into an HIV/AIDS Epidemic. He didn't do a thing until a Alan White (appropo) and Paul Michael Glassers Wife contracted it from the Blood supply. Who couldn't see that happening? Reagan committed a crime against humanity by refusing to address this highly contagious disease. Ronald Reagans legacy is stained with the blood of Millions- From Gang warfare to AIDS.Ronny's handlers should have just called it War on Humanity- it would have aptly encompassed both atrocities.
Will Obama come around later- after the economy is stableized, the Two illgal wars have ended - who knows, but we are working our Way forward. A few more states have passed Medical marijuana legislation, so we are making Progress.

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

I am dumbfounded by the Presidents' response to this question of legalizing and taxing marijuana.He admits to smoking weed and he did inhale,as opposed to Clinton who didn't.

Does the President therefore support the criminalization of weed and the continuing arrest of over 800,000 otherwise innocent people a year? People who smoke the occasional joint are no different than anybody else.President Obama chooses to have a drink with friends and colleagues.Why can't others choose to smoke a joint without instantly become a criminal?

I find the whole idea ridiculous.I believe Obama fears the right-wing smear machine and that is the major reason for the Presidents' reluctance to do what is right and humane and just.Hell,even Obamas' half-brother smokes it.

From CNN:Jan.31,2009 NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) -- George Obama, the half-brother of U.S. President Barack Obama, has been arrested by Kenyan police on a charge of possession of marijuana, police said Saturday.
Marijuana has been used for many centuries for medicine and purely to 'get high'.
Get over it already.Also,where can I get some of the shamans seeds?
Look it over for yourself if you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.ctv.
http://dsc.discovery.com/

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

I am for full legalization myself, but isn't the way the argument was presented here a bit contrived? While I recognize that there is some economic benefit, the answer to the question as stated (i.e. is legalization a good strategy for economic recovery) is probably "No".

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

is a second term issue.

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

The right's tendency to equate support for an issue with direct satisfaction of personal desires tells us more about them than those they criticize. Many people who don't and wouldn't smoke pot favor legalization for rational reasons, just as most heterosexuals support gay rights and most whites support civil rights for African-Americans.

I suspect that Obama's views on pot are enlightened, but he's not willing to expend his dwindling political capital on legalization while he's dealing with economic, military, environmental and foreign policy catastrophes from the Bush era.

That said, he could do one thing that would cut government spending and take a step towards legalization: pardon everyone in prison for marijuana possession.

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

...whether all of the Obama apologists here are correct (saying basically that he is merely biding his time on this issue), or if we are in fact seeing that Obama isn't different from any other of these self-serving politicians. So far, he seems to be NOT LISTENING to those of us on the left who propelled him into office in terms of: the Iraq War, the Afghan War, the War on drugs, the class WAR or any of the other WARS that those in the upper eschelons of power feel the need to pursue. If Obama, my president, continues down the path he's on with so many of the issues that are important to us on the left, he will not receive any where near the amount of support with his 2012 re-bid for POTUS.

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

While I wish Obama well and all, this is just another reason my blood boils when Obama plays kissyface with the culture conservatives and the corporate shills. Come on Barry. Stop escalating the wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East and give us a chance to grow our plant of peace. Otherwise, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and even a larger segment of America will HATE you for rubbing our wounds with salt !!

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

It was 40 years ago that Nixon’s own hand-picked Schaefer Commission recommended legalization of marijuana, to his acute embarrassment. What a bunch of stoners, man. Heh heh heh.

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

barack,,mr prez,, i cant even begin to describe how dissapointed i am in your remarks,,and your attitude
u know very well in your heart of hearts cannabis should have never been criminalized in the first place
your attitude towards those who use the net,,is wrong
they- we,,are part ,,a big lot,,a huge reason why your where you are now
this war on the gods greatest gift to humanity and the earth has got to STOP
green seed yielding herb,,gov has always called this blessed plant a WEED,,,, only because no matter what is done they cannot kill it off,,u cannot destroy what is blessed
blasphemy,,,lies,,just stop them already and free the medicine

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

Obama was not insultng anyone, the man has a sense of humor. Imagine what a smart ass answer Bush would have had for the same question? If anyone had the guts to ask. It won't be legalized across the board for a very long time. It will be OK for medicinal purposes and the authorities may choose to look the other way on minor drug related offenses. But I don't picture legalizing it any time soon. It doesn't have much to do with whether it's right or wrong. It simply opens up a major can of peas. Where, when and who can smoke pot? They would have to make thousands of rules. Would it be limited to use in private homes? I can already hear the screaming about "the children". Obama's right, it's not a good strategy. ANNA

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

Before that, I was sucking off milk chocolates and other junk food, cigarettes, alcohol, and even those general pharmaceuticals. Obama is a bigger doofus than myself for refusing to lift America out of its slum status. I may be a doofus but I'm flying outta it, hence I'm proud to call myself FLYING DOOFUS !

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

I have never smoked pot.

I have been around other people when they were smoking it... like my college roommate, for example.

I support decriminalization and legalization of hemp and marijuana. I think we should all be allowed to grow our own hemp and/or marijuana.

Hemp oil is not just good food, it's incredibly awesome food! Hemp ice cream rocks!

I have never voted Republican, and I probably never will.

I DO expect this Administration to consider legalization. I think the potential (and probable) benefits outweigh the problems like a professional sumo wrestler outweighs a female Olympic gymnast.

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

Is a complete and utter failure. Drug addicts don't belong in prison, they belong in hospitals and long term follow up care. Among other things it is a terrible waste of lives, parents lose sons and daughters, children lose parents, families are ravaged, and if a person has no health insurance there is no way to get the medical treatment necessary to overcome the addiction. I'm talking about crack cocaine, heroine, etc. I don't even know them all I'm sure but I know we are losing the war, I know that. I think pot should be legalized and taxed in some way. Put a free drug rehab clinic on every other street corner. What has been done isn't working and is inhumane.

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

This big O guy is the same crap as the last crap-- Eric Holder had just said that the feds would not be raiding and less than a week later they were at it again in San Francisco. This guy is still throwing money at the failed war on drugs that has turned Mexico into a literal war zone and he still has not done anything about that damn Patriot Act-- Change is coming alright.

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