Last week, the White House launched the next in its long line of social media engagement initiatives, this one entitled “Your Interview With the President.” The concept was simple, anyone could upload their question to the President on YouTube, others would vote on them, and the highest rated ones would be posed to the Commander in Chief in a Google+ Hangout on January 30th.
This seemed to be a logical opportunity to ask the administration about marijuana legalization. Last Tuesday, I posted NORML’s question to the White House YouTube page for consideration. We asked, “With over 850,000 Americans arrested in 2010, on marijuana charges alone, and tens of billions of tax dollars being spent locking up marijuana users, isn’t it time to regulate and tax marijuana?”
The reception was overwhelmingly positive, in just several hours the question received over 4,000 “thumbs up” votes and was one of, if not the, most popular question on the service. Then a peculiar thing happened, the question was removed. After becoming the most positively voted upon question in less than a day, the White House removed the question, deeming it “inappropriate.”
We informed our audience of the censorship and encouraged them to engage the White House on their own, using our question or a one of their own choosing. Over the next several days the program was inundated with marijuana law reform questions. At first, many met the same fate as our original question and were removed from the site. It seems our persistence ended up paying off and the page administrator finally gave up trying to censor the incoming questions and most marijuana inquiries have remained up since.
Voting closed last night at midnight and I made some rough calculations of the final results to see how we performed. Of the top 160 questions asked, marijuana reform questions accounted for 105 of them. Reposts of our question brought in an estimated 17,524 up-votes in addition to the 4,028 the original received before being removed. Combined, that is over 21,000 votes for one question, which is 5 times as many votes as any other question on the page. The 105 marijuana reform questions in the top 160 brought in over 74,000 votes, dwarfing any other topic. Our friends at LEAP posted a question as well and it ended as one of the top rated questions. You can read their coverage here.
Now, we wait. “Your Interview With the President” is scheduled to take place tomorrow, January 30th. Considering this is the same individual who previously stated that, “we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws” and that legalization is a “perfectly legitimate topic for debate,” maybe he will take this opportunity to address the issue seriously for once. In an election year, this could go a long way towards winning back those who feel disenfranchised with the administration over a perceived lack of progress on the issue and amped up raids on medical programs in states such as California and Colorado.
The American people are ready for our debate Mr. President, are you?
I feel so strongly for this cause and it brings me peace of mind to know that there are others who feel just as strongly as I do. I couldn’t support you guys more for what your doing and I will always be there to lend a hand in changing out future and enlightening those who do not see the potential of legalizing marijuana and making it medically available to those who need it most. Keep on pushing, it’s too big to fail.
Thank you,
Steve
Sadly enough, as much attention as this question drew, I’m pretty sure its going to get snubbed.
The government doesn’t care about what the people want; politicians are in it for themselves, and always have been. Newt Gingrich and Obama have both admitted to smoking pot, yet Obama refuses to listen to the ever-growing cries of the American people who want the stuff legalized, and that piece of human trash Gingrich thinks people should be executed for being caught in possession of more than two ounces of it. Politicians enjoy deliberately denying the people things, so that they can be the only ones who enjoy them; it’s in their very nature as tyrants. You could have literally 90% of the entire country’s population supporting marijuana legalization, and the government will continue to not even budge, all the while making their typical bullshit excuses. I support legalization, but it’s not happening any time remotely soon.
I’m praying that they don’t snub the question because I believe that Marijuana is a answer for the suffering not only physically that our nations people face, but also mentally and financially. Its time to look at the positive effects and embrace the future as a people. If they don’t give us what we want then they must GO.
It’s worth noting that LEAP’s marijuana legalization question from retired LAPD deputy police chief Stephen Downing was not deleted and got the most votes of all video questions. More info at http://copssaylegalize.blogspot.com/2012/01/cops-marijuana-legalization-question.html
Edited the post to highlight LEAP’s efforts as well, well done.
Norml is fighting a futile battle with the president.
Marijuana prohibition was brought on by the interests of the democrat and republican parties, and will never be lifted until neither parties are in high office or majority of congress.
We need more solutions that democrats vs republicans. Otherwise we’ll be fighting the same stupid battles endlessly.
what kind of president deserves the support of the american people when by snubbing this issue, he is ultimatley refusing to support a majority its citizens. and the people who are against the subject are mostly misinformed by all the propaganda. I wish we had a president that did what was best for the country as a whole, not whats best for his own political agenda
Happy said: We need more solutions that democrats vs republicans. Otherwise we’ll be fighting the same stupid battles endlessly.
I agree and offer: http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/
They will continue to censor your comments if The King doesn’t like them because you are NOT entitled to you constitutional rights unless His Lordship agrees with them. Just another liar and promise breaker. But you wanted “Change”. Well, ya got it. How do you deel about it now. signed, another lost vote
If ron paul is not elected president. Im going to leave this fucking country
obama has got kids that can get marijuana anywhere but if taxed and regulated it would be harder to get.If some day his kids want to try pot he would be sorry he did nothing but snub it.
@Brian,
Better start packing your bags because that’s not going to happen.
this is not happening here it is going on world wide. the people are waking up. more and more locations are allowing use for all reasons as it should be and not just medical
just left A blog. with the young turks on current T.V. about youtubes censoring of question to obama hope they air it. and brian ron paul is not the answer the rest of his agenda is not good for america.
So many lives can be changed for the good in so many ways if it was deemed”legal”.This country could corner the market and with very little time or effort pull the U.S. out of debt just to start with.Nobody has died from pot and i can only imagine the deaths and ruined lives from booze and it is “LEGAL”…someone please explain that to me?why this country allows this? Legalize,regulate and lets legalize this plant that grows on its own anyway.No processing like with alcohol.Its all NATURAL!!!
what happened to my liberty? maybe with enuff pissed off people they might start to remember that we are the people in “We the people”!give us are due!and just when did i become the property of the goverment?
