Dear President Obama,
Once again you have asked us about changing American policy and the direction this country should take. Your “Ask Obama” forum sponsored by YouTube promises to take questions from the American people on the issues they find most important in terms of national policy.
When you did this in 2010 you heard from us loud and clear about marijuana law reform. We asked about re-scheduling cannabis to allow medical marijuana to flourish, decriminalizing marijuana to end thousands of arrests, legalizing pot to raise tax revenue, ending prohibition to cripple Mexican drug traffickers, regulating cannabis to keep it out of kids’ hands, reforming drug laws to re-prioritize police resources, embracing industrial hemp as a truly green energy source, and using science, not politics, to dictate our drug policy.
And you flat-out ignored us, despite those questions dominating in both quantity and popularity.
When you did this in 2009 you got the same response from the public. That time you didn’t ignore us; you just laughed at us (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLFmGu57jLI).
We know you’re a busy man and there are many pressing issues facing this country. So we took the time to review the Top 100 questions on the “Ask Obama” site just now and condense each one into a few words so you could get an idea what the country is voting on.
Understand that this is not the list that appears when one clicks on the site. This list is compiled by choosing “All Questions” and then choosing “Sorted by popularity”. When one first visits the site, one of seven random topics including Jobs & Economy, Foreign Policy & National Security, Health Care, Education, Immigration, Energy and Environment, and Other, is presented in “Sorted by what’s hot” order, so it isn’t as if a certain topic becomes popular and then gets more popular because more random visitors are exposed to it.
So here they are, out of 97,344 people who have submitted 77,551 questions and cast 826,973 votes, these are the Top 100 Questions (as of Tuesday, 10pm Pacific). I’ve taken the liberty of color-coding questions about the Drug War in white, questions about you ignoring our questions about the Drug War in yellow, and questions that are not about the Drug War in red.
Wait, make that the Top 101 Questions, so I can have at least one red question… Click the graphic above to read the full-sized version… or continue reading for all the questions…
It looks like the list has been edited, and cleaned out of canmabis questions. At least I could not find them at 9:46 am pst.
We got to keep pouring it on, let him know that we are Serious about this. STOP THE WAR
I made over 700 Votes.
I want to thank you Russ Belville. You are a TRUE American!!! I can hardly wait to see if he dodges this question again but I predict that he will. I have a theory that he is ashamed of having sold us out and has chosen to hide rather than face it. The only other alternative I can think of is that he really believes that it is a good thing to continue arresting hundreds of thousands of otherwise innocent people…
Why not decide based on scientific facts since the evidence speaks for itself? Justice is blind.
Thanks. I love this article because it sorts everything out, saving us all a lot of time and giving us the opportunity to see the sort for ourselves if we want and didn’t know how to do it on YouTube.
Legalization means money above the radar that you didn’t have before. Talk about cutting the size of government to reduce expenditures. If we could only get them to lay off cannabis.
vidio does not work
Obama is crap on this issue, he is the most cowardly of the cowardly politicians. When have you ever seen him take a leadership role on a controversial issue?
Hi, as a European following up on this, I wonder at what time he will be answering these questions?
( well, Avoiding them or laughing them away.. )
please re-think cannabis laws.
I wonder if he’ll just laugh and shrug it off again…
I posted this idea rather “tongue in cheek” on Face Book, but it may actually have some merit, if you think about it…
Has anyone ever pointed out to our President how many constituants he would gain if he were to decriminalize, if not outright legalize marijuana? Everyone from medical users to out and out stoners would get up and go vote for him. And the tax base that this would create would be a boon to our sick economy.
Just sayin’…..
Good Job Russ
Now we need to direct these same questions to the rest of the politicians.
Rob Ryan
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Miami Valley NORML
PS When I told my wife, she did not believe me. She was amazed when she saw the results.
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!” -Upton Sinclair
Every one of those questions deserve an answer.
W
I fully expect him to not take the question seriously (again) and even if he does, I strongly doubt that we’re gonna like anything he has to say about it.
Will this be a real Town Hall Meeting or another fake public relation set up to help boost president Obama popularity for his re-election campaign?
Again another sign of the times: the top 100 questions (consisting of over 830,000 votes) are all about marijuana. When will the government start listening? The saying goes power in numbers, and we have numbers, so we have power.
