Obama got it wrong
President Obama addressed the idea of taxing and regulating marijuana at an online town hall event today. His words: “No, I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow our economy.”
Clearly, he got that wrong. But that isn’t everything.
The president himself, not the moderator who was reading questions submitted via whitehouse.gov, raised the topic. His answer was prefaced with the recognition that this was a “fairly popular question.”
Actually, it was the most popular question, by far. Yet the president failed to treat it with the same thoughtfulness awarded to other topics. The entirety of his response is below (yes, it’s only 53 seconds long). Do you think he handled it fairly?
Tagged with: Obama and Tax and Regulate by the author
225 comments
I’ll start by saying his anwser didn’t bother me becouse it was expected(for me anyway).
what was disturbing was his chuckle(laugh). I guess it’s funny that 800,000 thousand non-voilent offenders get lock up every year or we spend billions apon bilions of tax payer dollars to “try” to fight the war on marijuana.
mr. obama is it really that funny???
This isnt a fuckin joke obama.
You have lost my respect!
He spent a good amount of time on Financial Aid. If Obama knew his facts he would realize that over 200,000 students have been denied Financial Aid do to cannabis convictions. Personally the illicit drug trade drew me in because of the opportunity to make fast/tax free cash, however I got caught up in a world of violence most people cannot imagine. This is no laughing matter peoples lives are ruined/ended, and this point is only highlighted by Mexico.
Mr. Obama has lost my respect in regards to “change” by simply underscoring an entire community of cannabis users as the typical stereotypical “stoner” when in fact most users are hard-working, tax paying citizens including me.
How many more lives must be ruined and destroyed until the government and Obama realize and truthfully acknowledge to the American public and the world that not only has prohibition not worked, it has caused more danger and harm to the public?
I am offended and disappointed at President Obama’s response to our questions… and then making a joke of what we collectively think should happen is simply not ok. I am so tired of the same old attitude and stereotypes… I thought he was a fresh thinker, a brave new political maverick… Someone that could see past previously held beliefs and find truth… I voted for this?
Mr. Obama, You just lost my vote. Actually, I am not even calling you President anymore.
That response, your laughter, their laughter, your attitude was extremely offensive and ignorant. I am utterly dismayed at your absolute stupidity on this subject. Why don’t you do some research, a little reading?
I was absolutely overjoyed when you were elected. Now I am just wondering which group is pulling your strings.
I also found his “joke” to be extremely childish. This is no laughing matter. You asked what concerned the people of America the most and it was something you didn’t expect. Now you think you can push it under the rug? Fine, so you say your not in favor of the legalization of cannabis, well can i get some reasons for why you think so?? A simple NO will NOT suffice!
I Found it to be very disrespectful to the American people .Why have a town hall meeting online if your not going to take those question seriously and only answer 5 questions from the online community . I thought that was the point to hear just from the online community only, I guess i was wrong!
I have been for decriminalization of drugs for 40 years–thru several political campaigns of my own. Long-term, we will win; but like the gaays, short-terrm this is STILL a “third rail” issue for most LIBERALS; we have MORE support from rt-wingers like Bob Barr, Ron Paul, the late Wm. Buckley and former N.M. Governor Gary Johnson. The GOOD NEWS is that unlike Bush, Obama HAS signaled \he will stop DEA raids where MEDICAL MJ is legal—tho his minions at DEA haven’t gotten the message yet, per the Calif. travesty this week.
obama is full of shit. always was and always will be. smoked weed a lot, became president, says we need to decriminalize it yet when he is in a room full of people who think otherwise he turns into their bitch. his opinions change with what’s convenient, not with what he believes. so i’m glad the rest of you are starting to see him as a lying sack of shit that believes the economy will be better off with him giving trillions of dollars out and spending money on embryonic stem cell research when almost all stem cell cures come from adult stem cells but i’m rambling. thanks for voting this one of a kind douche into office america. he’s not what you thought he was
I cannot believe this childish snickering and laughing about such a serious topic. Above and beyond the issue of economics this topic should be strictly looked at as social injustice. Those that laugh should have that right to do so, but not at the expense of individual freedoms removed from others. We are not a minority but they believe we are. And until we all come out of the smoking closet we will never win this fight for freedom and justice for all!!!!!! Right now it seems it is a culture war. But I for one do not fit the stereotype cannabis user. Using cannabis by the recommendation of my physician in Calif. has save my body from ravaging pain at 53 yrs. old I have used this plant since 1971 and since served in the U.S. Navy, became a mechanical engineer,invented and patented a product,started a business 16 years ago paying lots of taxes and employing people,selling a business and paying lots of taxes on that sale.” oh Uncle Sam how could you do this to us”. My point is, if we pay taxes and are productive people we demand to be heard!!!!!!!! And to be taken seriously. So let’s end this silly costly game that is used against your fellow human beings. You do not have to agree with me, to like me, it’s about mutual respect for our natural differences.
Thanks for bending an ear.
Mark
I am just saddened as a medical user that he laughed. I am saddened by the folks who think of this as funny, like faux news. This is not a joke to so many I know who use this to kill chronic pain as I do.
Obama needs to understand there was a serious issue raised here and act accordingly.
Well, now we’ve been given our official lip service. Once again a gullible majority believed a politician. What a HUGE surprise.
It doesn’t matter if they’re republican or democrat, grey or gray. They will never stop being opposite sides of the same old coin.
what change? looks like obama favors the status quo. i wonder if he even realizes how and why marijuana was first criminalized in the first place. racism anyone? first black president? wha….
this administration is a joke.
this isnt about change at all…
it’s about certain vested interests.
we got played.
Wow, I when i heard saying leaglization of marjuina, everyone started to laugh….whats so funny about this, the drug cartels killed thousands of people last year. almost a million people in jail. most of them are Mr Obama’s race. Really funny subject nutsack…a plant that never harmed a single human being. New world order puppet.
Well according to all the rants on here and other forums, I’d have to say Mr. Obama has definately burned up some political capital.
I too was not surprised by the Presidents answer. It was expected. I believe that continued support and a CONSTANT push for legalization is the ONLY way this matter can be taken seriously. I also feel that the push for legalization is an excellent start towards bartering for DECRIMINALIZATION. I feel my civil liberties will continue to be oppressed until legalization takes place, however, decriminalization is something I am COMPLETELY willing to settle for. As long as I can feel zero fear of criminal prosecution, there will be a GREAT weight lifted from my soul. PLEASE DECRIMINALIZE. WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS. PUSH FOR DECRIMINALIZATION! THE TIME IS NOW!!!
-Tim
I don’t think it’s funny at all. When over 800,000 Americans are arrested each year for nonviolent offenses and the drug cartels are killing so many people every day, he should take this issue more seriously. He gave all the other questions a lot more thought.. he’ll lose votes if he continues to do this.
Wow. If I was a black man or woman in jail for smoking a doobie I’d be thinking that I may have made a mistake about what I thought of the man. I’m in jail and he thinks it’s funny. Or, how about this…I’m sick and he thinks its funny that I can get arrested for trying to get rid of the pain. HA HA. wow. surprised me. I thought he was a little more serious than that.
What is so damn funny about it? Does he not realize how many causalities this drug war has caused, not to mention about a trillion dollars wasted. A lot of people have voted over and over about this issue on his websites asking what we think and to express our views, yet he completely disrespects all of us. It’s not just people who use pot that have voted on this, there’s millions in all professional fields who want this change to take place. I can’t believe he said that
This issue is a very, very serious matter. It’s like he just spit in the face of the people who have unnecessarily died and their family’s in this pitiful war on drugs, particularly marijuana. Hell, he just spit in the face of all of us who voted him in, who have voted continuously to address the drug war. We’re not asking, we’re demanding for a change. I just can’t believe he acted like a damn child about the whole situation. Especially with people dying every day.
What can we do? Obviously our current administration is not listening. The violence in mexico is not a joke, the millions of dollars that we spend on this failed policy isn’t either. What happened to letting science and reason guide Mr. Obamas decisions? Is he not getting the facts? If we stop the drug trade in Mexico any number of countries will be happy to fill in for the Mexican cartels. Why cant our politicians see this?
Additionally MPP and NORML should help get Ron Paul’s campaign off the ground. Ron Paul isn’t afraid to tackle this issue, and furthermore, if Ron Paul was in a debate with Obama, this issue would be sure to get addressed. Ron Paul for 2012!
I think that it speaks volumes about the man. If he won’t listen to a majority about something as taboo as marijuana, will he listen to a majority about other issues? Corporate bailouts… sounds kinda like taxation without representation (we all read the history books about what happened last time this was a major issue), unless we had a say in all that and thought it was grand…
I agree Ron Paul for 2012, its time for some common sense in the white house.
Here’s my take on this. I agree that it should have been taken more seriously. This issue is clearly no longer a joke…(see violence in mexico and missed tax revenue) so he was clearly out of line. However, this is a process and we cannot expect legalization over night. We havent even gotten decriminalization yet. Sounds like the answered it as THE solution to the economy, and I dont think it is either, however it could help.
This may be a setback, but we need to continue our pursuit.
It would be a shame to lose our place on the world stage as the country with the highest percentage of it population imprisoned. Apopka, Florida used to be the indoor foliage capital of the world…now its a dump with no gainful employment available.
Personaly i’d like to see some of our non-violentest dope growinest convicts moved directly into some of these empty greenhouses. it would put some money back in the town. Who knows…maybe people would even stop shooting eachother for a couple minutes.
He’s lost my respect. I hope Ron Paul runs for office in 2012; I’m not republican but he seems to have his head on straight when it comes to personal freedoms. I hope more states are able to legalize Marijuana for medicinal purposes but more importantly I hope California and Massachusetts legalize adult recreational use. THAT is the kind of change I can believe in.
Fuck losing respect, he’s lost my vote. Marijuana is not the only issue that’s important to me, especially with the economy as it is, but as others have stated, marijuana legalization is not a joke. Millions of lives have been destroyed over the decades because of the illogical, unethical, and racist prohibition of this plant. He’s gotten my vote, he’ll do mostly the job I elected him for, but I don’t owe him anything more; he works for me, not the other way around.
There is a groundswell in the legalization movement, but it can peter out without coviction and fortitude. I’m sick of the bullshit ideology and politicization of the “demon weed,” and I’m not standing for it anymore. I am no longer going to hide my affinity for the plant. We as a group need to do a gut check–how important is marijuana to us? It may sound silly, but if it is important to you (as it should be for the multitude of reasons others have mentioned and that you probably already know about), then you need to speak up for it, give money to organizations such as MPP and NORML, go to marches and rallies, and send letters (not just emails) to your senators and house representative (and let them know they’ve lost your vote). There needs to be coordination between MPP, DPA, NORML, and other pro-legalization organizations to put together marches in the tens of thousands, to generate an email database of hundreds of thousands of people, as moveon.org did, to create a grassroots movement with the power to get serious attention.
I unsubscribed to Obama’s newsletter, and let him know why. I let him know he’s lost my future vote as of now. That’s not to say I’m going to vote Republican, that I wish for them to get back in power. It’s not to say that I don’t support Obama in his other objectives. What I am saying is that marijuana is important enough to me that I am willing to make it the only subject worth voting for, because without massive, coordinated political will (the way the NRA and labor unions operate and achieve their agendas), marijuana smokers will always be a joke only good for a laugh, and, oh yes, to put in jail. Bullshit to that.
I say we impeach him, He is a liar and munipulater. he says one thing to get elected and then completely turn around the other way once he is in. Our founding fathers shot treasonous people like him. He just lost millions of votes. Probally 1o’s of millions! We are no longer going to put up with this. IT IS TIME FOR REVOLUTION!!!!! TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK> THEY NO LONGER REPRESENT THE PEOPLE JUST CORPORATE GREED!!!!!
I think he’s just showing his true self, it’s the same ol tell them what they want to hear as long as they vote for me. What an ass.
tensity1 you have my support. That’s the strategy that needs to be worked on.