NORML should encourage their constituents to vote in the Republican primary by advertising the dates and state by state registration info. It should be legal to encourage people to vote.
We know we have a two party system, and Obama is running unopposed. We have an opportunity to help keep just say no junkies like Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich away from the White House. In Iowa, the race was decided by 35 votes. In New Hampshire, 48% of the voters in the GOP primary were NON- Republicans!
Our votes in the Republican primaries could really make a difference. Most states require that you register as a Republican at least one month prior to the election in your state. Google “GOP primary schedule” to find the registration deadline for your state. Vote in the primary!
Mr. President,Your response(or non-response)to medical marijuana will absolutely decide for me whether or not you will receive my vote in November.I hope you will at least put forth the effort to address this subject as the majority of the American people are patiently waiting.
What would the d.e.a. Do if that Happens the only thing they would be doing is going after the prescription stuff and if that goes leageal then they are out of a job or most of them all about government
Of course the Obama administration will snub any policy questions regarding cannabis, yet again. AFAIK, the Obama administration attitude regarding social justice issues, changing drug laws, or even birth certificates will be the same post-(Rahm Emmanuel): ” … liberals need to fall into line behind the President and STFU.” No discussion. Change the subject. Period.
What action other than cannabis re-legalization or complete decriminalization would energize the voters to support Obama? None that I can think of. But Obama (IMHO) considers the War of Drugs to actually be a Federal jobs program; none others need apply.
It’s time (past time) for We The People to show our disdain for corporate sell-out incumbent politicians of any political persuasion, and vote them all out of office. It also doesn’t hurt to remind those politicians why their jobs are now in jeopardy, so long as it doesn’t spawn a wave of “political disappearances” among constituents, or trigger martial law. Our politicians don’t work for us, and they are double-dipping corporate bribes.
How many of our politicians are hypocrites as well as treasonous bastards? Broach the subject of campaign cash as bribery, or that Congress is above the law. Even better, confront your Congress-critter to be drug-tested at their town-hall meetings, along with verifiable public results. Test kits run between $15 & $20, IIRC.
What do you recommend in the event the question does get snubbed? I thinks its important to stay on them with as much pressure as possible. And with 50% in favor our voice should be loud.
Why can’t we get another popular democrat to run for
president and talk like ron paul
Because as its looking I can’t see any decent choices.
Of COURSE he’s not going to address the question! They’ll find a reason NOT to answer it. Or they’ll downright snub it, maybe even try to lie to us about it being snubbed. “That question wasn’t the top rated question”, of course it IS, but they won’t acknowledge that! And furthermore, if by some chance he does decide to answer, it’s going to be a half-assed bull shit answer that isn’t going to get us anywhere! He’s a politician! Giving half assed bull shit answers to question IS WHAT HE DOES FOR A LIVING.
Gary Johnson was running as a Republican. He is fiscally conservative with liberal social policies focused on civil liberties. The Corrupt Republican National Convention won their war to exclude him from every national debate possible. Now he’s running as a Libertarian and has significant republican, democrat, and independent voter support. Plus he is one of the most candid pundits I’ve seen. He has plenty of videos and a great website and he is very much pro-marijuana.
Learn and spread the news about him, because democrat and republican conventions are corrupt and work together to support a polarized bipartisan congress that cannot agree and refuses to make progress in the name of the American people.
And what kind of Administration fires law enforcement for supporting marijuana legalization? Obama is corrupt. LEAP members are the real heroes. And NORML! Thanks to both organizations!
it will never happen, they were supposed to legalize it 20 years ago 10 years ago 4 years ago this year, it will never happen so we might as well keep smokin n drinkin goldenseal to pass our piss tests
If a democrat or republican win office in November I think the 50% that support us should start rioting. The arab nations were oppressed and they organized and protested and won freedom. We live in a figure-head republic. They’re trying to censor the internet so we cannot organize and protest.
Do you honestly think that if a question on policy is regarded as inappropriate and is censored from the “interview with the president”, what’s to stop them from censoring weed off the internet completely?
Fuck the government.
Its time to remember this country was founded by rebels that loved freedom.
Stop letting the government take it from us.
Your vote does not count. The President doesnot give a flying F*@K at a rolling doughnut. And the 15 industries that would have to change or gout out of business will not let this happen.
Clothing
Biofuel
Logging
Plastic
Construction
Food
Chemichal
Paper
All industries that would benefit from the leagalization of Cannabis/Hemp
Give them one more chance to address it. If we get snubbed again……revolt!
We should have all the returning military, who have no job to return to,sent to the new dust bowl in the southwest and have all the troops plant hemp to enrich the soil and hold it down. Also they should be constructing major solar arrays and wind farms to power the hemp farms. Get us away from subsidized cotton which is so pesticide and water dependent.
How many times are we going to do this dance? HEY MR. OBAMA if you ask people what they want they unanimously cry MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION DEBATES, yet somehow it is inappropriate. That kind of “we know what is best” thinking is why nobody respects govt.
I would like to say that it is time that the government listened to the people and worked toward legalizing marijuana. The truth is the truth,the MAJORITY of Americans are for the legalization of marijuana. It has medical benefits that the government refuses to accept. Stop kidding yourselves and thinking you are doing us a favor and keeping it illegal. As you, who are in government and are making those decisions, go home and enjoy that drink to wind down, think about this, if it wasn’t for the repeal of prohibition you dwould be doing the drinking illegally.
The shear quantity of hemp we would need 6% of the continental US would make hunting feral populations and the creation of them worth a lot of money, jobs every few months constant hunting for good stands of hemp and jobs in the USA. It could work as currency again? Can soft video game loving stoners really do it? most of our farm land stand Idell and I think we could.
Learn all you can. Teach what you know and let the informed decide..because that choice will last them a life time. and thats what our brains are for to decide…and yours is not for censoring other ppl…..k thanks and bye have a good one.
