Remember when we were told that “legalization isn’t in the president’s vocabulary?”
Remember when Mr. Obama laughed off a suggestion that marijuana legalization could help the economy?
Remember when he emphatically stated he would not pursue a strategy of decriminalization of marijuana?
Yeah, we do, too.
So imagine our surprise at NORML to find an ad for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign nestled in the prime ad spot on our YouTube channel: NORMLtv (http://youtube.com/natlnorml).
What’s the campaign strategy for the marijuana smoker vote, Mr. Obama? Keeping at the head of the DEA one of Mr. Bush’s administrators? Maintaining the Bush-era policy of raiding medical marijuana providers? Escalating numbers of marijuana arrests on your watch?
Or will it just be, “Look, you think I’m bad, imagine what happens if (fill in GOP nominee) wins! I just want to force pot smokers into costly rehab they don’t need on the threat of prison. (Fill in GOP nominee) wants to (fill in terrible threat we’re already experiencing now)!”
You want the absolute guaranteed votes of 90% of the 25 million American adults who use cannabis annually in America?
Convince Congress to pass and then you sign Barney Frank and Ron Paul’s Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act.
It doesn’t cost you anything. Marijuana is still illegal in all fifty states and 99% of all marijuana arrests take place at the state and local level. It just means marijuana is no longer a federal issue; states are free to set up any marijuana regulations they choose. The people in marijuana friendly states will support you more and the ones who hate pot still think you’re a secret Muslim agent from Kenya anyway.
Well, I take that back. Your contributors from Big Pharma might not like you endorsing the competition.
UPDATE: Apparently, based on comments below, I should’ve explained how GoogleAdSense works. NORML didn’t “accept” advertising from the Obama campaign. We offer up a piece of screen real estate to GoogleAdsense. They sell advertising packages to third parties, like the Obama campaign, which promise to place their ads on websites matching certain demographics and content keywords. So we don’t even know who or what is going to appear up there as an ad (within limits; obviously there isn’t going to be a phone sex ad or Klan rally promotion going up there… we can limit certain types of ad content.)
It’s possible that the ad algorithm just saw “within 50,000 on Alexa”, “large youth demo of readers”, and “Congress / House / Senate / Obama” on our website and automatically placed Obama’s ad there because he wants to reach young politically active people on popular websites. In fact, I seem to recall some “Marijuana: The Anti-Drug” ads showing up on our BlogTalkRadio page in the early days of NORML SHOW LIVE. I’ve seen ONDCP ads show up on other pro-marijuana sites.
We’re not a 20th century newspaper; it’s not as if Obama’s campaign team called and said, “Hey, NORML, how about we support you by advertising and you support us by accepting the ad. The day the ad appeared on NORMLtv was the first time we saw it there and probably just as shocking to the president.
This is great, but I was under the impression that advertisers did not let you choose what site ads appeared on – there’s a huge pool of rotating ads?
[NORML responds: Indeed. This ad was not reviewed or approved by NORML ahead of time, nor was NORML even aware of it until we saw it live.]
No way am I voting for this back stabbing liar. If you don’t support the end of prohibition I’m not voting for you!!!!
Actually… if you (Fill in GOP nominee) with Ron Paul, his argument falls flat on it’s face being that Ron is the first presidential candidate EVER to introduce a bill to federally legalize marijuana.
why would u let him advertise at all? I now have lost respect for your Org, NORML
[NORML responds: To clarify, ads on NORML’s youtube page are sold by a third party (BlogAds), not NORML. NORML doesn’t have any control or knowledge of who shows up in that box until it’s there. In this case, Obama’s campaign ironically purchased ad space from Blog Ads (not NORML) on a page that is specifically highlighting his poor record on marijuana policy.]
Can we get Obama on board? He thinks he can win our vote and at the same time get big pharma campain money. Who’s side is he on? “It is all about money”.
What a joke…I haven’t seen any “change” with the country, economy, or the freedom of the people. I will not believe this man no matter what, he will not be the president next year no matter how many lies he tells. Marijuana legalization 2012
BEER? KILLS THOUSNDS EVERY YEAR!!!!!1 MARIJUANA…. NONE!! YOU TELL ME
fail, mr obama, fail.
Mr. President, thank you for advertising with NORML.
So much good can occur if you also rethink the leaf.
Then kick the pathological narcissists ass off and remember to vote for Ron Paul next year!
Vote in the Republican’t primary(You already know what the Dummycrats have)for Ron Paul then elect him in November!
I voted once when i was 18, all i ever got from it was call to jury duty like 3 times a year, and had to fill out crap to tell them i already been call up, then said who needs that,now im in my 40’s and just regestered, for the reason to vote for any type of legallization. Its time for it, has been time for it, im sick of my tax going in the trash to fight it,, all so big money can keep making money on top of not paying there share of tax, the laws, if people only knew the true scope of them make me sick as hell
So we are forced to be shunned by quote unquote sane society. Man fuck that, people that smoke are usually way smarter and helped develop many advanced technological breakthroughs. I see an ad for alcohol on every single tv station on every single commercial break. They are willing to promote liver malfunction and alcohol poisoning but they wont even allow the citizens of this supposedly free country to make their own decisions about weed. I call bull shit on that. The so called above the influence commercials do nothing to educate the real truth about weed to the public. Children have easier access to weed than they do alcohol thanks to the good old corner man who doesn’t care who he sells to. In my opinion prohibition is ruining our youth. They are allowed to watch shows like Jersey Shore which promote alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, whores, and violence. But the most peaceful plant on the planet is illegal. This shit makes no sense to me and I wish all of so called “Educated” America wakes up to the realization that the government lies to its people on a daily basis. Lets take the current debt debate for example. How many Americans actually understand what happened. The bill that was signed by our tyrannical leaders will not reduce our current debt by trillions. Instead it allows for our continued abuse of deficit by incurring more debt. The debt they plan to reduce is the projected 10 year increase in debt. Yes you heard right, we will be adding more debt to our deficit but its OK for them to false advertise a Debt reduction on debt that we have yet to incur. To me this is unacceptable, it is time for a real change. We need to call for a reduced federal government and give the states their rights back. Tyranny is not my idea of the American dream.