So tomorrow during the conference addressing these questions, he will likely be laughing at us again (unless the questions about laughter are posed to him), and we’ll again hear the rhetoric about him not thinking that legalizing marijuana is good for the children, good for society, and good for the economy.
Obama has experience in all of the above: he sold marijuana (and cocaine!) to those under the age of 18 (so much for protecting the children), nobody likely died because of it, and he sure as hell made bank off of it.
Why does Obama not wish to extend his own youthful policy of “sell weed, make money” to the United States? It’s certainly not a bad policy.
While some of that cocaine he sold may very well have killed someone or sent them down the path to hardcore addiction and losing everything, spousal abuse, familial abuse, and et cetera, the one thing about the marijuana he sold is that it NEVER hurt a single person in any way UNLESS THEY WERE CAUGHT WITH IT.
I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he only answered one marijuana related question and then dropped the other top 99 to skip directly to 101. We voted, we are his constituency, we are the people, we are the voters, we are the people paying for his presidency. That’s us, Mr. Obama. That’s the people you laughed at. That’s the people who got you where you are. That’s the people who very likely bought weed from YOU twenty years ago.
Maybe after a dozen of these events wherein Mr. Obama is confronted with the truth (marijuana’s lack of harm, its medical value, and its undue criminalization), he will have something positive to say.
For now, however, I see more laughter or dismissive notions. You can drag a politician to the facts, but you can’t make him listen to the facts.
Mr. Obama is just another government shill doing what government shills doing best: denying the will of the people, denying the facts, denying the evidence, denying the benefits of something great.
The criminalization of marijuana will end with time, but we can’t be reliant on people like Barack Obama – our elected official – to do it for us. In 2012, we will have the issue on the ballots. We have under two years to build momentum, but momentum IS building, and building fast. By the time the 2012 elections roll around, I expect the marijuana legalization issue to have reached a critical mass.
It is then Obama will have to answer for his laughter and dismissals. It is then he will most likely pay for those chuckles with his position of political power. He better hope, pray, and whatever else that the Republican opposition is less supportive of marijuana legalization than he is, because if they’re not, it’s just another strike against him. A big one, too.
When you put it in people’s face that we’ve spent a trillion dollars doing nothing but arresting almost a million innocent people EVERY YEAR for smoking the most harmless substance on planet Earth, they will see the light. They will see the facts. They will take our side.
WE will win big in 2012, regardless of which party wins.
And Obama better get smart about it, or he won’t win at all.
Why cant Texas Farmers grow industrial hemp ?
Why stigmatize americans for a plant God placed here ?
How could you sleep at night denying americans food stamps
over a pot conviction ?
Unfortunately all the questions regarding marijuana were flagged as “inappropriate” and removed, saving the president from acting like he has a shred of humanity left by actually answering or reading one.
It might be just me, but maybe the reason Obama doesn’t want to participate in this dialogue is because he doesn’t want to go down in history as not only the first black president, but the one who made Mairjuana legal. I could extrapolate further, but this is the only scenario that adds up, sometimes a simple answer is the one that works and logic is involved, i.e, he doesnt want to leave a closed door to further diversity in the white house and he sees this as a major conservative-christian voter turn off.
Nevermind, last night I wasn’t able to find any questions regarding marijuana after having a hard time finding any unrelated to it, but now It seems that they’ve all been moved to “other” and the front page no longer shows the most popular (marijuana) of all questions without clicking it. This might hide the message from some eyes but its easy enough to find and still dominating.
BEAUTIFUL!!!
How is it that the goverment can keep saying the marijuana is a bad thing, as well as dening the scientific proof that there are more benefits than negative side affects. After all the current laws are based off of lies that were made despite the overwhelming evidence that was avalible at the time, but were completely ignored when they were put into place. Becides the fact that it would creat alot more jobs withing the production and legal selling of marijuana. There were just as many costly problems to the legality of alcohol, but it was made legal and people were doing the same things the people of America are doing today with marijuana. It is true that legalizing would cause new and unique problems but I believe that this country was made for the people to have a say and not to just be laughed at when they bring up a subject that they feel strongly about, and honestly we all should know why they do after all they have done a very good job creating a stigma about people who use marijuana. The vast ammount of people who I personaly have talked to about why they feel it is bad can’t tell me anything other than what we were all taught in school. Noen of them had took the time to look the subject up for them selves and see what they find, and most of them have recentaly changed there minds as to there belief on the subject. I fully plan to start to take the proper legal steps to change the state laws in Iowa and im certian that if given time and the real facts the people will back the movement.