The safest medicine known to man.
The safest recreational drug known.
Demonstrated to halt specific tumor growth or even reverse it.
Demonstrated clinically to grow new brain cells, or neurogenesis, in the hippocampus (which has been demonstrated for regular aerobic exercise btw).
Shown to alleviate or ameliorate the suffering or dysfunction of certain ailments, which is now undeniable. Eventually most states will stop trying to deny people medicine known to be a palliative treatment to ailments like epilepsy, MS, glaucoma, cachexia, depression, and so on.
The height of paternalistic law in this counry, is the unreasonable ban on one of the most useful and versatile plants, in an effort to control people’s private lives.
Prohibition simply creates organized crime. Drug dealers like prohibition a lot.
Special interests who benefit from prohibition like it just as much. Just like with drug peddlers, it’s just about easy money. They like money a lot.
The known history of Cannabis policy in the United States is now well known thanks to the efforts of those like Jack Herer. Hearst, Anslinger, Nixon, the CIA. Everyone knows this story. Newspapers are only know becoming a thing of the past. The wanted to profit from using old wood trees to make paper because hemp was clearly the superior alternative.
When is it ever “inappropriate” to have a discussion about a serious issue? I still can’t see anyway that word choice makes any sense…
Millions imprisoned for what is a non-crime
Billions in lost revenue
The creation of organized crime
Billions wasted with no real results because it’s just stupid to try to legislate people’s behavior in personal matter, most especially when they know the government is simply wrong on this issue and too ignorant/arrogant/embarrassed to admit it.
A slap in the face to responsible adult Americans who choose to use a recreational drug that is safer than eating lunch at fast food restaurants.
Mr. Obama, avoiding “sensitive” legalization issues like prohibition during the election campaign is one thing. But you won the election. Start the discussion or else it might seem you’re afraid to even talk? about it? Is it taboo?
Earn that Nobel Peace Prize.
I think a good question is: why did Obama find it a good idea to reduce the mandatory minimums for possession of crack cocaine, which is know to be both harmful and MUCH more addictive than marijuana, and yet marijuana reform is constantly ignored? I think we can all say the answer is fairly simple…PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AND THEIR LOBBYISTS. Thats the easy answer, of course there are other interests that keep paying to ensure a continued prohibition of marijuana. But at what point does sense come into play? There are MANY influential users and activists for marijuana..why are they not standing up for REAL change in policy on a nearly harmless natural HERB. Why are other herbs labeled with the FDA notice that essentially nothing that is not created in a lab is medicine, yet marijuana stands alone? Echinacea, valerium, there are many herbs that people take for assistance with medical or emotional issues, but the government allows the sale of these products. How is marijuana different?
I really hope they don’t dodge this question. We have the right as a “free country” to speak our minds and ask any questions we have. They already lied to us decades ago telling us pot was an evil drug that made a person go crazy and do terrible things…now is their chance to fess up to their mistake and give pot a chance!
And Brian I SO agree with you!
It’s my belief that Obama will act like he’s warming up to decrim with the possibility of legalization the closer the 2012 elections are. He will see the writing on the wall that us Independents who voted for him for “Change” are sorely disappointed and he’s basically a Bush Jr. warmonger, money printer, pawn of the insiders who are destroying the planet and our society.
Some will fall for it. It’s the old line Lucy used on Charlie Brown about how she’d changed and wouldn’t yank the ball away from him when he was ready to kick it.
I won’t fall for that political BS, I’ve already decided who I will vote for.
The only thing that might make me change my mind is if Monday Jan 30th he said he would expose the govt. insider hypocrites and he would immediately work to completely end drug prohibition, i.e. end the Drug War en toto. But as each day passes I know more and more I will not vote for his easily swayed and smooth talking ways.
I sure like to see the debate between president Barrack Obama and presidential candidate Ron Paul. I’ve wonder who would Ron Paul pick for vice-president?
I don’t know what you guys are expecting, but he will address it alright, with an emphatic “No.” Or rather a dull “You have overwhelmingly asked about marijuana reform. This administration, blah blah blah, Tipper Gore, blah blah. And that is why we will not be advocating legalization of marijuana on a federal level. States, yadda yadda, but the Justice Department will prosecute as they see fit according to the best minds on policy. Doingy doingy doing.”
It’s an election year, what did you expect?. Get him elected, then press him. What will he have to lose then?
I think a more important question, is why don’t the people just rise up and flood the system?
Why don’t you all band together and ignore the laws. Keep your amounts low. Grow grow grow. Don’t distribute for profit, share for good nature. Just ignore the laws, but please don’t smoke and drive. Get arrested, flood the courts. Don’t pay your fines. Be defiant. Be repeat offenders. Sow your seeds across the land. Make THEM work harder. Don’t be afraid. Stand for what you believe in. Ignore them. Turn in meth labs and dealers. Educate kids on the abuse of drugs. Educate them on the safe use of drugs. Educate your family. Educate your friends. Educate your neighbors. Educate to no end! Each one teach one! Only when the bounds of oppression are tested will we see the true specter of prohibition rise. They will see a threat to their economic livelihood maintaining cannabis illegality. And the attempted crack down will break them. People will get over it. Just don’t be dumb about it. Be peaceful. Be respectful. Be civilly disobedient. Why worry about the laws? Make them think twice. Be less discreet. Flaunt your opinion. Organize! Pushing the law makers will get you no where. Show the world there is no marijuana problem. Tell the Mexican cartels we don’t want your crap…
As much as I’d like to see “them” get to, and positively address, our question,. I am hoping for the best-and preparing for the worst.
