Obama On Mj

[GrassMonkey]

President Obama Says Pot Is Less Dangerous Than Alcohol For The Individual Consumer

 

In an interview published Sunday by the New Yorker, President Obama said pot is no more dangerous than alcohol — and that marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington state is an “important” move towards a more just legal system.

“I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life,” Obama told reporter David Remnick. “I don’t think it is more dangerous than alcohol.” In fact, the president went on to admit pot was actually less dangerous “in terms of its impact on the individual consumer.”

Obama also dived into the vastly disproportionate effect marijuana arrests and incarcerations have on non-white Americans. “Middle-class kids don’t get locked up for smoking pot, and poor kids do,” he said. “And African-American kids and Latino kids are more likely to be poor and less likely to have the resources and the support to avoid unduly harsh penalties.”

Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union issued a report that found African Americans are four times as likely as whites to be arrested for marijuana, even though both groups use the drug at similar rates. (In Washington, D.C. specifically, African Americans are eight times more likely to be arrested.) This is not an abstraction. Under federal law and in most states, marijuana offenses go on a person’s criminal record and carry jail time. That can make it harder if not impossible to find a job or to vote and often results in the revocation of professional licenses, the loss of education, financial aid or public benefits, and can event prevent a person from adopting a child. More people are arrested for marijuana-related offenses than for violent crime, meaning police resources are sucked away from addressing the latter.

The disproportionate effect of marijuana arrests and prosecutions on minorities is also part and parcel of the disproportionate damage the criminal justice system as a whole inflicts on these communities. Imprisoning massive portions of the country’s black and latino populations breaks up families, frays communities, destroys economic opportunity, and undermines those communities’ faith in the democratic process — leading to falling levels of political and voter participation.

Recently, U.S. Attorney General Holder took steps to relax federal prosecution of marijuana offenses, by averting mandatory minimums and by avoiding prosecution of marijuana users who are complying with state law. “Too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason,” Holder said.

The significance of the recreational marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington state is that they not only remove criminal penalties for possession — at this point, 17 states and many cities have passed decriminalization measures — they also legalize or regulate distribution and growth. Legalization supporters view that latter step as critical to driving out the black market and controlling the health consequences of marijuana consumption.

In the interview, Obama also worried that legalization of marijuana could be used to eventually build a case for legalizing harder drugs as well. “The experiment that’s going to be taking place in Colorado and Washington is going to be, I think, a challenge,” Obama said. “I also think that, when it comes to harder drugs, the harm done to the user is profound and the social costs are profound. And you do start getting into some difficult line-drawing issues.”

 

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/01/19/3183431/obama-pot-dangerous/

[t-pain]

that newyorker article is maddening to read. the first 5000 words are useless pap, talking about what food they serve on air force one and how obama shakes hands. the next 5000 words are horrible quotes on things you wish obama would take his head out of his donkey and look around for a bit.

 

the nsa didnt do anything illegal? ok then. guess thats settled.

its totally ok to drone attack innocent brown people because ... terrists? ok then. sorry brown people but thems the rules.

 

if this clown cant tell right from wrong, hes not going to be legalizing marijuana. sorry guys, this aint our president either. flower all those people who said he was going to help.

[Romen]

There will never be a solution from the republicans or democrats. They are two sides of a coin, they are two wings of a single bird, in truth there is only one political party in this country and they don't work for the people.

[Restorium2]

Saw the president speak about it. He said that marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol. He said he tells his teenage daughters it's not a good idea or healthy for them. I'm sure he tells them the same thing about alcohol and sex.

 

Can you imagine what Romney would have said?

 

We made a small step in the right direction with the real choices we were given. Sincere thanks to those who helped us make that step forward.

[cristinew]

Can you imagine what Romney would have said?,,,,  He would fight us tooth and nail  Quote.......

[Restorium2]

Not to mention, I save $18000 a year because of Obamacare. The insurance company was just about to cut me off from life saving medicine because of pre existing conditions. Now you know I don't vote 'JUST FOR POT' as I have been acused of many times here. It's about staying alive as long as I can. Sincere thanks.