I’ve voiced my disappoint about this many times already today, so now I’ll just say this:
Ron Paul 2012
An addition to my previous post:
MPP and other pro-marijuana organizations need to raise holy hell in the mainstream media over Obama’s ridiculous reaction to the highest voted questions for his online town hall. The seriousness of this issue, its impact on lives, the economy, and personal freedoms, needs to be brought to the forefront so that the average apathetic American realizes this isn’t just about burnouts wanting to light up, that there are real costs to prohibition that directly and indirectly affects them.
pres. obama invited me and my questions, then he mocked me and my question. where I come from, that is being a jerk!
i called my state senators and representative. i called the dncc. i called the whitehouse.
i’m not happy. criminalize tobacco, criminalize obama.
let him go to inner dc to cop cancer weed. get pinched, sent to diversion, counseling, drug testing, fines, etc.
obama doesn’t believe in gay marriage . . . would that have been a joke.
Wis we could Obama to sit down & read how his disrespect for Real Americans is now turning into a real disgust for him & the People who pull his strings. Seventy years ago ,with the stroke of a pen, crusty old men wrote assinine policy’s that we are forced to live with today weather we like it or not. Just a stroke of the pen could once again create a law that would end this insanity, but even though we thought Obama was the man, we were wrong, cause he is just another puppet on a string adhearing to the status quo of the 1930′s . See you all on the 4TH of July in DC. maybe if we were to shut down DC he and the puppet masters might think it was so funny.
sorry should have proof read . first word wish. Puppet masters might not think it was so funny . SORRY Just a little angry right now.
well maybe he chuckled because it is so ridiculous that this is still an” in the closet” issue and he doesn’t want the stoner label, look at what Phelps has been thru — Love the passion
Nothing like getting laughed at and disrespected by your president.
He just lost my respect
I am positive that there has already been numerous specifics emailed to you in response to an inappropriate handling of the #1 issue of Marijuana Reformation. I myself also have (and still have) many life crippling experiences, as do many others, due to prohibition.
Therefore, just put a tick mark for me next to those others who are sadly disappointed at the lack of human beings in this world.
I know in many matters such as this, a game of sorts is in play to wait for other key moves to be in position before legislative is initiated. We all know this will eventually be legal. There is NO EXCUSE to make people suffer until then.
Obama is a politician. First and foremost and always. You could see him change his tune about the Iraq war as soon as he secured the Dem nomination. He positions himself wherever he thinks he will get the most votes.
But on this issue, with peoples lives careers, etc at stake, he must think it is humorous. I voted for him in November, will not in the future, and have lost all respect for him!
Hey I hear ya Jim R. This really makes a person crazy. Rational thinking is not a concept of reality for those how hate even the thought of the word “Marijuana”. I asked my father just recently(who is in his late seventies) what he was told as a kid, about marijuana. And all he was told was don’t be like those other dirty people who use that nasty stuff. Meaning other races not like their own. I hate to say this was my family, but it was more of the misinformation and hatred towards other humans not like yourself. He has come a long way since those lies were told. But he still giggles when the subject comes up. If I’m around it’s all the time. So we need to continue to explode with our stories and question every rhetorical comment on this social disaster. We are not asking nor expecting them to condone, just don’t incriminate. Human beings have a powerful need for freedom. Thats what makes this country almost perfect it’s not China, N. Korea, but we still need a lot of brushing up on tolerance. Peace be with us.
One more comment about today’s thoughtlessness…how about the audience in attendance at the town hall meeting. They all laughed with him and then applauded his answer. It looked like the hand picked yes-men audiences that Bush & McCain liked to use. I guess politicians are the same all over. Yes folks, it is getting that bad already.
Here’s a final thought to mull over: maybe the secondary objective of pro-marijuana organizations should be to push for the criminalization and outright prohibition of alcohol and tobacco, maybe even caffeine and other drugs. Of course, I don’t advocate that, but if marijuana with its relatively less harmful effects is illegal and prohibited, logically these other substances should be prohibited. I mean seriously push for prohibition, because then the average American out there who won’t give up their alcohol and tobacco (along with the industries who won’t) just might actually start pushing for marijuana legalization. At the very least it should shine a light on exactly what objective, scientific standard is being used for the justification of marijuana prohibition and the legality of alcohol and tobacco.
I was sickened. He was laughing. He laughed at the issue. How sickening is that?
Great Idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow. Yes let’s give them a taste of their own medicine. (pardon the pun)
Obama’s ignorance astounds me.
Obama. The lying, hypocritical, socialist savior of the USA
Okay, one more thing: as others have mentioned, Obama very well may have responded out of political expediency for the time being. He is not stupid, and I can’t imagine he is a prohibitionist. Maybe he is biding his time. And yes, the questions could have been framed better. Legalization and taxation could help the economy, but framing the issue primarily like this does reek of special interest and lessens the importance of what is fundamentally an issue of fairness and freedom of choice and not criminalizing that choice. Our communication as a group could have been better. In any case, whether our president in his heart of hearts is a prohibitionist or pro-marijuana, we need to steel ourselves and commit to a stance, to take action and keep up the pressure; for it’ll either change his uninformed mind, or it’ll give him the tailwind at the right moment to grab for us the freedom of choice that we all deserve as responsible people.
Laughing was beyond uncalled for, it’s just inconsiderate because it’s a serious issue not just something a bunch of stoners want. I guarentee he does not even know the facts about it. I will not be voting for him in 2012 which will be my first time voting (I’ll be old enough)
Your the joke Mr Obama. Ron Paul for President 2012!
Obama has lost my support. This is only a root of topics he has flip flopped on. I thought he had more intelligence. We need to revive our constitution and I feel he has other motives.
Hey MPP, how about taking down that disinformation video you have on YouTube claiming Obama supports decrim? Seems to me it’s about time to pull the plug on obvious B$.
It is obvious by all the comments on this page that I was not the only one who was outraged and offended by the way he minimized a serious and important issue. His flippant manner highlighted how he truly feels toward millions of cannabis community members, who voted for him. So, now what is the next step? Where do we go from here. Decriminalize cannabis, stop the oppression!!
As I watched this I had to laugh my self, but for different reasons.
I just remember when he was having his rallys last summer and when the topic of him inhaling and rethinking our marijuana laws, the crowd cheered!!!!
Now as I look back he said alot of things and then when he got my(&others) vote he turned his back.
SIMPLY SAID, HE’S NOTHING BUT A PUPPET AS THEY PULL THE STRINGS ON THERE AGENDA!!!!
I really had my hopes up when he was elected and now I relize I was taken once again.
As I close my statement, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again:
MONEY AND POLITICS: THE ROOT TO ALL EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!
I wasn’t expecting Obama to support the idea since he has been against in the past but I SHOCKED that he thinks it’s just a joke. I was even more disappointed that just because I’m not one of the select few who can get into a white house meeting that somehow I’m not as important and I’m just part of the “online crowd” simply because I was forced to ask my question over the internet.
Obama will be doing more of these town hall meetings and I think it would be really great if somehow someone from MPP could gain access to the actual meeting so we couldn’t be easily ignored. Obama made it clear that it’s very easy to ignore someone when they aren’t there in person.
These online town halls are planned to happen again. Let’s keep pushing the issue and try to educate Obama to the point where he has no choice but to give a detailed answer of his position.
Obama has a flaw, he laughs or smiles during stress. Obama’s second flaw is to not support the medical patients who’s lives are not a laugh one bit. Obama’s information is wrong as everyone knows, 100 days in office and the American people are NOT in touch with the President once again or his answers would have been much more supportive.
He’s riding the fence on medical pot policy, undecisive on marijuana legalization and a fool for trying to comfort a nation in pain of all types.
Four years of this crap, I can hardly wait for the next election.
I am really disappointed and a bit angry…
I didn’t expect him to declare it legalized today, but to laugh it off really chapped my hide.
He didn’t even address the question — if he had given a reason for his “No” like he actually put some thought into it, I could have accepted that… but he laughed it off, and in the process laughed off a large part of the US population.
He laughed off 800,000 people per year being arrested.
He laughed off the billions that are spent on eradication and interdiction.
He laughed off 6000 people that have been murdered in Mexico.
It is sad to see that Obama is just like every other politician — all talk and no walk.
He laughed off the concerns and ideas of more than 25 million Americans, and though some of us may have short term memory loss — WE WILL NOT FORGET.
President Obama — DON’T ASK FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY, AND NOT GOING TO ANSWER THEM.
I had the AUDACITY to HOPE for CHANGE… but it remains the same old game, only with new players.
MARCH ON THE WHITE HOUSE and EVERY STATE HOUSE on April 20, SHOW THEM WE WILL NOT BE LAUGHED DOWN.
I am as outraged as everyone else, but to be perfectly fair, the town hall was specifically about the economy. As horrible as his response was, I think it is going to far to say he was laughing in the face of nonviolent offenders and casualties of the war on drugs. He was giving a response strictly on the legalization of Marijuana to improve the economy.
Maybe our next question should be somewhere on the lines of “President Obama, why did you set up this internet Q&A to better serve the interests of the American people if you did not intend on taking their questions seriously?”
I would have to agree that his reaction was out of line and that he didn’t give it the due time that it deserves, but something that I think a lot of people are forgetting is that fact that he is a politician. Which to me says that as long as that majority of people in the audience are going to laugh at marijuana legalization, the politicians are going to treat it like a joke.
Right now we are doing the right thing and minds are starting to be changed, but change does take time. I am not going to lie to all of you and say that I was never like the people in that town hall. If you had talked to me a month ago I would have probably laughed too. The fact is that right now I am not laughing. You need to ask yourself why that is? (other that me trying something for the first time) I found this website and the true information that is out there. Right now it is important to get people to find this site and all the good things that MPP is doing right now. It is obvious that the web audience has looked into, but that’s not enough. Now is the time to be talking to friends and family. Its the time to be setting people straight with solid arguments, not just emotional ones.
It is good that we are getting upset, that shows are passion, but I urge you to stay rational and look at the big picture and the small victories. First of all there was a Town Hall. Something that I don’t remember happening during the Bush administration. Second if this topic was brought up 2 years ago it would have been dismissed even faster or been used as an excuse to talk about the “evils” of Marijuana. Right now I am cautiously optimistic. In my book a laugh is better than a crucifixion any day.
Just a words up Anderson Cooper is supposed to have a debate on legalizing marijuana tonight on CNN. At least he mentioned it with a straight face (Cooper).
Decriminalization is nothing more than allowing health care, police, drug test companies and rehabs to rip profits through an already marginalized population.
So you get caught, they tell you to stay clean for 6 months and drug test you. If you don’t stay clean, off to prison you go. You have to love capitalism.
I think rallies and marches need to be seriously organized and executed. I think it’s the only way that the needed attention will be brought to the matter. MPP: Get the ball rolling!!!
Terry thanks for the heads up on Anderson Cooper. If people want to feel better check out how many people want legalization at http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/26/live-blog-from-the-anchor-desk-032609
I am also appalled at the dismissive, patronizing and unprofessional reaction. At the origin of the Presidents response he states… “There were 3.5 million questions sent in for consideration and a large ‘majority’ was over the concerns and benefits surrounding the legalization and taxation of marijuana in this country. That makes a statement in it itself.
We have a social responsibility to end this war on honest, hard working, tax paying citizens of our so called, “free” nation. No more lives should be ruined, under the thumb of bureaucracy and other political agendas. It is extremely important that ‘we’, as a powerful force need to ban together to make changes in the system and disprove the “societal”, stereo typical view of those who use marijuana. Because of that view, these people laugh at the “silly, stupid, lazy, probably has the munchies and won’t remember to show up at the rally anyway… stoners”. How could we possible expect to have the respect of those in the position of making the changes we request, when this is how we are viewed… how by proving them wrong.
This needs to be done through proper channels, (Which is why I give a personal Thank You to MPP) education of the facts, effects and benefits… backed by extreme persistence. There needs to be new innovative concepts towards the approach to legalization for medical and recreational use. We need
to be intelligent, organized and diligent.
P.S. It’s not right… that you can stop at six different dive
bars in a one block radius and get intoxicated to the point
of endangering yourself and others but it’s illegal to smoke marijuana.
It’s not right… that you can have a multitude of chemicals prescribed to you that have a list of side effects that takes most of a thirty second commercial to list them all… which some of include anal leakage and death but you can’t smoke an all natural herb.
The time for change is now, unite.
It has been said that less than 2% of individuals supporting a cause do so with their dollars. Please consider donating generously to MPP to speak for us.