Paul
If NORML is so confident that the issue of marijuana legalization is as hot as a topic as NORML is suggesting why not do what those in Egypt have done. Using Facebook activists were able to organize a march on 2 of their major of to the tune of hundreds of thousands. Wouldnt it be grand if NORML and its loyal cronies and compasionate bystanders had the same motivation?
I can promise you this Paul; if you were able to organize for thousands to march peacefully in every state on the same day – capital or not – you’ld have your legalization in short fashion. Yes its a large undertaking but you/NORML would only have to do it once. NORML and it followers would have captured the world stage and the time has never been better. Yes its a logistic nightmare but the payoff….the beautiful payoff.
In the immortal words of Admiral Ackbar ” They will not be able to repell a force of that magnitude”.
NoW smoke one and get on it Paul….
“The Reformation”
Question: What doe you have to say about this Mr. President?
Objective-Mission Statement of the Genesis the Faith.
Objective-Mission.
It is with conviction from the soul, with deep rooted belief, sted-fast faith, and certainty, that it is the noble and determined objective/mission of the Genesist Faith, with the right of peaceable association, to organize and unite its adherents as a unified Faith throughout the world. The inspiration and incentive of our indivisible mindset and relentless agenda [is], and [will] forever-more-be “The Certainty [of], and Confidence [in], Religious Liberty, and the Cause of Freedom.” Government cannot deny us our Faith – even if it disagrees with it. Government cannot deny us our Constitution, even if it denies us our rights. Let the facts be submitted to a candid world. A thousand mile journey starts with a single step, and Genesists, in the “Reformation” of our Faith, and the reaffirmation of our allegiance to it, have taken that first step towards preserving our Faith, and redeeming our Holy Sacrament.
Intent and Purpose.
It is therefore, the intent and purpose of the Genesist Faith, with conviction in our Faith, and a solemn regard for the principles of the Constitution, to rise to action with the equivalence of war, and invoke the “Establishment Clause” in Article I of the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993-RFRA (H.R. 1308), as a “Conscience Clause” relevant to the prohibition of our Holy Sacrament. A conscience clause is a law exempting those whose religious or moral principles forbid compliance. The prohibition of our Holy Sacrament is a substantial burden on the Genesist Faith, its integrity, stability, confidence, and forbids compliance of that corrupt, politically influenced, inequitable law. It strikes a severe blow to our emotional sanctity, and is viewed as Abusive Governmental Authority, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, and a Breach of Public Trust and Confidence. If the purpose or effect of a law is to impede the observance of one’s religion or is to discriminate invidiously between religions, “that law [is] constitutionally invalid,” even though the burden may be characterized as being only indirect.
Genesists rise to stand in defense of religious freedom [individual freedom]. When we need to vote – we vote. When we need to fight [defend] – we fight. “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” When we need to negotiate a secure peace for the sake of mankind – we listen with insatiable ears [constantly wanting more]. We are “Free American Genesists – and – we believe in God and country, life and liberty.” Genesists have impenetrable confidence in our belief that we’re not required to ask for our Holy Sacrament’s legitimacy – “it’s ours, and has been ours, since the beginning of time” – we claim it under the laws of nature and Nature’s God [God given]. Genesits have absolutely no recollection of – “ever” – acquiescing to any law prohibiting our Holy Sacrament. It’s absolute conjecture and speculation on the part of government to suggest that Genesists would – “ever” – acquiesce to any such notion. The mere assumption that we would is, at the very least, incomprehensible, and at most, delusional. Genesists have unalterably set our faces against religious tyranny – and – have made the most succinct statement of which we are prepared to fight the good fight. In defense of our position, we will never subjugate [surrender] to religious tyranny. We neither ask for, nor expect, quarter. We the People, are in charge of all three branches of government – that includes the Justice Department.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993-RFRA [applies] to all federal and state law, and the implementation of that law, whether statutory or otherwise, and whether adopted before or after the enactment of the Act, government shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability. Laws neutral toward religion may burden religious exercise as surely as laws intended to interfere with religious exercise.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act [recognizes] the free exercise of religion as an unalienable right, endowed by our Creator, and secures its protection in the First Amendment of the Constitution. Nothing in this Act should be construed to authorize any government to “substantially burden any religious belief or the free exercise thereof.” Genesists are resolute in our contention that our unalienable religious right, and our right to achieve it, has been, and remains, substantially burdened by government’s excessive intent to interfere [violate, assault, frustrate, degrade, disrupt, intimidate, and discriminate against] and its repeated history of dissemination of propagandized false facts, and inexplicit [vague] information to the public, as well as its non-responsiveness [disregard] towards our demands for religious liberty.