[t-pain]

is true. romney would have let michigan die (automakers). so the choice between obama and romney was very easy if you like this state.

[blindman21]

If you like your pot .. You can keep your pot

[bobandtorey]

Barack Obama has a weed problem. Not just that he’s admitted using it. He said clearly when campaigning for president in 2008 that he approved of medical marijuana.

Yet his Attorney General, Eric Holder and his Department of Justice went on to launch punitive campaigns against legitimate marijuana businesses operating within state law. It isn’t even clear these raids and arrests were constitutional, since no interstate commerce was involved.

He has averaged 36 medical marijuana prosecutions a yearsince taking office in 2009, whereas even W. only averaged 20 a year. Most egregious are that many of these cases were brought against persons who needed the drug to ameliorate painful medical conditions.

Now Obama comes out and says pot is no worse than alcohol. So was he not in control of Holder and the Department of Justice? Was he seeking campaign money from Seagrams and Big Pharma, who are afraid of competition from marijuana? What explains this massive hypocrisy and willingness to ruin people’s lives to enforce a prohibition he doesn’t agree with?

Doesn’t he have a duty to pardon the 154 people he has prosecuted in contravention of his campaign pledge and in contravention of state laws?

[Restorium2]

Barack Obama has a weed problem. Not just that he’s admitted using it. He said clearly when campaigning for president in 2008 that he approved of medical marijuana.

Yet his Attorney General, Eric Holder and his Department of Justice went on to launch punitive campaigns against legitimate marijuana businesses operating within state law. It isn’t even clear these raids and arrests were constitutional, since no interstate commerce was involved.

He has averaged 36 medical marijuana prosecutions a yearsince taking office in 2009, whereas even W. only averaged 20 a year. Most egregious are that many of these cases were brought against persons who needed the drug to ameliorate painful medical conditions.

Now Obama comes out and says pot is no worse than alcohol. So was he not in control of Holder and the Department of Justice? Was he seeking campaign money from Seagrams and Big Pharma, who are afraid of competition from marijuana? What explains this massive hypocrisy and willingness to ruin people’s lives to enforce a prohibition he doesn’t agree with?

Doesn’t he have a duty to pardon the 154 people he has prosecuted in contravention of his campaign pledge and in contravention of state laws?

What explains this massive hypocrisy and willingness to ruin people’s lives to enforce a prohibition he doesn’t agree with?

 

From what I have seen here in Michigan, people unwilling to follow the state law. And still are. 12 plants and 2.5 oz per 5 patients. No one is messed with by the feds here in Michigan following those rules.

[trichcycler]

We've always been content enough to vote for the lesser of two evils. What should we really expect the result to be?

 

Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.
Jerry Garcia

 

Prez could put an end to this with a memo or two. Remove mj from the schedule1, release political marijuana prisoners, and beg society for forgiveness for years of oppression suffered by our citizens during marijuana prohibition. that would be acceptable. tick-tock

[Wild Bill]

Can you imagine what Romney would have said?,,,,  He would fight us tooth and nail  Quote.......

 

In an interview with the Denver Post, Romney was asked to weigh in on the future of the state's highly active medical marijuana industry.

 

"I oppose marijuana being used for recreational purposes and I believe the federal law should prohibit the recreational use of marijuana," he said.

 

As the Washington Post points out, his decision to use the "recreational" distinction is strange, especially in the context of a question about a state that has legalized marijuana for non-recreational use. Be that as it may, the Romney campaign later reiterated its steadfast support for continued prohibition on the substance in a statement to the Post.

 

"Governor Romney has a long record of opposing the use of marijuana for any reason," a spokesperson said. "He opposes legalizing drugs, including marijuana for medicinal purposes. He will fully enforce the nation’s drug laws, and he will oppose any attempts at legalization."

 

The candidate has made his anti-pot stance clear in practice as well. Romney has personally confronted at least one person smoking marijuana on the beach near his vacation home in San Diego, according to the New York Times.