Imagine if 20 Million regular Marijuana smokers each gave only $10 to the Pro Marijuana group of their choice how quickly this prohibition would be ended.
Please give generously! Encourage your friends to donate also!
Wow, I watched this today and closed the browser after this question. So far he has not done a single thing to help us. I supported him, fell into the bullcrap. No more. He is sending billions of dollars to these big corporations. These corporations are NOT what fuel the economy. WE ARE. And when were tossed aside like old dirty socks and left to scrape every penny we have, the economy will crumble. It started when gas prices soared, then product prices soared to cover the additional costs. We all seen it comming and could do nothing. Its what happens when the corporate fat cats are not monitored, things have gone haywire.
After everything we, the american people have gone through these past eight years we are still mocked. Laughed at. If ten of us stood in front of him and three of us have just smoked, I would love for him to be able to tell which one of us smoked, and which ones didnt. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is sitting at his resolute desk right now rolling one. Go american government! Their policy? Do as I say, not as I do. Remember, were not smart enough to catch the double standards or put things together.
I completely agree Johnny D.
We are mocked due to stereotype. The support is there, there are enough voices out there, the problem is not enough people stand up and use those voices. People keep quiet, mumble about it behind closed doors, talk but never act. If every supporter, whether they use it or not filled the streets of washington, called their local representatives, congressmen, governers, wrote letters, campaigned, and spoke up, this prohibition would end faster. The “half-baked” stereotype would no longer exist. Gain attention, but gain respect as well. Were fighting on their battle ground, use their own stragedies against them.
“He laughed off 800,000 people per year being arrested.
He laughed off the billions that are spent on eradication and interdiction.
He laughed off 6000 people that have been murdered in Mexico.”
This should become our campaign for reform. Everyone should know what Obama laughed at and that we’re not taking it lightly.
My interpretation of the video response is mixed…sure he chuckled, many people do when marijuana is mentioned, but I think his reaction (and audience) was related to marijuana legalization being the solution to our economic situation. And he’s right…it would not resolve it. It would help though. Had Obama had the same reaction to the question of legalization in support of health care, as an alternative to criminalization, or as an agricultural alternative, then I’d be very upset.
Wow. SAD. Looks like he ‘took the temperature of the room’ when they laughed and went along with it. well, hes not a king, its not a monarchy. Things can change without him, and as they do you will see him change his opinion. he’s a politician.
Very sad response Mr. Obama. Very sad.
Steeldiehard….
Im with you 100% I understand the reaction by my fellow supporters, but am stepping back and thinking the same way as you.
He answered the question as if legalization were the sole solution in the regrowth of our economy, it could help, but could not be the foundation of recovery.
Keep working hard guys! We’re getting tons of media and that’s the next step…the snowball is rolling.
Steeldiehard – VERY TRUE. In the context of saving the economy, yes you can see why they would think its silly. He didn’t say no under any circumstance… hey, he didnt have to mention it at all… hmmmmm
I gotta admit I wasn’t pleased by the way he handled the issue, but I am glad he at least felt he needed to reply to the millions who brought it up. It is a sign that we need to keep plugging away.
For all the negatives, it is good that our issue wasn’t ignored. No doubt it would have been in the past by any other president. Calling the DEA off of prosecuting clinics and patients is something that does deserve some respect.
I’ve never been much of a believer in leaders anyway. A friend quotes Zapata on her email sig line, “A strong people doesn’t need leaders.” I think we’ve just started showing our strength and that we need to keep it up. Those who stand in the way of justice on this need to know that there will be a price to be paid.
Thus, in a very important sense, we must let the man know that he needs to make amends if he expects to retain millions of votes the next time he needs them, let alone getting us to put pressure on Congress to implement his own plans and priorities.
I would really love to see a march happen. Has anyone ever heard of a Marijuana legalization march taking place?
Bronson, thanks for your thanks, I don’t mean to sound weird, but for some reason I’d like to add you as a friend, you could email me at terrywin@gmail.com. And anyone else on this great resource.
have to look at the other side of it, he was only saying that he doesn’t think that it would be a great idea to stimulate the economy. But in his mind i’m hopin that he was just presented the question that way and is comparing it to maybe other things that can have a broader impact. And i know the numbers, but i’m sure he doesn’t see numbers that he should. We cant condemn him yet, i think it will be cleared up soon. Saying that, gigglin about like a little girl just because you want to fit in with the rest of the people around you and get them to cheer for you got me a little aggravated.. He will see the reprocusions of it, but he will NOT address medical marijuana in the same way. Choosing myself to use a small amout of cannabis in place of three different medications in a non-medicinal state am anxious to hear Mr. Obama speak on that soon open room discussion with some of us also speaking rationaly about taxing and regulating pros and cons?. I read many negative messages, dont get down people just make it give you more fire !1!
I think the real issue, if you want to talk about how Marijuana can help the economy, is to talk about the hundreds of uses for the CANNABIS plant. Smoking it, and the tax money that the government could raise from Medical or recreational use of Marijuana is a small part of the issue when you see that Cannabis can be used to make the best paper, clothing, fuels such as ethanol, and heating oil from its seeds. Which by the way are the most nutritious seeds in the plant world. Medically it has shown promise to combat some cancers, MS, ADD, ALS, and has shown to be beneficial in many other medical problems. Just about anything that can be made from oil can be made from Cannabis. I think that going to a Cannabis based economy, and abandoning our oil based economy is the way to go. We have the climate to produce bountiful harvests of Cannabis the most versatile plant on the planet. There does not have to be high levels of Cannabinoids (the chemicals that make you high) in the plants that are grown and used for industrial purposes. So the government has no excuse to NOT let U.S. farmers grow it. We need a President who has the insight to learn about the virtues of this plant, and the balls to go ahead with a program to integrate it into our society.
Moneybomb y’all
How does one begin to organize a 4/20 march on Washington?
Which economy is Mr. Obama looking to grow, ours or the illegal one in Mexico? And wasn’t it the online community that got this newly crowned puppet his job in the first place? Absolutely disgusting. Instead of rendering a large chunk of the drug cartel’s profits obsolete, we allow them to spoil our national forests, and harm our citizens lungs with low grade dirt weed. All in the name of “law and order”. That’s not change, that’s Joe Biden telling an inexperienced Senator what to say and think. Better hit the offensive quick MPP. Quit waiting for these Washington douchebags to throw you a bone.
No respect
No hope
No change
No time
Marijuana march 4-20-2009
I bet our government and president obama won’t find it funny if millions of fed up americans decide to not pay their taxes anymore…..Seriously folks, its time to revolt. Do you really want to give your hard earned money away to a government that will just give it to irresponsible financial institutions and insurance companies? And in turn just laugh at you like your a damn joke? If this is the “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave”, then why is it such a privilege to only ask questions and hope for a respectful answer. I mean, if we are the ones who put this guy in power and put our local representatives in power, why are we asking? We should be DEMANDING! Do you think England would have let us be independent from them if we just asked about it??????
What an asshole.
ATTENTION MPP.ORG!!! Im doing an informative speach on your Organization, so i was wondering if the owner can give me some information on why you started this progam and what your Organization fights for. I would love to put your personal opinion in my speech. If possible i would like to hear from Bruce, Rob and Co. (Not to disrepect my not typing last names or to the owner.) My professor has approved my speech about your organization (she seems very interested.) I would love to spread information about this organizion to my fellow students. I would like to have MPP to be involved in my speech. I won’t let you down MPP!
I agree 100% with john .Lets take a little trip back to 17th to18th century AMERICA where it was ILLEGAL to not grow cannabis,ships where made mostly of it from the very floor you stood on to the sails that propelled them the ropes that held the sales and so on, even the taxes that this country depends on were able to be payed with it.Look where we are now myself along with joe v and thousands upon thousands of others in states where medical marijuana is not yet possible (i really stress on the hope of the word yet ) are using it in replace of other medications.When i was younger i was diagnosed with a
chronic illness that kept me bed riddin for 3 years what did the doctors do about it well they gave me a steroid that tore up my esophagus and stomach telling me that when they put me on nexium it would heal it up and well it didn’t. Hmm…. lets make someone very ill take something that will tear up his insides then lets sell him the cure for $120 a month….see anything wrong here ?
As for a march all i have to say is when and where
I accidentally posted this on the DEA raid in SF recently and I meant it to be in this post, please excuse me for double posting this:
Media alert! If you guys missed last night on CNN with Ron Paul, heres the clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVjSyBfFM6g
How can this prick say Marinol is available for medical use, and at the end saying medical marijuana is sending a “mixed-signal”, sorry, I’m upset like the rest of us. You can tell Ron Paul is upset, and I don’t mean to cuss, but god damnit.. I’m getting sick of this. It’s doublespeak, and I guess I’ll go read my copy of 1984 again and try not to cry myself to sleep tonight.
Yes we can, but no we won’t. Thanks Obama, argh.
I’ve read through a bunch of these now, and to be honest the sad part is that everyone seemed to expect something different from this guy. He is from the talking heads party, the party of the Kennedy’s, the Clinton’s- the straight up liars and crooks. Really, I think McCain would have made more headway on the subject, and not because he agrees(he doesnt), but because he understands how our system works- we vote/speak/rally/whatever and the Gov. is supposed to represent our ideology.
It looks like everyone got tricked into thinking Obama read the Constitution or other documents of the time. Obama just seems to think that he knows something we don’t, or that just because he thinks what he thinks- it must be factual and right. Just look at the ol’ Payoff/Earmark(stimulus) bill, the mess at AIG, stem cells, taxes, not to mention our Wars-we voted him in to do what we want. That one is a little self explanatory. this guy does not give two fucks worth a shit what his constituents want no matter what he promised them. It just sucks that people are so far up this guys ass that they actually trust him. They think he cares, they think he WANTS AIG to succeed. Ha! He wants failure to justify nationalization/gov. oversight/socialism..?? I know I’m wandering but the point is that to have expected anything else is dumb, and if you did, you voted in the best Politician of the times.
Don’t just sound off here! Write the Pres. and tell him how you feel about his attitude about Marijuana. This is the e-mail I sent to him. Please do the same…
Legalizing marijuana is NOT a laughing matter. Stop making a joke about it and get serious. This was the top question because Americas care about this subject and want CHANGE! Why don’t you look into the history of why Marijuana was made illegal in the first place, you might learn something. The American people aren’t laughing!
OUR CHILDREN ARE AT INCREASED RISK WITH READILY AVAILABLE DRUGS BECAUSE OUR CURRENT DRUG POLICY GUARANTEES AND SAFEGUARDS A HUGELY PROFITABLE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION MONOPOLY FOR IMMORAL, RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT DRUG PROFITEERS.
THIS NATION’S FAILED DRUG POLICY CONTINUES TO WASTE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, DEGRADE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND DISRUPTS THE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY OF ALLIED NATIONS.
IF THIS IS OUR PRESIDEN’S IDEA OF FUNNY, PERHAPS HE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO LAUGH OFF NOT BEING RE-ELECTED. OTHERWISE, AS APPROPRIATE, AMERICA RATES A FULL AND TIMELY APOLOGY.
I’ve seen a couple people ask about a march for marijuana legalization. Try looking up the 2009 Global Marijuana March. There’s one on May 2nd here in St. Louis, under the Arch.
Terry, thanks for the link for CNN. I didn’t realize when everyone’s mentioning Ron Paul, that was him. I remember seeing some info about him in the past, and liking his demeanor and ideas.
He didn’t seem to have much of a say with all he loud nonsense the other guy inflicted. And regarding the Marinol comment, what nonsense as well. That right there only makes more proof that the “plant” could have medicinal value, and Marinol is NOT the only benefit.
In fact, I was prescribed Marinol from a military doctor shortly after its emergence. I never filled the prescription, because of it being THC and having no CBD( cannabidiols). With people suffering from seizures, THC excess actually promotes more seizure activity, it’s the cannibidiols that inhibit convulsions. Marinol’s CBD content=0%.
I’ve never been so angry, frustrated and upset in all my life…
March on Washington – 4/20/2009, 4:20pm
I live around St. Louis myself, more specifically Jefferson County, I’ll see you on May the 2nd
Totally dismissive and disingenuous. I didn’t expect the guy to come out and say “legalize it, don’t criticize it”, but I did expect him to treat it with the same care and respect he gave the other issues.
