In October of 2011, the White House issued an official response to a petition NORML submitted via their We the People outreach program on the topic of marijuana legalization. Despite being one of the most popular petitions at the site’s launch, the answer we received was far from satisfactory. Penned by Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, the response featured most of the typical government talking points. He stated that marijuana is associated with addiction, respiratory disease, and cognitive impairment and that its use is a concern to public health. “We also recognize,” Gil wrote, “that legalizing marijuana would not provide the answer to any of the health, social, youth education, criminal justice, and community quality of life challenges associated with drug use.”
Well, just over a year later, the White House has responded again to a petition to deschedule marijuana and legalize it. The tone this time is markedly different, despite being penned by the same man.
Addressing the Legalization of Marijuana
By Gil KerlikowskeThank you for participating in We the People and speaking out on the legalization of marijuana. Coming out of the recent election, it is clear that we’re in the midst of a serious national conversation about marijuana.
At President Obama’s request, the Justice Department is reviewing the legalization initiatives passed in Colorado and Washington, given differences between state and federal law. In the meantime, please see a recent interview with Barbara Walters in which President Obama addressed the legalization of marijuana.
Barbara Walters:
Do you think that marijuana should be legalized?
President Obama:
Well, I wouldn’t go that far. But what I think is that, at this point, Washington and Colorado, you’ve seen the voters speak on this issue. And as it is, the federal government has a lot to do when it comes to criminal prosecutions. It does not make sense from a prioritization point of view for us to focus on recreational drug users in a state that has already said that under state law that’s legal.
…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.
When you’re talking about drug kingpins, folks involved with violence, people are who are peddling hard drugs to our kids in our neighborhoods that are devastated, there is no doubt that we need to go after those folks hard… it makes sense for us to look at how we can make sure that our kids are discouraged from using drugs and engaging in substance abuse generally. There is more work we can do on the public health side and the treatment side.
Gil Kerlikowske is Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
No tirade about protecting our children. No alarmist claims about sky rocketing marijuana potency and devastating addiction potential. Just a few short paragraphs stating we are “in the midst of a serious national conversation about marijuana” and deferring to an interview with the President where he stated arresting marijuana users wasn’t a priority and that the laws were still being reviewed. While far from embracing an end to marijuana prohibition, the simple fact that America’s Drug Czar had the opportunity to spout more anti-marijuana rhetoric and instead declined (while giving credence to the issue by stating it is a serious national conversation) it’s at the very least incredibly refreshing, if not a bit aberrational. We can only hope that when the administration finishes “reviewing” the laws just approved by resounding margins in Washington and Colorado, they choose to stand with the American people and place themselves on the right side of history.
“We the People” are already there.
Amen
reschedule now!if not outright dropping the schedule altogether!!
As long as Gil is the drug czar he is going to follow the rules of his office which require him to lie. And the petition has to go to him according to the rules so this tool is a waste of time.
I guess we just will have to see what will cause congress federally to move on this issue. Until this zit comes to a head, or marlboro starts selling joints, I dont see how our federal government is going to actually be proactive on this rather than reactive. I look forward to getting the munchies and eating these words but they couldn’t set a budget (ok bring on the idio-facts) how can we expect them to change the law which Regan protected so dearly, “as dangerous as the hemlock plant?”
Sounds like they’re worried about the war crimes trials.
This made my night all the better. I have been doing my part for 5 long years now trying every which way I can to educate the people in my lives the value of cannabis. It took awhile but I finally lead my family to see the light as well as countless others. On a weekly basis I come across anti-cannabis outlaws and I thrive on the duels we have over cannabis. I am proud to say I am undefeated in these fights as well. Yet there is so much positive in the air it is almost unimaginable! To think that our government is finally starting to swallow their pride, or ‘choke down’ I should say, is just absolutely amazing. I’m not trying to get too ahead of myself here but it really feels like the war is almost over and our troops fighting for legalization can finally put down our arms and watch the sun finally set on this terribly ignorant war we have been fighting for just too damn long! The time is almost upon us my friends and soon we can all live laugh and love without any fear. Goodnight Norml and thank you for everything!
