NOTE: If you feel marijuana legalization was an entirely “appropriate” topic for debate, tweet your dissatisfaction of the White House’s censoring of NORML’s YouTube question by tweeting them using #WHchat and @WhiteHouse.
“Pres. Obama, what is inappropriate about saving billions and not arresting nonviolent american citizens for marijuana? #WHChat @WhiteHouse”
– E. Altieri, Comm. Coordinator
As of 7pm Pacific, I checked the YouTube.com/WhiteHouse page to see how many votes our question received in President Obama’s latest YouTube Forum. The good news? Our question, “With over 850,000 Americans arrested in 2010, for marijuana charges alone, and tens of billions of tax dollars being spent locking up non-violent marijuana users, isn’t it time we regulate and tax marijuana?” received 4,023 votes, making it one of the most popular submissions to the forum.
The bad news? See for yourself:
“The submission has been removed because people believe it is inappropriate.” Hmm, well, who are these people? The question got 241 “thumbs down” votes from viewers, was that it? I notice that of the 615 questions submitted that asked about “With over 850,000 Americans arrested in 2010” in the text, some still remain with 28 “thumbs down” and others are removed with as few as three, so it doesn’t seem like “people” refers to viewers or the public, does it?
Who are these people, President Obama? They’re not the people out here who keep making marijuana legalization the number one topic of these online forums. They’re not the millions whose lives are impacted by a marijuana arrest; the tokers and their families who lose jobs, houses, kids, freedom, assets, respect, security, and peace of mind because of marijuana prohibition.
Sadly, I think these people are actually just one person… a guy who smoked weed (and snorted coke) back in the day as a teenager in Hawaii and was damn lucky he didn’t get caught or today he’d be Barry the Drug Criminal.
(YouTube.com/WhiteHouse) On Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 9:00 p.m. ET, President Obama will speak to the nation in his annual State of the Union address.Starting today, you can ask President Obama the questions that are on your mind about the direction of the country and vote on others that you think should be asked. He’ll answer several of your top-voted questions during a special interview, which will take place on January 30, live from the White House. A selection of people who submit questions will also be invited to join a Google+ Hangout live with the President during the interview.
The deadline to submit is January 28 at midnight ET so submit your question now.
Here we go again. How many times will President Obama ask the American people for their questions on national policy, how many times will we resoundingly call for marijuana legalization, and how will he diminish, mock, or ignore our concerns this time?
- We petitioned him to legalize marijuana in September 2011, the number one petition;
- We Twittered him to legalize marijuana in July 2011, making up one out of eight questions asked;
- We asked him via YouTube video in January 2011, with LEAP’s question the number one video;
- We asked him via Ideas for Change in March 2010, with legalization again the number one question;
- We lobbied him via Citizen’s Briefing Book in May 2009, with the number one idea being legalization;
- We asked him via Open for Questions II in March 2009, where he mocked the number one idea of legalization helping the economy;
- We asked him via Open for Questions I in January 2009, where legalization topped most categories of questions;
- We asked him via Change.gov in December 2008, where legalization was again number one and a dozen of the top fifty questions.
Maybe the ninth time is the charm? Once again in this “ask the people” exercise the most popular questions deal with legalization of marijuana*.
Here’s the official National NORML question:
Here’s my entry:
* Though this time, we may get beaten by SOPA, PIPA, and NDAA questions… which wouldn’t bother me a bit. A free and open internet, threatened by SOPA and PIPA, is crucial to spreading the message of marijuana law reform. NDAA is an abomination that allows the president to declare citizens “enemy combatants” and lock them up indefinitely without charge, without trial, and without rights. We’re big fans of the First and Fourth Amendments here and these acts are counter to the spirit and Constitution of America.
C’mon you hippocrite Obama we all see right through your sleezy skin. You have a dirty soul for doing the devils bidding.
All the mexicans blood drips from your hands.
Thank you NORML for making it easy for me to contact my rep by Email with your form letter.
Please everyone take the time to make contact to yours.
Let’s all push to get our flower legal.
of course its inappropriate, it requires an answer with thought
What do you EXPECT from a mendacious corporate-owned & operated WAR CRIMINAL?!
Can we collectively “buy” legalization with the formation of a new SuperPac and associated lobbying?
Inappropriate is the spending of billions of dollars on the war against marijuana! Inappropriate is the people in jail for the minor “crime” of using marijuana! There are so many criminals getting away with their crimes, maybe the government should focus on those real criminals and not marijuana smokers seeking relief of chronic pain!!
Dear Mr.President,
I have been trying to make people aware of all the benefits that legalizing INDUSTRIAL hemp would do to help save the economy,the environment,and the natural fuel resources of the planet.
I know you are a very busy person,Mr.President,but please take some time and read this link to Jack Herner’s book”The Emporer’s New Clothes”.
http://www.jackherer.com/thebook/
My question to you,Sir,is if the United States government at one time had industrial hemp legalized,and PAID farmers to grow it,then we could not it be re-legalized in order to Help The U.S. recover and be the great nation that we once were?
What a pathetic excuse for not approaching our MJ laws.. Obviously it isnt “inappropriate if THE USA WANTS TO KNOW!!! and even u should have gotten that!! sad sad sad
Kobayashi Maru! There is another way. Search for ‘CSA’ at the President’s YouTube Forum, then click on ‘thumbs up’ for my question. Thanks. We can do this. Yes we can!
it is a plant obama, do you really think it is worth money to invade humans lives to police them partaking of a plant that makes them feel good? That is medicinal as well. OH MY gosh obama wake up. IT IS a plant. They made it illegal so they could sell paper and get rid of competition. WAKE UP MR> you are change. Hello still waiting for that much needed change that obviously you are not or maybe you just want to get rid of the better world that if we don’t change this world, the world will cease to exist, while you can’t answer a question about a helpful and nutritious PLANT.
Yeah if you stoners want weed legalized in this country VOTE FOR RON PAUL !! and vote out the dumbass Obama!! STOP WASTING YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS ON HIM… he has made his point that he does NOT give a fling F what WE THE PEOPLE THINK OR WANT.. In Obama’s dream world he is king and its his party.. Vote RON PAUL IN and he will legalize cannabis No matter how “crazy you hear” Ron Paul is Just STFU and vote for him!!!
I think he is trying to fry bigger fish at the moment. Winning is his objective, and i HOPE when all his done he will make the CHANGE. At least decriminalize it to a negligible penalty.
I live in Australia
I notice a commonality between Australian and American polititions, that they are happy to turn on the people that elect them
I don’t understand how our leader would give the faceless people of his country a wonderful opportunity such as the open forum, and then not even be made aware of one of the most voted issues… I’m quite sure he didn’t delete it himself, but either way, why would you ask for us to bring forth issues only to have them dismissed at all, let alone deem it “inappropriate”? If it is an issue that is genuinely concerning the public, shouldn’t the voice at least be heard? Did he not just tonight say about the government that they are supposed to “do what the people cannot do themselves”? We can do this, we just need a chance to be heard and considered. To say that our requests, backed with facts, and intelligent people in all fields from teachers to doctors, are sincere. Inappropriate is a word used for things of a nature outside the norms of society. If the society is asking for this, how is it inappropriate? That word is not accurate for this situation. Unusual, non-traditional, perhaps even unorthodox would be more fitting words, but America has had more than it’s fair share of unorthodox ideas in it’s history, and it’s through some of these new and strange ideas, with careful thought and consideration that our greatest accomplishments have been achieved throughout our history. We have enough support to show the potential benefits
with cannabis being less addictive than caffeine, no deaths directly from use safer than booze or tobacco with it proven over and over cannabis is safe, your own study groups tell you decriminalize, when will the federal laws be repealed on cannabis?
strange… your question would have ranked as 1 of the top 2 ..and have same thumbs down as a sopa question and yet the sopa question is still up….
Yes I do think it is time to legalize actually its way past time to legalize I too have been smoking for 20+ years I’ve been arrested three times for less than a oney worth of weed. This is very sad. Something that has been on this earth since the begining of time. More than just one of our presidents has smoked it ” I smoked it but I didn’t inhale ” my ass anyone who smokes anything has to inhale even you obama. What the hell is wrong with people these days. First it was alcohol the number one killer in the world but that is legal. STUPID! Really wish we could see the great potential in legalizing, the money we could make, that could take care of the deficit, less money being wasted on keeping people in jail for a pinchy papers or the tinyest bit of weed. Really, I’ve served 60 days twice for less than a half of a gram of weed. Wtf is that all about it could have blown away in the wind and no one would even know, but I had it on my person so that means I get 60 days. One day I was in court for that possession charge and there was a girl that was ahead of me, she had been caught with possession of meth and it was a very large amount. Anyway, she had been let out on bail got busted two more times in a month and still was released on her own recogenence and I get 60 days, 60 days? WTF is this world coming to. I can’t believe this, this is just wrong. But I suppose if we do legalize the world will stop turning because weed is so bad. Oh I forgot weed is a gateway drug if we legalize it then everyone will eventually turn into crackheads and kill everyone off just to get that next rock.
I have had a problem with my liver from ALCOHOL, i did a treatment for it and was very sick from it. I was clean & sober for 16 months, when i did the treatment for HEPT C. I was given medicine for all the side affects that came along with this treatment. And not did 1, and i mean 1 medicine that was given to me made me feel any better at all. I live in a state that doesn’t believe that MARJUANA, is a good plant or herb, which ever word you choose to use, it’s the same. But i am here to tell you that doing this treatment of radiation and pills i took, wasn’t helping with side effects,where as MARJUANA DID HELP WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS TREATMENT. In other states they could have it given to them leagely. So when i was getting this off the streets then, i shouldn’t have had to do that. It should have been given to me knowing it helped. So why is it a bad plant that was here on EARTH way before this day? A blessing of medicine from GOD. Bless god for what we have today~~~
Just another day in the Union of Soviet America.