This movement is still depicted as a bunch of stoners who just want to smoke in public, not a group of American citizens who are sick of the lies and the tragedy.
Terry, see ya there!
Be sure to sport your MY BODY, MY CHOICE shirt!
People are regularly SHOT protecting their homes from what they perceive as criminals ,only to find that they have been shot by their protectors. Pretty funny stuff,eh?
Like that one guy, last week, I think his name was Copp. Yeah, he answers the door to find a very bright flashlight in his face. When he tries to shield his eyes the “protector” holding it shoots him, HYSTERICAL, I almost died laughing. Or, oh your gonna love this. Couple of weeks ago, this old guy(70 or so) gets himself shot dead by one of our protectors, and then they haul off his 80 year old GIRLFRIEND (with a brief stop at the emergency room, for the heart attack) Are you still laughing, Mr. President?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Briefing-by-White-House-Press-Secretary-Robert-Gibbs-3-26-09/
I can’t seem to find a video to get the actual demeanor of these arguments, but this doesn’t seem well either.
Terry, I happened to look up Ron Paul after a few of you mentioned him earlier. H e will be in town this weekend at the Mellenium for a conference. I’m going to try to make it…if your there, I should stick out like a sore thumb. I’ll probably be the only one there with a large akita.(service dog)
MPP-get our reactions heard! we feel dismissed.
I want to see ron pauls face inplace of all the obama adds everytime we hear Obama I want to hear how we can’t wait for him to get out of office so we can get a President that takes the publics opinion seriously. If Obama wants to laugh at We the People then lets make it the last thing he does as the Peoples President. Lets make him the laughing stock by showing how quick he has went from hero to zero and show him were ready for someone who is ready to stand up for the people, fuck waiting till 2012 lets impeach this President who makes a mockery of the people who voted him into office and vote Ron Paul now. Sorry MR. President but you had your chance and blew it ,you have lost all credability with the American People, the only way to redeem yourself is legalization because the people will never trust another word say, as the old saying goes “fool me once shame on you” ” fool me twice shame on me” we will not be fooled again from your lies of bringing change. Vote Ron Paul now send obama a letter he has lost your vote because apparently that is all he cares about.
Why do politicians giggle & make jokes about marijuana legalization? It makes them seem like junior high kids in Sex Ed class
I still support president Obama. Can you imagine what John McCain’s response would be concerning this subject?
However, Obama made a mistake when he treated the most asked question in this forum as a joke. He really needs to understand that this is no laughing matter. Period.
The cannabis supporters in this country need to keep up the pressure more than ever. There is progress out there in spite of Mr. Obama’s screw-up.
I, too am totally offended and dismayed at the flippant attitude Obama had regarding such a serious issue. People are dying across our border by the thousands, here at home MILLIONS of non violent drug offenders are incarcerated, their families devastated and left homeless by DEA confiscation of EVERYTHING. Mr. President, how is this FUNNY? I have an MAT with a specialization in teaching reading,(second career) a Medical Technology and Business degree BS/BA respectively, and a 17 year Army veteran. Please stop perpetuating the lies that pot users are lazy, dumb,and unmotivated.You stated this morning that Afghanistan’s violence is fueled by narcotics trafficking. The time is NOW to stop the drug war that feeds the violence and breeds corruption and social strife around the world!
I would be interested in learning if the criminal intellect behind the increase in violent activity on our boarders is in part a response to America (particular California) considering the financial aspects of taxing marijuana? How much would the criminal element lose if our state and federal governments not only legalized and taxed marijuana but earmark the monies raised so that this money would then be designated for use by the health industry for the treatment and rehabilitations.
@Thomas A. Clarke: I agree that the last things the cartels want to see is the legalization of marijuana. That would kill their income stream.
Still though, I don’t think we can attribute the escalating drug war violence to Ammiano’s legalization proposal. That only came through several weeks ago, and the Mexican drug war has been spiraling out of control during the past few years. There were well over 5,000 murders in Mexico last year directly tied to organized crime.
Personally I think the violence can be attributed much more directly to prohibitionist efforts than to legalization efforts.
It was that same “online audience” that got Obama elected. That was a low blow to many whom supported him BECAUSE we thought that he would treat the PEOPLES ISSUES with RESPECT and THOUGHTFULNESS. This is politics as usual. I’m sorry to say it America, but our country is not ours any more. Our thoughts, concerns, and will is no longer at the forefront of our nations policy. Our civil rights and freedoms are slowly being taken away and people are laughing at us for it.
I concur with the comments that, while not as good as it could have been, President Obama’s response was much more favorable than a lot of what we’ve seen in the pass. This really is a good time to pull political attention to this issue.
As to a solution to both some of our own economic woes AND the violence in Mexico, we should continue to point out that as a nation we have the choice between either spending $20,000 a year to lock up a marijuana user after his or her marijuana purchases have perhaps funded the violence, OR collecting sales tax on the individual’s purchase of this widely used, relatively safe product. To collect taxes from the grow-your-own community, we could consider a $100 per year permit for a dozen plants.
It’s time to put the criminal drug dealers out of business and let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
To the extent politicians see the money to be made on these taxes, they will tend to move in the right direction.
@Christian Conservative: I have a hard time considering that response “favorable” by any stretch of the imagination.
I didn’t expect the guy to come out and say we should legalize, but to deride and dismiss the subject like he did was not a “favorable” reaction. I would have had no problem if he had treated the subject with the respect and care that he gave to the other topics, even if his opinion was in disagreement with mine.
So it’s not the opinion itself that is so upsetting, it is the manner in which the issue was brought up and dismissed. He laughed at all of the pain and suffering.
In our consumer economy, imagine how strong of a signal could be sent by picking one day or one week (possibly starting on April 20) to either not buy or buy strongly one item or one brand of item. Not a boycott, per se, just an anonymous flex of will.
It would make the point that this group would be capable of organizing and could impose change — real change — if it wanted to.
We need to pick an item that is tracked openly and fairly so that it would not be subject to manipulation by the controlling interest.
Any ideas?
I’ve seen people mention the global marijuana march, even that goes unnoticed. We need something more organized, more direct and not so scattered. I’d say the hill is a good place to start. From there the capitols of each state that it is criminal. People want to be serious about it, well then lets get serious about it.
Once upon a time it was illegal to aid in the escape of a slave.
It was also deemed political suicide to try repealing such a law.
Is that a law you would have, could have, obeyed?, upheld?, enforced?
You people do not understand. Your voice doesn’t matter. Your opinion doesn’t matter. We’re talking about an almost Tryanical law that has been upheld and enforced without mercy for many decades. Your online opinion doesn’t matter. As you heard straight from Obama, “What kind of online audience do I have?” They don’t listen until you take action. That’s right people; you actually have to get out of your comfy computer chair and do something. I would love to march in Washington on 4/20/09, and I’m sure many of you people would too. Change is not going to happen because a black man got elected; alternatively it happened because you did something. Now it’s time for the Marijuana community to do something. YES WE CANnabis!
No respect
No hope
No change
No time
Marijuana march 4-20-2009
On The white house steps.
I am beginning to wonder about the legalization efforts in MA and CA. I have written my elected officials in California and at least 3 of them have responded by saying, ” I will not vote for this legislation as Federal law still dictates what a state can do.” Or something along those lines.
Therefore, I would urge everyone to continue talking, emailing, and writing your representatives, and explaining how unjust and immoral this war truly is. Because it appears that the politicians are not going to do anything until federal law is changed, which could take another decade! Call, write, and email… please!
Obama will be on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer this weekend. Please let CBS know that you want Obama to answer our serious questions seriously.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/07/08/ftn/main13469.shtml
Logan9,
Its funny that they wrote that back to you. I guess they were hoping that you didn’t catch it. Congress enacts federal laws. The executive branch enforces it. They are the ones to change it on a federal level. If it was congressmen you wrote to, they lied to you. And probably in hopes that you wouldn’t catch it. Make sure to include that in your next letters. And that Federal law is limited to matters of national importance, such as immigration, environmental law, federal taxation, civil rights, federal criminal law, and U.S. Constitutional law. They would have to push for federal decriminalization, as it is illegal according to federal criminal law, it also contradicts civil rights and constitutional law, ie: unusual search and seizure. Good luck!
States do have the right to enact there own laws. This is in our constitution! FEDS GO AWAY NOW!
He joked around,yea pretty funny right,pretty funny down by the border to.are you brushing that one off with a couple funny lines,He should be ashamed of himself and the response he gave was worthless and he knows better. This just gives him a second chance to talk about prohibition and how it doesnt work,now we will see what he’s made of as time goes by, agroundbreaker or just more of the same.
I’m still glad that I voted for Ron Paul!
Join us:
http://www.campaignforliberty.com
I truly understand how many people are on the other side of this fence. He is scared of the other half of the country that doesn’t think that it should be decriminalized. These people are mostly undereducated or just don’t care about the subject enough to find out the truth. Stop listening to them Obama… listen to the facts and the numbers and your decision will be made for you.
So Obama you lost my respect for hiding behind your laughs with your prescreened fake crowd giggling with you… YOU ARE A COWARD!
Meet the new boss…….same as the old boss
Won’t get fooled again………………………..
So you’re frustrated, you’re upset, and you feel slighted. Understood. But while griping here helps you to vent, it’s not doing much for the cause.
If you’ve got a few minutes, send a calm, rational, respectful email to your Senator or Representative, to the President, or to the kind folks over at ONDCP. I assume MPP.org has links to find your reps somewhere on the site; if not, links to contact info are available on norml.org.
Remember, be respectful. You know how frustrated you are at Obama’s disrespect, but being disrespectful in return will probably be counter productive. As my grandfather used to say, “Be the bigger man…but get the job done.”
As an example, here’s a quick comment I just submitted to ONDCP (http://pushingback.com/blogs/pushing_back/archive/2009/03/27/47106.aspx).
Peace,
Huck
My response to President Obama’s comments regarding legalization of marijuana is to ask: What’s so funny?
While it is difficult to make an accurate estimate, it is commonly cited that roughly half of American adults have used marijuana—including the president himself. Recent polls indicate that more than 40% of adults nationwide–and 58-60% of adults in California, Oregon, and Washington–are in favor of regulated legalization. More than 80% of Americans feel that medical marijuana is a viable treatment for many illnesses.
So who are all of these people? We are cooks, waiters, and bus drivers. We are doctors and lawyers. We are teachers, civil servants, aid workers, and volunteers. I am a scientist at a DOE laboratory. The vast majority of us are responsible, contributing members of society.
While many of us, me included, have not used marijuana in over a decade, we are frustrated and disappointed by the monumental hypocrisy, waste, and failed policies of America’s “War on Drugs.”
We don’t think that daily marijuana use—just like daily alcohol or tobacco use—is a healthy lifestyle choice, and we surely don’t think that marijuana will save the world. On the other hand, we don’t think that responsible marijuana use by adults is a threat to society, and we definitely don’t think it is a crime. We know that marijuana use poses fewer physical risks and is less addictive than alcohol or tobacco, and we figured out years ago that federal anti-drug campaigns—including “reefer madness”, “the gateway effect”, “amotivational syndrome”—are more yellow journalism than they are public service announcements. We see these campaigns as disingenuous and disrespectful; more importantly, we have seen them fail repeatedly.
With respect to the current economic crisis, we do not see legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana as a silver bullet; we see it as a small step in the right direction. Enforcement of marijuana laws costs federal, state, and local governments tens of billions of dollars per year—more than the federal government currently spends on health care for underprivileged families. Moreover, the black market marijuana industry has recently been estimated to net more than $14 billion per year just in California. Legalization, regulation, and taxation would simultaneously provide a substantial decrease in spending and a substantial revenue stream.
With respect to the ongoing drug-related violence in Mexico and along the southern border states, officials believe that marijuana accounts for between 40% and 75% of drug cartel revenues. Legalization and regulation would remove the marijuana trade from the black market, causing an immediate and substantial decrease in cartel revenue. As with alcohol, marijuana-related violence is a direct result of marijuana prohibition, not of marijuana use.