It makes me sad that with a national health initiative the “powers that be” refuse to recognize the health benefits of medicinal marijuana.
I’m an older lady, with quite a few health issues, who is unable to secure health insurance due to those pre-existing problems. It also is seeming impossible to physicians to understand *I* know my body, that my blood pressure has always been historically low, that a normal, to them, reading of 120/80 is high for me – it means I’m in pain. Yet I am unable, from my own pocket, to secure “approved” drugs to regulate the pain where as if I take a small puff or two I am able to not only go about normal life (walking, household chores, you know *LIFE*) without crippling pain. Instead I’m made to feel as though I’m a drug “addict” or a criminal, because, yes I’m honest when asked if I’ve taken “illegal” drugs even though I state I’ve only taken MM when I had the state approved MM card, though I don’t use it when residing in a non-approving state. I currently reside in a state that will probably never approve, which means I get to stay in pain and fight my physicians in order to be able to function on “approved” drugs. I loath taking those pain pills, with their side effects when a little puff would do the trick.
a key point is that the president did not fairly characterize his(the executive branch) role in the schedule level 1 of cannabis. His FDA, and Dept of Justice leads, along with HHS lead have the point on what the level cannabis is designated. THis needs to be clarified by the white house and these leaders.
Excellent. No alarmist statements , where in the past would certainly have been brought up. Lets smoke reponsibly and keep mvng forward.
The fact we have Czars in America is scary enough.
The KING OF THE WHITE HOUSE has spoken and all the kings horses and all the kings men will not be able rebuild the WALL OF MARIJUANA PROHIBITION AGAIN. The gate has opened and the BARBARIANS are coming through. There will be another concept of SMOKE AND MIRRORS created by FEDERALISM to cover up the real truth of the benefits of marijuana even more. I can imagine that the seriuos national convesation will be based on the ORWELLIIAN MENTALITY of thought. OBEY! The 21ST CENTURY INQUISITORS are on HIGH ALERT. It’s time to put on the DARK SUNGLASSES and keep connected with the DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. HAIL TO THE MONARCHY!
Great job NORML and all involved. Victory is near, and it has been a long time coming. There is still much work to be done, but all of those who have worked so tirelessly can sense the feeling of freedom, respect, and equality are returning to our country. Keep up the fight, never waiver.
Well, if they continue with the same bullshit status quo, regrettably, violent revolution will be the only solution left.
thanx for all u do norml hopefully the politicians will finally listen and legalize marajuana instead of punishing users,legalizing is the only way to take the profits out of the black market.it has been terrible to have to worry about a drug test to keep a job especially when the person working with you wreaks of alcohol from the night befor
I am still not sure what the federal government wants. Are they determined to win a propaganda war or are they just interested in arresting and imprisoning people. It seems that they don’t want to fight public opinion for the moment but that does not stop them harassing people the way they have been doing. I think they believe that the legalisation will be a failure and in the end this failure will support their extreme actions.
Obama certainly must welcome an excuse not to enter the drugs bidding war that has characterised previous administrations where year after year we heard how much more money was being spent. The real problems will start when legal outlets begin selling marijuana in Colorado and Washington – the same sort of border issues that have complicated matters in the Netherlands will need to be faced. Maybe this is where the excuse to clamp down will come from.
I hope I am wrong and they really are giving up the fight.
Very interesting. Reading the title put butterfly’s in my tummy. My first response seeing the title, pointed to the nearing the end of prohibition. Looks promising. Prohibition must be undone. Am not gonna get my hopes to high though.
So exciting. “The union” documentary brought me back from a demonized, self righteous view on cannabis after having quit for 9 years after high school. I’m not smoking now because of testing, but weed is a truly beautiful thing. I’ll trade it for alcohol any day.