Government’s Supremacy Clause and Competing Governmental Interests are in “direct conflict” with Article I of the U.S. Constitution, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, which proscribes preemption of federal law. The Controlled Substance Act was clearly established to combat “recreational drug use.” The CSA clearly frustrates “religious and medicinal use.” Prior Competing Governmental Interest, which is constitutionally invalid and voidable, is a unique, novel, and untenable preemption, in that it “violates” Article I of the U.S. Constitution, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by “substantially burdening our religious belief and the free exercise thereof.”
Mr. President,
“What’s your answer to all who believe in God and God’s Holy Sacrament? The sand is not a place to put your head on this one – because – your tail feathers will surely be exposed in 2012. We believed your words once. Your actions will be your only salvation in the next election.
Gary Johnson 2021!
this was my question: Budweiser will once again be the dominant commercial sponsor for the Super Bowl. Why does our government think its perfectly fine to celebrate alcohol and all its drawbacks while stigmatizing marijuana and all its benefits?
Beyond excellent job Russ, thanks, so very much.
Could we get some media coverage of them hiding the questions trying to avoid them? I think that would have the biggest effect here.
Honestly, reading this made me cry because I know that it will just be laughed at and not taken seriously. I’ve lost all hope in this country improving in any way.
Maybe they’ll take questions from this group:
https://secure.drugfreeworld.org/store/products/truth-about-marijuana-booklet.html
““Cannabis” describes any of the different drugs that come from Indian hemp, including marijuana and hashish. Regardless of the name, this drug is a hallucinogen—a substance which distorts how the mind perceives the world you live in.
Find out what the marijuana pushers would hate for you to learn. Get the facts.”
Seriously, this is being sold as fact.. use their contact form to let them know the real facts about Cannabis.
#30, I say the same thing: Gary Johnson 2012. Cuz i know he’s definately for it, he has said so already
That is if Obama doesnt pull a fast one on all of us
If cannabis has no medicinal value why did the government patent it in 2003?
President Obama won’t even get close to these types of questions! Of course the questions will be screened before he’ll get a chance to see what we’re asking. I’m afraid that the following morning everyone will say “I told you so!” Can’t wait to see what kind of headline NORML will have on Friday.
with one stroke of the pen Obama could practically eliminate the national debt, to say nothing of all the many madicinal purposes this drug has
why not a medical marijuana commercial during the superbowl? have a national fund raiser for the largest audience at one time. the national debate would bring it to the forefront sooner than later.
I’m sure Obama will laugh it off again. Perhaps one question should be asked about rescheduling tobacco to schedule I since it has no medical value, is prone to abuse and kills users. Oh but wait, i forgot, big tobacco companies give millions to politicians to keep it legal. Also big Pharma gives millions to politicians to keep cannibis illegal. Wouldn’t it be nice if we the people could regulate political contributions like these or eliminate them all together? On the bright side of all this is when China takes over world dominance at least hemp farming will be legal.
I find it crazy that they will not just legalize it. It would do so much good for our economy. Also today I was watching those shows that show people running from cops and doing terrible things and the funny thing was the announcer blamed most of it on alcohol or hard drugs. Not once during these 4 or 5 hours of shows did you see someone rob, shoot, steal, stab, or assault anyone. ITS ALL ALCOHOL AND THE OTHER HARD DRUGS.
**** rob, shoot, steal, stab, or assault anyone due to marijuana. UNBELIEVABLE
ALCOHOL IS THE DEVIL, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS ITS ADVOCATE.
How about we all just take this image and email it to the president and flood his inbox (or his office at least) with it?
Obama isn’t going to do anything.
Gary Johnson former New Mexico Governor is running in 2012, He is 100% behind legalization.
In the meantime how do jurors “end” prohibition ?
They NULLIFY bad law visit nhjury.com to find out how.
