The first two years of the Obama regime, the Democrats had all the power and the votes. Why didn't they legalize it then? Obama wasn't blaming Congress at that time.
Bizarre. When did the Obama administration ever say they wanted to nationally legalize pot?
He didn't, but the Alloak is running out of things to complain about Obama so he is getting creative.
Back when he was running in 2008, Obama said he supported the “basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs” and that he was “not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws.” He didn’t go farther. But he also didn’t do anything to dissuade speculation among medical marijuana proponents who took this as a sign that the man headed to the Oval Office was on their side.
Four years later, the raids on drug dispensaries have kept up — despite a Justice Department memo formalizing low-enforcement priority instructions from Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced in a March 2009 press conference that the raids would stop on distributors who were in compliance with state and local law. Obama never said anything about supporting legalization or decriminalization, but his medical marijuana statements were enough to get him heralded by some in the larger pro-pot community as the best hope for chipping away at the decades-long drug war.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75421.html
quote:
Comments like President Obama's are the epitome of politicians passing the buck on this issue. Blame it on congress? Yeah, okay. Sure. Whatever.You would expect something else?
The first two years of the Obama regime, the Democrats had all the power and the votes. Why didn't they legalize it then? Obama wasn't blaming Congress at that time.
So you are saying that, now that Republicans are in control, we won't get a bill for National legalization because Obama would veto it?
What are you saying? You sound pretty duplicitous to me. The Republicans have been in control of Congress for months. What changed? Give me some examples of Republicans governing Alloak.
Comments like President Obama's are the epitome of politicians passing the buck on this issue. Blame it on congress? Yeah, okay. Sure. Whatever. But this shouldn't be a congress issue! Whatever happened to "government FOR THE PEOPLE - BY THE PEOPLE"?
Rusty - Your Congresspeople and Senators are representatives of THE PEOPLE. The people keep electing the same people, essentially rewarding them for doing a horrible job. Congress makes the laws. It has to be a Congressional issue.
Back when he was running in 2008, Obama said he supported the “basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs” and that he was “not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws.” He didn’t go farther. But he also didn’t do anything to dissuade speculation among medical marijuana proponents who took this as a sign that the man headed to the Oval Office was on their side.
Four years later, the raids on drug dispensaries have kept up — despite a Justice Department memo formalizing low-enforcement priority instructions from Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced in a March 2009 press conference that the raids would stop on distributors who were in compliance with state and local law. Obama never said anything about supporting legalization or decriminalization, but his medical marijuana statements were enough to get him heralded by some in the larger pro-pot community as the best hope for chipping away at the decades-long drug war.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75421.html/blockquote >
No doubt Barry has been a real di*k on this issue. But he doesn't have the power to unilaterally change the law. He could have instructed the Attorney General to stand down.
As long as you can buy free speech by lobbying the People of the United States are voiceless. For profit prisons and the pharmaceutical industry are far more powerful than the people of the United States.
Back when he was running in 2008, Obama said he supported the “basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs” and that he was “not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws.” He didn’t go farther. But he also didn’t do anything to dissuade speculation among medical marijuana proponents who took this as a sign that the man headed to the Oval Office was on their side.
Four years later, the raids on drug dispensaries have kept up — despite a Justice Department memo formalizing low-enforcement priority instructions from Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced in a March 2009 press conference that the raids would stop on distributors who were in compliance with state and local law. Obama never said anything about supporting legalization or decriminalization, but his medical marijuana statements were enough to get him heralded by some in the larger pro-pot community as the best hope for chipping away at the decades-long drug war.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75421.html/blockquote >
Your article is from 2012 and since then 3 states have legalized Ganja and I have not read of the Feds cracking down in Colorado or Washington.
Here is a recent article with quotes from Obama he has softened his stance and while not coming out and endorsing legalization he seems to be leaning that way.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/16/obama-marijuana-decriminalization_n_6881374.html
And he signed a bill not too long ago to get the Feds to back off harassing dispensaries
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/feds_back_off_medical_marijuana_enforcement_in_32_states_and_dc
Not surprisingly it was the Republicans who fought against passage as 172 Republicans voted against it with only 15 Democrats opposing. 170 Dems voted for it and 49 Republicans also voted for it so progress is being made.