Sentence reduction for crack suspicously coincides with an FDA “finding” that a pharmaceeutical(Carbamazapine) reduces the cravings for crack addicts..coincidence is astounding. Now, Sativex® is approved for MS?..I can’t believe that I’m the only one who sees the bigger picture.. FIRST- gov’t “Patent’s” Cannabanoids…NEXT-They award a contract to Kannalife Sciences of N.Y.-to produce medicine from whole plant Cannabis..NEXT-ERADICATE THE HIPPIES!~
Looking at this from the medical community-I have seen lies, cheating, deciet, corruption and death..And that’s from OPUR FDA..Does anyone remeber Dr. Stanislav Burzynski?-He CURED CANCER with ANTINEOPLASTONS-AND the FDA mounted a 16 year campaign to SHUT IM DOWN..THE FDA MUST BE DISMANTLED NOW-Replace them with ACTUAL scientists-NOT on the “take”, then perhaps we can get medicine we need!~
Marijuana/Cannabis will NEVER be legal in america(Little a) Third world countries don’t get a capital letter.
So,
To me its a simple question, why is marajuana illegal in the first place! We have came a long way since the 50’s and Hoovers PROPAGANDA. I as a registered voter hopes the president will make a stand for marajuana, because he knows the effects from first hand experience. Laws are changed all the time over effects, side effects, safety of the public and so on and so on. There is not enough negative effects to outlaw pot. Drugs are made not grown in the garden. Its time for the machine to quit taking and give something back that would benefit humans. Isnt it funny how tv commercials tell and show you what tobacco and all the chemicals they put in it does to you. There are no pot commercials with people dying from it because that person doesnt exist. Marajuana will not kill you or make you crazy, it calms some people down and lets them live. Sorry about the run on paragraph and no, I am not high. Yet
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!
I feel the reason that Alcohol, Tobacco, and certain prescription drugs remain legal is that it is a form of govt approved population control. As far as good ol’ Mary Jane and Hemp being legalized, you have to remember that our leaders are OWNED by big corporations. They can lobby and contribute to election campaigns on a scale that is staggering. These corporations stand to lose a lot of profits if legalization passes.
It’s election year! What do you think he’s going to promise! Get real, this president is not going to lift a finger to to do anything about legalizing! He will make a promise though, until re-elected. Let’s all hope he is not re-elected!!! RON PAUL 2012!!!
Our last 3 United States Presidents all smoked Marijuana. Listen to them talk about their Marijuana use. This video includes tapes secretly recorded tapes of George Bush talking about his marijuana use. I think the time for legal marijuana has come! Please share: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3MJxpEfSXI
Our last 3 United States Presidents all smoked Marijuana. Listen to them talk about their Marijuana use. This video includes tapes secretly recorded tapes of George Bush talking about his marijuana use. I think the time for legal marijuana has come! Click the website link to view and hear it!
Seriously, what self-respecting American buys mexican brick-weed anymore?? I made the switch to U.S. grown weed 5 yrs. ago…support your countrymen!! Buy American grown Cannabis. I won’t buy it if it(cannabis), ain’t grown stateside
Went there today to check the numbers. We are in 2nd Place with the LEAP questions, but they are no longer accepting votes or questions…
“Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.” -H.L. Mencken
If you actually want real reform:
RON PAUL 2012!!!!
I bet money he’s going to uphold the status quo about cannabis and say its a gateway drug and it would be easier for kids to get if it was legalized kinda bullshit..
Obama is nothing but rhetoric. Get this clown out of office
Can you imagine the support Obama would get by just decriminalizing marijuana and leaving it up to the states to choose what direction they want to go with this? Romney and Gingrich wouldn’t know what hit them. Too bad it won’t happen.
If we want to finally legalize marijuana RON PAUL 2012 is the way to go everyone has to realize that it wont change with what the other candidates are offering and trying to do!
legalize my medicine so when I see a cop I don’t have to jump the fence
For those that say on Paul is “unelectable”, let me remind you:
“You voted for George W. Bush”.
ANYONE is electable.
Now, wake up and do the RIGHT thing for legalization and vote for Ron Paul.
Sorry but he is not going to be reasonable he works for big pharma that is very clear. He only cares about money he doesn’t give a shit about all the people locked up in prison for marijuana because those are all poor people. If pharma and the oil industry backed the legalization of heroin or atomic bombs sold at grocery stores you could go and buy it tomorrow. These people make me sick. On another note I got my Ron Paul shirts today so don’t blame me for this mess 🙂
Be prepared for best case scenario, more empty promises from this Potus. Everything is just a game piece to that man including sick people.
With 55 companies working on diff chemical coumpounds from cannibis, there ain’t a chance in hell Obama gives a rat’s patoot about people. To him, not only are, corporations people too, those corporations are worth millions in reelection donations. The sick people have little to offer him.
Then add in the Cotton industry(clothing last 2 times as long from Hemp)
Monsanto cannot corner the common MJ or hemp strains patent wise.
ADM wants noo competition with Soy bean constituants.
The tree farmers-weyerhouser ect don’t want compitition from farms producing 4x the fiber from an acre.
Anhuser doesn’t want the alcohol competition.
Philip Morris doesn’t want the ‘Tobacco’ competition.
DuPont doesn’t want the ‘fiber’ competition.
Johnson and Johnson doesn’t want the ‘asprin’ competition.
The DEA-80 countries-60 offices doesn’t want to stop the competition.
Wall Street doesn’t want the Drug dollars to quit coming.
Banks sure don’t want to quit washing drug money.
The Military loves the ability to decide Tribal nuances in supporting or denying a tribes harvest.
For profit prisons getting 40K a yeara person to incarcerate love prohibition
Drug testing companies are tring to get all scholl extra ciriculars mandantory testing (including ‘Band’ lol)
Orgs trying to get all social programs mandantory testing
Lawyers love iprohibition
Parole officers love prohibition
Bail Co.s love prohibition.
Drug dealers love prohibition.
Obama will just follow the money flow.