After watching various mainstream news shows and perusing the major newspapers there was quite a few mentions about the upcoming youtube forum – but, not a single mention about the number one question! I think NORML should work toward getting the kind of information that we all share on this site into the mainstream news so that everyone will be aware of what is going on and not just us (the choir). Can we do that somehow?
[Paul Armentano responds: NORML, along with several allied organizations (DPA, LEAP, SSDP, etc) issued a joint media release this morning regarding the poll and the number one question. The release is being proactively pitched to major mainstream media markets. You can read the PR here: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/pressroom/pressrelease/pr012711.cfm.
FYI: Both USA Today and UPI are now reporting the story. See: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/01/obamas-questions-from-youtube-deal-mostly-with-legalizing-pot/1%5D
A government that ignores it citizens is a government that doesnt care for its citizens.
Its time to abolish this government and institiute one that will listen to the people.
President Obama won Colorado by less than 200,000 votes. We have 100,000 registered patients and 500,000 annual recreational users. How many of us can he afford to alienate?
“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power.”
– Thomas Jefferson
My earlier post in which I question why the mainstream media has not picked up on what is the top question in the youtube forum may have been premature! Check this out in the USA Today:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/01/obamas-questions-from-youtube-deal-mostly-with-legalizing-pot/1
Very Interesting!
“The Reformation.”
Genesists are a body of mass distinction.
As a body of mass distinction, Genesists declare a clear sense of why we must move forward to abolish the prohibition of our Holy Sacrament. “A clear reason why [is] the clear and present danger of the loss of our freedom and its liberties.” We declare that the religious liberty guaranteed us in the Constitution, as an unalienable right, endowed by our creator, supersedes all other authentic reasons for the abolishment of our Sacrament’s prohibition.
Genesists are well defined and unmistakable.
From sea to shining sea, each and every county, in each and every sovereign state, of these United States of America, is a “Genesist colony [3141 colonies],” and bears the name of that county. Our colonies are abundantly immanent with our brethren [those who believe in God and God’s Sacrament]. This includes our brethren throughout the world. The Genesist Faith transcends all boundaries. We are children of God’s world, and not so minute in the vast flow of life. It’s a small world after all, and Friends find each other.
The Genesist Prayer.
Lord, we assemble to supplicate in our Faith, and appeal to you, the supreme judge of the world, for the rectitude of our intentions, collective consciousness, and determined unity. We, in the name, will, and authority of the good and free people of the Genesist Faith, solemnly publish and declare, that our United Genesist Colonies are, and of right, ought to be recalcitrant to government’s discriminate acts against our Faith, Holy Sacrament, and our Constitution. We pray – show us the way. Take us to the top of the mountain and shine your light on us. Take us to the river and wash our souls clean. Support the rock upon which we stand at your altar. Give us strength to carry on – amen.
It is the Genesist’s objective, intent and purpose for brethren throughout the world to find each other and stand as one continually, acting formidably, as one unified religious family, to protect the rights of us all, as individuals, and to act against aggression directed at our Constitutional, God given, unalienable religious right of Holy Sacrament. Our strength is in the unity of our purpose. To that high concept there can be no end save victory.
The Genesist Faith does not attempt to convince anyone to believe in God, honor our Holy Sacrament, or proselytize them from their chosen religion, denomination, or ism. If however, any individual does, by their own admission and volition, believe in God, and God’s gift of Holy Sacrament, the Genesist Faith offers that individual an affirmative religious use defense which becomes increasingly more defendable by it’s congregation’s aggregate of believers [brethren] – standing as one continually.
There isn’t a chance in Hell that Obama will actually address this issue, except to dismiss or blow it off as he has done in the past.
What he seemingly fails to realize is that the government’s war on cannabis prevents a large number of our citizens from trusting, believing or respecting their government.
Let’s be real. We will be dead and gone when it becomes legal. Save your seeds, hide ur weed.
Replying to Sethopolis 22-
Legalizing marijuana isn’t really a turn-off to conservative Christians (like me). Conservative Christians know that Jesus said to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I know I wouldn’t want my child sent to prison or my parents to have their house sold by the police if they used a little marijuana. It’s the people who WANT to put kids in prison and WANT to steal people’s houses that are pushing to keep marijuana illegal. It’s the people who make money by keeping mj illegal that push to keep it that way, not the conservative Christians that I know.
well we all have a question for obama but now i have a quesion for Norml, say obama did make marijuana legal for people to buy and it became taxed and regulated like alcohol and cigarettes what would happen to norml i realise we would have wont but what about this i love comign to this site
Wes, don’t fret. We will legalize pot in Colorado in 2012. There is already a movement underway.
