Breaking his silence on the topic of marijuana legalization since two states approved ballot initiatives to regulate cannabis, President Barack Obama addressed the issue in an interview with Barbara Walters this week.
While the administration’s broader policy is still being developed, the president stated that arresting recreational users in these states would not be a priority.
“We’ve got bigger fish to fry. It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it’s legal. – President Obama
The president also clarified that he personally is not in favor of leglization, but that it is a more complex issue than his own view on it:
“This is a tough problem, because Congress has not yet changed the law. I head up the executive branch; we’re supposed to be carrying out laws. And so what we’re going to need to have is a conversation about, how do you reconcile a federal law that still says marijuana is a federal offense and state laws that say that it’s legal?” – President Obama
One line stands out as particularly interesting, during his answer he says:
“What I think is, that at this point, in Washington and Colorado, you’ve seen the voters speak on this issue. – President Obama
This is a great start and an encouraging sign that the federal government doesn’t intend to ramp up its focus on individual users. Though considering it is extremely rare for the federal government to handle possession cases (only a few percent of annual arrests are conducted by the federal government), and that this is the same stance he took on medical cannabis before raiding more dispensaries than his predecessor, his administration’s broader policy will be the one to watch and according to his Attorney General Holder that pronouncement may come soon. Speaking yesterday in Boston, Attorney General Holder stated that:
“There is a tension between federal law and these state laws. I would expect the policy pronouncement that we’re going to make will be done relatively soon.” – Attorney General Eric Holder
UPDATE: Politico has now posted President Obama’s interview for viewing. Check it out below.
Same thing he said about the dispensaries, and his administration prosecuted more medical marijuana centers in compliance with their state laws than the BUSH admin did! Ugh seriously. I campaigned for Obama the first time around, this time I merely voted for him. I love the guy, I think he’s a real human being with a strong moral compass, blah blah blah….but this political posturing on marijuana is completely redonkulous to me. It’s not a dire issue, he should be laughing that it’s still classified as a Schedule 1 drug.
Geez Obama, be a hero. Bring in those tax dollars. Remember when the medical marijuana industry bankrupted California? Yeah, me either.
a great sign of what?? Obama and his administration say a lot and have been proven to do the exact opposite in reality
I’m so glad I get a front row seat to marijuana prohibition unraveling. This is starting to get fun!
Yeah, we’ve heard that before. What’s interesting is that he’s passing the buck to Congress, as if the executive branch cannot act before the legislature. As a constitutional law scholar, Obama knows that this model hasn’t been in effect since WWI. The Nixon administration initiated the current drug scheduling, and ignored congressional recommendations when classifying marijuana. But now Obama’s saying that it’s beyond his scope? Really?
Go POTUS! Now you’re on the right track. THIS IS A VICTORY, folks! What we’re looking for from the President are *signals* on how he’ll react to the change in law, and this was a clear sign. Let’s hope his position leads to more common sense discussion and action.
I notice no where in this article does it talk about rescheduling cannabis; which President Obama could do with a pen stroke; no congress or senate approval needed, so says the Attorney General of the United States.
watch #breakingthetaboo
#allfifty
imma a unemployed biracial college grad who would like to see legalized weed in usa
hell i never thought i’d see a blaque mang in the whyte haus now keep it real Barak and let yur supporters know that gov’t can rehumanize the viscious powers of our adamic sin !!!
phree the quenneh bosom plz
i want too see marijuana rescheduled on the controlled substances act….period….until i see this done im taking everythung Obama says with a grain of salt. I want legal regulation of production, processing, and sell of marijuana, with no obstruction from the feds or states in thier day to day operations. POINT BLANK PERIOD!!!
President Obama is absolutely correct when he states: “We’ve got bigger fish to fry”. There are at least several thousand things more dangerous that they should be focused on!!! Now, if only he will give the order to his administration to follow his lead the world will be a better place.
Mr. Biden, are you listening? How about you Melinda Hag?
yeah, they won’t go after the USERS, but they will go after the stores once regulations are set up.
Show me, don’t tell me… Show me that you have bigger fish to fry…….
If he wants me or anyone to actually take him seriously on this then he needs to grow some balls and replace (read FIRE) all of the Bush-era US Attorney’s that he has retained, who are largely responsible for the crackdowns of the last 4 years. Many of them are products of Pat Robertson’s “Law School” and are nothing more then ideologues and have no place serving in government.
And while he is at it, he should actually appoint someone to head the DEA who hasn’t spent their entire career there.
@Betz, here’s what I don’t understand about your post: you correctly agree with the article about waiting to see what really happens because the scenario has an analogue in history viz. the dispensary statistics. This would seem to be a compelling reason to drop your overall positive estimation of Obama, and recognize him for what he really is: just another politician. This is not an extraordinarily complicated issue, especially considering the drug war has been conducted and perpetuated more through executive exercises of power than congressional exercises. The rescheduling of cannabis could be easily achieved without the action of congress, and would go far in resolving bureaucratic tensions holding up the ending of cannabis prohibition. So, perhaps one step we could all take is dropping our emotional connections to elected officials, and, instead rate them according to how well they perform the duties of their offices.
Things like this are why I voted for Obama! Can you imagine the kind of statements that would have come from a Romney (Republican led) Whitehouse!!!
bigger fish to fry as in harbor side and other places ;/ don’t believe this guy is full of it.All we can do is hope,pray House bill 6606 makes it and passes threw without delay
We the people and the states have to keep the pressure on until the feds take it out of schedule I. It doesn’t need to be in any schedule. Free the most useful plant on the planet.
Here’s a thought: maybe, just maybe, the Federal government *could* be wrong on this issue. A Federal institution being wrong about something, I too find it hard to believe. Except I’ve been believing it since day one.
Interesting what this side of his mouth has to say. Now lets see what he says out of the other side of it.
all yall should be thankful for obama’s position…this is encouraging….thank you for your comments obama…now get out of the way! we’ll take it from here.