The giggling has stopped!
Funny how they talk to talk but never walk to walk. We’ll see what happens.
We the People have always been there. We won our freedom and our citizenship with the sacrifice of those who went before ! Thank YOU NORMAL for all your work and sacrifices,for you folks are some of the people who make life better for us all. This will be my last transmission my new location is off the grid! Good luck to all my brothers and sisters, its been real,its been fun, but sometimes, its not been real fun. A good life to all as sit on my mountian and lite one up for the rest of you!!!!
Whoa! Suddenly, fans of NORML, we are “in the midst of a serious national conversation about marijuana”. Who knew?
“A bit aberrational” is right.
What more can the Drug Czar say then “we’re in the midst of a serious national conversation about marijuana” when the top White House petitions keep referring to marijuana legalization.
Keep up the good work and continue to sign petitions to force a response from the White House. It’s fun watching the prohibitionists squirm.
We are now on our way to getting this matter resolved. Thanks norml for all the hard work you put into this.
Yesterday morning I saw the Opinion Article from David Frum “Marijuana is too risky”, then I had a root canal and an afternoon of misery and went to bed.
Today I woke up feeling good, saw a wonderful opinion article by David Nathan “Why Marijuana should be legal”, and then this. Much Better.
Please look up US Patent 6630507 titled “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants” which is assigned to The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services.
With this patent on the books the government can no longer say it is bad and evil; now if the government tries to tell us that it is bad, we know it is not the truth…
It’s just posturing to avoid the heat they’d take from the other route. They’re still going to fight this, otherwise they’d be embracing it by now.
Refreshing indeed!
The Federal Government is going to have to slowly say yes we agree with american people in support of legalization because there are still many people who disagree with it. By Doing this slow transition to agreement , I think the anti-marijuana crowd will see the Government’s gradual consideration and ultimately start to agree with this movement as well .
Outstanding. Evolution is always a thrill to witness.
Awesome! Thank You NORML for a task well done
A true testament to liberty
This is what we were taught in school,that change can happen.
To reconcile a federal law….
Reconcile-To coexist in harmony. They aren’t going to change shit.
Change the law, don’t reconcile it.
We need to use this as we did back before it was made illegal !
U could get it over the counter !!!
And it helps ur body fight cancer and all kinds of other things .
We should do something like porchagl at the least !!!
Just a side note: Gil is from Seattle where he was sheriff for King County before being appointed to the Drug Czar position by Obama……… still wondering what his personal opinion is, not the public position he is told to have……
check out yesterday’s article in the Detroit Free Press concerning the local initiatives that were passed but which law enforcement and government authorities refuse to recognize. makes you wonder how much votes even matter but I guess just passing the initiatives has gotten the attention of key people.
I think that a great many of our Congressmen and Senators would be pro-legalization if not for the stigma that the rich/elite place on it. It’s too bad that our Senators and Congressmen can’t vote in private about it. If they could, it would probably be made legal very quickly. As it is, there just aren’t enough of them with the courage to make this happen.
One more thing: As if we didn’t already have enough reason to believe that our Congress is inept, John Boehner got the speaker position again – because he had no competition!!! That just reeks! I found myself thinking: “You’ve got to be kidding me. In all of congress, you people can’t get someone better than Boehner???”. Unbelievable…
I got this automated email this morning too. Here was my response, and if I am wrong please tell me! This is extremely important for the sake of this cause!