I know your heart is in the right place. I am a vet with ptsd, I would like to use pot to help me stay calm. I like what you are trying to do. Thank you.
Doug
No way I can vote any person to public office that refuses to represent the people. and by the way,, this refusal is also anti-American and probably unconstitutional as well.
Obama laughed at us the one time, and I wrote him a letter bitching him out for that,,, why, because he was laughing off the very developers that built the white house website framework -Drupal- The White House -or- Obama has given Drupal a bad name.
I am very disappointed in this latest decision President Obama. I am ashamed to be an American due to the drugwar and cannabis prohibition is particular. My experience living in Europe has shown me the horrible nature of cannabis prohibition and the value that the cannabis plant can create for America….I am not voting for you this time Mr. President. I am voting for none of the above…This country can go to hell after 2012 as far as I am concerned. Cannabis must be reintegrated OR I must remove all my assets from American and move to the EU permanently. I now understand Why my brother, after getting his Doctorate in International law Renounced his US citizenship. WE are enslaved by corporations that profit from the drugwar and cannabis prohibition. I can no longer tolerate this state of affairs.
What happened to our Democracy?
I thought we lived in the land of the free?
I thought our laws are supposed to reflect the will of the people, of the majority?
This used to be a great country…until our government and congress was bought and paid for by special interests.
I’m so depressed.
If you live in Connecticut and want to end marijuana prohibition in our state, please take a minute to visit http://www.ctprimaryproject.com.
Please pass this on to anyone you know in Connecticut!
holding politicians responsible for putting the lobbyists and corporations before the good of the people is such a difficult task. perhaps a group bent on investigating for ways to prosecute politicians would get theyre attention. take away theyre peace of mind and disallow them from feeling comfortable living theyre life. give em a taste of theyre own crappy synthetic medicine
Dear OBAMA;
Why and how is this question really inappropriate? Please explain yourself. Is it because you don’t know how to answer the question? Or are you afraid of the outcome? How about explaining to us why Marijuana is illegal in the first place, not the brainwash answer the government wants everyone to believe, how about the truth!!! I bet Obama doesn’t even know the truth. The facts are not hard to find if he would just look. We as americans deserve the right to know the answer to the question…and we know that this law is a complete scam from the start. Is this why you avoid answering? Is it because you know it’s a loosing battle from the start? You can’t handle the truth!!!
Barry is a fake and a shill for the corporations that keep this law in place. FAKER!!!!
I was one of the 850,000 Americans that got convicted of a marijuana possession charge because someone who came to my house called the cops about me smoking it. It has cost me pell grant funds for school (which I never spent on my habit), $1,100 dollars in fines and court costs, a great deal of stress on whether I would lose my school funding all together, and a blemish on my permanent record. Do I deserve this just because I choose to cope with life’s problems by occasionally smoking a little marijuana? Do I deserve to be deemed a criminal element of society just because instead of drinking and acting foolish, I choose to relax and mellow out by smoking weed? I follow the law to the letter short of smoking marijuana on a regular basis. I told the cops that came to my house and gave me the citation for court that I intend to keep smoking and that it should be legal; and even they agreed. If law enforcement officers around the country are tired of arresting harmless pothead rather focusing on real criminals and real crimes, then doesn’t that say something about this marijuana prohibition and the fact that it has run its course? It only persists because of the same reasons other silly laws exist, because corporations that wish pot to remain illegal hire lobbyists to do what they do to keep it illegal. All to serve the interest of the rich and wealthy. Another issue in America that is determined by the money shoveled at it and not what the “people” truly want.
I am sure that someday Powers that be will
jump in the fight, and not be afraid of the polictical issues and Help to Legalize Marijuana. (In my lifetime, I’m Seventy and Hopefull)It’s Prohibition is Hurting so many
And It is a Free Country. Inside your Home, Grow
It, Smoke It, It is Good Medicene and The Doc’s Chemical Medicenes are not good. There are so Many Benefits, that I have wittnessed from a few moments after partaking the Herb. It is good for you. Thank You Sandi Brown
Jbhershey@hotmail.com
When are you guys gonna realize that Obama WILL NEVER give you what you want…. If you are serious , Endorse Ron Paul because that is your only hope…
There can be only one explaination: BIG PHARMA IS IN CONTROL. They have a vested interest in th DECLINE of your health. We all know cancer was cured with marijuana over 40 years ago, but cancer is a money maker and marijuana as medicine is a MONEY BREAKER for BIG PHARMA.
OUR # 1 GOAL SHOULD BE THE DISMANTLING OF BIG PHARMA.
Shouldn’t the term be re-legalize?
can we not bring lawsuits against the government for impeding our rights as citizens and trying to take away are liberties that we are already guaranteed?
i have asked this question a good 20 times throughout the past 2 years and not even ONCE has anybody answered it…
we need to be more worried about taking the legal battle to them instead of letting them do whatever the hell they want to us…
if it is so easy for them to just destroy our lives and throw us in jail and steal all of our belongings, why is it not as easy for us to stop their corruption and murder?
Maybe the 9th time is the charm? Maybe its time you realized that Obama would lose the cop vote if he supported legalization. What would police do if they couldn’t spend their time arresting non-violent, consenting adults for buying and selling plants?
I’m 100% sure he’ll keep dodging this at least until reelection. My only hope is that this is one of the issues saved up for a 2nd term when there is no reelection to consider. Funnily almost all politicians are extremely afraid of this issues, despite about half the country supporting legalization.
Fuck you then Obama. We’re voting your sorry ass out of office anyway.
The US government is gonna piss of the people so bad we are gonna take shit into our own hands like the people of Libya and Syria did look at the results they got FUCK THE GOVERNMENT BASTARDS
coward. he is definetly not worth my vote.
Of course it inappropriate! The corporate owned America is up for sale to the highest bidder and we don’t have the influance or money to buy congress of the president.
Corporations do and will continue to do so.
Anyway , our ‘Vote” dosent count or matter accourding to Newt….Smoking weed removes our ability to perticipate as a citizen of this country.
So, this means they can now remove our rights to vote foir any reason that suits them?
Where is America? Cause it sure doesnt exist here.
This is just another round of “plugging the dike” by an administration in hopes that they can eventually fool the public into buying synthetic treatments and big pharma “legal” drugs, ultimately they can rally behind an FDA approved substance such as savitex and suddenly make it the ONLY legal cannabis available to the masses.
Fear the government because they have no fear of the people…
everyone who signed the petition should go and mark ALL Questions as “inappropriate” that will De-legitimize the entire system they have in place
In response to the poster “the answer,” who raises a good point… why DON’T we / NORML start a SuperPAC? I would give money to advertise, lobby, write legislation, etc, and I’m sure lots of professionals with money (including folks in finance) would also support such a do-or-die push.
[Paul Armentano responds: NORML has a PAC: http://norml.org/normlpac%5D
He’ll address this after re-election so the GOP doesn’t destroy him in the general election over this.
[Russ responds: If I had a dollar for every Obama supporter who told me “don’t worry, in the 2nd term, then he’ll be able to support marijuana reforms, because he won’t have to worry about it being used against him in a re-election campaign,” I’d take them all and donate them to the state legalization campaigns in California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado.
Tell me how this graphic from OpenSecrets.org – a list of the top recipients of Big Pharma campaign contributions for 2011-2012 – makes your case:
I really hope I am wrong, but my bet on an Obama re-election wouldn’t be on a more liberal policy on marijuana; rather, I’d bet Obama’s crackdown on the medical marijuana industry gets escalated following a 2012 victory.]
Here is the biggest and most pressing issue we need answered.
When will The United States of America government start listening and caring about issues that affect the people that LIVE IN AMERICA.
well here’s some good news, with obama only having only a 40% approval rating (and dropping) and congress only having a 15% approval rating (what i know to be an all time low) this bullshit may not persist for much longer…and just maybe stuff like them saying a legit legal topic (marijuana legalization) is “inappropriate”, which is now supported by more than half of america (according to recent polls) could be part of why their approval rating is so low, they should really take note or be shown the door…
To all you people that still have hope for Obama “waking up” and blah blah blah you wake up and realize he knows whats going on. He smoked weed and snorted coke and hes not stupid he is just upholding the status quo and always will and if your stupid enough to vote for him again thinking he will come through you are an idiot. Obama is a corrupt war mongering piece of shit because that is what we have become and that is what we will still be if you keep voting for people who support our current government. Obama will not wake up you guys need to wake up and vote for Ron Paul. Many people seem so scared of him because he is so radical but I don’t see how his ideas could make our situation any worse than it already is with the lying corrupt warmongering fascist assholes that make up our government today. How can you support people that want to lock up anyone they want without giving a reason and censor the internet so they can get rid of anyone that opposes them? Deeming the marijuana questions inappropriate is just another result of our government wanting complete control of our information and censoring anything they don’t agree with. These people are criminals and should be completely shunned don’t give them another chance to finish their job of destroying our freedom.
Hmmm… when I stick my stoner head in that voting booth maybe the word “inappropriate” will just stick with me long enough not to cast a vote for the “change we didn’t see” guy. We already know the game is rigged, why bother to vote for either party.
Its not that simple. If you were to legalize pot what would be the minimum age? Clearly it’ll affect work so you still won’t have a job. Do you want your 16gum yr old kid smoking pot and dicking away his life while laughing at the wall and eating a bag of chips. You guys are morons. Cigarettes are one thing. Marijuana MAY have some good properties but no one NEEDS it. Cigarettes and marijuana should both be illegal. America is full of worthless idiots spending SSI on pot. It would be okay to smoke pot with the same frequency as drinking alcohol. Did any of you dumb dumbs stop to think that PROBABLY most of those people locked up are under the age of 21 and even if pot was legalized they’d still go to jail so stfu already.
