Taking the Pro-Pot Position (Because Somebody Has To)
When Barack Obama was first elected, he immediately began his straight-to-the-people, end-run-around-the-press style of Q&A by encouraging people to ask questions at Change.gov. One's fellow citizens could then vote throughout Nov. and the first part of Dec. 2008 on their favorite questions, and Obama's people would answer the most popular. When the dust settled and the votes were counted, among the most popular was this question:
"Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?"
The incoming Obama administration offered well-reasoned, thought-out answers to a whole host of questions, including controversial ones such as "Will you appoint a Special Prosecutor (ideally Patrick Fitzgerald) to independently investigate the gravest crimes of the Bush Administration, including torture and warrantless wiretapping?"
But when it came time to tackle the oh-so-controversial topic of marijuana legalization, the response was a mere one sentence: "President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana."
No rationale, no justification. Just a blanket statement redolent of a parent smirking, "Because I said so."
Fast-forward to today's online town hall, and once again, marijuana legalization proved to be one of the most popular questions, with the most-approved-of pro-pot question being: "Should the U.S. legalize pot as a way to grow jobs and stimulate the economy?"
With all of his usual charisma and endearing jocularity, our president laughed off the question, stating "I don't know what this says about the online audience, but, no, I don't think that is a good strategy to grow the economy." The mewling sycophants in the East Room audience laughed and burst into applause.
Once again, the Obama administration has greeted this question with an out-and-out rejection, with no reasoning underlying their position. Let's ignore for a moment that Obama's answer, in and of itself, is deeply wrong and ill-informed; moving from zero taxes on weed to any taxes is obviously an increase in revenue, not to mention the shift of growing and supplying jobs from the black market to legitimacy, which means more revenue in income taxes and more jobs.
Now, couple this with the millions, if not billions, of dollars that would be saved without the government being responsible for the care and feeding of hundreds of thousands of nonviolent drug offenders. From 1965 through the election of Barack Obama, our government arrested 20 million people for possession of marijuana. That, folks, is a lot of stoners.
In 2006 alone -- the last year for which statistics are available -- 829,625 people were arrested on marijuana-related charges, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report. Of these, 89 percent were arrested for simple possession.
So, couple the tax revenues, both sales and income, with the savings involved in keeping potheads out on the streets instead of in the pen. Now, put that Everest-sized pile of cash aside for a moment and think about this: Who's losing money in the deal?
According to Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, fully 75 percent of Mexican drug cartels' cash comes from the sale of marijuana. Legalizing marijuana would, of course, take away that massive source of income for the cartels, just as ending prohibition cut bootlegging as a source of revenue for La Cosa Nostra.
Combining all of the above effects, the legalization of marijuana means billions of dollars saved or made, the creation of jobs and the curbing of violence along the Mexican border, which in turn means saving thousands of lives.
Barack Obama can certainly be against legalization, but he owes it to nonviolent drug offenders caught in the horror show that is the U.S. prison system, the families of innocent victims of the Mexican drug wars and economically bloodied U.S. taxpayers to explain why. Ganja may cause the giggles, but legalization shouldn't be a laughing matter. And it certainly shouldn't be treated as cavalierly as it has by the current administration, especially when it has been proven to be a popular issue every time Obama has tried to go straight to the people.
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Give me liberty or give me death!I dont feel free as a smoker of the most godly plant of all time.I feel discriminated against by my government and by the job market thanks to modern day slavery based on my use of a weed.What an enlightened,prison complex society we live in.
The USA has FIVE TIMES more people in jail than any other country in the world. This, despite the fact that India and China have populations of over 1 billion people compared to the usa's 300 million. Not only do we have more people locked up, we have more locked up percentage wise. 1 in every 90 people are currently either in jail or on probation in the USA. That is 2.6 million people in total. Now here's the kicker, over half of those people are locked up for non-violent drug offenses. In other words, possession of marijuana. This is a waste and marijuana is California's number 1 cash crop. Grapes are number 2. Can you imagine if they could tax it? At 8 percent, the government could make almost 5 billion a year on taxes alone, not to mention the jobs it would bring...
Without weed, life under the Republicans would have been impossible.
We just have to keep pushing for legalization until we get it.
president obama didn't just laugh at me. He laughed at this guy ,too:
"Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts
to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime
out of things that are not crimes."
Abraham Lincoln
Source:http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Abraham.Lincoln.Quote.
563D
"A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which
our government was founded."
Abraham Lincoln
Source:http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Abraham.Lincoln.Quote.410A
Perhaps he is thinking that the states should decide for themselves. We here in Oregon are going to decide that question during the next election in 2010.