One more thing to add, When will the government remember that they work for us, we don’t work for them. If they refuse to adhere to our constitution there will be moral and legal consequences they may face. PERSONAL CHOICE, PERSONAL CHOICE, PERSONAL CHOICE.
All this makes me wonder is “WHO” is in bed with WHO??? WHY would NORML endorse ANYTHING having to do with Obama, after the way he has lied about ALL his PHONY campaign promises, he DID NOT keep for the mmj community!Besides ALL the other LIES! NORML> I question your agenda now as well! I am loosing respect for any high profile organization, and also, I find myself wondering, if there is anyone left on this planet, that has not been infected with this NEW DISEASE, called GREED and DECEPTION! Every day it is another conspiracy, where someone is screwing somebody for the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR!What has happened to helping other people,any way you can? Love and respect for the less fortunate? Love for your neighbor? People have become THUGS, Preying on each other! It’s heartbreaking! The only thing that is going to matter in the end, is how we treated each other! FAIL MISERABLY!!!
[NORML responds: NORML is not ‘endorsing’ Obama’s re-election bid. Please see our previous replies re: how this ad was a rotating ad, placed by a third party, this ad was not approved by NORML, etc.]
Why any norml supporter would vote for Obama is beyond me. Ron Paul is the only candidate that supports your cause.
What is funny is I opened http://youtube.com/natlnorml at about 10:15 EST the page said google error try again in 30 seconds. I tried again and the ad is no longer there. lol, Word travels fast when important people do stupid things.
If fill in name is Ron Paul, marijuana prohibition is over.
Great article- Put Ron Paul on your cover!!!
I do not care he does not have my VOTE! Too late he just wants reelection.
http://feministguidetohollywood.blogspot.com/2011/07/roseanne-barr-for-president.html
This is the opitomy of hypocricy! President Barack Obama has the audacity to place a campaign ad on your YouTube channel? I thought this guy was dumb, but he’s a total moron!
Who else will we vote for? Republicans that want to turn back the clock to 1950? The Christian churches must be activated if real change is to come about. My advice is that people go to Church and spread the Gospel of legalized Ganja. Because it is from and about God. The Christian monks knew it, the Sufis knew it. Religions have relied upon cannabis to connect with the Ultimate.
Just gonna vote Ron Paul I guess. I know he will lose but I am tired of the crappy presidents we keep getting.
WOW is all i gotta say the goverment is bullshit im sick and tired of the suffering us as AMERICAN ppl have to go through every single day just because they cant come up with a good enough solution to THEIR debt problem the only reason this country is in debt is because of obama and the rest of the goverment officials who make enough money not to care how much they fuck us over…..i say legalize marijuana even if its just medically and no longer a federal issue that would help more then any stupid debt plan they come up with cuz again i say THEY DONT CARE!!!! obama can shove my vote up his ass i wouldnt vote for him if he paid me to
I am stunned by the fact that the author had to edit the post to include how these basic ads work…you realize that most sites use a third party ad company that does it for them and its all automatic….as the authors edit/update implied even obama has no real control over exactly what organizations or sites his had appears on…
however the hypocrisy is there regardless of how the ad got there…and that was reason enough to write the article…and the message to obama and the explanation of the decriminalize act was great….
also igor many religious people when they are told about cannabis from god they say ‘drugs arent from god they are from the devil’…how do you counter this…
i do agree with you that cannabis and other types of natural psychoactive drugs (im talking things like mushrooms and other natural hallucinogens) have been used for thousands of years to connect with what is known as the spiritual realm or another dimension..they certainly help me with trying to live a pious life…
Sadly, the ad will work because many people aren’t very well informed about Obama’s dismal record on marijuana prohibition.
hope this finds its way to advertisment.
RON PAUL 2012 !!!!! thats right.
As f–ked as this, you would be a fool to not vote for the democrats candidate, before there can be a Pres Kucinich there must be Obama and a few more. One could ask NORML, after forty or so years and much donated bucks why we are still here. How much have they really done?
Wow, i mean i know the internet is RELATIVELY new but I honestly thought that if people knew how to use a message board, that they would also be privy to the common sense behind ads.
