Carlos Santana To Obama: Legalize Pot

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — President Barack Obama brushed off a question about legalizing marijuana in his online town hall last month, but guitar god Carlos Santana says he wishes he would seriously consider it.

"Legalize marijuana and take all that money and invest it in teachers and in education," Santana said in an interview this week. "You will see a transformation in America."

During his online town hall on March 26, Obama fielded a question about whether legalization of the illicit drug would help pull the nation out of recession. Obama said he didn't think it was good economic policy, and also joked: "I don't know what this says about the online audience."

But Santana said making pot legal is "really way overdue, like the prohibition with the alcohol and stuff like that.

"I really believe that as soon as we legalize and decriminalize marijuana we can actually afford a really good governor who won't keep taking money away from education and from teachers and send him back to Hollywood where he can do 'D' movies and we can get an 'A' governor," referring to former movie action hero and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Santana made the comments as he was promoting his upcoming rock residency in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The show debuts May 27 and runs through 2010.

"It's a milestone for me because I always said I would never do certain things," Santana said, adding that the list included staying in one place for too long.

"Yet what is very different is this is the year I decided to do all the things that I said I would never do. It's a way of coming into a room that I thought was dark and I would be afraid and I actually bring my light to it."

Santana, whose hits vary from "Evil Ways" to "Maria Maria," said he is also working on two upcoming albums.

While the 61-year-old has previously talked about a possible retirement, he's decided to be more careful about predicting the future.

"Every time I tell God my plans he cracks up, he starts laughing. So I just decided to be quiet for a while and not say that I am going to retire and go to Maui and become a minister," he said. "God was cracking up. He thought it was a good joke. So I said, 'OK.' Every time I want to make him laugh I tell him my plans. So we'll see."

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On the Net:

http://www.santana.com

Comments

[KIMBER]

I think that people read way more into Obama's statement than they should have. He was asked if he thought legalizing pot would be a good way to help pull us out of the recession, and he said simply that he didn't think it was the answer to our economic woes.
He didn't say anything whatsoever about the subject of legalization, for or against; he answered the question in terms of the economy and the economy only. We need to keep making our voices heard on the issue - I think he's persuadable.

[MichaelJLaper]

Sadly, legalized marijuana will never see the light of day in this country for two reasons. One- because it makes sense. And two-because we've become a very self-centered society.

Legalization of marijuana will require support from both user and nonuser.

While there are a number of non pot user in this country who recognize that marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol, these folks are not motivated to support legalized marijuana because they have unimpeded access to their drug of choice-alcohol. Those of us who choose marijuana as our drug of choice are out of luck.

[wolfdogNM]

Actually MJ is less harmful then alcohol by a wide margin. Alcohol and tobacco both kill hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. You just don't see that with MJ.

[Snowbeard]

Ok; as a 56 year old "ex-Hippie" (and NEVER a @#@%*@ yuppie!) who WAS a "card-carrying member" of SDS (until the suggestion came up of blowing up postal offices & there-by jepordizing the Lives of "Citizens") who has never given up my Idealism despite the political Terrorism of having been drafted into an army I didn't Trust to deal with a war I didn't Believe in, I Feel Motivated to address the issue(s) promulgated here.
I have just taken the time to read every post submitted thus far, including the ones I had to "click" to open, and this is what I have Observed.
(1) SOME of you are so far off base that you will have to Learn an awful LOT to even make it to being in the ball-park, let alone being "somewhere out in left field"!
(2) MOST of you have the right idea about what IS & HAS BEEN going on in this country. I Honor you.
The ONLY Reason I no longer smoke pot is because I do not wish to subject myself to the Gestapo-tactics of the very People who are sworn to "Protect & Serve", yet only "Protect & Serve" their OWN Interests. And once THAT has run it's course, one then is faced with a so-called "legal system" which, if one does the Research, is actually ILLEGAL as described in Common Law which is what the founders of this country Chose at it's inseption.
(Continued on the next post)

[Snowbeard]

That being said, I would like to stand for the Idea of not only decriminalization, but out & out legalization of the herb. Based on it's Healing Abillities, as well as it's calming effect, it is a Natural Medicine with a wide range of Positive applications & was placed on this earth by our Creator for us to USE... I did NOT say ABUSE; I said USE. It was NOT placed here to be used as a "political football". So I'm not Interested in all the rehtoric & political posturing; I AM Interested in seeing it reach it's Highest (no pun Intended) Fulfillment of it's Natural Purpose.
Regrettably, it is so deeply entangled in politics at this point in time that our only recourse IS to apply Pressure on the very People who have bastardized it by declaring it illegal. And, since the federal boys & girls have taken the power to run over state governments' rulings, we are FORCED to deal with the fed's on this issue... for our own Protection. So trying to push it through our state governments is moot; it's just setting ourselves up for a federal bust.
(Continued on the next post)

[Snowbeard]

Sure; Obama is mellow about it; but who is going to be in office AFTER him??? What if THEY are "hard-liners"? Here WE will all be, out names, addresses & phone numbers on a handy-dandy little LIST on a silver platter jsut WAITING for them to use so we'll be sitting ducks for them!!! We'd have to be as STUPID as they like to THINK we are to only work on the state level; this HAS to go through the very People who bastardized it & made it illegal; the feds... & we have to go through THEM now for our OWN PROTECTION!!!
Jerry Rubin was Right when he named one of his books "DO IT!" because that's EXACTLY what WE have to do, here & now... but we'd darned well Better "DO IT" RIGHT!!!!