Thanks for that info a couple posts above me Russ that shows who Obama is really working for and what do you know Romney is on there as well doesn’t surprise me a bit they are nothing but sell outs and if they could sell every one of us to China and make a buck they would. So many people make the mistake of thinking they actually care but it should be fairly obvious they only care about money.
I believe Obama will deal with the marijuana debate more in-depth after re-election, but he is the only one that will, no other candidate will ever be for marijuana, not with the line-up we have now. He is the first president to admit to smoking and called every other pres that said “Ya, but i didn’t inhale” a moron, because that’s the point, if he does not deal with it next term (if he gets re-elected) then we bust out the pitch forks
Well it looks like the next five years are going to be long and hard no matter who wins. Unless its Ron Paul but I dought that will happen. Everybody is just dismissing him at every turn.
This statement:
“The submission has been removed because people believe it is inappropriate.” is a cruel joke on democracy.
President Obama doesn’t want your vote.
Dude… I’d believe in what you could do with a 2nd term, I like you! It’s time to deal with it, President Obama… Once and for all, JUST DEAL WITH IT!Considering our economy and overcrowded legal system draining dollars that could be spent educating our children versus the potential economic benefit of a legalized cannabis policy plus the relief of the ridiculous burden on the legal system, I cannot imagine the majority of Americans will elect a candidate that doesn’t JUST DEAL WITH IT!!!
I went to insidegoogle.com and filed a complaint on this issue. I could not find how to contact Google directly if anyone knows how tell me and I will send it to them to. Here is the complaint I give anyone permission to use it however they wish.
I saw the Google doodle protesting internet censorship because of SOPA and PIPA and I completely agree the internet should stay open and uncensored. So I wonder why YouTube took it upon itself to censor one of the most popular questions submitted to Obama’s YouTube forum just because it asked a controversial question about cannabis legalization. This seems to be the same type of censorship that Google is against and this issue needs to be addressed. It would be nice for YouTube to give a reason for removing the content or put the question back up before the voting is over. Here is an article on the issue.
http://blog.norml.org/2012/01/24/president-obamas-youtube-forum-deems-marijuana-legalization-questions-inappropriate/
It’s really a matter of politics and timing. The President couldn’t legalize in his first term because GOP could use it against him in this year’s campaign, but if he’s a second term president, what would he have to lose? Afterall, he’s campaigning on the platform of “Fairness”, and what could be more UNFAIR than the hundreds of thousands of US citizens being prosecuted each year for non-violent cannabis “crimes”? or can someone explain to me how it’s fair that hemp can’t be used for industrial purposes? Completely unfair. Surely the President is smart enough to understand this, yet savvy enough to wait for that second term.
I still refuse to believe that someone who has smoked weed really wants marijuana to be illegal. It’s an amazing substance that has cured my 15 year long battle with migraines. Time will tell. Perhaps positive thinking (a la “The Secret”?) will help us more than negative thinking about our Commander in Chief. I remain hopeful.
The government s not interested in representng ‘the people’. It is only supportve of itself. Congressmen who have made a CAREER out of politics ( and there are many ) prove this. Being a politican for the Federal government should be completely term limited for all slots including the Supreme Court justices especally. Redickerous Raggy!
Everyone should visit wwe.doloinc.com and watch the video of a 2yr old saved by cannabis maybe Obama should watch it and see if saving a baby’s helpless life is inappropriate
If Obama didn’t treat all of his constituents like garbage, ignoring us and ignoring his own statements from before 2008, the 2012 election would be over.
Even if cannabis caused all the issues the goverement says it does, it wouldn’t be worse than the overall potential negative effects associated with the long-term use of benzodiazepines. Xanax, or more commonly benzodiazepines, are prescribed like candy.
The louder the drum beat, the more questions you have denied by the White House, the more people will be appalled and likely to jump on board. I’m committed to spreading the message far and wide! Viva Sativa!
Using probability we can almost estimate that Obama will be re-elected in the year 2012. Now, as supporters of cannabis policy reform, it would be beneficial to have Dr. Ron Paul elected, we can’t wish upon a star for it to happen. But, if we support Ron Paul he will at least get people “thinking” about the lesser discussed issues. Certainly no politician is “perfect”, but if we analyze what is important ‘now’ we could be in a much better place. Cannabis legalization is not the most important issues by far, see: science and environmental issues, it’s a *huge* chunk of what should be addressed. Only Ron Paul is willing to do that.
Cannabis policy is the ugly red-headed step-child that no one wants to talk about, but most (50% of the polled American population from Gallup) would support reforming. The problem isn’t the pot smokers, but rather the cops, moms, churches, drug dealers, and older people. Even when cannabis is regulated it will still be scrutinized. It’s pretty simple, we as humans have evolved, but our attitudes haven’t changed much at all.
I submitted a question asking: Where are OUR lobbiests!
This is a perfect chance to examine a pro-marijuana legalization vote in the general election for president.
Possible General Election Line-ups;
Obama vs. Ron Paul = vote for Ron Paul
Obama vs. Anybody else = what difference does your vote really make?
If it’s inappropriate to ask questions about cannabis, then we’re not much of a democracy.
So, what’s the reason to vote for Obama and Democrats in 2012 again?
Man, reading these comments makes me see why it’s so hard to get this plant legalized. Half of you posting can’t even comprehend proper grammar, let alone stay on topic. If only all the stupid people who use cannabis would just be quiet and let the smokers with a higher intelligence quotient handle the talking.
Ron Paul doesn’t diminish, mock, or ignore our concerns 😉
The Big Lie about Marijuana can’t be exposed. The people will the power to pull the question who object to it are the only ones who count is what they are saying.
If you could get Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton or someone who has Obama’s ear, either in public or in private, you might get further.
Congress has to change the law. Obama won’t sign an executive order on it, for as little that is might do for legalization compared to how much it will turn up the heat on him and his hopes for re-election.
This type of question would have to be given to Congress, and then the public would see who the statesmen/stateswomen are and who the lying sacks of shit are. Maybe with full disclosure of the PAC money, since corporations are people too, the Mexican and other drug cartels would like to give Big Money to the prohibitionist candidates to outfund the pro-legalization PACs. Expose that and you have a gila monster bite on the news cycle that you can keep bringing up as long as the issue gets dragged out in the courts and blabbermouth shows and media.
Why isn’t this hypocrisy on Major News? I only find it here on the NORML sites and not on any other newspaper. It is a down right injustice to the American public and they should be reading what the Administration is doing to the people of this United States.
Sounds pretty democratic…the people can consider anything the authorities approve of and by authorities I mean the rich and shaker and movers.
Well unless he meant you should be writing congress because the president is not a leader but a spokes person with some executive authority.
“What is your favorite place to eat in the state of Michigan?”
Obama’s You Tube Forum is just another step for a TOTALITARIAN SOCIETY with the ORWELLIAN MENTALITY trying subdue our freedoms under the CONSTITUTION. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION the CONSTITUTION KILLER on peoples rights. The APPROPRIATE is catching up with INAPPROPRIATE in questions being asked. Are they the NEW MORAL MAJORITY supporting the POLICE STATE we live in? The BERLIN WALL went down and now we have our own BERLIN WALL, MARIJUANA PROHIBITION. Our CONSTITUTION is now being replaced with FEDERALISM and the NEW WORLD ORDER of a MONARCHY with BANANA REPUBLIC RULES.
Personally, I think its his wife that keeps it from going anywhere. No way in hell does she want her girls smoking weed. Mothers tend to be very reactionary when it comes to the kids.
Forget it, it’s over you lost and you will never win the big money owns you now.
Our government has rolled over, we have lost everything, until the next revolution.
The wealth is our target!
Pres. Obama is up to something, His strategies on seeing one or two companies take the lead in helping him to establish a better form of communication for what has transpired in the last two years, bringing the troops home, NOW thats HOT! LATE AS ALL OUTDOORS!He keep his word. Even though the troops come home they had to see the anarchy going on between the police and citizens; and they left overseas to come home to this kind of crap!
Now,they are giving us incentives if you be good cow,they’ll giving us a $40.00 tax added on, or take it off; hummmm that did not work either! At lease he asked everybody what did they want another tax.
So he has some irons in the fire; now will it be to his advantage or will the People STAND THEIR GROUND..WHO’S SOVERIGN here the Government or the people of this LAND!
Remember Socialist want your energy, your mind, and all your property; set to enslave people as cattle. I don’t see nothing up on that platform that’s worth the time of day; all of them are for the nwo; everybody up there like a bunch DC Hogs having a goodtime snorking up the skirts, poping pills, drinking champane dressed in red high heel shoes..lol! A bunch of insane alcoholic perverts (it’s ok to have a open marriage)this whole batch of folks they know how to party…straight to hell…from the looks of things right now this is a form of Hell, mental abuse, physical abuse, pain, cramps in back knees, ankle neck..Puff!-Puff! Pass! the Joint Please!I need to medicate.
Their day is coming and it is coming fast..Obama will lose this election unless he Declassifies Marijuana’s illegal status 1 to status 3 for everybody to witness..I hope that brother gets his head on straight real soon.
Idea! There is this woman who come before the Judge he was the only one who could grant that request she needed…well as time went on this issue got on the Judge nerves to the point after so much of the womans determination to get an answer…she turned to God and this Judge gave his answer….Pray for Him..even if you don’t pray…send him some good vibes…lets not get angry because he’s been there and done that…and did not like it anymore…ok! that’s on him, unless he is lying and covering it up.