I understand why all of you are skeptical of this. However, this time, I think you can take him seriously and here’s why:
Economically feasiblity. The bulk of drug law enforcement done in this country is at the state level. This allows the Feds to go over the biggest fish (the distributors). Due to what happened on November 6th, the Federal Government can no longer rely on state authorities in CO and WA for help. This means that the Federal Government would be responsible for enforcement by themselves. Sorry, guys, but when you look at how much money it costs the federal government to go after the big-time distributors, there’s no freaking way it can afford to “go on their own.” It’s just not economically feasible. And in these two states, the feds would have to go after users, too. Where’s the money to prosecute all of these people if the states won’t do it.
Even in California, despite the feds closing down the dispensaries, they have never gone after users. Closing down the dispensaries fits the government’s MO when enforcing drug laws. However, despite all the closings, most mmj dispensaries are still open.
It’s getting to the point where the economics of continuing the drug war are unsustainable and there’s nothing to show for it. Also, you guys have got to understand that the Drug War mentality is still strong in DC. The city has yet to catch up with the rest of the country.
Yes, DC passed it’s own MMJ law, but it hasn’t been enacted yet and one of the reasons why could be that the Feds are in our backyard. DC’s MMJ law will probably be one of the most restrictive in the country when it eventually goes into effect. DC residents will not be allowed to grow their own weed and will have to get it from approved vendors.
Once again, NORML and other groups have done a great job here. And yes, Obama is right, there are bigger fish to fry. Yet, by addressing this issue at the state level, NORML has forced Washington (however stubborn it is) to address it and not act like “business as usual.”
Obama said that he doesn’t support legalization AT THIS POINT. Also, in Cartegena, Obama did say that he was open to marijuana decriminalization. Decriminalization is an important first step and the fact that we have another rare President supporting this idea is remarkable.
Look, you guys may not like Obama, but if Romney had become President, it would be worse. I’ve already come across conservatives who are angry that the feds didn’t step in and stop CO and WA from passing these laws. And they won’t be happy with this statement. Not to mention that where as Obama as been mostly silent on the issue, Romney had said very time we was asked that he didn’t support legalization of weed (even for medicinal purpose). It was the one issue Romney never flipped-flopped on.
Finally, House Bill 6606’s chances of making it through are slim and it’s because of the GOP. Despite the bill being partisan, the GOP is overwhelmingly against legalization.
Progress is usually painful and slow, but this battle is being won. However, I will be interested to see Holder’s view on this.
@AGJ –
“This is not an extraordinarily complicated issue, especially considering the drug war has been conducted and perpetuated more through executive exercises of power than congressional exercises.”
Actually it is and you are wrong about how the Drug War has been conducted. It’s mostly been conducted at the state level. Honestly, when a user or small-dealer is arrested, which level of authority do you think they answer to? The vast majority of the time, its state/local (not federal) authorities.
The Feds have always gone after big-time distributors and sellers. They’ve never gone after users. However, in CO and WA, they would have to because they can’t rely on the authorities in these states to do.
Once the states stop participating in the Drug War, the federal law has no teeth due to costs of enforcement.
Honestly, people have to realize that the federal government has a lot of power, but so do the states (even if its to a lesser degre). Just as NORML as said time and time again, states are under no obligation to pass their own prohibition laws or even enforce them. Why do you think former DEA officials wrote to Eric Holder asking him to stop WA and CO?
It’s clear to me that NORML, MPP, and others in this cause know exactly what they are doing and I commend them for it.
Talk is cheap, I’ll believe it when I see it.
@Judy
Romney clearly stated he would have fought any legalization “tooth and nail”.
Did you ever notice that even in times of fiscal constraint, there’s always money available for the drug war?
I’d like to see the ONDCP abolished or at least purged of cruel ideologues in favor of folks competent to devise policy based on science, reason, and compassion.
Geez anyone else feel like the latino’s? Promises promises promises, yet no delivery. Why is it okay for this President to do powders and have sex in limo’s, but he’s telling pot heads they have to wait? Stinks to high heaven!
@Galileo Galilei
There reason why there was always money available despite times of fiscal constraint. Both state and federal authorities were sharing the costs.
Now, in CO and WA, the federal government is on its own financially. It’s a different situation now.
Democrats got burned as being ‘soft on drugs’ in the past. I believe Obama’s actions against marijuana derive from a calculated decision to prevent the conservatives from raising a ‘soft on drugs’ issue. I think this is a dynamic whose time has past.
Romney is an intelligent man who was forced to kow tow to the strident, obnoxious voices dominating talk radio and evenings on FOX news. Alienating Latinos in particular may have cost the GOP for decades. If so, they have no one to blame but themselves.
If i may include this i think if we started out with being able to grow the male plant because the male plant is the agricultural side of cannibis and after we can grow crops of male plants we can push 2 legalize the female plant and use it for many many years 2 come
As Nick Cannabiz says, you got to walk the talk.
“How do you reconcile a federal law that still says marijuana is a federal offense and state laws that say that it’s legal?”, says Obama
To me this is not encouraging. Your the President. I think you can offer something that would show your administration hears the people and will do what it can to act toward their will.
Optimistic, but pessimistic.
To change the law you have to change congress. Yes the President can do some tweeks by administrative fiat, things the next president could just as easily undo.
@Galileo Galilei
Romney is a Mormon. Mormons don’t even use caffeine. Romney’s view on marijuana has just as much to do with his personal believes as it does with going along with Fox “news.”
@Jason –
The federal government has always gone after suppliers (not users). Despite all of the dispensaries shut down in California, users weren’t prosecuted by the feds.
However, what remains to be seen in CO and WA is what will happen to the suppliers. That’s the tricky part.
Users and suppliers are not treated the same when it comes to the Drug War. Suppliers have always been the preferred targets (even at the state and local level). This is why the dispensaries in CA were closed. They were suppliers (not consumers) of weed. Yet, this is yet another area where the Drug War has failed because it’s mostly consumers who get arrested. That wasn’t suppose to happen. The jails were suppose to filled with sellers instead. Also, the Drug War was suppose to cause the costs of drugs to go up so high that consumers couldn’t afford them. That didn’t happen either.