Oh! And one more thing... CARLOS ROCKS!!!

[Mr Mojo]

Greetings All,

Years ago a friend told me I would be suprised to find how much influence the Cotton Lobby had on keeping Marijuana illegal. I think the chances of this bill passing are very slim. It will be interesting to see how the Cotton lobby affects this Bill.

[jennyjen]

Your friend was so right and I can't believe I have never heard that before.

So let's add the pesticide lobbies to this conversation. Is everyone aware that 25% of the world's pesticides are used on cotton?

[Snowbeard]

That being said, I would like to stand for the Idea of not only decriminalization, but out & out legalization of the herb. Based on it's Healing Abillities, as well as it's calming effect, it is a Natural Medicine with a wide range of Positive applications & was placed on this earth by our Creator for us to USE... I did NOT say ABUSE; I said USE. It was NOT placed here to be used as a "political football". So I'm not Interested in all the rehtoric & political posturing; I AM Interested in seeing it reach it's Highest (no pun Intended) Fulfillment of it's Natural Purpose.
Regrettably, it is so deeply entangled in politics at this point in time that our only recourse IS to apply Pressure on the very People who have bastardized it by declaring it illegal. And, since the federal boys & girls have taken the power to run over state governments' rulings, we are FORCED to deal with the fed's on this issue... for our own Protection. So trying to push it through our state governments is moot; it's just setting ourselves up for a federal bust.
(Continued on the next post)

[harriettubman]

Why is it that most of the pot heads are the ones wanting marijuana legalized? If legalization of drugs was so great Columbia, Mexico and the Middle East wouldn't be bastions of heinous crimes in the first place. They would have new schools, hospitals, communities and poverty would be eradicated.

Al Quaida is supported by international drug money. Imagine what else they could do with legalization.

[harrymellon]

That comment is ignorant...it is because the drug are illegal HERE that creates the market for them to exploit and then fight over drug routes in the streets instead of competing in a courtroom. And as far as I know cocaine, meth, heroin and, God save us, even the dreaded cannabis flower ARE illegal in those countries. They just have so much corruption competing for US dollars that they cannot stamp it out...ever. Carlos speaks the truth again and the fact is most Americans agree by far now. The conservatives and the brainwashed sheeple are afraid of a society that tolerates mind expansion, music, expression, passivity and free thinking.

[Dwight5]

Why, Harriet, are drugs legal in those countries? The reason Al Qaeda could be partially supported by drug money is BECAUSE they're illegal. If they were legal and regulated, criminals would have to do something else to make money. You are just an ignorant person who imagines that things like "international drug money" exists as some sort of monolithic entity. Oh, and by the way, doesn't it sort of make sense that "most of the potheads are the ones wanting it legalized"?

[GayGrandpa]

We must all wake up and think this one through! Open your mind.

???

Who really benefits by not making pot legal - it is not the society. Society would be so much better off in so many ways; no, it is the alcohol industry and the cigarette industry that would lose - they would suffer because many smokers and drinkers would cut down and light one up. The health benefits alone would save this country trillions!

Why waste cops time and precious resources on petty crimes and not chasing the murderers? I don't know about in your city but in mine, crimes like murder and violent crime are going unsolved because police do not have time and resources.

Tax the vices and make pot legal now. We spend billions to incarcerating drug related offenses while those who murder and commit white color go free. Millions smoke pot everyday...they are everywhere, much like us gays but they are afraid to come out. Everyone knows a pothead, but you may not know they are a pothead because they go to work each day, manage their affairs, and are vital members in society. They are parents, even grandparents and just regular people and most are good people.

[klandish]

The revolution is coming. For too long our Country which professes personal freedoms under the Constitution stood by and watched Europe take a defining role in this area. PR does not make a Country what it is - action does. While many Countries in Europe have approved Gay marriage or Civil Unions and legalization of Cannabis the U.S has placed Corporate and Governmental agencies powers over Constitutional rights for it's citizens. The time has come for it's citizenry to tell it's leaders to put actions behind their words in regards to real humanistic freedom.

[harriettubman]

Yeah, cigarettes are legal and look at the health destruction and death they cause/caused. They take at least 10 yrs off of one's life.

[Dwight5]

They're the worst ten years. Keep 'em.

[leftLibertarian]

Legalize all drugs. I'd like to buy some quality MDMA and mushrooms.