It is never approprate to talk about Marijuana…WELL we THINK IT IS TIME TO SHOW him the closer we get to the finish line. at the end then we will get on with our lives, be focus, and Happy!!
It seems the White House page on youtube has been fairly well flooded with copies of the marijuana legalization question, as well as many variations and other on-topic concerns.
Obviously, it’s not going away. Sorry Mr. President, in a democracy no one man or one institution can make the call on what is an “appropriate” topic for debate. The people make that decision, and we will continue to speak out.
President Obama says that marijuana questions are “inappropriate?”
This guy is absolutely unbelievable? What happened to this once great man? Instead of delivering peace by ending torture, and wars, and promising change that would be science based, he has carried out what can only be described as a NEO-CON plan gone nightmare. Now Obama is trying to start WWIII by increasing tensions with the Iranians now in the Strait of Hormuz — and ultimately her allies Russia and China? WTF Nobel Peace Prize Winner?
You start to add up what Obama has done and you get not only the exact opposite of what you voted for, you get worse. The marijuana question is a matter of freedom of speech. And instead of truth, Obama wants to cover it up by calling a once “totally legitimate topic for debate,” inappropriate?
If Obama gets a second term, he will most likely make the Reagan-Bush years look like a picnic. Obama has been so dangerous to medical marijuana in the last six months that he has wrecked YEARS of hard work from legal marijuana entrepreneurs and their local economies; nothing Bush or Clinton can even come close to Obama’s war on weed. At the rate it is going under the Obama he is going to attack the patients and users next, after he shuts down all the dispensaries. With NDAA and SOPA laws it will be very easy to establish marijuana users and producers as enemy combatants under a martial law example and declare them terrorists because marijuana discussion, advertising, and use is not only illegal it is also “inappropriate” to even discuss. This is scary as hell where this is all going.
If this type of gov. neglect continues, can WE THE PEOPLE bring forth a class action law suit against the federal government? Not a suit for monetary compensation, but a suit for change in the law. This is the only way I see anything getting done on this issue. If u think Obummer is going to do anything in a 2nd term on this issue you are wrong, big pharma’s pockets are to deep. This is a pay to play government & most of the general public can’t afford this entry fee into the circus. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO FILE THE LAW SUIT? SERIOUSLY, 3 people in the U.S. Are provided medical marijuana by the federal gov. WHAT MAKES THESE 3 BETTER THAN YOU OR ME? Obummer preaches equality & fairness right, let’s make him prove it in a court of law.
VOTE RON PAUL 2012, NORML CAN’T ENDORSE A CANDIDATE BUT THEY HAVE PROVIDED USEFUL INFO ON THE CANDIDATES. PAUL IS THE CLEAR CHOICE. READ THE BLOG FROM NORML FOR YOURSELF.
Our president and his staff have officially surpassed douchebag status… AGAIN! As much as I want to see him out of there, I don’t see any better candidates to take his place.
I hate the fact that I voted for that puppet. He sucks on every conceivable level. The fact that he’s president is what’s really inappropriate.
soooooo frustrating! i’m so tired of all the BS! its like if we want to get anything done in this lifetime, we all have to take to the streets and make change
^^ If he sucks on every conceivable level, I see several candidates who would do a better job. I, for one, will vote for anyone who stands on two legs that the GOP nominates to oppose Obama. Hopefully that is Ron Paul.
Mary-j inappropriate topic coming from the president when he was here Illinois he wanted to pass a bill to teach kids in kindergarten about sex
So dear Obama
Tell me how something like weed is an inappropriate topic for adults and SEX is appropriate for 5 and 6 year old dude ur a criminal just like anyone else who has toke on the herb the only difference is I wish you would have caught so u would know how much prohibition has ruined live and caused so much violence not just in Mexico but right here in the united states have 10 armed men kick in ur door cuz you don’t guns and condone violence and I hope everyone reminds him he is a criminal he just got lucky
Politics. He won’t get re elected if he does something so drastic. So either elect Ron Paul. Or let Obama do it after he starts his last term.
Will this NDAA law be use on us. Or should i say when will they use this law on us. The D.E.A dream. When that happen that when i will start to fight for our freedom. It will get a lot worst. Just pray all 3 house dont turn out (R)control.
Ron Paul’s ideas are NOT radical at all… you people just don’t really seem to get it…
His idea’s were the SAME ideas this country was founded on… His idea’s are the SAME ones that OUR forefathers created to prevent Big Government from getting a strangle-hold on the people.
The ideas that are radical?!
The ideas that are radical are thinking it’s ok for us to put nukes everywhere; tell other countries and cultures how to live (or they will be killed;) tell our citizens they are worthless and their opinions mean nothing because they have no money, etc…
These “radical ideas” were created by corrupt; selfish; horrible politicians; corporations and “law enforcement.”
These radical ideas that the police do not have to legally protect us?!?!? why are they getting a paycheck then with TAXPAYERS DOLLARS if they do not legally have to protect us?
How is a corporation the same as a living, breathing human-being?!?!?!
It’s these “radical” and illogical ideas and corruption that got us into this mess…
Ron Paul’s (our forefather’s) idea’s are what we need to get back to if the PEOPLE are to survive… and i said PEOPLE, not corporate lackeys or lobbyists…
UGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!
I think it is great that people are speaking up it will all work out eventually, if we keep speaking up. Marjuana became illegal for business reasons. It is a plant that has healing properties. Humans need to be able to learn how to use what they can easily grow to self-medicate instead of pay high prices for health care. People have to be willing to learn good ways to care for themselves so as not to bring the cost of health higher. I think with a certification/safety type certificate that all plants should be made legal. People need to learn to help themselves more. People cannot afford these health prices. More education will aid in people not abusing what they can grow naturally and with little cost. They have been found to help mental problems as well where as the ones that are currently available cause more problems and are dangerous/to fatal. We have too many laws that put people into jail, it has gotten out of hand and unproductive for creating a healthy society. Big changes need to happen to help not only the earth but our people. We deserve to be able to grow our own medicine. Just because something can be abused is NOT a valid reason to say we cannot use it nor does it make sense to put someone in a jail cell and ruin their life for it. It is ridiculous. People can learn with support, education, and trial and error how to self-medicate for as many health issues or relaxation issues they have without the high cost of health care or only having unhealthy medicines available to them.
For the people who say RON PAUl accomplishes NOTHING. It’s because he’s the ONE filing bills to legalize marijuana.
RON PAUL 2012!!!!
Whatever happened to tar and feather brigades? Everytime these corrupt, big pharma teat-suckling swine show their pretentious, money stuffed asses; we tar and feather!
I would laugh so hard I’d have a seizure if I saw that on CNN.
Cant believe it so ridiculous how obvious he is avoiding the topic its almost tooooooo obvious
Chump change, I want my tax money back. And our nations bill of rights.
I’m convinced that the marijuana laws won’t be changed for a very long time. Obama has clearly stated that he is NOT in favor of legalizing marijuana, and he has proven that he’s not in favor of medicinal marijuana through his crackdown. And now, the only republican candidate that is in favor of reforming the laws is Ron Paul, and god knows he won’t get elected (Don’t get me wrong, I like Dr. Paul, but the majority of America doesn’t). I’m hoping for election 2016?
I think, we all deem the Governments view on Cannabis inappropriate!
Ron Paul 2012 to end this nonsense!
What a bunch of intestinal debris!
But what do you expect from a polititrickster? They are just spewing senseless rhetoric to protect the big money of big pharma. Big government and big corporations means a smaller individual.
We still must fight the forces of this terrible inversion no matter How long it takes!
I’m pretty pissed off about the censorship, which is itself inappropriate. Our issue already gets ignored enough!
Help bump up my question as well: “President Obama, what can I do to help end the suffering of the one percent of Americans that are arrested every four years for possession of marijuana. Thank you for your time”
Just search “One Percent Marijuana” and it’s the only one that shows up! Vote it up and if you want check out my youtube for the video.
youtube.com/notnowcrito for the video. or click my name above.
Jarrett says, “…he only republican candidate that is in favor of reforming the laws is Ron Paul, and god knows he won’t get elected (Don’t get me wrong, I like Dr. Paul, but the majority of America doesn’t).”
You are wrong my friend, Ron Paul has an excellent chance of getting elected. The media telling people he can’t win is a psychological operation (PSY-OP) to protect establishment interests.
For the love of Creation, DO NOT FALL FOR THEIR BULLSHIT! Vote Ron Paul 2012!
Being in the Hoosier state, having some of the toughest laws on the books, I’ve seen my share of destroyed lives and corrupt officers of the law.
For the pres to request questions from an internet discussion forum and not take a legalization question is absurd. Who does he think he would be talking to?
I truly want Ron Paul as our candidate, but with him running as a republican(which he is not)he will not get the nomination. Maybe he’ll stay in the race as a write in or Libertatian. If his name is on my ballot I’m voting for Paul.