Just as someone as already stated, we need to take it off the “schedule I” list. It shouldn’t be classified at all. It’s a natural herb and it’s not addictive. It does NOT have a high potential for a use. It DOES have valuable medicinal benefits. It’s really not that difficult. Change the law. It’s an unjust law. Just change it… it’s as simple as that.
I meant to type “high potential for ABUSE”.
When are we voting on this house bill. My husband has never voted on anything but says he will vote on this.
His statement was so vague, I expect the DEA to have a hay day in Co and Wa. More wasted tax dollars, more ruined lives, more evil empire. the big problem will be wrangling in the DEA, They are border-line vigilante as it is. And these new laws will usher in new busts, new land seizures, more tax moneys into the DEA organization. look out vendors.
I don’t understand how bankers at HSBC, now admitting they helped launder 30+ billion per year, from terrorist organizations including al-Queda & drug lords, don’t go to jail. Not one of those bankers will even face charges under Eric Holder’s watch. Yet he came after medical marijuana dispenseries???!!! There’s no justice-it’s just us. I am sick of the two-sided judicial system in this country. The rich RARELY go to jail-now they are getting away with money laundering for mega-crooks! This must not continue! If they had to follow some laws, they would not have helped terrorists! Yet Republicans & Democrats alike like to lick the butts of bankers & big oil executives. It sickens me to the core of my being. I’m a disabled, single mom-If I helped the terrorists or drug lords-where would I be?-IN JAIL! And that is where these banker scum that are destroying our country, with the help of our govt., belong. Peace.
Ha! This way we know for sure the federal government is going after smokers in WA and CO.
That man is the biggest liar on the planet. He lies about everything. He even said his administration would leave California dispensaries alone, and then after he got elected they went after them even harder.
This is bad news.
If the Republicans ever want to get back in to the win collum for president.They will need to support legal weed.
For years I suffered with fibromyalgia, PTSD & depression.Thanks to medical grade weed, I am able to sleep, eat, raise my daughter & actually have a happy life. The drugs the doc gave me made me nauseaus and so tired I would sleep all the time. I was depressed due to chronic non-stop pain from car accident in 1993. You go crazy without some type of escape. Alcohol is so bad for your health & dangerous when taken with pain meds. Marijuana never killed anyone-except those unfortunate enough to have gone to jail for it. Look at all the pill ODs and alcohol related deaths. Then look at pot. States that have legalized medical marijuana have had a 27% decrease in drunk driver arrests! Awesome. We need to legalize FEDERAL laws! To keep this drug away from the billions of people it will help is a crime!
@ConcernedBurner
Even the DEA’s pockets are not limitless. And when state authorities in WA and CO not putting in their own resources into this, DEA is going to have to foot the total bill for this and supply the manpower needed for enforcement.
Romney would have already sent forces into Co. & Washington.
@snafu23
I’m a Mormon and I use cannabis daily. I also drink caffeinated beverages. Care to reassess your narrow minded/ignorant view? Mitt Romney is an idiot that is so out of touch with the common man he would have been a horrible president. And you can be damn sure he’d have fought marijuana out of existence. At least Obama has smoked weed before.
As for Obama and “bigger fish to fry”, I’ll believe it when I see it. He wasn’t going to prosecute dispensaries either and look what happened there. We need the schedule to be re-written and cannabis removed from Schedule 1. When that happens, then I’ll believe the president.
It is, however, refreshing to see him acknowledge that the voters have spoken in CO and WA. I think we’ll see more states vote in favor of legalization next time around.
Yarrrrrgggh!
I am pretty satisfied with Obamas response to recent legalization in colorado and washington and its fair enough considering how complex the whole thing is.But sometimes I find he is a bit shy making sufficient progress on marijuana because if progress is not made while Obama is the president,I am afraid his successor will not necessarily be as pot-friendly as Obama can be.Maybe when he gets old like Carter,he will regret not having done enough for cannabis while he was president.So,the time to act for Obama is really NOW.Change the schedule I to schedule II
“We’ve got bigger fish to fry” ???
How come there are no reports of showing any heroin arrest for the mighty DEA and their sponsored State SWAT teams?
Running out of tartar sauce?
Legalize cannabis and you would weed out dangerous drugs!
@AGJ: so, I get it that a sworn officer has to carry out their duties. What I don’t get is how any sworn officer can ethically do so when citizens have said they don’t believe the Federal law is right. Clearly I’m hearing from you that even many in Justice hold the view on this issue that private citizens do. Yet Fed continues to assert Supremacy even as Fed funding of local LEOs has resulted in grossly racially biased arrest and conviction records. The Supreme Court held that Equal Protection could not be violated intentionally. I’ve yet to see how Supremacy can be invoked either before or after legalization when Equal Protection does de facto, prove an intentional violation of equal protection by way of continued Federal funding for the past 40 years despite the racially biased results.
And here’s where I have a problem with Fed enforcement and Justice’s behavior: they keep prosecuting those involved in legal activities under state law, even though they know that people are being hurt continually by the Federal laws and enforcement actions. How can a sworn officer do so knowing the results are unjust, essentially unenforceable in the grand scheme, and then stand behind a law that’s largely seen as philosophically wrong and with disastrous social consequences?
BTW, FWIW I thought your comment was excellent and appropriate. Politicians are politicians. All should be viewed as acting in self interest, and things are no different now than they were when our country was founded.
@Concernedburner I will have to agree with you. I don’t trust Obama on this issue at all. He says one thing and does another. I did like the part where he said the voters have spoken but that could just be more empty words.
The president can only say “recreational drug” users because of prohibition. If it is declassified as a drug then it will no longer legally be called a drug. Alcohol is not mentioned as a “recreational drug”. If it is valuned for its medicinal value, then it could be called a drug. Just call it WEED Mr. President, as the majority of Americans have no problem saying that.