True, it’s just an ad. Either it’s mocking us? <-"I can get the potheads to vote for me again." It's in acceptance of the cause? <-Until I see it in writing from anyone running, regardless of states rights vs federal regulations, I won't hold my breath. Or it was just a mistake? <-Idk about that, I don't believe in coincidence. I would like to believe that we could have an open, honest discussion pertaining to the nature of this beneficial commodity known as cannabis. I know some will call me naive but BHO seems like a good natured man(just a facade?), even with all of the pandering that's been going on, and perhaps that's what he's counting on to get him re-elected. I mean he's just the guy in the middle, right? Idk, I have my doubts. Cut the strings? His company knows that consumers of cannabis aren't as kooky, far leaning, as other factions are. Cannabis consumers are also a nice sized voting block that stretches across both party lines and in all seriousness are people who're very passionate about their causes. Maybe their showing a small amount of respect for the CannaParty. It's not a bad idea on their part to send out this ad, if it was done purposely, because I have a sneaking suspicion that it was those who believed that he would curtail and end the prohibition of cannabis that got him elected. I know call me crazy but when it comes down to it votes matter and every candidate will do and say anything to get them. Money talks and BS walks? After the election it's anyone's guess what will happen. That's what I dislike about the political process. If BHO were to somehow get the ball rolling on ending the prohibition of cannabis before the election then perhaps he might have a chance at re-election. If not then a bid for re-election is going to be a tedious task. Of course he would have to sweeten the pot (pun) with other acceptable plans that would positively effect this nation besides just legalizing cannabis. I know the Hill is a busy place and will be for quite some time so to get this up and running won't happen due to the matters of mass importance that are occupying our officials time and energy. Although the more and more I hear from the "corporate" side of things, you know the pay as you go and get paid as you go bunch, leaves me with the feeling that no matter what happens before then the 2012 election will be hard fought. They wouldn't have it any other way. Keep the voters guessing. Don't you just love politics. I don't! Anyway we can get the candidates to sign and adhere to a contract, that is legally binding, stating what they intend to do during their years of occupancy and a time line? They know how it's all going to work out anyway, right? If and when the contract is breached then it is an automatic flag to consider impeachment giving regard to due process? Nah, that will NEVER happen! Cause as we all know the America that we once knew where a multitude of options were available has quickly eroded into a country of either your with us or against us mentality. It's black or white. No it's not. I want options. The more the better. A lawyer should be present during the signing of ANY form of contract or paperwork received. That's the American way. Suckers. A handshake and a (wo)mans word mean absolutely nothing in this day and age. Sad and depressing. Politics=weaving one's way through BS and still coming out "clean", and in some cases "dirty" but still coming out, on the other end. Oh, well life will go on and maybe just maybe we can one day in the near future end this prohibition on cannabis and enjoy it's restorative properties. I know a bit long but I've said my peace. Good day and God bless us and our endeavors.
To hell with obama. It doesn’t matter who we elected anymore both parties are the same, they just try to get their differently. fuck democrats and fuck republicans. We need to see the rise of the libertarians like Ron Paul. Those are the people who know what freedom is and will fight for the people.
The United States Government is a joke, pure, plain and simple! It is full of crooks who only care about themselves and not the people who elected them into office! It is controlled by the oil industry which is why we had 12 years of oilmen running the country (BTW, (sarcastically) they did one helluva job!)! I thought it was supposed to be “of the people, for the people and by the people”! Term limits is one option, but, why would they vote themselves out of their cushy, overpaid jobs?! This government needs to be overhauled or else I’m afraid to say we might need to start a second American Revolution!
I will not vote for a man, who has lied and laughed in my face..I may smoke a little cannabis, but I am not stupid..
I will absolutely not vote for this man– he manipulated us into voting for him in 08 by pretending to be on our side. This last thing that he did– the debt ceiling– showed he is no better than the other politicians. He’s a crook and a scumbag. Of course the only alternative the Republicans will give us is a religious nutjob… so yeah. We’re pretty well and truly screwed.
“It has become painfully apparent, lacking decent respect and fidelity for the Constitution, that [this] government has “lost its conscience,” and is not decent enough to rule itself, let alone its fellow citizens.”
P.S. to 36.
Under the microscope, “undue exercise of freedom,” reveals itself as government’s arrogance by “taking the liberty – to take away our liberty.”
Norml, please change the title of this article. I read it and almost lost my mind. It is misleading, given the “update” at the END of the article.
# 7 ALAN – Don’t mess with my beer. I need it. It also soothes my throat after a rough hit. If beer causes health problems – I am a freeman and I’ll take my chances. Now if we can expand this freedom to pre – pot – prohibition levels. America was once a free country – how did we let it get away from us?
Barack Obama got to go.
He cannot be relect in 2012.
He think he can run second term? No.
He has to be lied, because Dea and other federal government told Obama about it
By 2012 bye bye Obama.
Hello Ron Paul,we want you to become president of 2012
Good luck Ron Paul if you can handle in office and teach federal government to stop lying us and also DEA
They need go to school and teach them lesson how to trainning stop being a lier.
Ron Paul can you handle your job as president?
Good luck.
We need to form a new party so we have sway. A green party that supports local organic farming green energy and reform for cannabis. The tea party like the patriot act is a farce. Neither one have anything to do with what they are named after. Do you honestly believe the founding fathers agree with either?
Does anyone find it ridiculous, hypocritical, and downright deceptive that Obama claims that Universal Marriage Rights should be decided at the State level yet marijuana legalization, which is essentially identical in legal scope, doesn’t have the same consideration? Vote Green!!!
I think NORML should place a big warning message on the NORMLtv page that says NORML does not endorse Obama’s campaign ad and that you do not have control over which ad appears and which does not.
If someone visits your TV page and sees the ad without seeing this message – people might think that Obama is all of a sudden for making marijuana legal and they will run out a vote for him (which we don’t want with his current position on the matter).
Although he might not win – my vote is going towards RON PAUL in 2012.
Mr. Obama had my support, financial and vocal in his last election. Meanwhile I’ve listened to his occasional asides about pot and pot people.
More importantly I’ve watched what has happened on the ground. Hard ass bitch made head of DEA? Check. Memos from DEA regarding pot people? Check. Extradition and imprisonment of Marc Emery? Check. Denial of rescheduling of cannabis? Check. Hell, I didn’t expect miracles, but these insults are too much.
This time he’ll be lucky to get my vote, let alone my vocal support or any of my money.