 

Earlier this year, Romney vowed to fight marijuana legalization "tooth and nail." In explaining his position, he outlined his belief that marijuana was a gateway to harder drugs.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/02/mitt-romney-marijuana_n_1931995.html

Edited January 20, 2014 by Wild Bill

[Restorium2]

 

 

 

 

QUOTE:

We've always been content enough to vote for the lesser of two evils. What should we really expect the result to be?

 

 

 

Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.

Jerry Garcia

 

 

 

Prez could put an end to this with a memo or two. Remove mj from the schedule1, release political marijuana prisoners, and beg society for forgiveness for years of oppression suffered by our citizens during marijuana prohibition. that would be acceptable. tick-tock

 

UNQUOTE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a democracy where the 'Prez' doesn't get to do much on his own without getting impeached.

 

We have always been a country wise enough to choose between the lesser of two evils. Who is 'content' anyway? Anybody? I don't believe 'content' is ever a human condition.

Edited January 20, 2014 by Restorium2

[trichcycler]

Two U.S. Presidents have been impeached by the House of Representatives but acquitted at the trials held by the Senate, who would remove him for rescheduling an herbal remedy? "High Crimes" maybe could be the charge, tehe

Edited January 20, 2014 by grassmatch

[GanjaWarrior]

wow some days you really have to wonder about people. lets just use a  crazy example to explain what i mean. say bob was running for pres, he told us "ill leave medical marijuana up to the states" then he went on to set record for number of marijuana arrests, not just recreational though, hundreds of medical raids, people doing huge numbers of years, for possessing and or growing a plant. now as public opinion starts to sway, bob gets on tv, and basically says pots not that bad....so who gives a f? bob already told us those lies..... why are you guys so excited that obammers pandering to you? it didnt do you any good last time? you wanna guess at what mit would have done? id wager the same thing. mits a lying pandering corp whore politician just like your president. id like to guess, what would have happened had we elected a third party.... oh ya freedoms scary.

[pic book]

is true. romney would have let michigan die (automakers). so the choice between obama and romney was very easy if you like this state.

democracy is controlled chaos just below the level of a civil war, and renews itself, society and business by these controlled destructions and implosions...pity and gov $ for backward buggy makers is misplaced....for the sake of

Chrysler and GM don't allow the founder of pay pal and tesla motors to swamp us with electric cars..damit we want those buggy whips, keep em comin'.

[tooldini]

Maybe he really did change his mind. It does happen we can only hope that's the case

[GrassMonkey]

Maybe he really did change his mind. It does happen we can only hope that's the case

I doubt it tooldini. With his track record it's probably just another lie, seeing as how he has lied about everything else so far.

[tooldini]

darn grassmonkey  hope your wrong  LOL but you do make sense he has lied ALOT

[+Malamute]

around 99% of arrests for marijuana happen at the state level. 

 

from 2008 to 2010 the number of dispensaries had gone up by over like 4000%.  Percentage wise, the busts are waaaaaaay down.

[t-pain]

it would be hilarious if obama's quote on marijuana being less dangerous than alcohol is what turns this whole thing around in congress.

[+Malamute]

It's one more click of the cog.

[t-pain]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/health/marijuana-versus-alcohol/

 

uh oh! alcohol kills , marijuana doesnt. cnn has some FACTS now!

[t-pain]

http://www.ksat.com/news/San-Antonionians-react-to-President-Obama-s-marijuana-remark/-/478452/24026248/-/7443kez/-/index.html

 

a lot of propaganda articles still circulating. talks of lung cancers , mental illness, heart attacks, respiratory problems! watch out! you could cough while smoking!

 

"Gitlow worries most about marijuana’s effect on youth, as well as the overall lack of knowledge about its dangers."

its dangerous because we dont know how dangerous it is!

[Norby]

They should realize the lack of knowledge about it's dangers speaks for itself.  With that many people using for as long as they have, you'd have seen something if it was like alcohol or cigarettes or heroin or crack.