Just to those using street words such as pot, weed,bud,getting high,ect. Please realize that doing so is only setting the movement back. It’s not about getting “baked” people. Please educate yourselves for the sake this entire movement.
Big corrections gives a lot of money to keep its cells filled at $120+ a day. All of those black kids can “hope” to “change” to a better cell-ha ha. Obama can end this tomorrow
Obama’s comments actually make me hopeful. I can understand why others are skeptical, particularly in light of this admin’s aggressiveness against MMJ these past few years. However, I also understand that some of the posters here will use any excuse to attack the Pres, for political reasons.
My nephew, who’s lived in CA the past decade, and is an MJ partaker himself, has told me that some of the MMJ clinics in CA were pushing–testing–the limits. He wasn’t surprised at Obama’s reaction. I was surprised to hear his comment, given the fact that, as I’ve said, he’s a smoker himself. But it is perhaps revealing. I don’t know, I’m just going by his comments.
It does seem that both WA and CO are doing their damndest to make sure they proceed within the bounds of the new MJ laws in order not to trigger a reaction from the Feds.
Anyway, I’m going to hold off judgment for the time being; I’m not going to scream “The sky is falling!” until I actually see it fall. For now, I’m very happy at the Pres’ comments.
The Fuderals have a choice Freedom yes or no!
They’ll probably keep going the same direction anyways, until it becomes a bigger problem for the feds. In other words, they won’t deal with a change, until they have to.
Action speaks louder than words. Will the DEA and federal attorneys now stand down?
Great! Now get House bill 6606 scheduled, and have a Senate equivalent ready in as a backup to address enough of the opposition’s issues to get the damn thing back into the other chamber and get it made into law.
As older folks die, the younger more supportive ones are left, so more of the prohibitionists in office are likely to find themselves not representing the majority of their districts, and will get voted out of office. It’s possible for conservative Republicans to vote for it on the grounds of saving/getting money, oops it was the fiscal cliff bill and I wasn’t going to quibble about this rider, or this bill that helped make fiscal cliff agreement a bit easier. Get the brain trust together and plan it out.
Kudos so far. So far so good.
Remember, nothing spells failure like 2 U.S. states legalizing.
It’s more than just an Internet phenomenon.
So, an Chief Executive he feels completely comfortable with killing thousands of 3rd world peoples with drones, curtailing civil rights here at home with NDAA, the Patriot Act, TSA strip searches etc., but ask him ot protect the civil liberties of American citizens participating in a “victimless crime” and harming no one in choosing for themselves what to put in their own bodies and all of a sudden he pretends like he doesn’t have the authority to act…those of you who’ve fallen for this guy’s act are clueless…he’s the problem, not a part of the solution
I hope the bill gets major attention. But, is their time for it to pass? And why the #6606, is it because is the devil’s weed? Or was it randomly selected.
http://legiscan.com/gaits/view/436562
Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, we have, “’We’re losing the war on drugs’: Nick Clegg looks within himself and unexpectedly finds a spine”
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100194209/were-losing-the-war-on-drugs-nick-clegg-looks-within-himself-and-unexpectedly-finds-a-spine/
This is better than him saying: Yeah, we’re going to continue the insane war on US citizens in WA & CO…
We’re winning. Keep up fight. Think positive.
Keep smokin’ grass!!! Thank God it’s legal in 2 states, now.
yea obama said the same thing about med marijuana, “we wont go after patients” but they went after the dispensaries and growers. so now “we wont go after consumers” and they will go after the growers and store owners that are following state law.
Can’t the pres just reschedule cannibus to mot be a CDS..make it like Tylenol? Avoid spending so much money and time to pass what more than half the nation wants anyway?
Cork actually, weed, bud, trees, are good names to use and pretty actually too. A lame word to use? “Dope”! Marijuana is not Dope, unless you’re talking with a Prohibitionist.
Dope is heroin.
This issue now has to be a top priority, in light of yet another traggic event that took place in a Connecticut elementary school this morning, where 20 children and 6 teachers were murdered in cold blood. These horrible events are becoming all too common, and we need the resources, both financially and through freed up law enforcement for violent crimes such as these, and any crime that really hurts another person for that matter. Revenue and more officers freed up from the legalization of marijuana, could allow us to protect schools by either updating security at all schools or just by hiring or, using an officer that would otherwise be arresting someone who is partaking in the production or consumption of this wonderful plant, and place one or two of them at schools to protect our children. Just another reason why prohibition needs to end, and how this pointless war on drugs continues only for the reason that federal law enforcement agencies don’t want to lose their jobs and funding. This needs to be the top priority for this president, save our children and save our money! Cannabis seems to be the answer to a myriad of issues facing politicians these days. Why they can’t collectively see this is a mystery to me. Legalize!
He has the authority to reschedual it under Executive Orders. Will he? No.
That was a big sales pitch back in ’08 was that he would fight for legalization. Be it medical or recreational, I cannot recall. That was a big part of his sucess though. New Gen voters that had hope and confided in him, just to be let down.
What will another state have to do at this point to legalize? Can another state join the band wagon now or do they have to wait until the next election?
If the feds follow they’re usual protocol they will not enforce possession laws nor will they prosecute 6 plant grows so CO personnel grows should be safe from federal prosecution however any attempt at large commercial grows or sales outlets could be targeted as they have some disp in WA,OR,CA and other mmj states.
As far as I know every dispensary the feds have busted were not following state laws or if they were did not take a jury trial but I am sure some were within state law but didn’t want to risk worse punishment by not taking the plea bargain. And some may have trials pending,,have not heard anything about them.
To my knowledge the feds have not prosecuted any patients that were growing just their own medicine so I would venture to say they won’t be bothering licensed personal grows in CO either for 6 plants.
Any state planning on legalization should allow licensed personal grows,,the license fees may be all the revenue a state makes if the feds bust the commercial grows.
Hempster,I fully expect several state legislatures to attempt legalization bills in the they’re next session,,there is blood in the water(revenue available)and politicians are just like sharks,,the feeding frenzy and greed will kick in,especially if legislators thing the states citizens could possibly pass an initiative that doesn’t give them enough control ,,,they just float that way,like turds in a sewer.