While I do not condone substance abuse, I strongly feel that prohibition has created a much more harmful and dangerous situation than drug abuse itself. America’s “War on Drugs” has failed, and it’s time for a new approach. Educate our children and young adults, but do so honestly and without sensationalized propaganda. Provide individuals suffering from addiction with access to counseling and treatment, rather than giving them a criminal record. In all cases, treat the public with respect.
President Obama laughed at the idea of legalizing marijuana. So, as I said, my response to Obama’s comments is: What’s so funny?
It’s more than angering to see Obama laugh (not to mention all those people in the audience) and for him to play it off like it’s a joke. You should be ashamed Mr. President
While this may be a small let down, I don’t think the president meant the tone of his retoric as a slap in the face. An issue of this magnitude is going to take a while to boil over and their are still alot of people on the hill whose opinions need to be swayed. Bear in mind that within the less than 90 days that Mr. Obama has been in office his team has shown a much more positive response to the issue at hand than any previous president in recent memory. Obama was simply doing what he does best, appealing to the crowds uneasy laughter and the sense of apprehension still felt across most of the country. This is still too hot an issue for a president to come out one way or another on. What we’ve whitnessed through actions of his cabnet members is the best indicator of his position on the issue. My guess is they’ll wait to see how well taxation and legalization works in places like California before they take bigger steps at the federal level.
It seems to me that with the exception of traffic violations, marijuana use may be the most widely civilly disobedient action taken by our citizenry today. Maybe the most popular question by far isn’t the one that needs answering. Perhaps a better question is this: How can a government justify the prohibition cost in the face of overwhelming consumer based economic activity.
I am seething and enraged. I did NOT vote for this guy to create a crushing debt to saddle my grandchildren with. I did NOT vote for him to give billions and billions of taxpayer’s to greedy, irresponsible corporations and to give millions of dollars in bonuses for their greedy and incompetent executives.
No, I voted his butt into office for one reason, and one reason alone…. to end the War on Drugs and free us from a prison state. And now he laughs and mocks the whole thing. OUTRAGEOUS!!!
And now I hear he has unleashed his DEA goons on another dispensary raid! How rich is that?
That’s ok though, no problem. At least we now know who he REALLY is. Anyone who still thinks this guy is about changing the prison state should have just received a wake-up call. If you still believe in this guy, you are a fool. While I readily admit that he is still better than McCain would have been in this area, at least McCain wouldn’t have tripled the deficit in his first two months in office!
I am quite simply disguted with Mr. Obama. I will no longer support his hypocritical administration. I pledge that I will fight tooth and nail to oppose ALL of his policies in the future.
Thanks for nothing there Mr. “President
I do not agree with those of you trying to make excuses for Obama. The bottom line is, (and I can see that many are in agreement) that he laughed in our faces. He did not laugh with us, but rather at us, and I don’t know about you, but in my neighborhood, this is a sure sign of DISRESPECT! millions of us are professionals and givers in our communities. Many of us are advocates, activist, educators. However, due to attitudes like those reflected by Obama and the audinece, we have to hidde who we are. I hate having to hide who I am, but as an educator I can be fired. I am also a compassionate legal grower and provider in my state, so this issue is quite important to me, so forgive me if I am not excusing the bloody president for treating us with disdain. First he calls us unbelievers, now he laughs in our faces. When will we wake up and realize that no politician cares about the people. Obama is not from the people, he is an individual with lots of privilege who happens to be a black man, or a Franz Fannon would say, he is someone who is wearing white-face.
Please email Senator Webb to express your gratitude for his support on marijuana decriminalization:
http://webb.senate.gov/contact/
this really shows how similar he really is to the rest of the feds, its sickening
Perhaps we should all do the same thing and laugh at his 3 TRILLION dollar pork laden budget he is trying to propose.
I have a feeling his initial budget will be disapproved in order to make way for an even BIGGER budget that will pretty much be a pork barrel buffet for all the politicians to get fat off.
I’m tired of all this BS and they leave the tax payers with the bill.
Vote Ron Paul 2012!!!!
Tax
Regulate
Usable revenue
Treat wars
Help prevent addiction
Marijuana march 4-20-2009
We have an opportunity to create a new economic foundation based on renewable natural resources, yielding thousands of green jobs, producing a sustainable replacement for oil and the restoration of social consent and confidence in the body politic. All of that and more made manifest by a stroke of the pen, simply by properly classifying hemp as the medicine and beneficial resource that over 100,000,000 Americans already know it is. Hemp, cannabis is good.
The social benefit of a rational hemp policy would be to restore social consent and confidence in the body politic. Currently, over 100,000,000 Americans have used marijuana and have decided that it is a good thing, not dangerous and should be free, not used to ruin peoples lives by arrest, confiscation and disenfranchisement. Thinking people do their own research and many times conclude that the laws against marijuana are arbitrary, unjust, wrong and that the only people who support them are either uninformed or their jobs depend upon the mandatory acceptance of marijuana prohibition. This is the true silent majority, citizens who think that the marijuana laws are irrational and are afraid of persecution and discrimination if they express their opinions publicly.
Industrial hemp production could provide a domestic and renewable source of fuel, fiber and jobs. Hemp can be grown, produced and processed all across the land by thousands of urban farmers using land, lots, parks and public lands lying fallow and unused. These green jobs are about the growing, harvesting and processing of locally grown organics for food and fuel and could constitute the bedrock of a truly independent economy, intrinsically secure, renewable and stable, sustainable and most importantly doable.
The benefits of a rational hemp policy are financial, social and moral.
The economic impact of is three fold; first is the creation of Jobs based on a sustainable, clean source of fuel, fiber and medicine, estimated at over One Trillion dollars. Good jobs that produce energy and tax revenue that is
The second is the savings to taxpayers by eliminating the money spent on law enforcement, the courts and prisons, estimated at over 8 billion a year. The third is the cost to individuals and families who are criminalized by a system that encourages law enforcement to arrest people, fine them, confiscate their property, and disenfranchise them from the vote, healthcare, professional licenses and credit. This cost is measured in the billions of dollars. All totaled the war on marijuana and the lost opportunities to develop hemp; combined with the needless suffering of those persecuted is over 2 Trillion dollars a year.
The moral benefit is simple; the truth will set us free.
We need to decriminalize marijuana and repel the effects of the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act to restore the production, development and use of the most sustainable, renewable natural resource recorded in history. Hemp production can replace the use of oil as a fuel quickly, efficiently and at low cost. Hemp is a renewable crop that can be grown on land not used for food, improving the land and providing a carbon neutral source of fuel. Hemp production and processing will create jobs all across the land while providing a local and domestic source of energy.
The use of marijuana for medical purposes is the oldest and most universally documented use of any substance in medical history. 13 states have decided that marijuana is a beneficial plant and it is time allow and encourage the use and investigation of medical marijuana and industrial hemp.
Hemp production was the economic foundation of colonial America because it was readily grown and used for over 25,000 different purposes; Hemp was grown for sails, rope, oil for lamps, clothing and high quality paper. The Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper by Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of hemp for commerce, medicine and recreation. George Washington was one of the largest hemp growers in the colonies and the renewable income produced by this plant sustained our first president and his family before, during and after the revolution. It is fair to say that the spirit to be free and independent was made possible by the ability of our fore fathers to be economically independent and free. Hemp production was the backbone of liberty, freedom and economic independence for colonial America and could once again be the keystone of a renewable, sustainable and yes, Independent economy.
“I don’t know what this says about the online audience”..well lets look at what types of people use the internet….that narrows it down to pretty much EVERYONE. Right Obama, the people voting for that question on your website are just a bunch of drugged out couch potato stoners. Yep, whitehouse.gov only attracts the stoner crowd. Unbelievable, you too, Obama, have lost my respect and probably my vote next term. You offended millions of people by quipping at one of the most important issues in our country.
MPP you need to take advantage of the media coverage and get people together for a rally!
VOTE VOTE VOTE!!! legalization poll!
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live/
Is there any better way to get people with common interests and with a common goal united? Really lets make this about the eonomy. Most people hoping to see the decriminalization of pot are tax payers who are not having their opinions heard. What if we banded together and refused to purchase any goods or services that are taxed? One day a week we refuse to buy gas, go out to eat, hit the bars. Tell the President this is who we are we are 30-40% of the American population that pays taxes and wants to be able to unwind after work just like Joe Six-Pack.
Tell the President to look at the tax revenue generated on Tuesdays and see if all the potheads stick together we can show him it is not just some internet prank. If 30% of the American population refuses to make any purchases one day a week it will get noticed. We can serve notice we will be heard and our rights will be given back to us or we refuse to contribute any more money to a government that refuses to listen to us.
Time to act, make flyers, hundreds of flyers and post them every where. Time to physically visit your government leaders or be square man. This is your best time to act right now. Got a better idea, post it please!
Hah the poll on Larry King is a positive 78%!
wake up people obama is just another fucking dumass
americas worst prisdent is now in the office the people
voted him in so live with
Here’s a way you can let the White House know what you think. The Drug Czar’s blog, Pushing Back, is asking for the public’s feedback regarding Thursday’s Town Hall Meeting. You already know what they think; let them know what you think here.
http://pushingback.com/blogs/pushing_back/archive/2009/03/27/47106.aspx
Everyone must go there and tell them what you think.
Do Not just let this go!!!
Since when is Baldwin and expert on anything? Saw him on CNN. He is completely ignorant, and I really don’t mind him being the voice of prohibition
I found this snippet from an article at Media Awareness Project
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n343/a02.html?1042
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was later asked whether Obama, who admitted in his autobiography to experimenting with drugs in his youth, was leaving some wiggle room on the issue.
“The president opposes the legalization of marijuana,” Gibbs told reporters, emphasizing his seriousness. “He doesn’t think that’s the right plan for America.”
As for where the new administration stood on medical marijuana, he said to ask the Justice Department.
Gibbs suggested that marijuana advocates may have had a hand in stacking the deck by mobilizing supporters to send in questions and to go online and vote repeatedly for them.
So they have the nerve to accuse us of stacking the deck, Yet they fail to mention you can only vote on each question once.
That takes alot of gaul Robert Gibbs!!!
I think Obama doesn’t realize who his base is. Now he’ll find out by the number of supporter he just insulted and lost.
I had released info earlier about the Global March 2009 after someone asked, I agree that it most likely won’t do anything as usually. There have been many marches w/ no avail.
I believe things that may help are just very hard for people to stick to, myself included. I already have a list of things to “buy” next month in a budget. Maybe we need to all curtail any spending possible. I know its hard, especially w/ children and such. Almost make it game of how much to save a month. (if any’s possible, I know sometimes I have next to nothing after bills.)
Or we could go a more drastic route…everybody toke up at your local PD or courthouse.
The most drastic I ever thought was that people walk-out at work…obviously easier said then done. Or the latter, create your own barter system(only try this if your in the midst of a lay off or dont mind getting fired in a day or two.) bASICALLY GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY IF YOU WANT. Thanks for letting me get my extreme rant out
.
It saddens me that there is not many practical suggestions that come easy too me. It seems everything practical has already been tried. “We the People” basically said this is want we want, and we were told NO. Therefore, there is no “we the people”, and until there is, why should our constitution be honored when it is obviously non-existent.
Bob, I agree, why wait till 2012. I myself am known to be extremely impulsive, and although sometimes it seems like a bad idea, I am usually benefited greatly from this.
I am sitting right now on the floor nest the the stage Ron Paul was just speaking last night in St Louis at the Millenium Hotel. I didnt know about this until yesterday morning, after seeing all of you mentioning Ron Paul, I finally went to his website. I immediately recognized his face from a show a couple years ago. I informed my dad who is the most politically involved in our family, that if he ran I would actually register to vote. I plan on registering Tuesday as soon as the DMV opens.
Please keep any tactic in mind folks as long as we keep safety and integrity close in minds. Sometimes the most drastic results take the most drastic initiatives.
Maybe try marching more frequently, once a week if necessary.
Just saw the Montel Williams / Stephen Baldwin debate on Medical Marijuana on Larry King last night.
I must say, I am very proud of Montel Williams and how he masterfully handled the subject. Especially how he started by saying that the Federal Govt. has been supplying medical marijuana for over 20 years, and is still doing so until now.
He pretty much left Stephen Baldwin with nothing more to say than the normal political prohibitionist rhetoric that nobody believes in anymore.
Prior to this, I actually liked Stephen Baldwin. I was more surprised with his position on the subject.