I think the white house needs to throw all prejudice out the window considering the issue on marijuana. Everything that is “known” about marijuana is based upon false info previously set in place by the ones who originally had it prohibited in the first place. Do you know why marijuana was made illegal? Back during the industrial revolution various wealthy men who owned mass amounts of timber land were concerned because of this plant. They were in fear of loosing their financial comfort because this plant holds a very high threat to this worlds timber industry. A tree grows about 1 foot every 15 years. A marijuana plant grows 15ft in one year. Granted the mass of the marijuana plant is lower than that of a tree, but you get the point. All the trees that are killed for paper will be eliminated! Not to mention the thousands of other textile use we could gain from this. This is why it was prohibited in the beginning,and all other things fell into place. The perfect evidence to support my statement can be found in the film “reefer madness” which was created and released for one single reason. To deter the public from use of the herb by generating myths and lies to scare people. Watch the movie seriously. “If you smoke marijuana you will kill people.”
Now Obama claims there are bad effects and violence that stems from marijuana. Alright lets look at this closer. These bad effects that come from marijuana are not a direct cause of the herb. What cause the negative effects of marijuana is the fact that the government classifies it as a narcotic that is illegal. People are shooting each other because there is no regulation on it. The prices are controlled by a black market, and anything involving a black market is going to have violence and bad stuff happen. So lets eliminate it! Another fact that should be on your facts about marijuana, and it should be number one is the amount of deaths that have occurred from marijuana overdose. Are you laughing right now? You should be because I know for a fact that there isn’t a single person who has overdosed and died from marijuana! It has a lethal dose rating of 50 which means that it can not be measured. That’s a pretty important fact that should be placed on the table. Failure to point out the positive facts just lets us know where you really stand on this issue. Keeping the public ignorant is irresponsible. And my final statement is people are going to continue to smoke it always and forever. Are you going to continue wasting funding on marijuana when there is much worse out there? If we stop focusing on marijuana it will free up so much more resources to allow law enforcement to tackle the physically addicting narcotics that do kill. (cocaine meth heroin) these substances are highly dangerous and need to be battled with out any provlcastination, or lee way. Lets stop the useless spending on a frivolous”problem” that is only a “problem” because we choose to look at it that way. Marijuana doesn’t kill brain cells either sorry, its been proven that delta 9 actually stimulates cells to produce higher activity and growth… Funny that’s not posted either
Those good ol boys don’t want to give up the profits thier making on the sales and arrests and court cost too easily. The whole system is corrupt. Any politician who is against legalizing should be voted out. Trey Gowdy, your on notice.
For some reason the Federal Gubberments MMJ program is “mysteriously” never brought up when Marijuana makes the news.
Much adieu about nothing with this press release.
I was very excited to sign the first petition when the Whitehouse put up the option. The canned response full of old easily dismissed propaganda convinced me the whole thing was a typical government waste of time.
While I am happy to hear a little different tone in the latest response I still do not believe this administration takes this seriously.
@Bill Myllo
I agree with everything you say until where you want to increase the fight against other drugs. You want your freedom but are more than happy to take away freedom from other. Don’t go after me what these people are doing is more risky so go after them with everything you can. Yes these drugs are far more dangerous but that should be a personal choice for the user. As you said people will continue to use these substances until the end of time and no amount of enforcement will stop it. After all we can’t even keep drugs out of maximum security prisons. It is not fair for you to want freedom for your non violent personal choice but at the same time step on others personal choices just because what they are doing is more dangerous. I think skydiving is dangerous and I would never do it but I don’t think people should be punished for taking their own life in their hands. Now if they want to go skydiving with a baby strapped to them that is another story because the person is not old enough to make decisions for themselves.
Hahahaha! Now Obama is relying on our do nothing congress to keep Prohibition in Place. Do read between the lines. “We are in the midst of a serious debate”. No, that already happened, years ago in the seventies. The most of the experts studying marijuana said it should be legal close to forty years ago. Obama is still backpedaling on the issue.