Vote for Obama again in 2012? You have got to be kidding? The nerve of that guy is unreal. Maybe it could be worse if a Republican wins but I just can’t see rewarding Obama for betraying so many people with his lies.
I am not crazy about Ron Paul but he is for legalizing marijuana. He also wants to get us out of uneccessary wars. On those two issues he has my vote and I don’t care whether it’s wasted or not. Those issues are important to me.
Frankly, even though Obama says he is against legalization, you can be damn sure that the Republican candidate will be even worse. Its the lesser of two evils here folks.
Vote them all out!!!!
Obama has lost my financial support as well as my vote until he reigns in the DEA from busting state sanctioned medical marijuana dispensaries.
I was a big supporter of his and have lost respect for him with the present anti pot policies of his adminstration. I like Ron Paul’s stance on the issue.
For those of you with any doubt remaining about who to vote for in 2012, the answer is simple. The only candidate who has promulgated the end of the drug war as part of their plan has been and is RON PAUL!!! Don’t worry if he will win, just vote for him. Not only will he abandon the war on drug users, but he’ll push an agenda that will get this country in some financial order!
Ron Paul in 2012!!!
-Oz
Hi Russ, I work at Blogads and just want to clarify a couple points. While we do serve the ads on the right column of this blog, we have nothing to do with YouTube. Google serves those up, and they’re based on algorithms and keywords and stuff. The ads on this blog are purchased specifically on this blog, and aren’t left to chance to be served. So considering how Google’s ads are bought and sold, it is definitely interesting that the ads showed up on your YouTube page.
He can legalize/decriminalize cannabis all he wants, I will never vote for a Constitution-trampling, US Code-violating socialist.
Those of you yelling Ron Paul——-GET REAL!!! He will NEVER NEVER EVER get past the GOP vote. Here are your likely choices for GOP President in 2012
Mitt Romney—— Position on Marijuana
• Romney believes that the push to legalize marijuana for medical use is an effort by a committed
few to try and get marijuana out into the public and ultimately legalize it.
• During his 2008 presidential bid Romney was asked about his stand on the legalizing of medical
marijuana he replied thus, “I don’t want marijuana to be used in our country. I’m not going to
legalize marijuana.”
• Mitt Romney strongly opposes the use of medicinal marijuana to cure illnesses. He says that
there are many synthetic forms of this drug that are legal and that can be used for people who need
it.
• He was reported to have turned his back on a patient who sought his advice on the use of medical
marijuana since the synthetic marijuana did not help in his illness.
• Romney is reported not to have opposed the research of two universities that used high potency
medical marijuana for their medical testing.
• Mitt Romney’s view is that the people of his country should be comfortable when they are ill and
for this he does not want them to take drugs that would ruin their lives rather than cure illnesses.
For this purpose Romney says, “I don’t want to encourage more involvement in or allow more people
to get involved in the marijuana and the drug culture.”
Newt Gingrich——– Position on Marijuana
• Newt Gingrich is against legalization of marijuana.
• As House Speaker, Gingrich advocated that Congress institute a death penalty for pot smugglers
and other drug dealers.
• In 1996 he introduced HR 4170, the Drug Importer Death Penalty Act of 1996, which called for a
life sentence or death penalty for anyone bringing more than 2 ounces of drugs into the country.
• He said that possession should be punished by community service 2 days a week and if the person
misses a day they should go to prison for 5 years.
EL WRONGO – EVIL DOER – “THE SPOILER”
This administration’s actions are so odious and abhorrent – so ineffably repulsive – they imbue in me a “violent uncontrollable reaction” – ready to explode in the ballot box.
Suggested Art: “God’s of the Modern World” by Jose Clemente Orozco.
Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich For President & Vice President 2012!!! Careful what you wish 4!!!
I bet Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and the rest of the GOP will make a donation to NORML by purchasing an ad like OBAMA DID!!! ——–ROFLMAO!!!
The President of the United States making a DONATION to NORML——-How DARE HE!!! What a scum bag!!!
Lets face it there will never be enough pro pot politicians and there will always be more $$$ that the politicians can see for being good drug warriors. But all so we can have enough victories to inch our way toward change or we can began to wage war against the feds. Its simple give up our paranoid must make it to tomorrow lives and just let our selves get caught in the millions and fight every legal battle to utmost and before long the government will be broke real fast. I want to see an end to this stupidity and don’t care who strategies (Gandhi or binlawden) we us as long as no Americans dies.
We are at a important crossing with decrimialzation so all u smokers out there start putting the pressure on congress
This is a MAJOR NEWS FLASH!!! The President of the United States of America Barack Obama just made a Donation to the largest Marijuana Legalization site on the NET—with a donation Ad using Campaign MONEY!!! While I think OBAMA is a better choice than any of the likely GOP candidates for the Marijuana cause—I also thing he could have done more and that he should grow some balls and do more. Join me in sending this STORY to EVERY NEWS STATION AROUND THE WORLD!!!
Bullshit, i wouldnt believe that for a second that is nothing more than trying to get potheads votes if he gave a shit about legalizing marijuana he would have tried to do aomething about it already
Too Bad we can’t vote bill clinton back in.. who cares if he is getting piped off by a girl other than his wife. We were in the positives economically! fuck the eight year rule if your a good man you should be allowed more. Fuck herbert walker bush ever since his tax cuts on wealthy and these wars our country has gone down the shit hole. Everyone knows you dont go to war when your economy is good or you’ll fuck it up. Why not pull another heroshima or nagasaki? politics and too many civilians is what holds us from giving those terrorist fucks what were all about.