“What I think is, that at this point, in Washington and Colorado, you’ve seen the voters speak on this issue. – President Obama”
hmm… what he thinks at this point is that we have seen the voters speak …this statement is a way to get out of giving a real answer. does he need to state such an obvious thing? what kind of answer is that???!!!
I believe people, law enforcement officials and politicians are waking up to the fact that the laws on Marijuana are silly. Now that REAL issues have surfaced in this country it makes light of how silly the “war” on drugs has become. Over budgeting, police state tactics aren’t working and they never will. People are more educated these days about the FACTS of marijuana not the rumors and bold face lies that have been spread by the NAZI regime drug enforcement policies of the last couple of decades.
The usual line about waiting for Congress to act is total b.s. Pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act, the DEA (ergo the President) has the authority to determine what is in each schedule. With the stroke of a pen he could order cannabis entirely de-scheduled, just like beer. And beware of the “re-scheduling” trap. If that happens, Big Pharma will control it. Should have elected Paul, Johnson or Stein, but people never take my advice.
Maybe if it is possible for states to legalize marijuana, and if enough states do so it could help convince the federal law to be changed. N the mean time, until federal law is changed I don’t think it wise for user’s to let their guard down. I think this bill (also not fond of 6606) if anything will show if the people in office are representing the majority of their districts or not. On the opposite end of the discussion WA and Co could also b testing the waters, showing whether something like this can be handled. Big believer feds will b keeping track of crime rates and anything else the can try and relate to marijuana use.
just more bull crap to get us to lower our guard stay strong
I was looking over that old, cracking document that our gov’t holds as gospel truth. Well, I found out that it actually has a system built right into it for legal pot. Check this out…
Article 28: CONTROL OF CANNABIS
1. If a Party permits the cultivation of the cannabis plant for the production of cannabis or cannabis resin, it shall apply thereto the system of controls as provided in article 23 respecting the control of the opium poppy.
Keep reading…it gets even better…
2. This Convention shall NOT apply to the cultivation of the cannabis plant exclusively for industrial purposes (fibre and seed) or horticultural purposes.
To me, this sais that if it’s legal for industrial use, it’s legal to smoke it. But wait, there’s more…
3. The Parties shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to prevent the misuse of, and illicit traffic in, the leaves of the cannabis plant.
Sounds just like what CO and WA did. So far, so good. Now, since their precious treaty says to refer to article 23, let’s check out what it has to say, shall we? (Just replace “opiyum poppy” with “Cannabis” and there ya go)
Article 23: NATIONAL OPIUM AGENCIES
1. A Party that permits the cultivation of the opium poppy (CANNABIS) for the production of opium (CANNABIS)shall establish, if it has not already done so, and maintain, one or more government agencies hereafter in this article referred to as the Agency) to carry out the functions required under this article.
If you read both ballot initiatives, I do believe that the Alcohol Control Boards in their respective states fill this requirement.
2. Each such Party shall apply the following provisions to the cultivation of the opium poppy (CANNABIS) for the production of opium and to opium (CANNABIS):
a) The Agency (ALCOHOL BOARDS) shall designate the areas in which, and the plots of land on which,cultivation of the opium poppy for the purpose of producing opium shall be permitted.
This takes me back to some bills I’ve read in which the designated area was a 5X5 space.
b) Only cultivators licensed by the Agency (LIQUOR BOARDS)shall be authorized to engage in such cultivation.
Yep. They got that covered, as well.
c) Each licence shall specify the extent of the land on which the cultivation is permitted.
6 plants, kept indoors under lock and key. So c above…check.
d) All cultivators of the opium poppy (CANNABIS)shall be required to deliver their total crops of opium (CANNABIS) to the Agency (LIQUOR BOARDS). The Agency (LIQUOR BOARDS)shall purchase and take physical possession of such crops as soon as possible, but not later than four months after the end of the harvest.
This is the tricky part, but doable. IMO, though, the liquor boards can stay the hell away from my smoke.
e) The Agency (LIQUOR BOARDS) shall, in respect of opium (CANNABIS), have the exclusive right of importing, exporting, wholesale trading and maintaining stocks other than those held by manufacturers of opium alkaloids (CANNABIS RESINS), medicinal opium (MMJ)or opium preparations (EDIBLES AND HASH). Parties need NOT extend this exclusive right to medicinal opium and opium preparations.
I take from this that…if anyone in the convention legalizes for medical purposes, they are also permitted, BY THEIR HOLY-GOSPEL PAPERWORK, that it is permissable to have a recreational market.
3. The governmental functions referred to in paragraph 2 shall be discharged by a single government agency if the constitution of the Party concerned permits it.
Hold on…what did that pesky A stand for in A-64? Oh, that’s right…AMENDMENT.
As General William Grey on “Independance Day” proclaimed, “Get on the wire to every squadron around the world. Tell them how to bring those sons of bitches down!”
Also another great quote from the General (for the prohibs of course), “…your primary target has shifted course and I think our Secret’s out! They are heading straight for us!”
@Oracle. legalization in 2 states = failure? I think its the non-legalization in the 48 states that is failing us. I am sick and tired of watching my peers all around me have their lives completely screwed over because Ronald Reagan said weed(A FUCKING PLANT) is bad? What gives a group of people the right to tell others what they can and can’t put in their bodies. Better than that, what gives them the right to kick in your door and point a gun at you for doing so. Heres an idea: Sign a bill to force all police confiscated “drug money” to be donated to local charities lets change the world. Fat pigs think that money is theirs because they found it… it was “their bust”? Well who earned that money in the first place? sure as hell not the American government. Stop ruining good people’s lives!!!!
Obama did APPROVE anything and the election had nothing to do with this decision.
OBAMA has been against this issue (Cannabis Legalization)
We will learn that there is still a Federal Law. States that have legalized laws will loose Federal funding. This will cause a back lash.