Question: Mr. President, Is this yours? Your Attorney General, Drug Czar, and new appointment to the DEA must have been asleep when you ordered it.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 9, 2009
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Scientific Integrity.
Science and the scientific process must inform and guide decisions of my Administration on a wide range of issues, including improvement of public health, protection of the environment, increased efficiency in the use of energy and other resources, mitigation of the threat of climate change, and protection of national security.
The public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions. Political officials should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions. If scientific and technological information is developed and used by the Federal Government, it should ordinarily be made available to the public. To the extent permitted by law, there should be transparency in the preparation, identification, and use of scientific and technological information in policy making. The selection of scientists and technology professionals for positions in the executive branch should be based on their scientific and technological knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity.
By this memorandum, I assign to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (Director) the responsibility for ensuring the highest level of integrity in all aspects of the executive branch’s involvement with scientific and technological processes. The Director shall confer, as appropriate, with the heads of executive departments and agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget and offices and agencies within the Executive Office of the President (collectively, the “agencies”), and recommend a plan to achieve that goal throughout the executive branch.
Specifically, I direct the following:
1. Within 120 days from the date of this memorandum, the Director shall develop recommendations for Presidential action designed to guarantee scientific integrity throughout the executive branch, based on the following principles:
(a) The selection and retention of candidates for science and technology positions in the executive branch should be based on the candidate’s knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity;
(b) Each agency should have appropriate rules and procedures to ensure the integrity of the scientific process within the agency;
(c) When scientific or technological information is considered in policy decisions, the information should be subject to well-established scientific processes, including peer review where appropriate, and each agency should appropriately and accurately reflect that information in complying with and applying relevant statutory standards;
(d) Except for information that is properly restricted from disclosure under procedures established in accordance with statute, regulation, Executive Order, or Presidential Memorandum, each agency should make available to the public the scientific or technological findings or conclusions considered or relied on in policy decisions;
(e) Each agency should have in place procedures to identify and address instances in which the scientific process or the integrity of scientific and technological information may be compromised; and
(f) Each agency should adopt such additional procedures, including any appropriate whistle blower protections, as are necessary to ensure the integrity of scientific and technological information and processes on which the agency relies in its decision making or otherwise uses or prepares.
2. Each agency shall make available any and all information deemed by the Director to be necessary to inform the Director in making recommendations to the President as requested by this memorandum. Each agency shall coordinate with the Director in the development of any interim procedures deemed necessary to ensure the integrity of scientific decision making pending the Director’s recommendations called for by this memorandum.
3. (a) Executive departments and agencies shall carry out the provisions of this memorandum to the extent permitted by law and consistent with their statutory and regulatory authorities and their enforcement mechanisms.
(b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
4. The Director is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
P.S. February 9, 2009 Barack Obama “The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind,” White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said. Zero Tolerance Policy is in effect on medicinal cannabis.
Mr. President,
Just how much can we believe? Is your word any good, or is your word just a bunch of balloon
juice. Please advise.
What is wrong with Obama The president?
Why does he not hear the voice of the people?
This world looks up to the Leader of the most prosperous Nation, Cannabis Dreams has for ever been the dream producer, do you dream?
In my dream
Folks, Obama’s just a figurehead, big business (re: oil) runs this country and what they say goes! It doesn’t matter who runs, the elections are fixed, remember what happened in 2000! It’s not going to happen until the U.S. gets its government back from big business!
What it comes down to is people are trying to stand up for their rights and freedom and to fight for what they believe in. As I see aren’t the facts and statistics enough. People are slowing comming forth and standing up for what they believe but some are scared because of the fact that this passion is still illegal. So what do you do? Take a stand and fight for what you believe in, tell the truth in your side of the matter. We will win if you do!!!
lol @ #5…How could he not laugh at doing something that is impossible at this time? I will tell u what, if you want a serious response wait for a few more percentage points of old timers clock out…then ask that question. Any presidential prospect will not favor the legalization position (public) if they want to actually accomplish anything. Any reasonable person knows what must be done but that they cannot do it until the old emotional positions are worn to tatters and exposed for what they are.