When asked about the chances of Marijuana bieng legalized she responded,” No, there’s too much money in it.”
If marijuana were fully legalized, taxed (what other platform these days is actuallly ASKING to be taxed?) and regulated:
We would turn our national debt into a surplus in a year, local municipalities would benefit.
Marijuana would be taken out of the drug cartel network, just as alcohol was removed from the mafia when it became re-legalized.
Marijuana would be safer than it already is with an accountable track from production to consumption-no marijuana being laced with crack to bring on repeat customers. (I’ve seen this happen in my lifetime) No lacing ditchweed with synthetic marijuana.
Contrary to popular belief, legalization FOR ADULTS would send a message to minors-that some things are reserved for adult privilege, and not appropriate for developing minds and bodies. The current illegality treats us all like children.
yeah i put up a question also, on the last day before it ended..i got one like vote and one dislike..and than they shut me down too..
Of course he will snub the ? Until we sue the White House to start true /open talks on cannabis we wont get no where . Mexico sue U.S.A to stop Pop from advancing in Mexico any more. And Mexico won U.S.A could could not invade Mexico no more Rse the money to sue the Government now N.O.R.M.L
Where is the debate gonna go if Ron Paul doesn’t win the GOP nomination?
It will either be a non-issue, or a “get tough” against cannabis users debate.
Yes, Obama will keep snubbing the cannabis community. He’s doing nothing to call off the federal dogs. Any progress has been made by the states, and only when enough states have medical cannabis laws on their books will the federal politicians get out in front of the American people to make like they are leading the way and the people are following them. Except for Polis and a few others, nothing could be farther from the truth.
The only way they will legalize cannabis is if they have no choice.
States need the jobs and cannabis revenues.
Keep running the economy into the ground until cannabis is legalized.
wow it was pathetic, i like how he answers a question that got 400 votes but not one that gets 4000
YEP
just watched the interview and they didnt even mention anything about marijuana.
Not a word,,so sad,but now A,erica knows that the establishment is running from us,,and we didn’t even have a gun.
I just got done watching the interview with the president on youtube and sadly the questions about marijuana reform laws were snubbed once again. What must we do as American citizens to be taken seriously by our elected officials?
Well I watched the “youtube” presentation and was obviously disappointed that not one question made the presentation about Cannabis or legalization. Not surprising I guess, but will continue the fight as best I can with telling all I know and interact with about the amazing properties of that wonderful plant. And here I am, an activist and non-user due to work restrictions, but living vicariously through my wife who is a patient.
The actions in avoiding the problem speaks volumes itself. We have to keep feeding the prison industrial complex bodies and we can’t do enough unless we through in the weed smokers. They (we) represent a big part of the volume of prisoners. We need legalization plus pardons. Prison is for people who smack you or take your stuff, not for marijuana smokers.
please change my e-mail address.
What a revolting set of circumstances, even if you agree with some of the current policy and or direction promised by the administration you have to wonder if it is even worth voting in this election. I am glad some progress has been made by the states, but I do not see an avalanche of senators signing HR 2306, it will be real difficult for me to vote for anyone not cosponsoring this bill. I get replies from them on any other issue except this one that can offer immediate impact on health, the environment and the economy. If they don’t get my vote at least they will know why.
How “inappropriate” to ignore the majority in a majority rule government! When medical research has to be done in secret or not at all for horrible diseases it’s insane. I doubt that there has even been any other medicine with so much promise that any country has made illegal to even research. Every time the US government allowed research to prove marijuana is harmful, the opposite was found. Then, they stop research and try to keep the public from knowing the truth! Enough “Reefer Madness” stop lying to us, stop imprisoning us, while allowing violent felons to go free because of prison over crowding! I have been raped, robbed twice and mugged, went to court and nothing happened to these criminals, yet they want to throw everyone in jail for a God given herb! The people making money off of other people’s misery are no better than Nazi’s, they are the ones who should be jailed! These are people are without scruples, human decency, conscious or compassion, and should be ashamed of themselves!
“First they ignore you….” wait I thought we were past that step.
Since the questions were fielded by youtube should we boycott youtube and google for dismissing our questions?
Norml, lets have a printable for to send through regular mail. We can bog down their mail room if we all send on the same day. Lets Occupy the WH Mail room.
Must be hiding some dope in his closet still and too afraid to come out with it
First of all let me make this clear. Im entitled to my opinions as you are too. Not everyone will agree or disagree with me and that is fine. And I came to this site because I felt like it. I mean no offense whatsoever. Now then, in my opinion I don’t agree with legalizing marijuana. I know people already abuse drugs, but people may do that again if we legalize it(then again I can’t see the future so who knows what will happen….I could be wrong.). I know people do use it for medicinal purposes. I can’t say that I totally agree with that, but I know people will absolutely disagree with me. It’s good to have your own view on things. However, if a day comes where marijuana does become legalized, there should be extremely strict rules put in place so that it doesn’t become abused and those who do(the abusers…the ones who smoke it for non medicinal purposes, just for themselves for enjoyment.)abuse marijuana should be penalized harshly for not using the drug correctly. Anywho, even though I disagree with marijuana, I felt like it should’ve been addressed for those like you all so that you will be more informed. I felt like there should’ve been more diverse questions so I do understand how frustrating that must’ve been. Perhaps in the near future he may talk about it. It’s good to fight for what you believe in 🙂
Anyone can understand this is coming to a head. Most people would say they see at least cannabis regulation coming. What I want to know is, what do the people that oppose regulation think is going to happen? Do they think that the movement to free cannabis is like a wave that one day will recede? That laws will get stronger and stricter for personal use, not lighter? That all of a sudden cannabis will stop healing people from horrible illnesses like Crohn’s disease and cancer(*source,National Cancer Institute)? That people will start dropping dead or getting greatly ill from its use like they seem to be on synthetic marijuana? That it will stop helping cancer and aids patients with appetite stimulation needed for the chemo treatments? That CBD, a non psychoactive, non toxic chemical in cannabis, won’t prove to protect nerves and be anti-tumor? Look.. Smoke it, consume the oil of the plant or don’t but let the freedom to choose be the people’s. Regulate Cannabis
The President is so overloaded with economic, budgetary and mortgage-related justice issues that there is no reasonable expectation for the White House to involve themselves in any kind of Cannabis initiative. Considering the total opposition he gets from the GOP on virtually every issue with the intention of breaking and defeating him, how can any of us in the Cannabis community expect the White House to jump on this? A silent majority of support is meaningless in the current political environment. We need a majority that is willing to speak out publicly and back their position with their money and time. That won’t happen any time soon.