I agree with changing the current laws on/about Cannabis, but I beleive that decriminalization would be a proper approach and attitude.
We’ve got bigger fish to fry? Really Obama, I guess the president’s appetite for California fish is getting old.
Encouraging and about as positive as Obama can get. He obviously has commitments to groups that oppose any kind of legalisation. Looks like all he can do is stand back and let it happen – which will suffice.
Just like most presidents he has done so many deals to get where he is ( especially with a tight election just gone) that he can do hardly anything without upsetting some one. Also it is hard to do an about face on his attitudes now when he was so against it all these years and not look stupid.
One word of caution he focused on users not licensed businesses. If no go ahead is forthcoming there will be no legal outlets or producers of marijuana in either of these states.
President Obama and AG Holder have set the legalization framework,,the feds cannot/will not enforce possession laws,,keep “in public” possession limits small enough to discourage black market activity.personal grows limited for the same reason and below federal radar,,way below,,feds don’t target under 100 plants according to all the evidence I have found on it,,if anyone has different data please post.
I don’t think the government is going to end prohibition of hemp,,and this is their plan to keep that ban in place,,no large outdoor production of marijuana keeps hemp banned,,,that is how I see it Vern. This is still only a delaying tactic that Mary Jane and knowledge will over turn this eventually,,,we still have a long ways to go but they just lost this game
obama what an asshole
I’m cautiously optimistic about Obama’s comments.
Why is this natural plant considered a schedule I Narcotic with no medicinal value?
Why have people been using this for thousands of years?
What else is there to converse about?
Obama may be a chicken shit as far as being the hero and legalizing Pot but I’d rather have that than shit romney, who’d ruin the country worse than bush. I voted Obama twice. I’m voting Hillary twice if she runs. The only way I wouldn’t is if a person with a good chance at winning wants to legalize pot or shrooms lsd peyote too. But other than that I’m voting to keep republicants OUT of power/office. They’re like America’s cancer.
I think he is waiting till after they get past the fiscal cliff issues before he can really act the legalization issue because it is the major problem that the country is facing .
Claygooding, I would suggest you do some more research into federal actions against dispensaries in CA and MT. CO has less direct raiding, but has moved against dispensaries based on location. Harborside is a model dispensary in CA, and the target of continued federal action. Resources are used against state compliant patients, caregivers and dispensaries. Obama can resolve the situation by simply removing cannabis from Schedule 1, at the very least, and reasonably from the entire list of Controlled Substances. Controlling any of them hasn’t worked real well so far. Portugal provides an excellent example of how to deal with a social issue thru non-criminal avenues.
while i may not agree with many of his policies, president Obama is a freaking political genius. you really can’t deny that the man gets done what he meant to get done.
he may not appear to overtly support legalization, but doing so would probably mean the end of his political career. and while Obama hasn’t made too many official comments on the issue, one thing is clear: marijuana is legal in two states!
an issue like legalization cannot be effectively handled by the president overtly. it is simply too much of an emotional issue for many people and would result in the immediate loss of too much political capital. however, i feel that on this and other emotional issues, obama is facilitating the correct moves behind the scenes.
obviously i have no proof or statements to support my case, other than this is what i’d like to believe and this is how i interpret the choom master’s moves.
and he freaking hired Kumar from Harold and Kumar. Kumar works at the white house! they probably box out the oval office. they should make another freakin movie.
I personally believe that, it is the duty of every person alive who sees this crap for what it is, to read and study their documents. For example, I just spent about 15 minutes on the DEA website looking over the CSA. This is what I found.
Section 844a
Civil Penalty for Possession of Small Amounts of Certain Controlled Substances
(f) Compromise – The Attorney General may compromise, modify, or remit, with or without conditions, any civil penalty imposed under this section.
Section 801a
Congressional Findings and Declarations: Psychotropic Substances. The Congress makes the following findings and declarations:
(2)… The Convention is not self-executing, and the obligations of the United States thereunder may only be performed pursuant to appropriate legislation. It is the intent of the Congress that the amendments made by this Act, together with existing law, will enable the United States to meet all of its obligations under the Convention and that no further legislation will be necessary for that purpose.
Section 877
Judicial review
All final determinations, findings, and conclusions of the Attorney General under this subchapter shall be final and conclusive decisions of the matters involved, except that any person aggrieved by a final decision of the Attorney General may obtain review of the decision in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia or for the circuit in which his principal place of business is located upon petition filed with the court and delivered to the Attorney General within thirty days after notice of the decision. Findings of fact by the Attorney General, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.
Any attornies or promising law students out there? I say we use their own gospel against them. You also need to read the Single Convention of 1961, which was updated in the 70’s. Check out Article 28 in particular, which will lead you to Article 23.
All that may not be usable, but some kind of a loophole must exist with our state policies changing now. Hey, I’m no lawyer; just one of those dumb, poor Southerners that a lot in the MJ lobby put down due to the Bible belt, desperately wishing to do his part for our Republic.
Not all of us can even afford the 10 bucks a month, nor can all of us get out there with a petition in hand. However, what we CAN do is try and spread the truth, write Congress, and share what little info is out there that can help.
Regardless, please use what you can. In the mean-time, I will be looking for more.
Barry and Kumar go to Taco Bell, maybe?
Nah, it’d be over too quick: they’d just take Air Force One.
@Heisenberg: Yeah, nothing spells the failure of the war on cannabis like to U.S. states legalizing it. Remember, nothing spells failure like 2 U.S. states legalizing. Make more sense to you now. Hey,Heisenberg, I like a wide variety: gold like Columbian and Mexican Gold, Panama Red, different northern purple strains, black Afghan hash, Nepalese Temple Balls, Ice, Ice Hash. Oh, what a selection like none before I’m looking forward to in the near future. It’s as CM wrote, law enforcement has limited resources and these shootings are the kind of thing they need to focus on.