[Edited on 4/22/2015 by Bill_Graham]
quote:
Comments like President Obama's are the epitome of politicians passing the buck on this issue. Blame it on congress? Yeah, okay. Sure. Whatever.You would expect something else?
The first two years of the Obama regime, the Democrats had all the power and the votes. Why didn't they legalize it then? Obama wasn't blaming Congress at that time.
So you are saying that, now that Republicans are in control, we won't get a bill for National legalization because Obama would veto it?
What are you saying? You sound pretty duplicitous to me. The Republicans have been in control of Congress for months. What changed? Give me some examples of Republicans governing Alloak.
Comments like President Obama's are the epitome of politicians passing the buck on this issue. Blame it on congress? Yeah, okay. Sure. Whatever. But this shouldn't be a congress issue! Whatever happened to "government FOR THE PEOPLE - BY THE PEOPLE"?
Rusty - Your Congresspeople and Senators are representatives of THE PEOPLE. The people keep electing the same people, essentially rewarding them for doing a horrible job. Congress makes the laws. It has to be a Congressional issue.
Hey Billy. First of all, my comment wasn't intended to be a swipe at President Obama, or not specifically at him. Yeah, I know all that middle school civics stuff and you're right on the money - we keep sending folks to D.C. who need to be kept near a window and watered twice weekly.
Read all that I wrote - I blame the Democrats, the Republicans and the press. We can write to our Congressfolk til the cows come home. When I do this, I usually receive a form letter that doesn't even come close to addressing the issues that I wrote about. I think the press needs to step up the questions on these issues at all the debates and forums. Making the candidates address the issue is about the only thing that I see that will ever get the ball rolling.
Hey Billy. First of all, my comment wasn't intended to be a swipe at President Obama, or not specifically at him. Yeah, I know all that middle school civics stuff and you're right on the money - we keep sending folks to D.C. who need to be kept near a window and watered twice weekly.
Read all that I wrote - I blame the Democrats, the Republicans and the press. We can write to our Congressfolk til the cows come home. When I do this, I usually receive a form letter that doesn't even come close to addressing the issues that I wrote about. I think the press needs to step up the questions on these issues at all the debates and forums. Making the candidates address the issue is about the only thing that I see that will ever get the ball rolling.
Agreed. 😉
[Edited on 4/22/2015 by BillyBlastoff]
Back when he was running in 2008, Obama said he supported the “basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs” and that he was “not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws.” He didn’t go farther. But he also didn’t do anything to dissuade speculation among medical marijuana proponents who took this as a sign that the man headed to the Oval Office was on their side.
Four years later, the raids on drug dispensaries have kept up — despite a Justice Department memo formalizing low-enforcement priority instructions from Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced in a March 2009 press conference that the raids would stop on distributors who were in compliance with state and local law. Obama never said anything about supporting legalization or decriminalization, but his medical marijuana statements were enough to get him heralded by some in the larger pro-pot community as the best hope for chipping away at the decades-long drug war.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75421.html/blockquote >
Your article is from 2012 and since then 3 states have legalized Ganja and I have not read of the Feds cracking down in Colorado or Washington.
Here is a recent article with quotes from Obama he has softened his stance and while not coming out and endorsing legalization he seems to be leaning that way.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/16/obama-marijuana-decriminalization_n_6881374.html
And he signed a bill not too long ago to get the Feds to back off harassing dispensaries
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/feds_back_off_medical_marijuana_enforcement_in_32_states_and_dc
Not surprisingly it was the Republicans who fought against passage as 172 Republicans voted against it with only 15 Democrats opposing. 170 Dems voted for it and 49 Republicans also voted for it so progress is being made.
[Edited on 4/22/2015 by Bill_Graham]
The feds hav absolutely cracked down on growers in legal states, and just this year tried and convicted three people in Colorado and sentenced them to prison time. It was discussed on this board.