I can see why they haven’t pulled the big trigger(Nukes) though. In the muslim religion from what i know is in its infancy stage being a young religion. Now christians had a crusade to spread their religion across continents hundreds of years ago and im wondering if the muslims are at that stage in development. if we would of taken out masses of civilian muslims then the rest of the muslims even in our country would call a Jihad, and then would turn into mujahideen which means a muslim in distress or struggle. If that would to happen then we would have a HUGE problem with sleeper cells in this country. I see the problem that they faced but to turn around on discussion about a plant that hurts no one but the rich is outragious.
I will also be voting in the primaries for Ron Paul. Doesn’t matter if he wins or not as long as I vote my conscience.
To economize is the exact opposite of what the GOV wants! as long as health in this country stays low the more money the pharma co’s make. it is essential that everything is made to break down over a certain amount of time. Get out with the taxing and regulation, it should be treated no different than a tomato plant or basil. lets all dry up some corn and smoke it; corn would stay legal because its unhealthy to everything! as long money is whats worth nobody will be free from anything-debt-corruption-free will. now days we need to ask for permits to demonstrate our rights! WTF is that all about? lets all march and then at 4pm we all go home and back to our norml lives F%$k that, we need to stand up and not move from the spot until we are either beaten till K.O. or killed so they can drag us out. overwhelming them with mass protest that does not stop until we have what we want is the only way to end this crap. People lets get together and start more than just a pot revolution, but a revolution for life, intelligence and growth of knowledge. People do not hold the minds as did Tesla or Edison anymore, sure there are a lot of great minds out there but they only work to improve the self intrest of one corporation, theres no incentive to move science in the right direction we will continue to lose this battle. Money is Power!!! So lets take all that revenue that would be made of pot-tax plus the capital price together; what do we have? a shit ton of useless money that could possibly pay off. hmmm a force bigger than the police; J/k- NO! the money creditors and companies want. think about it; if we unite and create our own cash reserve and stack all the money we can afford to put aside, we would hold a goldmine to the industries wich we wont give up until our demands are met, think of it as holding money hostage but really we are just saving it to gain leverage. then once our demands are met the money somehow gets lost on its way to the fat man, but of course it will be their own fault because once its out of our hands we are no longer responsible. are you willing to go against the system by strategically breaking it down using our minds to work through the legal stuff?
Remember folks. Ron Paul is NOT the only cantidate who is pro legalization…. Gary Johnson, former governer of new mexico is also running a pro legalization platform. check out GARY JOHNSON. gary is also a republican, but at this point, i really see no difference in the parties.. both are full of lying career minded assholes who care only for the almight dollar. VOTE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY THIS YEAR.. GARY JOHNSON
I have to agree with 56/58 I want to vote for Ron Paul as well, but he has a snowballs chance in Hell to get the nomination, we need to concentrate on our senators and watch how they vote on HR 2306, if they do not cosponsor the bill you vote their ass out, but you have to call or email them until they respond. Fuck that symbolic write in shit, its already been done with Ralph Nader who is more honest than both houses of congress and it got us 8 years of a lunatic.
Pay no attention to slick dressed fancy pants politicians, or smooth talking three martinied four houring business leaders. I wonder how many of you people got fooled back in 1992 by Bill Clinton’s sunglasses and rock star act? And can you hear me running? Down with big brother!
I can smell change and its not with Obama or maybe its the big fat joint I’m smoking VOTE THE NARROW MINDED OUT!!!!!!!
I am a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. I will, however, vote Republican IF a candidate emerges who supports lifting the federal ban on cannabis and its derivatives. This is how the GOP will win back the White House.
It is time to ascertain whether or not they are smart enough to take advantage of this HUGE political opportunity. Somehow I doubt they are wise enough to do so.
The problem here is this: our fellow Americans are going to follow what they’ve always done – vote for the lesser of two evils… which means we’ll still get evil. Americans as a group have always been willing to settle. The candidate with the slickest and most expensive campaign usually gets the vote.
Cannabis and its derivatives will only be legitimized if we as a country REFUSE to settle… if Ron Paul does not win the GOP ticket for the presidency, we should write him in… I wonder if the will of the people could or would ever be respected that way…
President Obama, you have disappointed millions of us by mocking us and pandering to our hopes of equality. As a former professor of Constitutional law, I am completely ashamed of you for refusing to respect and thereby restore the integrity and honor of the Tenth Amendment! Shame SHAME SHAME on you… you are supposed to have fought for the little guy during your earlier career. YOU WERE A POT SMOKER and you know DAMNED well that smoking cannabis recreationally did NOT ruin your life or your career. You are a disappointment to us all… But it’s not too late: President Obama, embrace the cannabis legalization movement. LIFT THE FEDERAL BAN ON CANNABIS and allow the individual states to determine their own cannabis laws! You can save your presidency… and your honor…
My fellow Americans: spread the challenge through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube… everywhere! They cannot ignore us forever…
Best Norml page ever! I loved reading about this. Other ppl should read frist then comment latter…
Peace
keep up the good work NORML.org
If you think are republican and want ron paul, get out and vote in the primaries and get all your friends to register republican. I would vote for him in the primaries but independents cant vote in Florida primaries. Thats all is takes is your lazy asses to get up and actually do something instead of say “Get real he will never get the GOP nomination” and that is what I believe is wrong with everyone my age, the lack of passion and will power to get a movement going. With all this social media we spend hours a day on this should not be hard. I hate to affiliate MLK with weed but he liberated his people in an age with nowhere near the communication ability we have today.