The changes in Cannabis laws in Washington and Colorado clearly show a shift in public opinion. But reading that “we’re in the midst of a serious national conversation on marijuana” from the drug czar is somewhat nebulous. I don’t know where this guy has been, but there’s been a “serious conversation” going on for quite some time. It was the individual states that began the much needed changes which slowly turned into a nationwide end to alcohol prohibition. At this writing there are several states that are considering following in the footsteps of Washington and Colorado. We can only hope that our “leaders” (uh-huh…I chuckle) snap-out-of-it in time to avoid being embarrassed into doing the right thing. Although that works for me too. The game is afoot.
Yeah, they say they wont go after ‘recreational users’ but you can bet they will come down on legal growers like a lightning bolt from the hand of Zeus . But really , what do we expect them to do, admit to 70 plus years of fear mongering and unfair and unjust laws that led to the imprisonment of thousands upon thousands of people . They are being dragged kicking and screaming to legalize because they have always been on the wrong side of science and now find themselves on the wrong side of argument all together due to the 51 percent who want legalization . ‘And they would have gotten away with it , had it not been for those pesky kids” lol.
I’m not impressed. This sounds more like placation to me.
We the People website allows anyone to create and sign petitions asking the Obama
Administration to take action on a range of issues. If a petition gets
enough support, the Obama Administration will issue an official response.
You can view and sign the petition here: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/allow-citizens-sovereign-right-marijuana-possession-and-legalize-all-forms-cannabis-production-hemp/5dZhJ9yr
Ok Barry, you need to get the plant removed from the schedule altogether, and leaving any pharmaceuticals in the schedule system.
That might be too big a step.
Nudge us along.
De-fund, prohibit by policy, by fiat if you will, executive order, that no federal money is to be spent in states that have taken on the responsibility of regulating cannabis, unless help is requested from the top of the state chain of command in law enforcement. Don’t let the locals sidestep the state police top brass and state AGs etc.
Then, get the Congress to pass that House bill to make the savings permanent, you know, so they can’t be reversed by the next president.
Hey Barry, are you thinking bubbles in the bathtub? Smile, laugh a little. If each one of these little farts happens, the public won’t be put off, since the Congress is afraid to let one big long fart rip, meaning they’re not going to just go for outright federal legalization.
You’ve got to nudge things along.
If not, well…there are wealthy liberals and conservatives who are sick of the government wasting money on cannabis prohibition. I urge you all not to put more money in the stock market and economy as long as the U.S. government is of the mindset that they have money to waster. Continued funding of cannabis prohibition is a clear sign of that. Nothing says cannabis prohibition is a failure like to U.S. states legalizing outright. It’s definitely a left hook followed by a right punch, and right in both eyes. Now, you got two black eyes.
The knockout will be a worse recession or even a depression.
Keep running the economy into the ground until cannabis is legalized.
To the president and Drug Czar:
In the words of Ben Affleck in “Dazed and Confused”: You’re not smilin’ NOW, now are ya? You squirly lil shit!”
I just read an article on Cannabis Culture magazine’s site that the drug czar was talking crap in San Fransisco this week. That undoes anything in his favor to make him seem like less of a prohibitionist.
Think about this…..Barry Obama smoked regularly….and went on to become president of The United States.In other terms,he broke the law regularly….and has been rewarded with the approval of the majority.Now he just cant seem to recall whether what he was involved in,was dangerous or not……hope he doesnt forget to tie his shoestrings..marijuana will never be any more dangerous than it NEVER was….Barack….he’ll always be a liar
Even though the U.S. Government is weaseling it’s way around Marijuana laws through taxation, they need to realize that it’s the only thing keeping them from legalizing Marijuana. Just lift the tax, and relax the economy. I dare the President to find a rebuttal!
What does it all mean? I’m sure that the DEA will not back down. There are more unlimited executive orders in the Obama administration to be given out and it won’t be good. Such orders will be granted to vice-president Biden to attack citizens for holding on their constitutional rights. The insanity have already started on more gun control. The Obama administration and the cannabis prohibition affiliates will always fight back.
After every terrorist attack, the second wave are always prohibitionist.