The first two years of the Obama regime, the Democrats had all the power and the votes. Why didn't they legalize it then? Obama wasn't blaming Congress at that time.
Bizarre. When did the Obama administration ever say they wanted to nationally legalize pot?
He didn't, but the Alloak is running out of things to complain about Obama so he is getting creative.
Why then is Obama blaming Congress for not tackling the legalization of weed? If his position is not to legalize, he shouldn't be complaining about it. Doesn't make sense, but it's textbook Obama.
[Edited on 4/23/2015 by alloak41]
Back when he was running in 2008, Obama said he supported the “basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs” and that he was “not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws.” He didn’t go farther. But he also didn’t do anything to dissuade speculation among medical marijuana proponents who took this as a sign that the man headed to the Oval Office was on their side.
Four years later, the raids on drug dispensaries have kept up — despite a Justice Department memo formalizing low-enforcement priority instructions from Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced in a March 2009 press conference that the raids would stop on distributors who were in compliance with state and local law. Obama never said anything about supporting legalization or decriminalization, but his medical marijuana statements were enough to get him heralded by some in the larger pro-pot community as the best hope for chipping away at the decades-long drug war.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75421.html/blockquote >
Your article is from 2012 and since then 3 states have legalized Ganja and I have not read of the Feds cracking down in Colorado or Washington.
Here is a recent article with quotes from Obama he has softened his stance and while not coming out and endorsing legalization he seems to be leaning that way.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/16/obama-marijuana-decriminalization_n_6881374.html
And he signed a bill not too long ago to get the Feds to back off harassing dispensaries
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/feds_back_off_medical_marijuana_enforcement_in_32_states_and_dc
Not surprisingly it was the Republicans who fought against passage as 172 Republicans voted against it with only 15 Democrats opposing. 170 Dems voted for it and 49 Republicans also voted for it so progress is being made.
[Edited on 4/22/2015 by Bill_Graham]
The feds hav absolutely cracked down on growers in legal states, and just this year tried and convicted three people in Colorado and sentenced them to prison time. It was discussed on this board.
The DOJ has slowed down its prosecution and Congress passed the bill which is helping to make this happen.
I will agree that Obama needs to reign them in but there is progress being made. There is a bill being proposed to remove ganja from the same classification as hard narcotics. As more states legalize ganja Washington will have no choice but to back off.
Considering the majority of the GOP in Congress voted against the recent bill you had better hope they don't gain control of the Whitehouse.
The first two years of the Obama regime, the Democrats had all the power and the votes. Why didn't they legalize it then? Obama wasn't blaming Congress at that time.
Bizarre. When did the Obama administration ever say they wanted to nationally legalize pot?
He didn't, but the Alloak is running out of things to complain about Obama so he is getting creative.
Why then is Obama blaming Congress for not tackling the legalization of weed? If his position is not to legalize, he shouldn't be complaining about it. Doesn't make sense, but it's textbook Obama.
[Edited on 4/23/2015 by alloak41]
He signed a bill prohibiting funding to be used by the DOJ to prosecute legal medical ganja dispensaries.
A more important question for you is why the majority of GOP congressmen voted against the bill when more than 50%, and growing each year, of Americans favour legalization? Why are they going against will of the people they are supposed to represent?
Even young Republicans support legalization
https://prospect.org/article/majority-americans-now-support-marijuana-legalization
The first two years of the Obama regime, the Democrats had all the power and the votes. Why didn't they legalize it then? Obama wasn't blaming Congress at that time.
Bizarre. When did the Obama administration ever say they wanted to nationally legalize pot?
He didn't, but the Alloak is running out of things to complain about Obama so he is getting creative.
Why then is Obama blaming Congress for not tackling the legalization of weed? If his position is not to legalize, he shouldn't be complaining about it. Doesn't make sense, but it's textbook Obama.
First of all, public sentiment on marijuana has changed a lot since Obama was elected, and so has the political climate, so the reference to the first 2 years of his administration is a red herring as far as this issue goes. Secondly, he has never stated his position as pro-legalization, at least as far as I know, and furthermore he's not "blaming Congress for not tackling the legalization of weed" at all, so you are either simply wrong or you are just making stuff up. I wonder which it is?