Our answer to the Feds and by extension, the President Barak Obama, is OCTA.
http://www.cannabistaxact.org/
When will people get beyond their self-centered desires and wake up to what's happening in this Presidency. How do you know he was really laughing at "you" or in anyone's face? I was actually shocked when it became apparent this was one of the top questions. I think the President was laughing because HE HAD TO TAKE THE QUESTION. Over the last several weeks where he has been criticized, mercilessly I might add, if he did anything during the day other than walk, talk, eat, sleep, or drink the economy (because as the media scolded, it's the most important thing on peoples minds), the number one topic for his very FIRST online chat was…drum roll please……the legalization of marijuana. So if you’re going to criticize President Obama loudly for the manner in which he addressed the question, speak with an even louder voice when the media and critics scold him for even thinking about taking on issues other than the economy.
The President has been right about one thing since taking office, everyone IS Simon Cowell.
For starters. It was THE number one question and he avoided the important part.
"With over 1 out of 30 Americans controlled by the penal system, why not legalize, control, and tax marijuana to change the failed war on drugs into a money making, money saving boost to the economy? Do we really need that many victimless criminals?"
To laugh about the fact that the war on drugs is a colossal failure was not addressed by the snide, inconsiderate and disrespectful laughter.
72 years of failure, over half a trillion of our tax dollars wasted, over 20 million incarcerated and cannabis being the largest cash crop in the US as a result from the failure of the drugwar are important enough to be addressed NOW. The childish remark by President Obama, that he didn't think that cannabis would be a way to help the economy flies in the face of the government propaganda, every time it labels cannabis as the largest cash crop. I guess that fact is only valid when special interests get to use it to frighten the public into continuing this never winnable war on drugs in the first place.
continued...
continued....
The time is now to bring the facts and truths about cannabis to light and once and for all discontinue the lies of addiction, gateway to hard stuff and lack of medicinal value to bed. Cannabis is not addictive or can one OD from it and it does have medicinal value. To this very day there are 5 people who are still receiving medical cannabis from the government under a 30 year old compassionate use program. For the same goverrnment that has provided medical cannabis for 30 years to deny its medicinal value is beyond absurd,
Nobody expects the President to micro manage every issue, but his blanket statement is dead wrong and for that reason we will not be silenced. We have not only the momentum but also the numbers to affect change. If President Obama continues to mock the very same online community that donated to his campaign and worked for and elected him over this issue, our part of the online community is large and powerful enough to vote for some one else. It is not only in Obama's interest to affect change and see to it that cannabis is legalized, taxed and conmtrolled, it is in our nation's interest for that to happen!
Also, considering the fact that cannabis is the largest cash crop in the nation, how on earth can it not help the economy with revenues from sale taxes of the product and income taxes paid by those in the industry?
'splain that....
On the fact that it would have a tremendous affect on the economy we do agree. As I posted in response to Chief Stamper
"Actually as a method of growing the economy, IT ACTUALLY WAS FUNNY. I think deep down the President knew, even if he didn't agree, that the effect that legalizing marijuana would have on the economy would actually be astronomical. Read his answer one more time. He didn't say it wouldn't be a boon to the economy and job growth, he said "the strategy" was not a good one. And while attempting to honestly answer the question, I think it really was funny to him."
As a former "casual user", I'm not one who needs a lecture about legalization. I too think there is a way that it can be controlled and monitored. But I don't think that the level of criticism (and outright disdain) resulting from the fact that the President was surprised that it was the number one question is warranted.
I truly believe that President Obama - who was holding the very FIRST Presidential web-based chat in the History of this country, which allowed the engaging of MILLIONS of Americans (and possibly persons from other countries as well) - GENUINELY found it surprising that the top question among many thousand voted upon by many millions of Internet users had to deal with the legalization of marijuana.
I guess I don’t fault him for that fact as much as others do.
If you faced jail time and actual personal ruin for having a cocktail you might view this as a serious subject!
"If you faced jail time and actual personal ruin for having a cocktail you might view this as a serious subject!" IF THIS DOES NOT MAKE THE POINT TO THE PRESIDENT, THEN NOTHING WILL!!!!!!!!
I hope that everyone who has posted here, who is angry about Obama laughing in their face, and his arrogant, misleading response, will help to grow the pressure for an end to the Drug War (ie, war on the poor), and legalization of this herb.
We need our human rights and freedom restored in this country. Don't let anyone tell you this isn't an important issue. Millions of lives have been ruined, continue to be ruined, because of this sickening War on Drugs. It is nothing but a tool for growing the police state.
No one has the right to tell us to go away and keep quiet. End the drug war and reroute the billions spent into education and health care.
It really upsets me to see Obama laugh off such a popular question - almost like he thought it was just a lot of teenage boys requesting it. Then he just gives us a quick answer with no reasoning behind it. The truth is, a lot of adult (hard working adults I might add) support marijuana legalization. It may not be the best political answer, but it's the RIGHT answer. I can't vote for any politician that is against marijuana legalization. I won't be voting for Obama again unless he changes his views. I fully support Senator Webb in his bid to decriminalize (hopefully legalize) marijuana.
MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED
100% LEGAL
NOW!!
It broke my heart that Webb did not run for president . He's the only real man in the whole lot of them. Sensible. Straight talking. Articulate. Decent. Know's how to fight these charlatans. He is America's only hope.
I expect our leadership to take our concerns seriously. Marijuana Prohibition is more than a problem in itself. Its a symbol for a government that just doesn't get it, and won't represent our interests.
The US has spent billions, ruined thousands of lives on Marijuana Prohibition. Billions upon billions have been spent.
Today, AT LEAST one in six Americans smoke cannabis monthly or more often. A large amount of that cannabis is grown right here in the good ole USofA. And not one of those smokers has ended up in the emergency room due to marijuana overdose.
It never should have been illegal to begin with and Abraham Lincoln said that "Prohibitions make crimes out of things that are not crimes"....
I expect some leadership and some change including true legalization of cannabis because a decriminalization will only benefit the Black Market....
I really hate to paraphrase Vin Diesel in such an instance, but Mr. President, if you call on the people to save the country, you'd better be damned sure we like it the way it is.
And we don't like it the way it is. Perhaps you may have noticed this while you body-surfed on our displeasure all the way into the Presidency.
Be careful sir. Such cavalier dismissal of our will can wind you up as popular as, well, Prohibition is.
Unfortunately, Prohibition is more popular than Obama.
i love how he stated that some special interest groups jumped on it online, and that's how it became the most voted question. i don't know if im apart of a special interest group, but i am interested in the topic and think that it needs a whole lot more though and not just to be laughed at nervously because it might bring up some crap with the GOP. frustrating.
That's what good grass roots organizing can do for you. The important part of the whole debate is to bring the facts to light and debate them openly and factually. This is by no stretch of the immagination unimportant or something to laugh at. The simple fact is this. Since 1937 over half a trillion dollars has been spent on pot eradication / prohibition with over 20 million in jail at one time or another and an annual expense of over 25 billion for non violent offender imprisonment. The latter, 25 billion in jail expense savings would infinitely be better spent on hiring over 415,000 teachers at an annual expense of 60K!
What is fact is the war on pot is not working, wastes valuable police time and expense, could create a large income from medical cannabis alone. So after over 72 years of failures and waste, how much longer are we willing to continue on this failed path. The time is now and get on with it. They figured out how to write stupid laws, let them write some good ones the majority of voters have decided deserves at least an open debate!
Oh, but you're wrong. The war on pot IS working -- beautifully. Because prohibition is never about eradicating the use of the substance, it's about criminalizing it and creating a vast money-making underworld around it -- upon which the police state and feed and grow.
Marijuana is illegal BECAUSE people love it, smoke it, and won't stop. So you're guaranteed a new criminal feedstock for the billion dollar prison industry and lots of jobs of cops and the DEA.
The rich never get busted, so they're safe, of course.
Also, marijuana is illegal because it tends to foster an anti-authoritarian mindset. I don't know why, but it really does. In that regard, it is actually dangerous.
I didn't know that we were all members of a special interest group. When do I get my card? This is all East Coast Crap. They have tame 'scientists' that will say whatever management tells them to say.
What happened to the scientific method where you wanted to find out the truth. Now they set the goal and that is what your study will prove. I would rather die in the gutter than sell my soul the 'man'.
East coast crap? Massachusetts decriminalized it.
ummmmm mr. President? don't slap me in the face, and then laugh about it. that is a 'deal-breaker', for me. our relationship was ok ,up until now. dont ask me to participate in your campaigns and online organization, if my participation is going to be ridiculed. you have lost my respect and support.
this says way too much about his true character to ignore. i thought he was mature and intelligent enough to address these kinds of issue's, but, it is apparent ,now, that i was wrong. back to the libertarian party , for me. they are the only ones ,who will bring real change, because they are the only party that seriously discusses the issue, and provides a common sense solution. even ron paul would have been a better choice ,looking back.
I was registered Libertarian for a while. They weren't serious, at all. Obama is, but he rates a whole lot of other stuff as higher priority.
I was so disappointed with the Prez's answer. He laughed it off as if it was a non-issue. During the campaign and earlier on the record comments, Obama made it clear he was in favor of decriminalizing marijuana. This is a major reason I voted for him.
I understand that he doesn't want to take on this issue during a tense political climate. And I understand that the backlash he might receive could hamper his efforts on energy and healthcare. I hope this changes for my economic futures' sake.
When did he say he was in favor of decriminalization?
I don't recall any specifics, but my impression is that he had clearly signaled that he basically gets it but wouldn't spend any political capital on it. He might have said something more specific about decriminalizing only medical marijuana.
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