We are in a decades-long battle and you’d better be ready for it if you want your efforts to matter. There are two strategies that can bring success to ending Cannabis prohibition: (1) Federal repeal; (2) State programs that are so successful and popular that the federal government can no longer afford to oppose them at all.
In either case we’re looking at 30 years to overcome the economic and political opposition – essentially time enough for the baby boom generation to die off.
No one is going to do it for us, especially not Ron Paul, as courageous as his Industrial Hemp proposal is. Do you really think the GOP would let him do this?
Part of what we need to accomplish is a buildup of support within the Democratic party for ending prohibition. It will take time. Many Democrats are closet sympathizers, but in the current climate will not ‘out’ themselves to support us.
We need to change the language to shift the dialogue. Stoner language will get us nowhere. The GOP spent countless dollars and years planning their propaganda and dominance, and going back previous to that, both parties were putting fear into middle class white America with well place appeals to xenophobia. If you are still using the term ‘marijuana’ this is perfect proof.
If our movement doesn’t take on the language and posture of moral authority, not just tacit majority approval, then we will not win this fight in our lifetimes.
Real hypocrisy coming from a president who sneaks cigarettes behind his children’s backs and brews alcohol inside the whitehouse at the cost of the taxpayers.
Just read a story about Giant Pythons and Anicondas in the Florida everglades. Former pets that were released into the wild and are now being spotted in residential neighborhoods. The article said the Obama administration was trying to ban further importation of giant and deadly snakes but had to back down due to pressure from the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers.
I know NORML’s not the NRA or AARP but are there relly more people who want a 16 foot snake in their backyard than want to smoke a joint without a SWAT team busting in their front door.
Again I can’t help but think were missing something.
I agree and norms should create a nicely worded letter we can all print out, sign, then have a set day we all send it in to flood the mailroom.
To be taken seriously we have to do what every other single reform group in history has done: show the politicians we will refuse to vote for them if they do not support what we want changed. As long as politicians believe we will still vote for them why would they change? Look into our history and you will see the exact same tactic used over and over again: Woman’s right, workers rights, minorities rights, alcohol prohibition, the repeal of alcohol prohibition, unionizing, et cetera. As long as they believe we will cave on this issue nothing will get done. As horrible as it sounds I almost want Obama to lose this election, even though that would mean Newt or Mitt, so that the Democratic party realizes they cannot win as long as they oppose cannabis legalization and that they will lose unless their candidate supports legalization. They won’t change until we force them to. So we must force them to change through our actions Halo.
“Samson says:
January 30, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Seriously, what self-respecting American buys mexican brick-weed anymore?? I made the switch to U.S. grown weed 5 yrs. ago…support your countrymen!! Buy American grown Cannabis. I won’t buy it if it(cannabis), ain’t grown stateside”
Not everyone is as fortunate as you… I am a veteran and sometimes it is the only thing i can get my hands on. I am a self-respecting American… How dare you…
Hey folks don’t worry, your vote doesn’t matter anyway. Just giving this president anymore attention by asking him for super special permission to get weed legal has to stop. Fuck him and the rest of Washington. There are only a handful of true progressives left that embrace legalization. Let’s give them the attention they deserve and ignore the noise in the center and right. BTW, it was only after the healthcare debate that big pharma got to Barry. He’s sold us out in his first year in office and it’s clear he’s not on our side. Obama is the 1% but pretends he’s fighting for the 99% just to get elected. Will it be worse under a Repube admin? Sure but at least we’ll know which one is our enemy.
Why MUST I “DONATE” cash that I don’t have? Isn’t my voice and opinion what you are after? Or is it really the CASH? Kind of almost humorously hypocritical, yet, I support the idea. Just not with my cash! I need that for weed!
I wonder what kind of answer or if he’ll say the question is inappropiate when asked how much money he got in monetary political contributions from Pharmaceutical and the Alcohol Corporates /………..
Jules is right, do not lend your vote to anyone who does not endorse regulation and legalization. The person you vote for may not win but it will syphon votes away from the non-supporters. We really need Ron Paul to run independent syphon votes from both sides, and put the issue in the forefront. Most important is to get this done at the local and state levels also. The states are the body the fed is the head once the body goes down the head must follow. Use Facebook, use twitter, use viral videos on YouTube this has to be made popular. We need an apparently on the android and iPhone markets that show which politicians support legalization on all levels local state and fed. We can do it. We are the people, we are the power.
Yo, Brandon Lee. Don’t try to make me look bad because I’d rather trade money with my fellow Americans….that is EXACTLY how I dare!!
Their all a bunch of paid puppets doing whatever the highest bidders pay them to do .Gingrich, Romney and the rest of them….ha ha what a joke .
They thrashed the hall of Justice in Oakland because their is no justice . They burned our flag because America is not what it was . Now filled with wars injuring,killing and destroying lives around the globe . Is pharmaceutical partially behind this ? You bet it is & the politicians keep getting more money while people throughout the globe are injured & murdered all for making money for pharmaceutical & the Corporations .
Its kind of sad how they would take the question off. Is this not what the Americans want? If its such a big issue I just don’t understand why it would go unanswered.
not a single cannabis question answered
Not at all….