My question got censored. How did these question not?
and that question wasnt worth a shit folks!i dont think that legalization should include the suggestion of all drugs.in safetys mind, cannabis is the “most benefitting” of any of the others, is mild compared to the rest of them and, provides a great , all around buzz compared to the other illegal drugs.he needed the question about cannabis and hemp and, the benefits of them in comparison to the rest that are man formulated.our government needs called out for the real reason cannabis and hemp is illegal.
thing is, i also understand that a person is entitled to live as he or she wishes as long as it doesnt endanger anyone.i would like to think the if cannabis and hemp were legal, a portion of the population would stop harder drug use. wouldnt that be great. to use cannabis to treat forms of harder or, prescription drug use…..alcohol as well.hell, we would be a healthy nation if cannabis/ hemp were legal. our government knows the facts….and we who consume know the facts..peace to you all.
i think we should do this once a month till they get tired and give up
I always believed America was 1 for all, but nowadays why do we have 15 states with medical marijuana and the rest without, if fair for 1 state, I say fair for all
This is getting absurd! Just legalize marijuana use for medicinal and recreational use and tax it like we have with Cigarette or smokeless tobacco sales. Seriously, it should be this big of a deal. It’s a harmless herb that brings some people a little bit of joy and/or relief.
CMC
CENSORSHIP – no matter who does the censoring is just plain evil – period! Who in the hell,in their right mind, can be proud of evil with an evil agenda? Well!!! someone’s proud of it. Someone said to me – “If – they didn’t censor our questions they might hear some good old common sense.” Well!!! “If – gramma had balls – she’d be grampa.” Let’s get real!!! Medical use is protected in Compassionate Use States – abused by the Justice Dept. for sure – but protected nevertheless. Recreational use is – well!!! guess what? We can piss and moan until we turn blue in the face – but – guess what? Right – we’re going to do it no matter what, and pay the price! Religious Use is the only way to get in their jeans – but – not everyone is religious. Let’s get into a federal court and fight them with our Constitutional Right. No!… O.K. let’s just give up. Right!!! you can’t fight someone that doesn’t have a conscience.
President Obama on Thursday called drug legalization “an entirely legitimate topic for debate,” but quickly added “I am not in favor of legalization.” my response is simply, Put Up or Shut Up Mr. President! The debate you claim is “an entirely legitimate topic for debate,” is long over due. We the People have been a……sking this Government to give us this debate and debate this issue like reasonable human beings. The government’s response has “shocked the sense of fair play,” they have openly lied and mis-informed the general public for since 1937. Mr. President we want this debate! We dare you to set this in motion and since you clearly stated, “not in favor of legalization”, you and your party should put up or shut up and defend Prohibition. We the People will bring it on, set the ground, we’ll debate who ever you send. All we ask is that it be live and transparent to the public.
I am in favor of medical marijuana my only question is why not in all states instead of just a few?
This is not news but a matter of record about what made our country strong..it was MANDATORY to grow a CASH crop of hemp because of its usefulness in countless catagories,issues that face us with our dwindeling resources, chemical and medical poisonings,
and our right to that which God has created for our use. And like the wine created by Jesus we take what is given and max it out to any and all purposes both good and bad..we find our limits and demand the right to do so..even God reconized this fact(and undoubtly gave us the desire for this knowledge)that we want and need the ability to learn and benefit from all this WORLD has to offer. Anything less is tantamount to unwanted government control that is not to our best interest nor to our economy NOR to our unity as a people.Let us be proud of our own self control and pro-
gress. Unless you want us to stay drunk with our own worthlessness, angered with the control of others; and
fight against ourselves for the right to feel some unity and joy with our own accomplishments.who r u 4??
82 renee
You speak the words of all Genesists. Are you a Genesist?
Genesis I:29,30,31. What county [colony] and state are
you in? We wish you will continue your words to the world.
Genesis the Faith
San Diego, Ca. Colony
Now is the time to inundate our elected officials with letters, phone calls, and emails regarding this issue.
It is important to remember that the President of the U.S. does not have the power to make or change the law. Even though it seems that the President can do whatever he wants, it is not so. The only branch of the Federal government that can make (and change) law is the Legislative branch, i.e. the House of Representatives and the Senate. Therefore, when it comes to changing marijuana laws, it matters more that we tell our Representatives and Senators what we want done.