Yeah, we can’t have an (H)onest (O)pen and (T)ruthful conversation as to the one sided rhetoric that is the prohibition of cannabis. And the beat goes on. Everything else is fair game? Bigots. Are you not prepared for this discussion? Or can you not back up your worthless diatribes with more lies/propaganda/innuendo cause no one, with a brain that is, believes it anymore and you know it? Best way to avoid it is to not talk about it at all and let people think whatever they want. Sit on it and spin. Wow, gutless and spineless. You know, I think I did hear of snakes that could speak but I think that it was a metaphor describing a creation made in his likeness. What a great example to set “leaders”. The best way to get by something is to just avoid it? I guess that’s ok for politicians who peddle to the will of corporations that care nothing of the existence of others. It’s all about $$$$$. The rest is mute to existentialism. We can’t have dialogue pertaining to a substance that kills NO ONE, HELLO? NO ONE!, and has a plethora of uses in almost every conceivable product known to god forsaken man? If man did not create it then it is not good, pure or just? WTF is this you narcissistic demigods? If we as a populace can’t be told the truth about cannabis and utilize it’s properties to the fullest then I’m sorry people but I don’t see how you think that we would be told the truth about ANYTHING unless of course it’s dealing with maximizing utility for the elite. Prohibs response. Theirs much more important things to consider and talk about. So you say. Really? If cannabis isn’t that big of a deal why can’t we get this done and move on to a much more important topic? Answer if you can feds/elites. I won’t hold my breath cause you have no rebuttal unless its the atypical for the norm and typical for the elite response of do as I say and not as I do. Again, setting a great example “leaders”. All politicians are the same. Blinded by their own ambitions or those of others. They’d say and do just about anything to get there. What are you so afraid of? Just tell us and allow us to understand. Again, I won’t hold my breath. My how things change and yet they stay the same. The wheel in the sky keeps on turning.
It is so terribly sad that we live in a country that lies to the world that they are democratic or should tell others how to do things. This country is fast turning into a very very bad place to live along with the world turning into a very bad place to be. The ignorance of obama because the pain his ignorance is causing us and the other brainwashed and washing folks like him, is destroying mankind and the planet earth. Probably the only reason why humans evolved at all was the use of medicine that came from the earth. It is medicine our brains function sometimes better with it, it can heal us, to act like humans cannot use plants to medicate themselves as we see fit just because some people will be ridiculous to themselves is SO Fucking stupid. IT IS OUTrageous. AND AND if they are that stupid, then hello does it surprise you that THEY do other things that are totally STUPID. They think they know what they are doing to the point that they can’t learn nothing, they are brainwashed by church or some other fear factor like the nazis did, that is why people end up calling them nazi’s they act just as ignorant or stupid or vile or violent or jail damaging ignorant and vile human beings. YUK YUK YUK YUK. OBAMA DOES NOT care or understand how to care that human beings in america want to medicate themselves as they see fit. HE LIKES control and MONEY and power. HE talks about it ALL the time. HE spends all the time, HE doesnt talk about how to actually stop inflation or things to cost less or health care including mental to be more at people learning how to medicate themselves as much as they can instead of big bills and unhealthy drugs???? MONEY HONEY, not freedom, not evolving, not intelligent, but making money, competition etc all the shit that will not matter when people keep up this stupid chaos destroy themselves and the earth for good. THAT is what will happen and it is right around the fricken corner, LOOK around, the whales beach, the wars and nuclear poison shit all over, the constant violence, rape etc. THEY aren’t solving anything yet they keep lying to us all like they are so smart and do what they say. They keep making things worst and worst and worst. the earth is getting worst and worst and worst. While they say oh yeah compete in science and math, what earth will we be living on when all their ignorance, wars,imprisonment, rapes, etc kills us all.
truly, although I already will never vote for obama again, when you all said the man calls talking about a plant inappropriate, you better believe his eric holden is writing down all our numbers to see if we smoke marijuana. HOW stupid and what a waste of money YUK when I look at these ignorant men, It is so hard to not say YUK and to have compassion for their obvious destruction of freedom and what is good for the world. They are scarey sick individuals that belong in a healing mental institution because they are NOT good for us and they are hurting people. IT is a mental illness, but if you work for the government, that mental illness is deemed legal. I bet you Obama thought he was smarter than he really is along with most of them because they have the power to invade privacy and judge people. When they don’t see half of what alot of people see. I know many people see the reality that so many governments are really clinically insane including the “illegal ones” if you hurt someone it is a mental illness or yourself it is a mental illness. They not only hurt others, the advertise it like it is the norm and what we are all fighting for self medication and freedom and to not be stalked by crazy religious fanatics with prison cells where they don’t even try to help people just destroy their lives. IF they can’t see that human beings have the potential to be healers instead of destroyers, wow. Weird to teach children that governments can bomb and destroy lands, homes, people, but you should always be nice to people. Does it make sense?????NO and do they see anything clear. They are living in fear of chaos when they are the ones causing it. People can grow, people can NOT be violent, people can learn to use plants in a balanced way, Is anyone teaching anyone to do that, and again if someone wants the consequence of over using something, they know the consequence, i wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but really, just because some people will use too much sugar in a brownie, then, they are going to put them in an abusive jail cell as if it is a bad thing because THEY don’t want us to do what we want with plants. Plants that are healing. But they will shove fatal drugs down mental patients throat that are fatal in a heartbeat. That is how STupid Obama’s behavior and how NOt insightful or good for anyone he is. But again, I don’t think he really sees that, he is like brainwashed, or just hasn’t lived, and may lie too much which always screws up people. He seems kind of unhealthy in communication at times, which means he is running from something inside himself. Perhaps his own prison cell, not sure.
Some leaders … the hypocrisy in these politicians … money grubbing fools … they are so unaware of the spirit of the age and the people … THAT IS WHAT IS INAPPROPRIATE HERE … more than half now accept and want to legalize and control! YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE INEVITABLE …
a world without clean air, pretty soon the hole will get bigger and all life will slowly die, that is what Obama is proposing along with all his policies to stop self medication so our bills are not high, we are healthier, and enjoy life to the fullest. Hemp will help the world and so would marijuana and the other plants. We like sugar too what are they going to do take that away too cause too much causes diabeties. however that word is spelled.
seriously, people need to say NO to Obama, and Support Ron Paul and don’t even bother telling Obama and his other psychologically challenged eric holden how you feel cause they are EXTREMEist for control peoples minds. They don’t really care about the truth or that they are totally wrong. They want their way at democracies expense. So telling them anything will not do anything but give them a reason to invade your privacy and use us somehow for their sick benefit.
Congress is where marijuana will be legalized. The legislative branch, not the executive branch. So, fix your members of Congress.
Start with Lamar Smith who is preventing HB2306-Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, from even receiving a hearing.
I agree what Jeedi says:
January 26, 2012 at 9:06 pm
“…….. Ron Paul has an excellent chance of getting elected. The media telling people he can’t win is a psychological operation (PSY-OP) to protect establishment interests.
For the love of Creation, DO NOT FALL FOR THEIR BULLSHIT! Vote Ron Paul 2012!”
—————————————-
Now what the other Joel says:
There are good NORML people in Florida even though it is infested with organized crime, voting fraud, and a “piss boy” for a Governor.
BOTTOM LINE..: WE AS THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NEED TO STAND UP TOGETHER AND MAKE THEM HEAR US.. HAVE OUR VOICE HEARD.. DO WHAT ELECTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO BUT JUST DON’T…
we go on these sites, we become members, we make youtube videos (me too soon), its in our movies, in our tv shows, our music..but nobody cares.. we must do something, we have to, the Federal Government is now just treating us like complete idiots, and unless we do something, they will be right..its not just about Marijuana, its the FBI tapping into facebook, its SOPA, PIPA, and NDAA too.. what have we become? On Marijuana, we fight the wrong battle, yes medically it would be great, but it shouldn’t be all we want..you can say we have to crawl before we can walk,but they will say “see, you wanted it medically, now thats not enough, because its a bad drug” and follow it up with unproven data..i want it out right legalized..tax it, i don’t mind, help make America beautiful again, help make us a Worldly power again..help make our dollar what it used to be.. we allow programs like Weed Wars come on because we think its a good light shed on our cause..than look at the people they portrayed..yes a few actual suffering, but than older hippy women taking off for 420, giving away free gifts for 420, old jamican men talking about weed,or an old man who wants to try weed, but has to chose between it and his family..none of which i have a problem with as a smoker..but it gives them fuel for their fire when people say its for medical reasons..and they say its just to get high, and how Californias system is a joke..than you have the owner..who at one point fought for it legalized, now just wants it medically, goes on O’reily and says he only smokes at night before bed for his pain, than allows the show to show him smoking many times during the day, or stopping to get 3 weed baked goods before a speech, or show employees who eat weed goods while working, and can’t even ring up a customer right, forgetting what the customer asked, or a spotlight on an employee who stole to support his pill problem and have him say ” its the only thing that helps with the pain” when your a tv show is trying to show the benefits of weed medically…it was a set up in my mind, to further make medical marijuana look like a joke..than keep saying over and over how the year before sales were at 21million, making it look like an even further medical joke..knowing the next closest place made like 3-4 mill… sorry i had to vent..im tired of seeing this mess..when we argue, stop allowing people to cut us off when we compare it to prescription drugs, by saying..”thats not what we are talking about”..because we are..Marijuana is safer than any pill.. we need to fight with facts and stop them when they dont present facts back.. if you make a video, site your sources..when you speak a fact..site your source..and don’t allow anyone to speak a fact back without knowing it to be fact..we learned this in school..now show that we are smarter than they think.. Please people..please… i want to start a rally of sorts,a national protest like occupy and a big concert to get our word out, if your with me email me at jbryan923@yahoo.com … lets stand up and be heard!
one more thing…
{NDAA is an abomination that allows the president to declare citizens “enemy combatants” and lock them up indefinitely without charge, without trial, and without rights}
i rememeber seeing on a tv show and reading about like 15 camps being built around America, with playgrounds and living areas behind fences with barbed wire..saying they looked like concentration camps…i wonder if thats what these are for…gov officials wouldn’t comment when they did they story.. just food for thought, wait till they start killing us “enemy combatants” off for no reason also… reminds me of some other times in history…hmmm
I’d like to apologize for some of my earlier comments, one of those days. They were directed at those who decided to silence the voice of our cause. Idk it just drives me nuts sometimes seeing this continue. I respect my president and I always will. I don’t see him like I see others. I want to believe in him so badly and I don’t want to give up on him. He’s always being pulled apart from the opposition and I truly believe that he understands. I know I’m a dumbazz for believing that, I don’t care that’s how I feel. I know it doesn’t mean much but I do still believe in you BO, please help us get this done. Good day.
i jus dnt get it i guess the government thinks that they can stop weed from growing its done by nature alone its a god bearing seed nobody can stop it freom growing except god and when that happens every body in the world will stop breathing
I knew Ron Paul was right on the war on drugs (fear selling criminal business), but I would not have voted for him four years ago, because I thought the war against terrorism was serious. When Obama signed the bill NDAA, I got the doubt. What is common in both is that the remedy is more frightening than the problem supposed to be solved.