Obama say its a “perfectly legitimate topic for debate” yet didn’t even touch the subject. He’s an I gots mine, and a coward.
ugg….. you got to be kidding me, i had a gut feeling this was going to happen.
Don’t give up! If he is giving a speech in your home town or even near it, ask the question there. We will get our voice heard.
What else do u expect when u try and fight the corrupt system using the corrupt system?
If there ever is a next time, maybe u should just ask why they support unnecessary deaths and suffering of hundreds of thousands of Americans every year?
Or ask them other then voting on the local level..what is the point of voting?
This is silly I thought it was “WE THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE” Are we not the people. We need to march on Washington.No matter who gets elected. Are rights are being violated and they are ok with the substances that kill and do no good. but something that helps millions they ignore. We need to go to Washington and shake these morons and remind them they work for use also not just the 1%. sorry i”m just venting.
The claim that Cannabis should not be legalized because of the potential for abuse is stupid. First, one cannot overdose. Second, there is no physical withdrawal after stopping that drives people to do whatever it takes to get more, like heroin or crack.
Finally, anything can be abused. People abuse nutrition and over eat fast food and soda and these things are NOT good in excess, just like anything else. Some people overdo exercise to the point that it is not healthy. Others take over-the-counter and other pills in excess. As Joe Rogan noted, anyone can take a fork and stab themselves in the eye but that’s no reason to criminalize forks. Similarly, there is no good reason why Cannabis is illegal for adults, at all, period.
All things in moderation. Responsible adults who are FREE people (at least we’ve been told that since we could crawl) should be able to do what they wish considering it does not harm others. I’m all for tobacco smoking bans in public places because that choice DOES hurt others around them with second hand smoke and that awful stench that follows them around.
People don’t buy Mexican dirt weed because the US govt. started a campaign of spraying Mexican territories with paraquat, an herbicide which of course kills plants, but is highly dangerous to people who might consume it. What kind of crap-ass govt. office is allowed to do that sort of thing, in the name of public safety? What about the safety of Mexican nationals who live and own that land? It’s bizarre how much power these anti-drug liars and thugs have with their so-called jobs, paid by public revenues! Prohibition creates organized crime and then these people chase them around in a game of cat and mouse. It’s beyond stupid. Find real work. Focus on real criminals, like white collar criminals and violent offenders. Live and let live. Stop lying and tell the truth.
That intentional poisoning of people forced Americans to grow Cannabis. That’s why Cannabis is the NUMBER ONE cash crop in the United States–Americans were forced to breed and grow their own to avoid being poisoned.
Bush did cocaine at Camp David while Daddy was president. Laura and her friends reportedly had a smoke-out, according to one of the participants in attendance. Bush fell off the alcohol wagon after leaving office according to Laura, and he gave talks where his speech was so slurred, it was obvious he was either drunk or on tranquilizers.
Cannabis was medicine for thousands of years and so medical marijuana is not a mere excuse, intended for people feign sickness in order to something that harms no others and is the safest medicine known to man. This sort of whining self-righteous claim is ignorant and fallacious; it’s not surprising considering the campaign of propaganda and misinformation about Cannabis that has lasted generations, socializing people to believe lies.
My question to him would be “Mr. President I am a soldier who has severed numerous deployments in all the combat zones over the last 15 years, I will retire at the end of the next presidents term. If re-elected what will you do to change the federal medical marijuana laws so that, after more than 20 years of service, my retirement benefits won’t be in jeopardy for possessing a prescribed medical marijuana?”
We the people? It’s a joke. Our Nation has been purchased by the wealthiest, and Corporations who need enemies that keep the peoples focus on anything but the death of our Democracy. Marijuana is just one of many. So for those of us who want Marijuana to be legal. Wait until the powers that control our Gov. say okay. On April 15 1814 John Adams letter to John Taylor. Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausted, and murders itself. there has never been a democracy yet that did not commit suicide…
We must find a way to make legalizing marijuana appear to be advantages to the owners of our plutocracy. Thats it
I liked all the topics put forth by NORML and other relevant postings. So to here that they were deleted and completely ignored by a government that I served for over 8 years in the Army is an outrage! Eight… Years… Of my life! You don’t get to just ignore me after I do something like that for you! After I held other Americans dying in my arms doing your dirty work! You better address this issues! After the nightmares I see every night and all the aches and pains from jumping out of planes and being blown up… This is the only thing I have found that works. So keep denying your citizens and veterans medicine they need to stay healthy, to live a normal life. We will see were your at when we prevail and you are the ones on trial for going against the unalienable rights put forth in the declaration of independence… “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. I took an oath to protect this country and I have sat back and done nothing for too long. I fought threats foreign. Now its time to fight the domestic threat we face at home. The Noe-Fascists polices that are in direct violation of founding rights and the people that support and enforce them.
LOL…This shit is Golden. Keep it up guys!
jobs that could be created, not just growing, packaging, grading, sales, storage…. they are idiots for not jumping on this. It has never been more popular.
I’m afraid Google+ now knows the truth about cannabis.. They’re learning! The machines are learning! Run for the hills, grow weed.
there you have it, a president or polition sayung one thing to get into the white house or another branch of the goverment promissing to leglize or saying that it should be legal and then doing another when there in. just like a fish fish flip, flop. B.S.
Michael Parker sign petition to end prohibition..
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/petition/end-prohibition-marijuana/S4xvTy3h
I was told a few months back that the white house would prescribe medical marijuana through the VA for patients who resided in states that allowed MM, now however the white house circulated a letter to all VA doctors changing it back to where it is not allowed.. Thank you mr obama
Take every extra seed and consider plant them everywhere. The hermie seeds that are considered “no good” are best for this role.