Stephen Baldwin : I hope you will soon change your views and be more realistic about the truth. Your Prohibitionist Rhetoric has lost it’s magic many years ago. And now you’re starting to look like a pitch fork waving KKK member looking for blood. (not saying your a racist, but the things you say and the way you respond tend to leave a bad image similar to that of a racist/discriminator)
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
………Gandhi
Obama laughed and as someone said, it is no laughing matter. He laughed I think not at the question but at the sheer silliness people who want cannabis legalised, at the irrationality that lies behind the call. Much of the legalisation argument is founded on falsity. Cannabis particularly, low CBD cannabis, has all the harms of tobacco and much more. Tobacco and alcohol as legal drugs (in most countries) cause far more personal and social harm than all the illegal drugs put together. The trivialisation of cannabis harms has been going on for too long, the normalisation and legalisation of this substance would inevitably lead to MORE USE, more use means, without any doubt, MORE personal and social harm as night follows day. So legalisation would not reduce that harm it would on the hard evidence of the tobacco/alcohol model, increase it. The second string of the argument is that illegal drugs are a gift to organised crime and that legalisation would remove that gift. This is a naive or dishonest argument. Illegal sales can always undercut legal sales by price, legal sales would allow crime to produce something “stronger”, regulations around age of purchase would encourage crime to target those excluded by age. Legalisation wouold produce counterfeit (cheaper) product, the appliocation of any tax at all would encourage crime-to avoid that tax. The end result of legalised cannabis would be more cosnumption, by more people, for more of their lives. All that amounts to more harm. Just as we have with tobacco and alcohol. If anyone doubts what I say I ask them to consider the personal and social harm from alcohol in those countries where use is culturally or religiously taboo and to compare with similar sized societies where use is allowed and normalised. So why did Obama laugh? I suggest he knows the truth of what I speak, he knows that the tide of scientific opinion continues to move against the safety and harms of cannabis. he knows that the UK has only recently because of that social and personal harm and at the request of our National Director of Mental Health, reclassified cannabis to a more serious drug, (where it historically was under our system). We, have rejected the nonsense of the pothead and stoner lobby. So should the USA. You should get off your drugs and get back to work.
Yeah I went on that website and found it there were multiple popular questions about legalizing marijuana. Not just in the economy section. Obviously President Obama lied and should have said it WAS the most popular question on the internet site. But he just kind of laughs it off. What also hurt me was how everyone in the room laughed along with him. Pretty sad how much money we spend to keep marijuana illegal and how many people die because of the prohibition and we got fellow Americans and our leader in a room laughing at the right solution. Get smart like the Netherlands!
I understand your stand point David. However, it is not the governments duty to take away our right to partake in an activity that may or may not be more harmful. Their job is supposed to be to ensure our rights are preserved, not to pick anxd choose…especially against the majorities will.
OBAMA and most senators are uneducated about cannabis awareness even though most have tried it. That ‘s the job of MPP , to educate these ignorant politicians that ruin / run the country. I voted for Obama, but now I seriously am perterbed by is diss. 1 in 5 blacks are in jail due to cannabis. Obama this was the MAIN question ,not some fairly popular question. HOW CAN THEY SPIN IT SO MUCH.?
Angela, if you don’t want to mess with the DMV, you can request a voter registration card from this website:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/firstvote/students/request.asp
They are pretty prompt in sending them out.
Terry, I was actually just wondering about that earlier today. Thanks.
No david your wrong its not harmful as all, i actually believe its good for , if there was any evidence it was bad short or long term, the porhibitionists would all over it….
proven, not one case of death, never heard oa violent crime with the use of cannabis…
420 smoke up, its a natural herb that harmed anyone , its a choice between the legal shit i have to drink or smoke which harms me or hide and sneak around the law to get something I feel is better for me, you cannot tell me what and isn’t good for me, thats not a free society, or do you want us to be like saudi arabia?
I mentioned that there are Law enforcement agents that want to see an end to this War on simple Marijuana users. Here is the link
http://hempus.org/?p=121 Links to back up info are very effective. Thanks for the inspiration to all who do so. Check This out! LEAP – Law Enforcement Against Prohibition- We should all write letters of congratulations to all their members who have the Balls to go against the Status-Quo and do the right thing by their fellow man.
I just read your comment David. May I suggest that you everything you think concerning this is dead wrong?
I have MS- Do you know what that is? Research it, if not.
Marijuana, for me, is a very good medicine. It alleviates nausea, allows me to finally sleep and helps with pain and my appetite. I never am hungry without it. I was wasting away until I discovered this wonderful tasting substance grown right out of the ground could give me such a boost in my will to stay alive.
No David, may I suggest also that science does not usually guide policy and politicians and money in reality does. The UNITED NATIONS is taking a really hard stance against marijuana and it’s now being reflected in the Netherlands and in the UK. I am disabled with MS so I can’t work now but when I did I worked my bum off.
Thomas Jefferson said that there was nothing better than to sit on his back porch, gaze at the beautiful new land and smoke Hemp. I guess The Queen wasn’t into the Green.
Now I know another reason man traversed an unknown ocean to get away from the U. K.
In regards to the “online audience” comment that Frank mentioned earlier, did it ever occur to Obama’s authors– that anonymously online, is the only way for some people to vote without feeling threatened. The ringing in the ears surely isn’t freedom.
If you missed Terry Nelson on CNN the other night found a link for it from LEAP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0hV2jRAduc
David, thank goodness you stated at the end of your comment that you are from the UK, because I was starting to worry that we had a US citizen that is ignorant and dim-witted as you portray yourself to be. By the way, you display excellent grammar and rhetoric. Next time you want to put together a persuasive and intelligent argument, you might want to consider getting a formal education first…
I don’t see how this could be so surprising, he’s just a tool of the bank owners and corporations, he probably has a bit of wiggle room, but I’m sure he’s pretty pressed down under the thumb of the real shot-callers, and this issue is no exception.
I also don’t see the benefit in taking any of this personally, of course its an outrage that he’s going back on his word, but doesn’t practically every president do that?
I am truly indifferent to all of this, and yes its very disheartening to see people agreeing in some kind of scoffing, snickering laughter. They’re ignorant, many people in this world are ignorant.
I think he has to demonstrate that “the law is the law” and he couldn’t go against it, especially not so early in his career anyways.
But it’s not like he’s the one who’s writing most of his script anyways, right? Yeah its dissapointing…
Yeah I have to agree with David, I mean fair game and all, it’s good to bring out counter-points and arguments, by all means say as much as you like against it, but I think that you’re convictions are not realistic and that there is no reason to believe that what you envision to happen will happen. With all respect, I highly disagree.
“Illegal sales can always undercut legal sales by price, legal sales would allow crime to produce something “stronger”, regulations around age of purchase would encourage crime to target those excluded by age. Legalisation wouold produce counterfeit (cheaper) product, the appliocation of any tax at all would encourage crime-to avoid that tax. The end result of legalised cannabis would be more cosnumption, by more people, for more of their lives. All that amounts to more harm. Just as we have with tobacco and alcohol.”
So what about alcohol, are there alcohol cartels running rampant in our cities that are illicitely selling alcohol to children and in bulk to regular people in order to bypass the age restrictions and tax implications of alcohol? I don’t see anything like that happening, it’s not a problem.
Younger people will do any drug regardless of whether or not it’s illegal. Tax issues mean almost zilch, and besides
if marijuana is so cheap, then who would go through the trouble of selling it “illegaly”? It would be foolish.
Hasn’t everybody here heard that something like maybe 10% of all the youth in Amsterdam are actual regular users of cannabis? Of course everyone tries it, but for many people in this world, believe it or not you people, for many people it’s just a phase.
If it’s not stigmatized, then we can just get on with our lives already and move on to better things.
I think legalization would be helpful for two main reason, just my opinion of course, but these are the two ones that I see to be the most major…aside from medical benefits:
1. It would cost us people a whole lot less and we would have a whole lot more money to use for other things.
2. It would ease all of the guilt for young people who feel alienated by their peers, teachers, and of course families who hound them into shame and restrictions for discovering their use of cannabis. It means we could grow up and just get over this benign issue.
EDIT: Oops, I mean I have to agree with INFURIATED which means that I also disagree with David.
Hahahaha. You Obamabots are getting your reality check now. I knew this was coming.
For TERRY- thanks for the link. Now that Law man makes sense!
Will you people please calm down. I can’t believe how short-sighted and thick-headed you all are. This isn’t rocket science, folks. Obama knows that if he were to legalize marijuana in his first term, he would not see a second. The Republicans and the majority of Americans who still aren’t comfortable with legalization would throw him out of office and elect a Republican president who would repeal any legalization legislation. IF he legalizes it, it won’t be until his second term and he might not do it then because he knows that would make it hard for the next Democrat to get elected.
Legalization will happen from the ground up. It will happen city by city and state by state long before it happens at the federal level. Full on legalization will not happen until the majority of Americans approve it, which won’t be for another 10 or 15 years.
Leave the man alone.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I don’t mean to interrupt the debate here, but just want to turn you onto a clip of Bill Mahers show the other night on this subject. (warning: inappropriate language, after all it is Maher!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqAOnUbvNn0
the Republicans were defeated. We voted them out. Who cares what they have to say. Their influence has done enough damage.
The war on drugs is the financial engine that pays for the gangs, guns and violence that plagues us all. Science and logic say the war is a failure and drugs are a medical not a criminal problem.
I wonder if Nancy is laughing? Nancy, my addict sister in law died recently. She became addicted while being treated for chronic pain. Her death was result of a bad street heroin that killed her and almost killed her friend. Had her addiction been monitored and treated by a physician she might still be alive. Her pain doctor’s fear of the DEA caused him to cut her off at the height of her addiction when she needed the doctor the most. That sent her right to the street for her pain drugs and now she is dead.
the death and destroyed lives resulting from the War On Drugs should be laid at the feet of President Nixon when he rejected the reccommendatiopns of his own commission on drugs. the Shafer Commission and declared the war. Every politician who has used this war to advance his or her political career is just as guilty.
No, Mr. President it’s not funny!!!
Nixon & Reagan both. I could ramble on for hours about it – but feel Eric Schlosser in his book Reefer Madness does a much better job of depicting the insanity of the war against marijuana. I’m sure many of you have read it, but if not it would behoove you to do so.
First, I don’t smoke marijuana.
I was extremely disappointed with the President’s handling of the matter. He sounded more like John McCain (“I don’t know what that says about people online…”) than Barack Obama.
The legalization of marijuana is the policy solution to a plethora of ills, and I can only hope that his handling of it last night had more to do with strategy than it was a reflection of the President’s opinion.
Legalizing marijuana would:
- provide unfettered access for the ill and suffering
- create jobs
- create revenue for the government
- reduce crime and crime-related violence
- strip drug cartels of much of their power and profit
- decrease demand on every component of the justice system
- eliminate the profound damage that is done to individual lives and families when prosecution happens.
Enough from me. Terribly, terribly disappointed.
180 comments in a couple of days on this…..Our movement is growing with the quickness.
I’m appalled by the President’s sinister chuckle. It’s as if “WE” don’t matter.
I can’t believe he supports a prohibition law that was obviously enacted out of racism and discrimination.
Mr. Obama – If colored people still had to sit in back of the bus today, would you do it or would you take a stand against discrimination?!?!? Would you just stand aside and allow the government to abuse it’s citizens with it’s draconian laws?!?!?
STOP DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CANNABIS USERS!!!!!
WE NEED TO ALL UNITE IN EVERY CITY ACROSS AMERICA ON 4/20 AND MAKE A PUBLIC STAND!!!
It would be a perfect time, just before the Lynch sentencing, to let them know we stand together!!!!
has anyone heard that california’s AB 390 bill is being delayed untill next year???
Let our voices be heard. Not one day a year. They know we are out there. Someone must be buying all that pot that is seized on the highways, all those traffic stops that conclude with a search of our vehicles.
We put the President, our Governors on notice. One day a week we refuse to make any purchases that will result in any sales tax. If after six months they still want to laugh at the potheads we go to 2 days a week with no purchases that generate sales tax. It could go all the way to one day a week it is nothing but stoners out shopping and getting gas. Taco Bell would have to get behind our cause because they dont wont to be open only one day a week.