The times are a changin’. Marijuana legalization is on the minds of the people and politicians, war on drugs may soon be over, and you can actually buy stock in medical marijuana companies. Looking forward to see what 2013 holds.
What about the effects of beer,wine and spirits on Familys?…
Same old BS ,but with less words,and less content.I will believe it when I see it.
JURY NULLIFICATION AND MASS REFUSAL TO TAKE DRUG TESTS WILL END THIS MADNESS
The law making marijuana illegal is in itself illegal
@ Joel,
I suppose I’m more hopeful on this matter than you are. Like Erik Altieri says, Kelikowske’s response this year is far different from last year. Perhaps he’s seen the writing on the wall, or perhaps the President is beginning to see the nation’s support changing.
I cheer any change of attitude in the administration, and hope that it’s sincere.
BTW, who says gun control is insanity?
We can only hope the governments wisen up and legalize marijuana. From all the research I have read they dont have a leg to stand on. People who drink alcohol dont always have the best ideas and I hate to say it but Obama and Biden both drink alcohol.
I am so lost when it comes to this. People have used it for a long time, and we know our country was founded on it, and 2 states have declaired freedom from the overbearing CSA of the 70’s from a president that was impeached.
I am guessing that maybe all the politicians are staying at a Holiday Inn maybe these days. All joking aside the Federal had made Economic sanctions against the people for beliefs that dont exsist any longer. We can look backwards and declair as much war as they want but the truth is I believe even the government has forgoten what it’s fighting for.
Has anyone ever wondered why if its illegal to drink and drive, why is there is a parking lot in front of the bar? lets face it we as humans make mistakes on how thins are regulated , but we fix and learn as we go. The younger generations are the ones willing to educate themselves, leaving behing the fear that what lies beyond the edge of the forest is going to eliminate us. Meaning the older generations were taught differently. My Grandmother past away last year (GRHS) and until the day she died she thought all blacks were the notorious “N” word. This is because whe came from a time when this was and til the day she died this is how she believed. That being said ….this is the kind of situations that still hold back the cannabis population.
Mitch Hedberg said a guy asked him once if he wanted to see a picture of him when he was younger, he replied aren’t all pictures of you when your younger?
My point is that were made to believe that certian cannabis is bad for you and will kill you ,…..but arent we all going to die someday?..there is no drug or food or liquid that will make us live forever. but there is medicine like cannabis that will make the time we have here easier for some and ,life saving for some , and with everything available isnt cannabis one of the least harmfullest of them all?
These are just my opinoin’s , but i feel that they are also alot of Americas as well.
We can be fearful of a lot of things , Cannabis shouldn’t be one of them.
Thanks for reading
chris
Alchohol has destroyed my family , weed helps me cope with this fact , my only alternative is to be medicated with benzodiazepans , I don’t want to feel like a criminal for using weed anymore.
*SERiOUS NaTionAl ConVersation AboUt MarIhUana*
Thats a good sign,a message of hope for all
of us.Last time Obama was asked about marihuana he just laughed and made jokes of it all.
Now its serious man.
……….
If the only stipulation about marijuana being legalized was that alcohol and cigarettes were illegal, I’d support it in a heartbeat.
Marijuana should be legal in all 50 states. If you want to get the Cartel, CIA, Drug Dealers, and Gangs out of the marijuana business, marijuana needs to be legalized in all 50 states. No restrictions except that you need to be 21 or older.
Hey, small steps, small steps. Good job, everyone. Keep up the good work! We’ll get there yet!
Yesterday, in about 10-15 minutes, had been a few big pharm commercials “3”, stating if you take this, side affects are internal bleeding, can’t pee, you might die taking this, might lose a leg, your heart might pop out of your chest, the sun will over cook you, eyes might fall out, loss of hearing, you might go blind, if you experience any of these side effects, please stop taking “blah, blah, blah”. These are for sleeping and depression they say. How in the fucking world is this shit aloud and FUCKING MARIJUANA IS ILLEGAL???????????? I get so fucking upset, this shit should be ended today.