F–k u Ronald Reagan u piece if S–t..
it is good to hear and see that the president also respect the wishes of the people and will continue to look to congress to change the federal prohibition law… in the mean time we can all breath easier that freedoms cause is finally recognised… hallelujah…
@ Sal
Ronald Reagan was a great president. Because of the economy he kept, my mother never had to work outside the home, my dad worked just one job, and I never lived in anything other than a house until I joined the Army. In addition to that, we never went hungry, always had brand new school clothes each year, and the family was covered on medical insurance.
Reagan pushed for a sense of pride, to go out and work for a living, rather than depending on the gov’t for a check and food stamps, which is what our current Administration has been doing the past 4 years.
I hated his attitude towards the drug war, and there were a lot of things I despised about the man. But he was probably the last actual good president we’ve had. To say fuck Reagan is like saying “to hell with a job and pride of taking care of myself.”
I bet you voted for the socialist pig we’ve got in the Oval Office both times, didn’t you?
Also, here are just a few of Reagan’s quotes, written from his own personal beliefs.
“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!”
“We should measure welfare’s success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added.”
“Man is not free unless government is limited.”
“Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. ”
Oh, yeah. Fuck all that. Only a piece of shit against America would speak such nonsense.
C’mon, really? If he were elected in 2014, with all of the states regulating and changing drug policies, we wouldn’t be up against prohibition long. Know why? Because he believes in the People and their right to self-governance. Yes he was hard on pot smokers…he was following the law that a grand majority of the citizenry wanted to be supported. Put him in office today and he would still side with the People. I grew up in the 80’s and know what kind of president he was. We would all be so lucky as to have him back in DC’s top position today.
The war on drugs is not a war by definition and standerds for it to be a war it has to have a way to end wars can only end in 3 ways.
1. Absents of resources on either side(including money or manpower). This can not happen unless the goverment faces almost or complete collapse.
2. A treaty on witch both partys agrre on. Not possible unless weed is legalized. We are talking about millons of individuals not 1 person or gov.body so everyone wont accept it.
3. Complete destruction of enemy (complete surrender aka. No more people wanting to smoke weed. Or complete destruction of weed.)
1 and 2 is out because the goverment wont stop and neither will people that want complete legalization. 3 is out because we will not stop pushing for legilization and the goverment can not destroy weed because of the endangerd wildlife act they can almost completly get rid of in america but then the us fish and wild life has to step in and protect the species and all sub-species. After that more pot seeds come in from out of country and the population goes up then it starts over.
This is not a war it is suppresion of rights and the largest drain on the economy that can not be fixed with out removing one side of the problem completly.
I consider President Obama’s recent remarks to be positive and we should all be grateful that he is our leader. I’m very sure we would all like for him to go bit further on our behalf but still, it is much better than stating that he would fight us on this; like Romney and the Repugnicans (Repugnant Republicans; you probably know which ones I’m referring to…) would have. I believe he would (perhaps secretly) like to free the weed but is restricted by others holding some kind of leverage over him; people like Joe Biden and John Boehner perhaps…
I know he hasn’t been kind to Medical Marijuana and I don’t understand why. It angers me as much as anyone else out there and I can only guess there are things going on behind the scenes that we’re not aware of and he (Obama) has a difficult balancing act to perform because of the opposition of the war pigs. Those war pigs are going down and history won’t be on their side! We are winning and mustn’t let up until cannabis (aka marijuana) is legal in all 50 states 🙂 Noone should have to spend even one day in jail because of making marijuana their choice of medicine or recreational substance. My favorite President, Jimmy Carter, a true hero in my opinion, is right on with his recent statements. It is truly sad that the war pigs won this battle while he had the watch but I truly appreciate and admire him.
I send out my love to all my fellow cannabis lovers! I do so look forward to the day when I can go into a retail outlet and choose from a variety of high quality strains, legally consume it, and engage in some of my favorite activities without paranoia.
I think it would be nice if NORML could add a web page where cannabis lovers all over this country and the world could post the things they like to experience while under the influence of the herb.
When I’m under the influence these are some of the things I really like: taking long walks with my dog, watching movies, playing chess, exercise (no kidding! I love to exercise), practice using nunchaku and juggling, playing chess (I know I already mentioned that but it is truly one of my favorite things). Further, I don’t much like housework but if I have a little buzz going on, it can actually be enjoyable 🙂
Peace Everyone!
and mmj marijuana is cannabis cannabis cannabis
so, how do we , the common people , influence the schedule change of cannabis????anyone??
I can honestly tell you that nobody seems to be hassling anyone smoking weed in Southern California . Being in the tourist industry and driving in the county showing tourists around I usually see someone lighting up or smoking a joint while walking down the Street and it’s pretty much the normal here . Nobody even cares but yesterday I picked up an older couple from, North Carolina and I could not believe in the intolerance they have toward marijuana like it was the worse horrific and dangerous substance in the World . They truly wanted pot smokers dead . Can’t believe this attitude does still exists in America . It’s going to be a long time before the South ever changes .
The feds cannot force the states to make something illegal.
Gives me hope. Article made a great point though. Medical marijuana was in a similar position and you see what he ‘did’ about it, contrary to what he ‘said’ he would do.
Sounds like he will do the same as he has with MMJ, Not go after users but he will raid the stores and shut them down just as he as allowed for MMJ dispensaries.
How can a man who smoked marijuana himself, and gone on to become president of The United States…pretend to ”weigh” the risks and play ”dumb” concerning marijuana when he KNOWS its less harmful than substances that are legal. Smokers know we’d rather do so legally,but if the US government wants to keep the cartels in business,I for one have never had any problem finding smoke, and am certain I never will….
FWIW the sellers of legal mj not the buyers are the ones being targeted.
Just another blowhard politician, saying one thing as hes doing another.
I never knew that Alaskans can have up to 25 plants in their residence. So it’s legal there. I’m confused. I thought CO and WA were the first to legalize.
States with legalization, want cannabis to be grown in their state legally, on private property, in a regulated fashion, by approved citizens. Not to have cannabis grown illegally in state parks or smuggled over borders. To raid legal sources is to give an advantage to illegal sources. Very disappointing to hear more Orwellian word game speeches, looks like 2nd term won’t be different. Raids need to stop.