The election looks now like the choice between gangsters and the constitutional hope in freedom and america. I am European. I wish I could vote (for Ron Paul). We are all concerned.
Until we can show, in a public way, that we have a large number of supporters, then we will continue to be ignored.
Someday, somebody will figure out a way to organize our resistance. Until then expect more of the same.
Legal like alcohol.
who – besides me – is willing to drop everything and go to prison if thats what happens when we sit down and refuse to get up
I have to say that I voted obama with the hope he would do a different job then his predicessors. Wow what a disappointment. I see he uses any chance he can to up the polls. Numbers were down. Bang,osama is dead. Impressive? Considering george jr. Couldn’t get him for years. Did the cia get better all of a sudden?you see,geo needed him alive,to keep his war going. Obama needed him dead to help his popularity.
That means our leaders will kill for their agendas. We all know they will lie.
Governments are the problem…world wide. They make laws to rule by..not laws to live by.
Wow, that’s low. In my mind though what’s almost as bad as the fact that they censored the question is that they then pretend like they had no part in that, that “people” thought the question was inappropriate…if they’re gonna censor a question, then at least maybe they should have the balls to come out and do it rather than hide behind pretense. Or did they finally figure out just how many people don’t want to hear bullshit or mockery in response to the topic anymore?
On a slightly separate note, I definitely don’t blame barack obama any more than anyone in elected office. The fact is that most of these people, including obama, are playing politics. That’s what politicians do. If you DON’T play politics, you don’t get into office. Period.
That would be the reason why people like ron paul, people who go against the grain and seek to turn over the general status quo, never actually get into office. In Paul’s case he would be difficult to bend to the parties will or agenda (or anyone’s will or agenda for that matter); he’s already a fairly rich guy, he’s older, and he’s a rare breed that is trying to get into politics for the reason that people originally did when our country was young (because he legitimately wants what’s best for the country and for people…or at least that’s how it seems)…so basically he’s not nearly ‘malleable’ enough. Therefore, without party support, he won’t make it.
That’s the issue; to get into politics you have to be able to be swayed in the way that the ‘big guys’ want. If you set out saying that you’re going to crush crooked big businesses, crooked legislation and crooked politicians and turn Washington on its head, and actually look like you’re going to do that and aren’t just all talk, all those with an interest in keeping things just how crooked they are will do everything to make sure that person doesn’t get elected…and unfortunately, usually the very reason for that is because said people are really the ones who are in charge and don’t want that to change. Ultimately, unless something is done outside politics that never will change. People like Obama are just doing what politicians do, since these days they have to be crooked and pander to the right people by definition or else they won’t make it.
NORML should sue the government for censorship. If you can’t have Freedom of the Press about cannabis legalization, what good is the freedom?
you know, Google, the owner of YouTube, donates a lot of money to the Obama Campaign. I wonder if this has anything to do with the censorship going on these days…
On my last reply on January 27, 2012 3:01p.m.,
I would like to make an apology to the present governor of Florida, Rick Scott, when I said, “….and a “piss boy” for a Governor”. I really meant the former governor Charlie Crist who wants to have people of Florida urine examined for any traces of marijuana.
I thought Charlie Crist was still the governor. (I’m not from Florida).
In Texas we are still stuck with Governor Rick Perry. (Texas politics are still very Bushy)
If the American people and American businesses can stand together as they did for the greatest “positive” protest in history to protect our free internet there is no reason Americans all together cannot stand up against our human right to choose if we want to consume for personal or health-related purposes a God-given plant. Not only for the fact that it will undoubtedly greatly improve the American economy and way of life, but that it will bring harmless individuals from the “jail” system saving our country billions of dollars and putting those people in a society where they can get back to work and start doing something good for others and themselves.
The results on President Obama’s YouTube special “Interview with the President” the most widely talked about subject this week with the most popular votes being the topic of marijuana legalization this is a clear wake up call to all Americans that it’s time to set it straight and the Americans want marijuana legalized for the simple fact that it’s part of the solution to getting our country back on track.
It’s finally time and I’m so happy to start seeing Americans stand behind their freedom of speech and the power of what the internet can offer in providing the “real truth” for everyone to see. The people have spoken and I hope everyone tunes in and supports legalizing marijuana on President Obama’s speech today.
”Ignoring the issue does’nt make it or us go away!”
My message to Obama is simple, “Fuck you, thief.” Commander in Thief.
Obama is very uncaring when it comes to people who’ve been put down. He just gave us all false hope for change. Yet, he’s just another fascist. Like Bush before him.
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Citing their combative model and personal residing, several females in California state they will will not support Newt Gingrich from your Republican key. Which sexual category gap features authorized Mitt Romney to open up upwards any ordering one on one inside Florida about the previous Speaker, WSJ’s Neil Hickey research.
People in america have been in refusal regarding Chief executive The presidents’s insufficient opinion within the American People.
Wait, lets start with the basics about Drug’s. A drug comes from a plant. Then a company wants to make it and sell lots of it. Well when you start from scratch and make a drug, it is pure. Now the Pharma. Co. says pure is good. Which is bull sh*t! Pure is danger! Absolutely pure is absolutely deadly! Big Pharma doesn’t want you to notice this fact. Over Dose, side effects, the fight for control because it is illegal.!??
What if the natural form was available to the public??? What if you needed pain relief and you could grow your own Poppy’s? What if you are fat and lazy. Would you be, if you could chew Coca leaf? Have you ever seen a fat Peruvian?
These things should be on the open market! You can’t legislate moral behavior so stop trying!
The ONLY thing INNAPPROPATE about Marijuana; is your lack of faith in the American people to make a decision that will benefit this country as a whole not in parts. Marijuana is and will be the most Holy Herb on the planet…The only thing you people are affraid of is, what you be using on us will come back on you…and you think you have all the bases covered…and you don’t!!!The people are awakening and the people’s intelligence will come up to the same level with you in and able to block your mind control over us! The marijuana is awakening us to our full potential in the spirit realm, to who we are. You people doon’t want this so you create fear, sickness, disease, and dirty drugs to keep us all blank-ga-de-blank. We choose to keeep America beautiful, safe, and GREEN just like we found her! She has given us her best all these centuries, eons! We have to stop the anger and bitterness within each of us and learn to forgive ourselves and others in the process. If we are to survive theis mental onslaught; We will not recieve this…NO MORE!
You could have been the President we all adored…iniquity is found all up in you! hands bloody with the death of innocent US, souls,babies, poor people around the world; your Hitler mark is going to hit you where it hurts the MOST home..my brother! If we go down together we are taking you with us…fair deal..Mr. satan? Did I say that, forgive me I ment, Mr. President!
I don’t like Obama but just so you guys know ?”A White House spokesman, when asked for comment about why no marijuana-related questions were addressed on Monday, noted that the event had been moderated by GOOGLE and the president was merely answering questions posed to him.” Site: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/obama-marijuana-online-chat_n_1242907.html?ref=mostpopular
Obama has sold out to the 1%. He makes Uncle Tom look like a black panther… he failed his people and All of ” We the People”, except the new fake ones that run the country the Corporation people..
Not being presented with a comprehensive question about the Failed Drug Wars and the Legalization of Medical Marijuana, made the posting of internet questions and voting on them, totally superflous. Why did Google/You Tube waste our time!!! They had no intention of asking the questions re Medical Marijuana
Obama has already said NO. So just don’t waste your time with him, he’s ignorant, violent, and lied to get in office and continues to lie blaming bush and others for his problems he has with being ineffective because he is terrible listener and communicator. He tries to be a salesman but he sucks at that too. GET HIM OUT OF OFFICE AND STOP WASTING TIME ON HIM. HE IS NOT WORTH THE TIME WHEN WE NEED TO SPEND OUR TIME GETTING HIM OUT. TALK TO CONGRESS ABOUT THE ISSUES.
It is not “inappropriate” to ask that our friends, neighbors, and fellow United States Citizens not be jailed or threatened by the Federal Government over marijuana.
I’d like to see this question spun that way. Rather than a call to “legalize” or “decriminalize,” I’d like a call to stop jailing and threatening people over marijuana.
I just wrote the White House. Do thou likewise. Just google: “Write the President” and fill out the form with your, hopefully polite, response. Here’s what I said:
If you want my vote you need to stop jailing and threatening people over marijuana.
It may be a “silly” topic but jail is not. If it is laughable to you, that means that you are so callous as to laugh at people caught up in the courts and often jailed.
I’m not a user but I have seen people’s lives ruined by their encounters with law enforcement over this.
You, as President, CAN make it stop by making appropriate DEA and HHS appointments; people who will follow the science and the will of the vast majority of the people.
Sincerely,
Allen Whipps
What’s to appropriate?
I feel Medical Marijuana should be legal, All Marijuana use should be made legal also. But start where they will.
It’s like back in the ‘DAY’ My
Mom and her Dad and the rest of the family made bathtub Gin. I Helped as a child.
I helped my Grandpa down in the Hills with his Still’ as a child. Now they would be locked up for child abuse but anyway.
