If you thought President Barack Obama's mocking response to the question of whether "taxing and regulating cannabis would raise revenue and reduce prohibition-associated violence" couldn't be any worse, just listen to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stumble below.
Kudos to the reporters who held the White House's feet to the fire on this one. First, Gibbs is asked: "When the President said he doesn't think that legalizing marijuana would give the economy a boost was he giving a political answer or an economic answer? Does he have numbers to back (his position) up?"
The pained expression on Gibbs' face says it all as he mumbles that, in fact, he is aware of no economic analyses -- as in zip, nada -- that support the President's dismissive position. Naturally, we have numerous credible economic reports proving just the opposite. Perhaps Mr. Gibbs would like to review them here, here, here, and here.
Minutes later, the White House Press Secretary appears even more desperate for a place to hide when a second reporter asked Gibbs to articulate the reasons why the President refuses to consider the issue. Gibbs' response is priceless.
"Uh, he, he does not think that, uh, uh, that that is uh, uh, [pause] he opposes it, he doesn't think that that's the, the right plan for America."
And there you have it. Wow. Such a vapid response wouldn't cut it if Gibbs was a third-grader standing in front of his classroom, no less the Press Secretary to the White House!
Keep in mind, both Obama and his press secretary knew in advance that they were going to publicly respond the question of taxing and regulating cannabis. They had at least 24 hours to prepare an articulate, rational, and substantive response. And yet the best response they could come up with was snickers and "uh."
Are the final days of marijuana prohibition upon us? It sure looks that way from here.
Investigators at the University of Salerno in Italy report that cannabinoids limit cancer cell proliferation and induce tumor-selective cell death.
Cannabinoids inhibit "tumor growth and migration, angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels to cancerous tumors), [and] metastasis (the transfer of malignant cells from one site to another)," authors concluded. "Emerging evidence suggests that agonists of cannabinoid receptors ... may offer a novel strategy to treat cancer."
A 2008 review in the journal Cancer Research reported that the administration of cannabinoids halts the spread of a wide range of cancers, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lymphoma.
To date, only one clinical trial assessing the use of cannabinoids as anti-cancer agents has been conducted. That trial reported that THC administration decreases recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor growth in patients afflicted with the disease
WOW now tht's funny
That said, this is the perfect time, particularly with the Criminal Justice initiative that Jim Webb as put forth to step up the activism on our parts. Keep on writing letters, making phone calls, donating to groups that are actually trying to preserve, retain and regain our civil rights, and telling it like it is to whoever is willing to listen. There is nothing like an abundant lathering of truth to make changes easier to slip in.
"According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use."
"Marijuana is far less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Around 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning. Similarly, more than 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco smoking. By comparison, marijuana is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose."
http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5442
"Replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year, finds a June 2005 report by Dr. Jeffrey Miron, visiting professor of economics at Harvard University."
http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/
Law Enforcement Professionals supporting legalization:
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
Our drug policy, especially regarding Marijuana, costs ridiculous amounts of money, enriching criminal organizations while taxpayers spend money to keep non-violent, non-dangerous people in jail, sometimes for life. Law enforcement personnel are endangered and have time and resources wasted on something that is only a crime because we decided it's bad to smoke pot (but okay to drink alcohol or smoke tobacco).
It may mean that, rather than having a strong anti-cannabis agenda (as held by former commanders in chief), he is simply ignorant of the real benefits that would arise from ending cannabis prohibition.
Obviously the question was important to a large number of people. He is likely to be flooded with backlash from his cavalier dismissal, and in the process, he may be led to a better understanding of the situation.
While I no longer view Obama as completely free from corporate interests, I still see him as a critical individual genuinely seeking to "do good" and make history with sweeping reforms. There is still the possibility that he is yet to learn the truth about "marijuana" prohibition, and upon seeing the light, will take up the cause as many now have.
For a noble cause it is.
Someone send him a copy of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" already!
~thinayr
Its obvious that drugs have been a part of human nature for thousands of years and its NOT going away ,pot has a very good track record so why not legalize it? Compared to all other intoxicating substances its alot less harmful!
I for one am tired of the lies and propaganda from our Govt!!