Believe this when a bill gets passed…
Just to clarify, he said he wouldn’t go after the USERS, but did not say he wouldn’t go after growers and sellers.
I think this is a very good step towards the laws being changed in favor of new,better justice on possesion charges.I wonder if this would mean that you could have older charges made less,even dropped?
If this all goes well;then people can get jobs as growers,this is of very importance as we all need a job especialy if you’ve got kids to raise.There are many uses of cannabis,jobs can be made with it.I truely believe the crime rate will drop;so you people out there in the world don’t be using marijuana,go breakin’ the law we work to hard to get here for you to piss it away for the rest of us.So as citizens we need to help our fellow bros.,sisters not to be out doin’ wrong.We need to learn to help one another.
I’m a supporter of President Obama, so it makes me doubly angry that he continues to lie to the public on this issue. He keeps citing federal law as an obstacle to change at the state level, but the HHS and the DEA both have the authority to reschedule marijuana, and they work for him. Attorney General Holder even admitted this to some HuffPost staff at a fundraiser. After reading that comment I found an article on Wiki discussing it. It is written into the Controlled Substances Act. Lies, damn lies, and politicians. What BS.
YOU LIE!!!!
(again)
I voted for Obama, even though he made derogatory statements about tribal efforts to restore salmon to our rivers! I am ashamed of this nation, again we see how natives are set in a second class citizen situation by this nation. We natives who are not allowed to use a medicinal plant while the non-natives are allowed to use it for fun. Where is the justice in that?
There is no justice in this country.
Excited to read this article. Gives me hope that our government does think and would actually concider the thought of legalization.
Honestly, the fact that it’s his second term is what makes me the most hopeful. Previously he was walking on glass with douchebags, primarily conservative douchebags, that would look for any excuse to jump on him, so the last thing he needed was to be viewed as being so terribly liberal as to actually consider reconsidering drug laws.
Now that he’s in his second and last term, hopefully he won’t have to pander to the traditional right wing crowd nearly as much as he did previously. Granted, as I always point out to people, the president isn’t truly that powerful. He isn’t the monarch of the U.S.; president Obama could come out tomorrow and say “I believe the war on drugs is a disgusting, criminally twisted and corrupt joke that has done absolutely nothing but sacrifice the well being of the country to satisfy the greed of a small group of individuals who are likely just as evil and self-serving as most drug lords. Therefore, it is my belief that we should seek to reform U.S. drug policy in general so as to approach the issue with a focus on reason and compassion rather than fear and greed, starting with the nationwide legalization of marijuana”…
And it wouldn’t mean anything. It’s primarily up to congress to get the ball rolling on stuff like that; the president doesn’t come in until afterward.
Don’t get me wrong, I realize that the president supporting a cause is a big deal and is certainly very helpful, even if just from a public opinion standpoint, I’m just saying that even should Obama stand up for states’ rights to legalize it, without any concrete changes I’m pretty sure that the thugs that have been harassing states like California will be free to continue bullying anyone they feel like, and that’s the real problem here.
What big fish is he trying to fry? Just because he’s focused on the big piece of fish doesn’t mean the little ones are off the radar to get fried. So some girl in college told him he was being an ass; so instead of saying it was his fault he was being an ass; he blamed cannabis, and quit.
Sir, you know what a scapegoat is and instead of saying your choices were yours, you blamed cannabis for those choices…maybe the talk that girl gave you made you grow a little, and that’s the change that was really needed… someone to pull you to the side and say; man what are you doing?
Well, now there are millions of Americans; trying to do that with you on the issue of medical cannabis, and you aren’t having it…so did you really change that day back in college? We all make choices and as responsible people we have to own our choices. We can’t blame anyone or anything on what we choose to do…when someone drives drunk, the alcohol isn’t jailed the person is; for their poor choice.
I know you are a rational and thoughtful man; and the above will make sense to you. Yes it is a touchy issue; but the majority of your political party want this legislation…they have done you a solid twice and put you into office…mainly on this issue alone…isn’t it about time you repay that solid?
A recommendation from you would certainly; help regardless of the powers your branch holds…Bush jumped into war without Congressional consent, so you are not completely powerless to guide the countries course on this issue.
Thanks
i think the president secretly wants to legalize marijuana but is afraid of being targeted by pharmaceutical companies…
Then fix the laws!
I adore what Zuke said, and echo his statement. The president really doesn’t have as much power as people like to believe he does, and it’s really not as simple as stating he’s for it and then magically fixes the laws.
I’m glad he has a second term, as he can now be a little more open about his beliefs without fear about his position in politics degenerating. Even now, honestly, it’s hard for him to come out about his personal view on cannabis (whether or not he is over his high school days or not, and whether he really is for or against it) seeing as how he will still have jobs to do after being President, and most likely political-positions still.
It’s like how he came out about supporting LBGT. In the beginning, he denied supporting them. But as he became more confident in his position, he’s been able to come out and say how he supports gay and lesbian relationships. Even then, the backlash he’s gotten from /that/ is outstandingly upsetting (I have a cousin who now absolutely despises Obama just from that, which is sad seeing as how he doesn’t know my actual sexuality).
The War on Drugs is an even harder subject to crack, seeing as how we’re only just starting to get the turn-around with states legalizing, and even then the country is on egg-shells seeing if it will work (which I’m absolutely confident it will unless the federals come in), or if it will go up in flames — flames worse than people’s joints.
If Obama were president, say, 5 to 10 years from now (virtually impossible however), maybe then he could confidently tell the US his opinion on the subject of cannabis without the unfortunate half of the country bursting into outrage and his job for the present and future being threatened. Once more people who are ignorant start to see how, oh hey, cannabis isn’t so bad, and maybe when schools don’t go around teaching that it’s a gateway drug that’s addictive (and not specify how it’s mentally technically, but not physically). The fact he even made this statement makes me very pleased.