When I write to my elected officials (who all happen to be Republicans), I tell them that they should become very aware of the fact that their constituency has changed a great deal in the past ten years. I make sure they understand that we, the generation currently in power in business and government (I call us “Junior Baby-Boomers”—ten years younger than the boomers), are NOT of our parents’ generation, that we do not feel tied to any one political party, and that we WILL vote differently during the next election if they do not pay heed to what we want done.
I also make certain they understand that the fact that there are tens of thousands of non-violent people in prison because of our country’s draconian marijuana laws makes me more angry than I can possibly state. Most of these people would be hard-working, productive members of society with no criminal records at all, if the laws were fair.
I also like to mention that laws against industrial hemp are robbing our nation, and our farmers, of a safe, environmentally-friendly crop that could save us billions of dollars and tens of millions of trees annually. With all the ravages of pollution and climate disruption, we urgently need every single tree to remain in the earth, growing and eating carbon dioxide. When strong, perfectly usable paper products can be made from hemp, it is obscene that we continue to rape our forests and woodlands, slaughtering perfectly good trees to make everything from furniture to toilet paper.
One word to the wise about writing to your State and Federal officials: PLEASE use spellcheck AND grammar-check before you send your letter or email. If your correspondence is filled with spelling and grammatical errors, your rep will most likely never see it. It will be deleted by some assistant or another and your efforts will be wasted.
Writing to your elected officials is one of the most powerful things you can do to participate meaningfully in the political process. It allows you to exercise your freedom of speech and make yourself heard by the people who are there to serve you (don’t be afraid to remind them that they are servants), and to be booted out of office if they refuse to heed the call of the people who voted them into office.
Check on NORML’s home page—you can find out who your Representative and Senators are, and you can even send your email through their website. There is nothing to fear; no one can hassle you for exercising your First Amendment Right to Free Speech!
86 EV Madsen
You must have been banging around in my mind. I couldn’t have said it better than you have stated it. Excellent post!, excellent advice! I hope everyone follows it!
The DEA should be brought up on criminal charges before an International court or tribunal! In 1974 the DEA commissioned a study that found that THC shrinks tumors in laboratory rats. As a result of that finding the DEA destroyed almost all copies of the study/report and quashed the entire incident. One could assert that because of this criminal act against all humanity the DEA is responsible for every cancer death in the World since 1975. Sometime I believe after 2000, this exact finding was independently discovered by Spanish medical researchers. Ya get that everybody? Let me repeat:
IN 1974 THE DEA KNEW THAT THC SHRINKS TUMORS IN LABORATORY RATS AND QUASHED, BURIED, SUPPRESSED THAT MONUMENTAL INFORMATION. Do we all know how much has been spent over the past almost four decades trying to find a cure for cancer. The DEA had it in their hands in 1974 and suppressed it.
90 Sweetclarissa
1974! What a year – Nixon! Old Tricky Dick really messed things up by federalizing cannabis with the Controlled Substance Act – CSA, and creating the DEA. Nixon! trashed the Shafer Report as well. What perhaps you should remember is “who put” Tricky Dick in office. David and Nelson Rockefeller, and I’m sure DuPont, who all hated Cannabis with a passion, and still do. Cannabis prohibition is much bigger than any of us know – or – perhaps will ever know. It’s the Mother Load of ulterior motives – the enigma of power.
“Know your enemy – be prepared.”
Rebel
Genesis, Los Angeles Colony
Gary Johnson 2012!!!!!!
how would i obtain factual study results on things like the difference the sales taxes might have increased the state budget’or the amount of money saved on not imprisoning pot smokers.the things the general public wants to over look.i want positive proven tests,as to present to my state senators and representatives.did it boost city funds,or was it used to fund any programs.if farmers grew pot what would that produce.thanks
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with valuable information to work on. You have performed an impressive job and our entire neighborhood might be grateful to you.
It really doesn’t matter what you ask Obama. His philosophical mindset is already set and he intends on implementing it.
People in the world that wish for cannabis to be legalized to rise up and support the cause. No more talking about it. Let’s do something. On April 4th, 2013 and I am asking for people around the world to help me raise $100,000 for Greenpeace International. Support change, support cannabis.
People in the world that wish for cannabis to be legalized to rise up and support the cause. No more talking about it. Let’s do something. On April 4th, 2013 and I am asking for people around the world to help me raise $100,000 for Greenpeace International. Support change, support cannabis.