Maybe he’s putting his ad on normls page because he’s considering legalizing marijuana if he wins another 4 years. I personally think he did not want to do it yet because he had bigger fish to fry thats more important than legalizing weed and wanted to focus on it. If he would have legalized marijuana right away, than the more important things he had to do would would have not been taken care of and it could have hurt us financially. Don’t get me wrong, I want weed to be legal but there might be more important things to take care of first and also he cann’t just say legalize weed and it legal, there has to be votes and such and big pharma and other rich people have to make sure they get profit from it being legal. Let’s all have potimism and know it will be legal soon.
Remember the phrase, “Only Nixon could go to China”? Well, that explains why former stoners like Clinton, Bush and Obama could never repeal prohibition.
We need a candidate who was never a stoner, someone who was a true believer in the propaganda. If a Palin, for example, were to wake up and realize what prohibition really is, she could persuade those who are still asleep.
I AM NOT PRO-PALIN. THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE.
I just want him to smoke one joint. That’s it. Some American weed. That across the border stuff is *complete* shit. That’s all.
We have already got a way out of this mess. Plenty of JOBS in the marijuana growing fields to the CONSUMER = REVENUE!
America needs a divorce from the 2 main political parties… but we are so addicted to their bullshit that we can’t admit it.
It’s a 2 party system but we don’t need it to be THOSE parties.
WOW…Some people arent following their own rules..Check out U.S Patent #6630507…Weird how the U.S. Government has a patent on marijuana’s Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants Oct. 7, 2003.. Its all written right in front of our faces that it does have medical value or why would they go through the trouble of getting a patent on it? Who do we impeach first?
This is a WAR. In that light, anything goes!!!
Start by striking up conversations about legalization with perfect strangers in your every day lives.
GET IN THE FACES of prohibitionists and EXPOSE THEIR IGNORANCE!!!
Finally, MAKE THIS UPCOMING ELECTION A “ONE ISSUE ELECTION” – that of full out legalization. Let your elected and running officials know this, that if they do not PROMISE to LEGALIZE, then they will NOT GET YOUR VOTE. And if they do not deliver on their promise, VOTE THEM OUT!!
To the Brethren of the Genesist Faith – 3141
Hear ye! hear ye! hear ye!
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. Therefore – Genesists declare a “Conscience Clause.” A conscience clause is a law exempting those whose religious or moral principles forbid compliance. The prohibition of our Sacrament is a substantial burden on the Genesist Faith, its integrity, stability, confidence, and forbids compliance of that corrupt, politically influenced, inequitable law.
That damn O’Pharma knows exactly what he’s doing. I’ll bet they did this on purpose to confuse and divide. You just don’t know what’s real anymore, so many smoke and mirrors it looks like Circus-Circus. :-/
It’s a lie don’t be fooled. A nother empty campaign tactic. He has said he would not consider federal decrimilization so the add I would think is intended to suggest he is for it to win votes. Lies I Say!
@78 Obama simply does not want to legalize marijuana. All he has ever had to do is just one speech, or part of one of his speeches, emphasizing why we should end prohibition and that would be of tremendous help for our cause. But he won’t do even that! He is a prohibitionist plain and simple; in spite of his past usage. Probably, in his own mind, he sees his past usage as a mistake and now he has wised up. Of course I don’t know for sure and I don’t think his current position on this issue resembles wisdom! It’s also possible that for reasons we will never know, he does want to end prohibition but that it would come at a cost he is not willing to pay…
Barry has some balls, He believes the bullshit about smokers having short memories F*** him !
the only way obama can get my vote in 2012 is as they said in the article above…legalize it and put the law into effect all befor the 2012 elections and i gaurantee mr obama my vote…hehe..notice it was mr obama…respecting my wishes would earn him a little of my respect…like he really cares if the american ppl respect him…was a time when a mans word meant something…we seen the flop obama pulled and thats why i say for him to get my vote this all must be law befor the elections and quite frankly if i was obama and wanted back in office i would be doin all i could to get the marijuana vote…face it…theres a lot of us out there and i for one am pissed enuff to put my pipe down long enuff to get out and vote so to any and all ppl running for any kind of office if you want my vote there is only one way to get it and thats to jump on the legalization band wagon…good day
Cheap tricks to confuse the issues. The plus side is that MJ is finally a real issue. Remember when MJ was jest another bad work. That ad will come back to haunt Oboma. He’s for big business make no mistake. Your vote does count,you have to put it where it counts. Don’t get confused, hold the course.
Skunkyfingers is right, facts are facts and the voting records show it. These people are professional liars and they’re good at it. They’re main weapon is deception. It’s all a bid game to them. They dont get drug tested.
I personally support decriminalization/legalization of marijuana..but god…you can see the pot heads on this thread..how many times does norml have to say they did not choose nor endorse obamas advertisement…damn pot heads…someone light me up i went out….toke toke pass
DAY 30 http://www.change.org/petitions/let-the-end-marijuana-prohibition-act-get-a-hearing
NORML petition for the RON PAUL HR 2306 bill
“FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU!”
“FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!”
Obama is not a leftist, nor a liberal, nor a progressive, nor a populist, nor a democrat — he is a republican posing as a democrat, and has been doing so for years. What he is is a neoliberal/neoconservative corporatist REAGAN republican who would not have stood a chance of getting elected to any political office in chicago or northern illinois as a republican.
I wonder how Reverend Wright and the rest of his church congregation feel about a politician who used their church for political cover for many years. I wonder how they feel about Obama’s betrayal of minorities rights by continuing this crazy ‘war of drugs / war on people’.
i would not vote for him again, not for a million dollars. i wouldn’t even sign his birthday card. i would, however, consider signing a petition for his impeachment — the sooner the better.
and if he isn’t primaried by a real progressive democrat, i will not be voting for anyone in the democratic party either.
we all need to understand that voting for the proverbial ‘lesser of two evils’ is still voting for evil — just how evil does the ‘lesser’ have to be before people don’t vote for him?
vote green party — they are the only party that has a political platform that actually makes social and fiscal sense, including repeal of prohibition of cannabis.