Plant them everywhere. There are already southern counties that are covered with Cannabis that they can’t “afford” to eradicate. Their “law enforcement” budgets just can’t afford to chop down plants. It would just add more to the lot of what grows naturally and is already present.
UNJUST, UNREASONABLE, AND UNEXPLAINABLE laws created by selfish and racist persons in positions of privilege should be ridiculed and smashed. At the least, just ignore them. “Get to the back of the bus.” Just laugh and civilly disobey.
History will know who held the moral ground in this whole debacle and disaster of Cannabis prohibition, which was passed with NO over sight, not voted upon by anyone who knew the difference between the words “Marijuana” and “hemp,” thinking it was some strange Mexican danger when it was actually the plant carried here and grown by Washington, Franklin, and most other colonialists who at the time were mostly all farmers. Jefferson brought home special strains from France. WWI propaganda encouraged, demanded the growth of hemp to help the war effort.
It is the safest medicine known to man, even safer than placebo. There are cities where you can’t even drink the public water, it’s so badly contaminated from irresponsible mining, industry, and factory farming. Cannabis is no more dangerous than any of these mishandled public utilities or the over polluted air and water.
And they make Cannabis “illegal” when it is not a crime and impose penalties akin to thievery and violence, marking people’s “criminal” records as the worst of stigmas, making school loans inaccessible, when child molesters and violent offenders can get loans to attend college.
Plant every extra seed, make extra seeds. We have a good system of government, but it’s run by elected officials who will take any extra dollar they can pick up with fat fingers, yet not sit down and read the history. If they understand the history, then it’s intellectually dishonesty for the sake of greed, in which case, they are no better than burglars, armed robbers, Wall Street gamblers, and Ponzi schemers. Don’t elect these losers again because their mugs appear on the most TV commercials.
Get them out of office. Most only hold their positions because they have some ability to speak publicly, sound like they know what they are talking about, and typically (almost always), incumbents are re-elected to the same position for another term because of name familiarity on mailers and TV ads.
Point and laugh at them. The ones who have been there the longest are unreformable, unteachable. Conditioned to the corruption and habituated to power without personal responsibility, just FIRE THEM.
Using the “legal” system is pointless when facing an unjust and corrupt law. Make Cannabis so prevalent by growing it everywhere that controlling it’s growth and use is MORE of an absurdity than it already is.
-Safest medicine known to man.
-Safest recreational diversion known to man.
-Increases enjoyment of music, food, sex, basically everything.
-Palliative treatment for depression, cachexia, glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy, PTSD,
-Apparently curative treatment for certain tumors
and
-Is FREE (the concept of ‘street prices’ created directly by the unjust prohibition) as a plant of the creator, and is present everywhere on the planet because it was intentionally carried, bred, and grown by those who understood it’s critical role in human survival.
-the fastest growing and most prolific source of biomass to produce diesel fuel WHEN (not if) petroleum is ALL GONE and the auto and petrol industries are no longer in business together for mutual benefit–they do as the hospitals and insurance do, to similarly create the most expensive system of health care, by working together to make more money off the poor. This scheme of HMO’s and managed care was concocted by Nixon and proven when his audio tapes were finally released.
An unjust law is no law at all.
-St. Thomas Aquinas
An unjust law is one that has no REASON to back it up, and inevitably is impossible to enforce because of a demand that will. never. go. away.
Law enforcement of Cannabis related “offenses” is not real law enforcement, it’s a joke. It is a holdover of puritanical hypocrisy meant to control people’s behavior (or at least attempt to do so) by targeting specific racial groups and allowing special interests (good riddance stupid newspapers and gasoline) to control markets. “Free market system?” hahahaha
Of all the shows like “Law and Order” and “CSI” there are no episodes where they bust Cannabis users because it would be STUPID. People would ridicule the show and never watch again, because it’s not a crime! anymore than taking echinacea or St. John’s wort would be jailable offenses.
It’s not a crime.
It’s not a crime.
the only way we will ever get washington to approve medical marijuana is to vote out every S.O.BISCUIT EATER that votes against the current marijuana bills in congress and vote for those that openly support it
It’s funny how this country will decide which poison we can induce in our body which is alchohol the only choice that is on the menue. They have picked for us is worse than the other. That spells corruption.
The war on drugs is not winnable but is continuously fundable which is why marijuana is still illegal
While the war on drugs is not winnable. It is continuously fundable. Which is probably one of the main reasons marijuana remains illegal
In 2004, when running for the U.S. Senate, Obama stated, and I quote, “We need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws.”
His feet must be held to the fire, on this.
In 2004, when running for the U.S. Senate, Obama stated, and I quote, “We need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws.”
His feet must be held to the fire, on this. I don’t blame him for this. A President gets pressure from many directions. We must make our pressure felt.
AS I read about the thoughts and feelings expressed on this site,and others like this one,I have to ask.How did our government go from protecting the will of the people to imposing the will of the government on the people?Lawmakers,who knew that they would be so good at their jobs?Gives me that icky feeling in the pit of my stomach.
OK folks its time to make a stand. The only thing that can get things done is money and votes. Most of us have voting rights, some have money. Email this message to your elected officials and stand firm. Also send to like minded friends and family.
To the President, Members of the US Congress, State and local elected officials:
Criminal marijuana prohibition is a failure. Over 20 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana offenses since 1965. I believe that the time has come to amend criminal prohibition and replace it with a system of legalization, taxation, regulation, and education.
I can no longer vote for elected officials that support the the current laws. I have decided not to vote for any politician that does not publicly support the removal of all penalties for the private possession and responsible use of marijuana by adults, including cultivation for personal use, and casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts.
Signed
Voting Citizen
& Member of the Movement
I think it is so absurd to say Marijuana is called inappropriate when so many Americans (including the President) have tried it and would personally support it’s legalization. Not to mention the opportunity to tax–I’m surprised he didn’t jump all over that one.