The link to the interview below was already posted, but here is the text in case you didn't click the link...is he "blaming Congress"? I don't think so, certainly not in this interview...
Obama: If Enough States Decriminalize Marijuana, Congress May Change Federal Law
President Barack Obama said if enough states reform their marijuana laws, Congress may change federal law that continues to make the drug illegal.
Obama, during an interview with Vice Media co-founder Shane Smith released in full on Monday, said he's encouraged that liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans seem to agree that current U.S. marijuana laws don't make sense.
"We may be able to make some progress on the decriminalization side," Obama said. "At a certain point, if enough states end up decriminalizing, then Congress may then reschedule marijuana."
Last week, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill that would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug, which has high potential for abuse and no medical value, to a Schedule II drug, which has lower potential danger and recognized medical benefits. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Twenty-three states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Four states, as well as D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana.
"I'd separate out the issue of criminalization of marijuana from encouraging its use," Obama said. "I think there's no doubt that our criminal justice system, generally, is so heavily skewed towards cracking down on non-violent drug offenders that it has not just had a terrible effect on many communities -- particularly communities of color -- rendering a lot of folks unemployable because they got felony records, disproportionate prison sentences. It costs a huge amount of money to states and a lot of states are figuring that out.
"But what I'm encouraged by is you're starting to see not just liberal Democrats, but also some very conservative Republicans recognize this doesn't make sense -- including the libertarian wing of the Republican Party."
Obama cautioned that legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, or any other substance, isn't a panacea.
"I think there is a legitimate concern about the overall effects this has on society, particularly vulnerable parts of our society," Obama said. "Substance abuse generally, legal and illegal substances, is a problem. Locking somebody up for 20 years is probably not the best strategy, and that is something we have to rethink as a society as a whole."
Smith told Obama marijuana was the most popular topic that Vice readers wanted the president to address in the interview, parts of which were released last week. Obama said he understands the interest in the drug, but said the issue of marijuana "shouldn't be young people's biggest priority."
Young people should care about "climate change, the economy, jobs, war and peace," Obama said. Maybe at the bottom of that list, the president said, "you should be thinking about marijuana."
According to a recent study from the American Civil Liberties Union, blacks were nearly four times as likely than whites to be arrested on charges of marijuana possession in 2010, even though usage was about the same for both groups. In Washington, D.C., Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, blacks were 7.5 to 8.5 times more likely than whites to be arrested for possessing pot.
The United States is home to just 5 percent of the world’s population, but a full 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. The harsh and lengthy sentences for nonviolent drug crimes have helped bolster that figure. In 1980, there were roughly 40,000 drug offenders in U.S. prisons, according to the Sentencing Project, a prison reform group. By 2011, the number of drug offenders serving prison sentences had ballooned to more than 500,000 -- most low-level operators with no prior criminal records.
While relaxed state marijuana laws have begun to affect incarceration rates, an average one person is arrested for marijuana possession every minute in the U.S., according to FBI statistics.
[Edited on 4/23/2015 by gondicar]
Does anyone really think that the 2016 Presidential Election will be decided on a populist issue?
http://www.thecannabist.co/2015/04/23/cory-gardner-weed-joke/34061/
Video: The weed joke Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner made in a meeting
Published: Apr 23, 2015, 12:00 pm
By Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post
So, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner doesn’t even make the video and he steals the show with his one-liner?
It happened during an April 21 discussion about, of all things, cherry blossoms during the Communications, Technology, Innovation, & the Internet Subcommittee hearing on “Advancing Telehealth through Connectivity.”
The chairman, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, asked about the best place to see cherry blossoms, delighting New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who insisted it was Newark.
“Thank you, and I’m glad that’s a part of the record for someone 10 years from now to wonder about,” Wicker said.
That’s when Gardner, a Yuma Republican elected in November, chimed in with a weed joke and the place cracked up.
“Mr. Chairman, we have some buds in Colorado, too,” Gardner said.