My real opinion is that For some reason our country’s people have allowed the government to make Jailing People big business. There are so many things wrong with the prison system. People don’t realize it because they figure the
people locked up are no good anyway, let them rot, don’t put the nasty prison’s next to my house.. BUT What if one of your own family got into trouble and was locked up, and were not guilty or they smoked some pot or they were with someone who smoked pot.
The gangs on the corner are not being stopped because of marijuana laws, that is just an excuse to keep it illegal. Nonsense.
I wish Ron Paul could be heard, he is the only person running for president who would legalize marijuana and says so.. Were is all the support for him. Just sittin’ on the couch smokin’ a doobie and not wanting to get up and Vote sooo I guess we just got to sit back and take it.. RIGHT?
I feel that The President is not going to even Talk about marijuana because he knows he would not get elected in 2012!
Marijuana is going to be legal someday. But I don’t think anyone is going to get elected president to get it legalized.
As the poster before me said, The People are going to have to elect from their own neighborhoods, in even the smaller of Political posts from, within, the community to all communities,=== People who have the same opinion on Marijuana as we all do who want it Legalized.
Whoa! Yes that means>>> YOU Are gonna have to Man up, Stand up and SAY You want it legalized. You don’t have to say == You USE IT!!
Just say it is a bad LAW and too many People are going to jail for it. The Laws of this country are to protect you and I; But there are too Many Now, that are worse than the crime that I am being protected from..
test
Moderators: I accidentally included my FULL NAME in a comment to your fine blog. PLease remove my name from the post or remove the post.
Thank you!
Allen
http://blog.norml.org/2012/01/24/president-obamas-youtube-forum-deems-marijuana-legalization-questions-inappropriate/
Allen says:
January 31, 2012 at 5:28 pm
I just wrote the White House. Do thou likewise. Just google: “Write the President” and fill out the form with your, hopefully polite, response. Here’s what I said:
If you want my vote you need to stop jailing and threatening people over marijuana.
It may be a “silly” topic but jail is not. If it is laughable to you, that means that you are so callous as to laugh at people caught up in the courts and often jailed.
I’m not a user but I have seen people’s lives ruined by their encounters with law enforcement over this.
You, as President, CAN make it stop by making appropriate DEA and HHS appointments; people who will follow the science and the will of the vast majority of the people.
Sincerely,
MY NAME WAS HERE (Please remove or remove the entire post)
Obama is the biggest, lying, turd that has been in the White House yet I do believe. His ass needs to be shipped to Kenya, where he belongs, and live like those people for awhile. I would vote for Mickey Mouse before he will ever get my vote. He’s a piece of shit.
That’s not entirely true. I don’t know what they threatened him with ore offered him once he got into office. But the real problem is the bureaucrats, that ever leave. They still have that insider mentality. They hear Marijuana and think “Oh those dirty hippies.” (envious when seen on the movie news screen when I was a kid, now jealous.)”We have to punish them for what they did!” whatever that was in their minds was never explained.
These are the closed minded type of in sider that needs to be fired. I say clean house. fire them all and make lobbying illegal. Abolish lobbying to start. Elect Dr. Ron Paul second.
David,
Wish that were true. The “bureaucrats” that you speak of are appointed by the president. That would be the heads of the DEA, HHS, FDA, and DOJ, plus his hand picked “Drug Czar.” He’s the president, this really is his policy. Sorry! There is no ‘strategy.’ How it appears is exactly (in this case) what it is.
Pot should be legal to grow in every state and NO ONE should ever go to jail over pot.himp should be legal to grow in every state for the farmers need a nother cop to raise for tobaco in ky is all gone now where i live.The farms is growing up lots of them are and if himp was legal to grow and sell lots of farmers would grow it,it dont cost but verry littel to grow himp and it could help save our farmers in ky and every state and make lots more tax money.
Hear to Beyonce’s ‘End Of Time’ DJ mix.
Login to vote (on the upper right corner) & click to login with your FB account.
Make sure to click on the ‘Like’ button once you’re redirected after your
registration so that your vote to count. http://bit.ly/wjU5lj
Its the classic don’t do as I did (and may still do)and a slap in the face to marijuana advocates everywhere.
The entire ideology of prohibition countermands our claim to being the land of the free, Directly! We’ve seen this politically lead agenda last for over 75yrs, and it’s cost us too much. Perhaps even a crucial factor in our nations downturns since it’s enactment. We can no longer afford to oppress the industry or the citizen’s right to choose their own way. We must retool the DEA to ensure “Produce sold for public use” is clean and disease free. Or perhaps removing it from their jurisdiction altogether. Perhaps we would better gain from the FDA regulating it. Gaining their little cut at the exchange between grower and distributor, as an exchange tax. Thus ensuring the cycle upward is practical. With this shift in policy, jobs would be expanded, crops would be quality over quantity, and our nation would have wonderful new exports of many varieties. Jobs to make those products and agricultural options to immediately employ those released from incarceration. Change will require “retooling” to prevent collapse, a “retro-fit” of sorts.
davaiidinahyi999
“President Obama’s YouTube Forum deems marijuana legalization questions “inappropriate”
| NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform” honestly got myself hooked on ur blog!
I personallydefinitely will wind up being returning more regularly.
Thanks -Magda
The corporate powers that fund the election process decide which of THEIR two candidates you will vote for to be president. They control the country the way a casino controls the odds and results of all their games. Their rules (laws) predetermine that they will always win and wealth and power will always accumulate at the top of the pyramid.
Bob,
I appreciate that but it also gives people an excuse not to contribute–“Oh, it’s all hopeless, it’s some oogie-boogie hidden secret cabal. Let’s do nothing, we can’t win. Boo hoo. :-(”
But Bob, we’re actually winning now. The opponents are completely out in the open and stating their positions clearly. The forces are lined up on the battlefield for all to see. We don’t have to convince them, it’s time to overwhelm them!
And we succeeding by organizing and out voting them. That’s what’s going on now–state by state! Join up! Contribute to people who are on the winning side such as NORML. Talk to your friends and neighbors on why ending prohibition is a great idea and how it benefits them.
Best wishes.
Alan,
Look at NJ. Medical Marijuana approved by the voters in 2010. Today there is one licensed dispensary that has served a total of 140 people, with over 500 still on a waiting list to get served. Meanwhile possession of up to an ounce is only a $500 fine, but growing one plant is a minimum 3 year jail sentence and a lifetime felony record. Who profits here? Maybe it is a secret cabal.
Ok, so a growing debt over Nixon’s God Damned War against freedom of thought “IS” appropriate for a government “claiming” to be land of the free? Is it inappropriate to insist on the obvious solution to our national debt, over crowded prisons and the one industry Dick-head Nixon had no right to criminalize. We EXPECT leaders w/ common sense in their heads, not a bunch of dust collecting sellouts preaching “Hush hush” governance. If they had a brain among them, we’d see the WPA round up all the unemployed soldiers, and released prisoners for pot charges and put them straight to work rebuilding the infrastructure. But no, let’s not make logic ideas that fix anything. Let’s all pull our pants down and jam our heads in the dirt!!
Tricky Dick was not a crook, he was a corporate weasel that could not handle working for a living. So he went into politics. Once he got into control positions he gladly went along with small minded Hippy hater’s, because he was jealous of them.
Nothing in the management of this country has been descent since Kennedy was killed.
They are the beaurockracy that never changes. Fire some of these brain dead please.
“Sadly, I think these people are actually just one person… a guy who smoked weed (and snorted coke) back in the day as a teenager in Hawaii and was damn lucky he didn’t get caught or today he’d be Barry the Drug Criminal.”
Barry is just a figure head. If he had been caught some other pin head would be in his position. It is just too bad he has no ball’s, pussy whipped and brow beaten!
The first person I voted for was Bobby Kennedy in the ’68 California presidential primary. My vote was cancelled with a bullet. I voted for Barry twice. But I think I was played. Barry turned out to be Bush Light. No one in power has a conscience. Carter seemed like he did, but he got sandbagged by the people who really run the world…oil/gas, defense industry, and banking. They decide what happens and who gets elected. They control the economy, the wealth, the press, and almost every elected and appointed official in the country. If any person running for office had a conscience they wouldn’t be nominated by the political parties, which have a monopoly on who can be elected. It would be like expecting a mafia soldier to have a conscience. A free weed with medicinal and spiritual awakening properties is a threat to the corporations’ control of society. That’s why legalizing it won’t stop all the restrictions, foot dragging and the corporations’ right to fire anyone who fails a drug test. It might be legal, but it won’t be easy…
I stopped smoking pot in 1982 when my company (an electric utility) instituted random drug testing and a no tolerance policy. With a stay at home wife and 3 kids I couldn’t afford to lose my job. I settled for whiskey and still do. Now that I’m retired and we are living on SS and my pension I can afford $150 a month for Jack Daniels a lot easier than I could afford $300 or so an ounce for grass. Not to mention the legal hassles of being in possession. Unless I could grow 6-8 plants legally, I wouldn’t use it, and It doesn’t look like that will happen any time soon.
Don’t give up! You settled? for slow suicide? For money reasons. Look at the cost to your health.
I’m still working toward unrestricted use for everyone. On the West Coast I am seeing oz.’s for two hundred to medicinal users.
Best of Luck David. I hope you make it for all our sakes. If I was living in California instead of NJ I’d have a card and my plants would be growing!
It’s failed policy, plain and simple. But regardless, it’s not a “Presidential” action to change the designated scheduling of any substances. Look online for a petition that mentions changing both controlled substances Laws AND Drug Czar laws at the same time. Both directed BY PETITION to the ATTORNEY GENERAL, who is in fact the one office responsible for telling the DEA to change the scheduling of any listed Substance!!! But that doesn’t affect the Drug Czar laws, which are in place to obstruct the alteration of any controlled substances’ scheduling.
http://www.change.org/petitions/change-the-schedule-of-cannabis-cannabis-laws-and-drug-czar-laws
Lixallot (funny name!)