[pebblesvanpeebles]

Isn't it interesting that the drugs that ARE legal are the ones that a: are unnatural, b: do the most damage to our bodies, and c: make us violent, and d: most likely to kill us? Why is it that marijuana is illegal when it springs from the erf and make you want world peace and goodwill towards men? I'd like to see prescription druggies try to smoke themselves to death. It's kind of like how crack cocaine is impure and cheap and punished heavier than powder. And it's kind of how healthier food is so expensive, while fast food is being spooned to the masses "threeconomically." Some of this country's priorities are so messed up in such basic ways, it's disturbing.

[nobozos]

Every other commercial on tv is for some stupid drug we're supposed to be convinced we need. Three quarters of those commercials lists the side effects.
The cure for RLS (restless leg syndrome, what I just always called 'wagging my foot') causes uncontrolled gambling and rampant sexual desire.
LEGALIZE POT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dwight5]

That's what George W. Bush said before ...... wow, you're right.

[olgraydawg]

Carlos is respected for his artistic contributions and you marcinca are not. Suck a h ole marcinca till you go blind.

[joeyfoto]

"Carlos Santana To Obama: Legalize Pot" Why Not?

Carlos is a sensitive soul, He knows. No one who has watched the war on drugs as long as we have - I photographed Santana on stage before their first album - can believe that this war on drugs is anything more than a horrible anti-social experiment gone terribly wrong. We have degraded civil society; the rights of individuals and communities; the safety and security of everyone from children to seniors; the quality of law enforcement; the quality of public policy including public health while gaining statistical reductions in drug use that add up to NOTHING, when compared to the levels of drug users in America's crime-factory prisons.

Drug laws were written as racist documents - read the original congressional debates, if you don't believe me - developed an arrogant racist policy that's replaced Jim Crow as a substitute for slavery in communities of color. As in every prohibition you have elevated the candy man to community hero then even that went wrong when the Super Fly connection between drugs and violence, led, predictably, to the total devastation of entire communities. Worst of all, I'll say once more: America can't afford drug war anymore. Better think hard; we need to replace it with something that works better for more people. That transition is not trivial, but legalizing cannabis is a decent place to start while we sort thing out.

[klandish]

I'm glad you mentioned our inhumanity towards seniors and the disabled. In California alone the budget is now threatening to take away as much as 6% of ald to both segments of our society. There is even talk of creating homes that will house the developmentally disabled with those newly released from prison. Try to imagine that. Mistakes were made when Reagon released the mentally ill on to the streets of California and then the entire Country in the late 70's then 80's. Creating an unsafe environment for everyone. When will this Country learn these decisions undermine the basic tenet of any Society's obligation to care for those most vulnerable. And yes the legalization of cannabis would be a wonderful way to stop aspects of this insidious war on drugs and also infuse the economy with needed income. Wake up Obama - it's time.

[lletaa]

Carlos is a great guitarist and composer. I hope he is taken seriously and legalization undertaken asap. I truly believe our society will benefit from this. It will cut down on drinking alcohol by many people. The damage alcohol does is beyond calculation and pot helps curtail drinking. Many older smokers understand this. We also understand that pot can improve your life in many ways. Its time for sanity, please.

[The Ghost]

Everyone seems to think our protesting is about wanting to smoke weed, instead of the REAL issue of reforming a system that is corrupt and out of control, that victimizes the most vulnerable in our community, the poor and sick, and saps our crime fighting resources, interfering with their REAL JOB: protecting Americans against assault, robbery, rape and murder.

[SamKnause]

Tell it like it is. I love your post.

[Bitsko]

Yep. Well put.

[klandish]

Truth to power.

[tuffymama]

While I think good arguments can be made for legalizing pot, it seems you folks aren't dealing with reality.

The reality is that marijuana is currently illegal. If you're buying it from somebody (i.e. not growing it yourself) , you are indirectly supporting the drug cartels-- so in fact, you have a lot of blood on your hands.

Why don't you stop smoking for now and put all your energy into legalizing it? After that happens, you could start smoking again, and your conscience would be clear. Otherwise, I don't know how you sleep at night.

[The Ghost]

Or buy ONLY from local growers.

[jesselee26]

you can buy from local growers, you know. where i live, its really common to know the dude who grew it.

i completely understand what you're saying, but since you're such a fan of reality, answer this:
everytime you put on a tee shirt, do you cry for the five year old chinese kid who made it?

[Dwight5]

All high grade cannabis is either grown locally or within the US or Canada and is not grown or distributed by the cartels who are killing people in Mexico and the southwestern US. The cartels are smuggling weed that is OK, but generally fairly low grade. Just another reason to smoke the best.

[The Ghost]

STOP THE GOVERNMENT'S CIVIL WAR AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!

[zizyphus]

Don't go Maui, Carlos, come to Big Island instead.

[Freda Kinkle]

They say that they can't tax it but we all know they could find a way if they really wanted to . The IRS watches everything and we all know this. They can tax u for putting too much money in the bank! When you buy a house a car!! Hello people we are not crazy we all know where there is a will there is a way !!! I am with Carlos , Legalize it and the world WOULD CHANGE !!!