Common guys – just be patience…. get high and watch the video over and over again…. – its ok if he chuckle(laugh), think positive
believe that change is coming – at least for Medical Marijuna.
Yeah. I’m pissed. And I was a huge supporter/volunteer for Obama. This will not do. President Obama, I oppose you on this. And if you keep pulling sh8t like this you will make a political enemy out of me.
Disagreeing is one thing. So is saying you disagree out of political expediency. But. . .laughing? Making a god-damned joke out of this. Inexcusable! I’m going to stop typing right now before my rage boils over and I say something really inappropriate.
I still don’t know why he hasn’t been prosecuted yet for violating the state and federal law of smoking marijuana. Not only him but other presidents and celebrities as well. Where’s the justice?
I completely agree with Tim, he has hit the nail directly on the head.
I was really bothered by that video and the way he addressed the issue. I know that marijuana is not going to be legalized overnight, but he took an issue which was THE most popular and laughed at it and dismissed it.
This president was supposed to be an intellectual and he was supposed to listen to the people and address their concerns seriously.
Is there any way to start a letter/petition that lets him know his attitude has disappointed millions of people that had serious ideas and concerns that he PROMISED he would address?
If so, please let me know, I refuse to believe this President will be as ignorant as the one before him.
What can I do to help move forward?
You are right B. Everyone needs to unite on 4/20/2009. I hope everyone who reads this and tells ten more people.
MAKE POSTERS!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
4/20/2009 WE NEED CHANGE NOW!!!!!
“Will you people please calm down. I can’t believe how short-sighted and thick-headed you all are. This isn’t rocket science, folks. Obama knows that if he were to legalize marijuana in his first term, he would not see a second. The Republicans and the majority of Americans who still aren’t comfortable with legalization would throw him out of office and elect a Republican president who would repeal any legalization legislation. IF he legalizes it, it won’t be until his second term and he might not do it then because he knows that would make it hard for the next Democrat to get elected.”
Who’s to say that we’ll vote for Obama again? I’m voting either independent, green or libertarian next time around after this debacle.
I am going to buy more hemp products. Clothing, foods, body care, oils…etc. I have had enough of the big industries running the US.
Just posted on the drug-czar blog, and sent a letter to the White House contact page. Putting in my 2 cents on the issue, let them know how you feel!
Interesting to see the standard of debate that attacks what I said. The comments about Obama not getting elected a second time if he supported legalisation are certainly true. Similar arguments are probably true in all democratic societies. Any party that wholeheartedly supported the legalization of an illegal drug cannot get majority support. That is how democracy works. The arguments to legalise MJ have not been made out to the required standard to convince the majority. Since as I have pointed out much of the argument is based on palpable falsehoods it is difficult to see progress being made. The standard of debate by the pro pot lobby is just not good enough.
Remember ex- top cop of Seattle? Check this out.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/30/citing_failed_war_on_drugs_former
I think Americans concerned for their freedom need to start endorsing Ron Paul for the 2012 election. Obama has made it clear he isn’t going to do diddly for marijuana reform.
Obama will win the primary which puts Obama, a complete failure on all accounts so far, against a strong republican candidate. He will lose.
All we can hope for at this point, is that Paul wins the primary and after decades of waiting, we get a man who is on the side of the people.
Or we can continue to get our lunch money taken, laughed at, and basically sold into slavery.
I found this incredibly offensive.
I love Obama so much, the only way this could be justified is that he cannot for the life of him touch this subject with a 50 foot pole. He needs to be re-elected. End of story.
Obama Man… like Seriously Its america’s largest cash crop… ok you could have revenues sky “high” think in a more open perspective next time your talked to about it
Legalizing marijuana is a threat to society. I have lived with the disruption this drug causes to a young and bright mind – and the number of years that his addiction almost destroyed him and our family. Obama is right! Marijuana causes apathy, lack of memory and is no remedy for anything. See Mr. Raynes comments above and you might get a better understanding
My letter to Obama.
Dear President Obama,
I watched your recent town hall meeting and I was extremely disappointed in your response to the question around the legalization and regulation of marijuana. Your remarks seemed flippant to a very serious issue. The prohibition of marijuana has been a disastrous public policy that has ruined the lives of many upstanding American citizens. Could you imagine if you had been stopped by police for even processing a single marijuana cigarette? Would you be in the White House Today? I think not.
The continued lack of support from our elected officials (including you) on this issues leads to two conclusions. Either the will of special interests (alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, private prisons, and unions) or government institutions (DEA, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Local and State Police) are being administered over the will of the people. When the freest country in the world has the highest incarceration rate of any industrialized nation and a high percentage of those incarcerated are for non-violent drug offenses, one can easily draw a conclusion that drug prohibition is not working. Is our War on Drugs protecting the American populace or is it servicing the special interests and government agencies. Based upon the statistics and studies, I conclude it is the later.
If our elected officials are waiting for political cover to tackle this problem so they don’t appear to be soft on crime they need to communicate that the prohibition of Marijuana (stamp act and listing as a Schedule I drug) was based upon false principals and should have never been enacted. This could be achieved through a Schaffer 2.0 commission and allowing credible scientific research to be done such as the work proposed by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (research blocked by the DEA). You spoke of change based upon scientific analysis. Yet, your continued response around this issue leads me to believe that this hypocritical and only pertains to issues that push your agenda.
With all that is happening to country, we need leadership from our government. What happened to line in the Gettysburg address “that government of the people, by the people, for the people”? It seems that if Lincoln was to give the address today it would read “that government of the people, enforced by the government agencies, for the special interests”. It appalling that we are incarcerating and ruining so many lives over someone’s choice to use Marijuana. A drug that is no worse (many would argue less) than alcohol.
Ok here is what I know. When the war on drugs started at the beginning of the 20th century around 1.3 percent of the population were addicted to some sort of (drug) including alcohol. We have spent well over a trillion dollars fighting this war. Basically making criminals out of citizens that needed medical help. Yes they had a problem. A human problem which could of been solved by helping them not incarcerating them. Yes we are so civilixed. We are the only so called free country that puts people in jail for having a medical condition. This is insane. The only reason we have all the violence and crime around this issue is because of PROHIBITION. This has to stop. Getting back to the point do you know what percent of the population is addicted today. Around 1.3 percent. Does that make sense for us to continue to fight this war on our sick who need help and our sympaphy.
Clearly, the president has been quixotic on the issue. Like most, I was really disappointed during the campaign when the video from 2004 of him saying he supported decriminalization surfaced, he initially confirmed his position, saying that he had always supported decriminalization and then completely flip-flopped the next day, actually claiming that he did not know what decriminalization was.
What is significant about Obama’s last statement is that he made it at all. It is disturbing that the President would imply that everyone who wants to end our nation’s failed marijuana policy smokes. Sure, plenty of us do but everyone who supports legalization of alcohol is hardly an alcoholic. Legalization is good for the country, not just stoner’s self-interest. But the President addressed our issue on prime tme.
Obama dodged. He is a master politician. The White House has made clear th they will not spend any political capital on this issue. We have to make the case and make it easy for him. We have to win over the American people and let our pusilanimous, spaghetti spined politicians follow the polls. It’s just sad that our political culture does not allow candid debate on contorversial issues byt our leaders. The market place of ideas hardly works when they are afraid to speak candidly.
Change, is not going to happen anytime soon. The government propaganda machine has work too hard for too long for the public perception to change. Marijuana users are and will continue to be viewed as pothead stoners without drive or ambition, in otherwords losers of the lowest caliber and until that stereotype changes, nothing is going to.
I guess Obama thinks it’s better to continue arresting people for marijuana use, then. So I guess he thinks he and the nation would be better off if he’d been locked up for his own admitted marijuana use. Somehow I get the feeling he wouldn’t be laughing and condescending if he was asked THAT question.
Also, he said in the above video, “I don’t know what that says about the online audience…” I think we know exactly what it says about the online audience — they are smarter, more intellectually honest, and less raging hypocrites than President Obama. It says they are more interested in facts and in solutions that make sense, and are more interested in treating this serious issue with the intelligence and seriousness it deserves, than the President seems to be. His utter disdain for the question and view of so many people who voted on that question — disdain I’m pretty sure he didn’t express so publicly regarding the other questions voted on by millions of citizens — says much about his lack of integrity and his contempt for the concerns of voters.
And I hope we all remember this very clearly in 2012. Here’s your “change” all right, and it’s the same two-cents worth we’ve gotten for years, and will continue getting, as long as we give politicians like Obama a free pass on election day. It’s chump-change, and if we keep voting for him anyway, it’s all we’ll deserve.
Wow, you guys are amazing. You perpetuate the stereotype that Dantheman states. No wonder so many voters were online regarding the marijuana issue, you have nothing better to do, too busy being stoned. Listen to yourselves for Gods sake. Get a life, stop being the butt of everyone’s jokes…including the President.
Get over yourselves…understand that marijuana is a drug, it is addictive and it will not be legalized this term, next term or the term after that.
Also, some folks have said that Obama’s answer and laughter was because of the suggestion that “legalization” of marijuana would be the solution to fixing the economic problems etc — well, in fact that’s not true. What he actually said was that he doesn’t belive it “would improve the economy and job creation”. He stated the question and the issue correctly, and he did not at all say he was simply mocking the idea of marijuana legalization ALONE as a solution to the economic crisis.
There is no reason to look for ways to interpret his words and laughter as something less offensive than it was — he was mocking the issue in broad terms, not just a myopic misunderstanding of the question. He presented the question appropriately, and then proceeded to laugh and say “no”. He treated it as a joke, and he treated the citizens who voted for that question as a joke and even implied something is wrong with them.
I also refuse to accept the argument that he just has to be careful because he’s a politician, and that he might be a secret reformist. I don’t care what his secret views are, because they don’t matter if his public policy is the opposite. In fact, if he secretly agrees with us but publicly mocks us and our issue, and refuses to treat the issue seriously, and helps add his own voice to the chorus of public stigmatization of marijuana users, and continues prohibition policies that ruin lives and send hundreds of thousands of people to jails and prisons, then he’s WORSE for doing those things in spite of his actual view that it’s all wrong.
There’s simply no defense for his reaction in that video, for his laughter, or for his continuation of prohibition policies. I wish he’d just been one of the millions of people who WERE locked up and lost their futures due to marijuana prohibition, then at least his talent and voice would perhaps be on the right side of this battle instead of being the hypocrite now in charge of opposing us.
AJT, you realize your comments are utterly ridiculous, right? You realize that the “stoners” with nothing better to do includes Obama, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and a huge number of other successful people? You realize that tens of millions of people use marijuana every year? You realize that over 100 million citizens have used marijuana in their lifetimes? You realize that enforcement of marijuana laws against Obama, Bush, Clinton, etc would have ended their political careers? You realize that our jails and prisons release violent offenders — there’s a rapist convicted of assaulting a child who lives in my apartment building, who served less than four years for THREE charges of sexual battery on children, just one example of jails and prisons allowing dangerous people back into our streets to make room for the hundreds of thousands of marijuana offenders arrested every year (almost 800,000 arrested for possession, according to the FBI)?
No, you probably don’t realize any of that at all — uninformed, obnoxious people who post drivel about “stoners” and “get a life” etc typically don’t bother to know what they’re talking about before their mouths open and words come tumbling out. I guess you also miss the irony of your assertion that voters who support marijuana reform “have nothing better to do” than be online, since you are currently online posting your own banal remarks against marijuana reform on a marijuana reform blog.
Since you make that assertion about “having nothing better to do”, I can only assume that you yourself must lack anything better to do, and so you think that must apply to anyone else online as well. Sorry, it doesn’t. Just because your posting here is due to a lack of anything better to do and because you — based on what you seem to think — need to get a life, doesn’t mean that it applies to everyone else. Unless you’re just another hypocrite who isn’t logically consistent in their own views, that is.
the audience were laughing before he even spat the question out, either they had a rehearsal earlier and they were expecting the pres to make a “joke” or they were stooges that jumped the gun..
I do not think President Obama handled this question fairly at all. He did not mention it was THE number 1 issue people wanted addressed, which is very misleading to the people who have not been following this issue as closely as some of us.
I am very disappointed with Obama and his total and complete lack of respect for us, the people.