Is there any way any anybody can prove that Obama does not want to legalize marijuana. We can’t just assume that he does not want to legalize weed. Everybody acts like its never gonna be legal but that’s what’s wrong with the world today. If we start having a positive attitude about it, then maybe we will get somewhere. There is too much in the world for a leader to deal with and marijuana is not the most important issue right now. Plus it would be a process to make it legal that would take time away from the more important things, like fixing our economy, even though legalizing would help, there are better ways to help the economy. Let’s all be patient and do more to make it legal.
SWITCH THE FIRST TWO LETTERS OF OPTIMISM AND YOU GET POTIMISM!
Potimism-[pot-uh-miz-uhm]- noun
. The belief that marijuana will become legal no matter how unlikely it seems and there are positive ways around the excuses people give saying it can’t be legal.
Tell your friends! Let’s make this viral!
TEN REASONS WHY I HAVE POTIMISM
1. A disposition to look at the medical/financial benefits of marijuana and the good it will bring by making it legal.
2. The belief it can be used responsibly like alcohol, except it’s much safer.
3. Marijuana prohibition has overall failed and there are reasons it needs to be legal. Having more people vote yes on propositions that would make marijuana more available would help.
4. To know that if it was sold in stores, weed would not be considered a” gateway drug” due to the fact that some dealers who sell marijuana also sell hard drugs like cocaine and heroin, making it an easy access to its use. This would also make it harder for minors to get it since there would be an age limit.
5. To know the Reefer Madness generation was a time when people were brainwashed by the government to believe that marijuana has more negative side effects than it really does and that it leads to making bad decisions like murder, which is not true. The movie Reefer Madness, which exploits these untrue lies and was made for the purpose of having people oppose weed, has “Tell your children” in text at the end which sadly to say many have, leading to a chain of generations to believing it is worse than it really is. Thankfully this chain is weakening and more people are starting to realize the truth about weed.
6. To know that alcohol is the driving force in a number of public and domestic disputes which can lower if more people smoked marijuana instead of drinking alcohol.
7. That drug lords who operate marijuana rings can start their own legal business if marijuana became legal. (why not?)
8. Knowing that it being illegal is causing violence to go up due to drug wars. This would go down significantly if the plant was legal.
9. It had other uses such as oil and clothing.
10. Our fore fathers, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, grew marijuana and our last three presidents have smoked weed.
LET’S KILL THE TABOO AND HAVE OPPOSERS START HAVING A NEW MINDSET ON MARIJUANA!
Michelle Bachmann is stepping her game up upon hearing this news.
http://i.imgur.com/ORKie.png
Holy Smokes. Time for Michele M. Leonhart, the DEA administrator, to step down.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-fast-furious-20110805,0,7816124.story
The Rev.sLeezy
Michelle Leonhart should have never been re-appointed – and – who ever confirmed that appointment should get their come-uppin’s as well.
Is the president asking for help from us? That is like a rapist asking for the victims of rape to elect him to rape us again. I am sorry Mr. President my ass hurts too much to let you have a second go. Perhaps you might want to pick on blind people next.
97. Sean Haddad Says: Is there any way any anybody can prove that Obama does not want to legalize marijuana. (?)
?FTW
Absolutely, YES!
Just listen to his words, and then the actions of the Obama regime regarding Cannabis, whether it is Medical Marijuana OR Re-Legalization.
Look at how Obama ‘groomed’ his CV: a black northern Democrat with a background as both a community activist and a
Constitutional Law Scholar, as well as a long time parishioner of Reverend Wright (liberation theology) — on paper he looks like the perfect foil to the NeoConservative agenda and candidate. If Obama had actually started politics by running as a black conservative Republican in Chicago, would he have ever advanced beyond perhaps Precinct Captain or Alderman? I think not!
Obama is yet another ‘War President’, who has assumed / inherited the same illegal unconstitutional powers that Bush-43 seized from Congress which became known as the ‘Unitary Executive’, and then embraced and extended those dictatorial powers far in excess of Bush-43. With this vast power, Obama could direct the DOJ to pursue the financial terrorists on Wall Street, or order the DOD to exit Iraq and AFghanistan within 6 months, or order the HHS to direct the DEA to remove Cannabis sativa entirely out of the CSA Schedule of drugs, effectively ending Prohibition 2.0 and most of the ‘War of Drugs’ with just one Executive Order.
He’s been serving as President since January 2009, and he has done none of the above using the tremendous power and authority of his office, as the single most powerful individual in the world. THAT is your answer …
I just have to wonder why Obama would even need big business money at this point? He’s already got the nomination for his party, he’s got the “bully pulpit”, and he already a millionaire. I say we just hammer him when he hits the campaign trail. Bring up legalization as a job creation strategy and throw some hard numbers out there. Possibly figures for the jobs created in states where medical is legal and tax revenues brought in by those states etc. Then throw in industrial hemp for fuel, food, and fiber at the end just to really get the gears turning.
BO is obviously a charlatan and I will not vote for him, but on the off chance that he wins we should still get him to commit to this issue. He rammed through unconstitutional health care and ended DADT, two things thought impossible with the current legislative makeup but it happened. No reason why HR2306 which was introduced by OUR #1 CHOICE FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RON PAUL shouldn’t be passed immediately. Perhaps paperclip it to the back of an appropriations bill or something, whatever it takes to get it passed. This farce known as cannabis prohibition, which was originally debated for all of 5 minutes and opposed by the AMA, has gone on long enough.