I think it actually is a presidential action to change the scheduling. From the same thing you pointed to (see where it says ‘or administratively?’):
“Rescheduling can be accomplished by an act of Congress, or administratively. Administratively, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would find that marijuana meets sufficient standards of safety and efficacy to warrant rescheduling. ”
All those agencies fall under the control of the president. The president appoints the head of HHS, the Drug Czar, the head of DEA.
It is my understanding that it all hinges on the placement of MJ on the DEA’s schedule. The DEA is compelled to use the findings of HHS.
Even at that, even if it still remains a schedule one narcotic, the president can direct his DOJ to either de-prioritize enforcement or ignore enforcement of the law entirely. WHAT? (You may well say!) Yes. He just did such a thing last year when he told DOJ to stop enforcing certain immigration laws (for young offenders.)
ANY law can be deprioritized or ignored by any prosecutor when it no longer matches the public’s concern. That was done regularly when mixed-race prohibitions were still on the books.
So that’s why I put the entire frigging mess on Obama’s head. He can stop it at any time. Today would be good. 😉
This is exactly what this country has come too. Big corporate type BS. “Controlled substance” is Bull shit. (free country) The office of the Drug Czar?(Russian)? should be abolished. Laws? abolish the Bull Shit now. Abolish the DEA.
What is wrong with you people? Do you want to be Russian or Natzy?
David,
You are not taking into account that the country (maybe the world) is heavily influenced by a controlled news media that pumps the establishment view of the world into people’s brains 24/7 from the day they are born. Anybody fighting the system gets marginalized in school, work, by the courts. It’s a slow and tough process. At least half the country still isn’t on board with civil rights.
Allen makes a great point. It is totally within Obama’s power to decriminalize marijuana nationally. States may still have the power to make it criminal. Civil rights is a great analogy. Harry Truman integrated the armed services after WWII, while some states still had segregation laws into the 60’s. I just saw Gasland II that shows how people whose water was proved contaminated by gas wells and fracking by the EPA tests got sold out when the higher ups had the local EPA’s abandon their support for the victims and side with the gas and fracking companies. Obama controls all of the regulatory agencies, but has run them for the protection of the corporations who financed his campaign. I voted for Obama twice but can see no difference between him and Bush at this point.
The prison/military/banking/pharma/gas and oil/ industrial complexes have taken over the regulatory agencies and the government, with the full support of the president. Sounds like Obama and Bush are employees of Haliburton.
I voted for Obama twice and I feel conned.Allen is 100% correct. This is totally within Obama’s ability to fix, but he hasn’t. Why not? Look at what else he hasn’t fixed: Guantanamo, assistance for people being foreclosed, relief for people whose air and water was poisoned by unregulated gas wells and fracking, people imprisoned for pot, US bases around the world with a military stronger than the next 17 countries combined, Patriot Act suspension of the Bill of Rights safeguards. In all the above, the regulatory agencies and the executives have sided with corporations instead of the voters. The prison/military/banking/energy/pharma/agribusiness/chemical industrial complexes have had a complete free hand since Clinton. Party makes no difference. The president is just an employee of Haliburton and the corporations who finance his campaigns. Eventually the people may get pot reform, if they are in the overwhelming majority, but it will be one state at a time. The federal government will continue to hold the issue hostage along with all the others mentioned above, to let the corporations get as much profit as possible out of these laws.
Harry Truman desegregated the military in 1947. JFK and RFK desegregated Mississippi State college in the early 60’s. They didn’t wait for the Congress to give them permission. Maybe Obama wants to live out his term, but he’s done very little of what he promised, and very little of what it is in his power as head of the executive branch of government to do. What he has done is give the conservatives and the corporations everything they wanted. Go figure.
ATTN: ALLEN!!!!!
Had you read the fine print of the Controlled Substances Act, signed by “GOD_DAMNED Nixon”, it clearly states that the office to petition IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, by the PEOPLE. The president was never intended to be a part of the rescheduling process. THAT WHY NO ONES GOTTEN ANYWHERE!!!!!! Tricky Dick took himself out of the equation INTENTIONALLY!!!!!! WRONG channel, NO RESULT!~!!!!!!
Ha, Lixallot. Nice try bud. 😉
A CAPITAL idea to petition the Attorney General. Please do so. But no, I have not read this supposed “fine print” you speak of that says that the Attorney General is in charge of the Schedule of Narcotics. I’m kind of laughing internally–forgive me. But hey, enlighten me!
Besides which, the president is the U.S. Attorney General’s boss. As I referenced–did you read it?–last year the president order his AG to stop prosecuting illegal alien minors. So, what the heck man? Why are you stuck on this crazy line you’re on?
Presidents are not out of the equation. All the president has to do is to hire an honest head of HHS, and honest head of DEA. Or he keeps what he’s got but knocks some heads together. Then the DOJ follows the law. Simple.
There is also nothing stopping congress from jumping in, but the president can do it all by his lonesome.
By the way, I disagree that this is (entirely) due to Obama being a corporate stooge. I really think he and most every leader in the Democratic party thinks they’re “saving the children.” They are of course making things far more dangerous for the children but they’re on that mindset. Looks like we–the MAJORITY–are stuck just marching forward and outvoting the idiots, state by state because the leaders of both parties are not listening and they are stuck in the old lies.
… and if you bothered to read the link you pointed everyone to, you would have found this:
“Rescheduling can be accomplished by an act of Congress, or administratively. Administratively, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would find that marijuana meets sufficient standards of safety and efficacy to warrant rescheduling. ”
Again don’t you know what the administrative branch is? All those agencies fall under the control of the president. The president appoints the head of HHS, the Drug Czar, the head of DEA.
Allan says: “I really think he and most every leader in the Democratic party thinks they’re “saving the children.” …. I don’t see how this is remotely possible. Why doesn’t he save the children from prison, from a lifetime felony record, from growing up with a parent in jail. How could anyone who smoked pot himself believe it’s more harmful to children than the war on drugs? … I can’t attribute any noble intentions to actions (or lack of them)that result in such carnage. I could maybe buy it from Bush, but from the pot smoking editor of the Harvard Law Review?
Thanks for the reply Bob!
I’ve noticed that people don’t always act rationally. But, you know what? I’m commenting on what I feel are the president’s motivation but it isn’t very important to me or this mission. He and others who want to wrongly state they have a legitimate reason that cannabis is a Schedule One Narcotic are on thin, thin, quickly melting ice.
The masses are just going around them. We don’t need to convince Obama. But this tide, while inevitable, is slow because state elections are infrequent. It takes literal boots on the ground (to get signatures for initiatives.) That’s all: Time and money and volunteering.
There’s an opposition, it isn’t secret. You can see who contributes to misleading ads in proposition elections. But it doesn’t matter if they are sincere to the cause or if they are paid mercenaries. We are the overwhelming force. We just need to take the field to win.
I agree Bob, Allan seems to think that beating his head on a brick will eventually lead to a solution. We’ve seen DECADES of presidential/congressional attempts to change the law, and still none of these offices are in direct command of the DEA. And if it was the place of a president ‘ALONE’, I think BJ-Bill would’ve granted it already. As for an Act of Congress… You do know a large gathering of BABOONS is also called a CONGRESS.. Nuf said? We can no more rely on congress to do the right thing, than we can expect Bernie Madoff to have a conscious-regret! And let’s all face the truth, presidents will never do it, because they have to consider the next election (even the next in line’s votes). So “UNLESS” we elect Tommy Chong for the next president, you’re never gonna see that channel play through.
Oh Lizallot… I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at your posts.
I’m telling you how the laws are set up and what the president has power to do. That is what he can do not what he is likely to do.
If you bothered to read my posts, you’d know that I feel that the best thing to do is to ignore the president and congress and continue the highly successful end-around using state ballot measures.
Take care buddy. If a ballot measure is in sight in your state, please get involved.
California, Oregon and Nevada on the west coast and Massachusetts and Maine on the east coast are considered the most likely states to legalize pot next. If and when that happens, I think the dam of prohibition will be sufficiently cracked for a national movement to succeed. In the 70’s a real groundswell of public sentiment resulted in the elimination of the draft. If polls can be believed, right now the opponents of legalization are much more against it than the proponents are for it. Ironically, even though the majority of voters favor legalization, decriminalization and access to medical marijuana in some states made full legalization less of an issue for the public to be passionate about. If people were still getting 25 years in prison for a joint it would be a no brainer. In NJ the maximum penalty for an ounce is a $500 fine, and in more affluent suburbs the cops look the other way.
Just saw the documentary “Code of The West” about how U.S. Attorneys prosecuted and jailed med marijuana dispensary owners in Montana. They also helped change the med marijuana laws in Montana and other states to be highly restrictive and in many cases to put dispensaries out of business. So now in many states it’s not illegal to use med marijuana, but you can’t grow it or buy it. Nice “Catch 22”. They basically put med marijuana back into the black market, and it’s open season on legal dispensaries. It’s back to the Nixon War on Drugs with a vengeance. State governors and legislators are mostly caving in to those who are using arguments from the 1950’s to repeal med marijuana laws or at least prevent it from being legally sold.
My post as Anonymous is above. I still can’t quite get over the way the justice department has basically overturned a decade of efforts to make med marijuana legal in the few states that adopted it. They are spouting the same lies that were used in the 50’s. It reminds me of Kent State in 1970, and the occupy movements. Using the vote and our legal rights to organize doesn’t work when it threatens the government’s agenda.