Legalizing cannabis would not only save us money in expenditures like court and prison costs, but it would provide a major boost to the economy through taxes. It would literally make thousands upon thousands of Americans small business owners over night and provide jobs for many more. Just look at what California is modestly anticipating. Without taking into consideration how much money would be saved in court and prison costs, California anticipates over $1.5 billion within the first year.
This is not just an issue about smoking pot.
In 1938 Popular Mechanics printed an article about marijuana called ‘Billion Dollar Crop.’ It was the first time a cash crop had a business potential to exceed a billion dollars. Popular Mechanics also talked about how there are over 25,000 uses for cannabis. I bet a lot of people did not realize how practical it is to legalize marijuana. Check out this site to see just a couple of the many, many uses: http://www.torontohemp.com/hempuses.htm
In a time where people are concerned with job security, let alone for the thousands attempting to find a job to begin with, just to make money to feed and house our families and afford medical bills, we should NOT laugh at the most viable solution we have in front of us.
President Obama can suck both nuts
so Rob….how do we combat this….obviously writing to senators and congress people aren’t listening. i write to Lincoln and Pryor and all i get back are solicitations for campaign money.
i was wholly for President Obama for this very topic….as well as others….im with everyone else……how dare he and all of the others laugh at us in pain……maybe Mr Kampa needs to start running mass country wide polls to get this mesg back into the lime light…..it was on a roll and fell short with this….there was no excuse to be so dismissing……how are we going to get this back on the front burner…..
its pathetic that we can be drunks and get and give each other cancer from booze and tobaco products. but we cant have an herb. and its “for our own good” and the herb is prosicuted the same as cocaine. palease. mr obama you flip flopped on this one. he made me feel like he was republican on this one. im losing faith allready…
i say let the gov grow it, tax it, and sell it to us.
that way its regulated taxed and if they have a better product at a cheaper price they do away with the drug dealers on top of it and make money to boot.
its a win win all profit idea. now get you heads out of your dads asses and do it in washington. weve been waiting for 70 years…
its about time. its just a plant for gods sakes… not like itll make you drunk or give you cancer or anything… no wait those things are allready legal….. ooops im sorry for making you look stupid there american government…..
ARE WE FORGETTING SOMETHING?
This issue is tied into so many other aspects of government. The incarceration of Marijuana smokers(Or hard drugs for that matter) is wrong. We all agree on this , but this is about personal freedom. Our constitutional rights are tied to this. We should have right to choose.
Our gun rights are at stake here. The violence in mexico has brought some politicans to push for more gun control. This is all tied to big cash for cartels from…Wait for it…Marijuana. Why because of government manipulation in the form of a law called prohibition.
This is also tied to our economy. It is in shambles because of Government manipulation.
Our whole way of life WILL be changing from the America we know to something we dont want,if, we dont get control of OUR government.
Some of the major problems this country has is due to government manipulation.They know this,they dont want to give any freedom of choice . If Americans can Change this one issue,then they know WE can force them to change many things. Thats the nut shell. Change prohibition. Then we can change everything they do. Economic,health saftey,military(WARS TO STOP), states rights,on and on
STAND UP AMERICA! OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS A SHAKE UP! STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING THEY MAY ATTACK YOU FOR!
AJT .. Your right, I dont have anything better to do, I dont have much of a life. Its not because I’m a pot smoker its because the government manipulation cost me and many millions thier JOBS! I had a good job, 60,00 a year. Them bastards owe me at least 120,000$. Had almost 80 grand in 401k thats all but gone, I’m angery,I’m sick of the government manipulating my life. I will stop them by helping change this on “tick on my ass” of law called prohibition. When we can force them to change this law,then other laws will follow. Why? Because we will have shown they have to listen to WE THE PEOPLE! So yes AJT… I dont have anything better to do. What are you doing to change our government?
Sorry all,I’m just very angry.
R.O.E. I am in the same position you are. I put in anywhere from 5-20 apps in a day. The job market is dead, why because our goverment has there fingers in everything and it was not suppost to be that way. We are now paying the price for our lack of participatin and letting greedy politicians take care of everthing. Left unchecked they ruined this country. It is time for all of us to start paying attention and doing our part. It is time to stop using violence against people who are not violent, It is time to help the people who have a problem help them. jail does not work. You have a group of basically school yard bullies going around forcing thewre way of life on us. We do not want to be violent like them, The violence is all perpetrated by greed. The only ones who are violent are the ones who profit from it. Lets see we have for profit jails. The police make tons of money from it. the cartels make money from it. Wise up it is the prohibition that fuels all this violence. When it comes down to it we need to help the ones who abuse anything. they are sick and need help. Not beat up and dehuminized. WAKE UP AMERICA! This is not what our founding fathers wanted!
Heres one I had to adderess,
I dont mean any disrespect to this author,everyone has the right to thier opinion.
193 Marcos da Padaria { 03.30.09 at 2:26 pm } Said ” Legalizing marijuana is a threat to society. I have lived with the disruption this drug causes to a young and bright mind – and the number of years that his addiction almost destroyed him and our family. Obama is right! Marijuana causes apathy, lack of memory and is no remedy for anything. See Mr. Raynes comments above and you might get a better understanding.”
Your statement “Marijuana causes apathy, lack of memory ” Ok Take that person who may be apathetic, or has CRS(Cant Remember Sh*t)…Incarcerate them four many years and that turns to anger and violence. Now which is worse? Apathy vs anger, CRS vs violence. You choose America.
People are fighting and killing over drugs because they are more valuable than gold or platnium. End that value,end the violence, end the war on drugs,period.
I was very disappointed that the CHANGE candidate didn’t at least express a willingness to explore the possibility of legalization SINCE the parallel to FDR announcing the repeal of prohibition is that it DID in fact create jobs FAST and INCREASE much needed tax revenues. Obama is very intelligent, he must know this. I wonder why he prefers to consider 80 million Americans criminals rather than citizens. The question we should be asking him is ~ Explain How marijuana prohibition is constitutional? And then explore whether we actually have “regulated commerce” under this prohibition or whether or not “promoting the general welfare” really justifies imposing prohibition of the states. How is this consistent with the 10th amendment? Further – is marijuana prohibition really Puritanism? Doesn’t the 1st amendment forbid Congress from passing laws that establish a religion? Is Puritanism a religion? Where’s the science behind marijuana prohibition. Government derives its just power from the CONSENT of the governed. Get it? WE DON’T CONSENT to this prohibition!
bjamen8 —Tea Parties…. HR 1207….dont let it become a fad-it is a just request.
Seemingly off subject, but along the same lines, the recent G20 PROTESTS HAVE MANY NEGATIVE RESULTS. Capitalism is not negative in theory, it has only been manipulated as so. To demand actions such as “No money!” as protested in London, is equally negative. It is a desired result. Remember, all the great manipulations in history have been done “by request”. Scenarios are encouraged to promote society to demand lesser liberties. It may not always seem so apparent, just be wary.
Hemp: 4000 years of use,
Genesis 1:12-16 (King James Version)
12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Blessed are the peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9)
And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. (Ezekiel 34:29)
(Jesus:) “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” (Matt. 15:11)
They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. (Psalms 119:86)
“I will take my rest and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs. For afore harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches.” (Isaiah 18:4-5)
And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. — Ezekiel 34:29
Holy Anointing Cannabis Oil Heals Diabetes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXoZtD-q4tk&feature=related
2. puritanism – Scrupulous moral rigor, especially hostility to social pleasures and indulgences: “Puritanism is the source of our greatest hypocrisies and most crippling illusions” (Molly Haskell).
Puritanism (1573) was famously defined by H.L. Mencken as “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy” (1920).
Land of the free? Or land of the drug-free? Which did our founding fathers envision? (And by” drug-free” they mean over 50% of the people on some sort of prescription drug).
I was really disapointed in the president’s attempt to make a joke of treating marijuana like we do alcohol and tobacco. I sent an email saying so to the White House and to the State Department (because of the thousands dying in Mexico and Hilary visiting there). I also noted that two of our last three presidents admitted publically to their use of marijuana. We could put thousands of people to work legally, save billions in the war on drugs AND collect taxes. Time for some evidence based policy on recreational drugs.
P.S. I don’t use tobacco, marijuana or other recreational drugs (except alcohol and caffiene)!
With a formerly honorably discharged sailor sentenced to only 10 years for leaking classified defense information to a group committed to jihad against the US and a first time offender sentenced to 55 years for selling pot to an undercover officer (no violence was committed or alleged) it is painfully obvious that this war on drugs is not justice but an effort to oppress, control and brain wash the American people. The federal government is currently collecting taxes from medical marijuana vendors (a practice still ILLEGAL under federal law) while selectively imprisoning and ruining the lives of its citizens. The biggest issue here is the lack of justice we the people are willling to stand for.
Obama readily took the money from his internet constituency, yet publically mocks them?!? As an Obama supporter, I am outraged that this turns out to be the change I got.
To quote a favorite constitutionalist, “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson
Unfirtunately, it is too early for Obama to address the cannibis issue. I know we are all disappointed with his curt yet somewhat humerous “I hear you bro” response, however this is politics and Obama wants another 4 years in office and he has to prevent RushL’s and his groupies ever continuing critical flogging of people with free spirit and ratonal mind. You have to compromise with the anal retentives who supposedly part of the “1000 flowers” of the new Republican Party. Everyone needs to feel that they have won. Obama is still about change. Obama is still about “YES WE CAN”.
Its funny. It really is funny to laugh at all you stoners. Just like its funny to laugh at Special Olympians. I tell you, this president is a comedic genius.
Of course I say that tongue-and-cheek with no offense intended towards ill people seeking common sense relief.
I bet this administration will pay for more abortions (see Mexico City Policy) than people that will benefit from med marijuana.
Hey I understand Obama has to put face for certain people but can you tell me what is so funny? I was deeply insulted. I did place a lot of hope in him and beleived everything he said in the campaign and was moved to tears with his election night speech. Who is this guy? It’s not the same guy I saw last year.
OBAMA IS NOT ABOUT CHANGE HE ONLY SAID THAT TO GET ELEC TED> Because some poll told him to say that. WAKE UP NO SECOND TERM >ARE YOU PEOPLE IDIOTS> HE WILL NEVER SUPPORT US. HE WILL ONLY SUPPORT THE RICH. He has an agenda his own for the unions and his rich buddies. We are the ones to make this happen! REVOLUTION NOW!!!!!
“Pull my strings and I’ll dance for you..I’m your puppet”..A very old song with a true message. My father use to tell me “Sweetheart, America is an empire that will not easily fall.The President is simply a “rep” working for the real people in power and it isn’t us. I’m disappointed that “you seem like such a turncoat- Remember “US” , “WE” VOTED YOU IN..not vice-versa.
Obama may have answered it quickly because he might of figured a bunch of high school stoners ran in there and gave a thumbs up to every marijuana question on the forum. At least he did say something about the question, the bush administration would of just gave a hiss, or would of combed through all the questions and selected the ones they wanted to answer, disregarding all the rest… I don’t think the laughter was called for in the least, but it was better than a hiss or brushed off. and it was very disrespectful to all those in jail for something that shouldn’t even be termed as a crime, or 1000′s that die every year at the borders because of cartels.. It also doesnt look like he did much research in the benifit of hemp as means of fuel, an alternative to oil, or many of the other areas it could help the economy… and very disrespectful to the many that are sick and dying, that need it as a medicine to help them with their pain and suffering. .. and to top it off the comment of what type of people use the internet, that was a direct statement indicting to me that it was an attack, and termed those that voted for that question to be anwered where nothing but a bunch of stoners with nothing better to do with their time but linger around the internet and cause mischief… UP YOURS OBAMA!!!
the video has been removed because of terms of use violation? its an OBAMA-NATION
Well, given that marijuana reform is being championed by unprofessional, wide eyed idealists who wouldn’t know a professional political operation if it smacked them in the face…this doesn’t surprise me.
I was swindled on usfreeads by some crook using a mobile number. Mofo was shocked when I got his name and address and paid a visit lol!
Reverse Number Lookup
Would our President be laughing if he had been busted when he was using cannabis? Oops, he wouldn’t be the President. I think we should get rid of lying hypocrits along with prohibitionists (actually they are pretty much the same). The world would be a much better place without both.
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