BTW when/if you talk to Obama at a Town Hall, mention that THC Cures Cancer then follow up with why is it illegal and see what kind of a response you get.
Obama brings “no due respect” to the presidency. We gave him a chance – and – “he failed.” Not only did he fail miserably – he disgraced his office, the country, the Constitution, and we the people. I, personally, can find “no logical reason” to re-elect rogue representatives – and – I can name more than a few – starting with Joe, Nancy, and Harry. How these people ever got elected escapes me – but then – will wonders never cease to amaze me.
#71 Oh, this made me laugh. Thank you! I feel the same way; and you said it beautifully! I especially liked the last few sentences because it echoes my own angst.
I’m curious how many people actually read the whole article and not just the title. F*c<ing lazy people you are making the rest of us stoners look bad. When was the last time the peoples voice was really heard? When was the last time that you felt you lived in the land of the free ? The home of the brave ? You haven't? Wow I wonder why, could it be that our nations future lies not in our hands but the hands of greedy warmongers that don't care about incarceration or marks on their record because of the silver spoon in their ass. Where did our balls go ? That's really what I want to know where is our million man march for marijuana? where is our sense of power? When are we gonna get fed up with this bull shit pursecution kick the doors open and blow the blunt smoke in the hostile little faces that just want to opress and control? So here is what I want to know when are we going to kick down the doors to a certain white house and impail a certain muslim spy with a flag of a newly liberated america ? What would our fore fathers think of what they fought so hard for , and what it has become? They would kick asses, blow tree, and show us what a democracy should be…. so what I'm trying to say is let's stop bitching about being victims and fight like our lives or rather our freedom is at stake, let's give america somthing to be proud of …………..smoke weed everydayyy!
#104 My Representative, Devin Nunes, (R) Visalia, CA gave me what I call a ‘pre-excuse’. He says HR6203 has to go through 2 different committees and sub-committees where he expects vigorous debate.’Considering the thousands of bills both committees have to review, it should come as no surprise that HR2306 is still pending review.’ How reassuring. I told him I tried to send an email to Smith, but was rejected from his site because my zip code was in Nunes’ District. The Congressman noted he would share my support with his colleagues who sit on both committees. How reassuring can he get. I have sent Congressman Nunes another email to nail him down on which side of this issue he falls. Wish me luck!
http://1461days.blogspot.com/2009/01/current-list-of-president-obamas.html
92 Executive Orders to date. BHO could sign an EO to end the prohibition of cannabis or remove the schedule 1 status but won’t touch it. It’s plutonium. No cuts to the organizations that continue the war on drugs. In fact an increase in money was allocated to these organizations to fuel their purpose. The proof is in the “puddin” so to speak. Remember the letter to the AG? Stating that the FEDS wouldn’t interfere with states if those said are compliant? What are they doing to this day? Raiding dispensaries, unless you donated to the BHO campaign of course. So to say that BHO is taking a serious look at ending the prohibition of cannabis is laughable. It’s all about money. Sell your soul to the highest bidder but you can’t even do that cause it was done for you while you were sleeping! Funny thing is that it’s not funny and you all know what I mean. Nothing funny about any of this. They wonder why “the people” have lost their trust in the government and it’s ability to govern? More about control and less about freedom. I’d be questioning the motives as well if a was capable of rational thought. They don’t care nor do they value the benefits and qualities of this commodity known as cannabis. Of course one would question that as well since, as stated before, the government has a patent on the genetics. Ok, then I have a patent on oxygen and this government owes me a mountain of money. See how that works? This is but one example of the corrupt nature in which this government continues to control “it’s” people. You work for us! You forget that. The moment you expect EO: The Establishment of the Council of Government to offer protection for your deceitful actions, it won’t. If cannabis is such a non-issue and it’s importance is one of absolutely no regard and it’s illegality is surrounded by “suspect” motives then why is it we cannot get straight, honest answers from our “leaders” and get it legalized? They want to downplay it but even their choice to dismiss it completely proves that it is a larger issue than one would believe. Me: “Oh cannabis isn’t what they said it was and it can/will positively effect our nation.” Sign and Good day.
Freedom applies to those willing to shed light on those who are born to restrict the will of those they control, for one day the freedom in which we believe it to be will at first become an illusion and then non-existent.
I am very happy to hear that NORML is taking advantage of Google AdSense on its YouTube Channel; it can definitely be a nice source of income! I have voiced my opinion in the past concerning NORML looking into Social Media PPC/CPM Advertising Platforms as well as Google’s AdWords PPC Advertising Platform. The editor responded and said that NORML has already experimented with Social Media Advertising (namely Facebook) with great success!
Once again, this is great to hear! Keep up the good work NORML!
If you support marijuana, and you live in america, it’s your God given right to register to vote and support RON PAUL. If all of us cannabis supports come together, JUST THIS ONCE, and throw all of our support whole-heartedly behind Ron Paul.. we can change the world. Sure many don’t agree about some of his other stances but seriously, we’re talking about legalizing marijuana here. That one move alone would completely revolutionize the economy. Remember, he’s a libertarian.. that means regardless of his personal beliefs, he would never give the federal government the power to enforce them. Whether the issue is abortion or gay-marriage or any other social issue, YOU WILL HAVE A VOICE because it will be handled by the state government.. where ur voice actually matters. Lets do this. And Norml, High Times, all yall.. it’s time to back up Paul. Peace out. rLOVEution