I am so fucking fed up. BAH
Wanna ring the necks of these assholes.
Sure, recall the famous phrase from mr. Wolf in pulp fiction, you “lets not start s…” You know the rest. The fascists have one person tell you bullshot while the dea closes three more mmj dispensaries in so cal. And sentences a dispensary owner to ten years in jail. So much for serious conversation.
Legalize it and tell the Feds to find something else to do, like bust meth labs..
Reading that message, from the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, one of the 20+ prohibition fed agencies created after Nixon and his stoolpigeon A.G. John Mitchell fabricated a invented a scheduling system that is not based on empirical evidence; is not scientific.
They’re trying to say, to paraphrase, that if the will of the people will not allow the continuation of unnecessary and barbaric public policy regarding cannabis in particular….there will still be a need to control the vultures and peddlers of the other schedule 1 drugs, heroin, meth, etc.
This is a red herring. Regulate all of the drugs. Stop referring to the bogeyman degenerate who will well crack to 2 year-old hype stories.
Drug dealers don’t card. Regulate so everything is carded. If people are stupid enough to take the what are potentially dangerous “drugs” and this includes pharma with prescription, then SO BE IT. But regulate so kids can’t have access, just like they can’t walk into a pharmacy and pick up an order of oxycontin, morphine, and a case of beer.
Keep pretending to chase the bad guys who want to kill all the children. Prohibition creates the bad guys who are desperate for the lucrative profits made from sales of contraband
While the govt is pretty much operating under the idea that the are in complete control and we (the people) have generally been lethargic on responding and typically just pay a little lip service to support the things we are in favor of. Call it sheep, cattle, follow the leader, socialists, communism or any other label and at the end of the day, those things we let go, are still gone. STAND UP for the things YOU as an individual believe in!! AMERICANS WE HAVE LOST a lot of freedoms and ideals this country let’s not let another govt lie like prohibition make it any further!!
Once you see the terminally I’ll resPonding to a plant not MEDS, the Picture becomes pretty damn clear! We have
While the govt is pretty much operating under the idea that the are in complete control and we (the people) have generally been lethargic on responding and typically just pay a little lip service to support the things we are in favor of. Call it sheep, cattle, follow the leader, socialists, communism or any other label and at the end of the day, those things we let go, are still gone. STAND UP for the things YOU as an individual believe in!! AMERICANS WE HAVE LOST a lot of freedoms and ideals this country let’s not let another govt lie like prohibition make it any further!!
Once you see the terminally I’ll resPonding to a plant not MEDS, the Picture becomes pretty damn clear! We have But ONE LIFE… Stand up for yourself to make yours the Best you can?? PrOhibition and otherwIse!!!!
yeah they need to let the states deal with it.
I’m with Fool4Songs.
They same bs comes out of there moths every time. Trying to associate Pot with the other crap that’s out there. Mean while it’s fine to get hammered and driver your car through a living room or smoke cigarettes till you die of lung cancer or emphysema. There is no war on drunks or smokers cause they have that locked down like making guns. Control is there only concern and you can’t control pot and they know it. I would grow my own instead of buying it if I could. There are already Co/Ops in every neighborhood. The war on drugs/Pot is there money maker. They keep funding it and say it creates jobs. Yea for creeps that steal your shit and smoke it them selves. Cops, school bus drivers, air plain pilots and Judges should be tested as well as doctors. Not the kids that work at Target or school kids. Did you know there is financial incentive put on these Establishment (target) to be a drug free environment. For what. You don’t want a stoned kid stocking shelves. It’s stupid! I say legalize it all and let the bodies fall where they may.
Seems like they are up to something. Beware. It may get serious, in a bad way.
The federal government should let the people vote on this matter/legalize or not, instead of wasting so much time and money and building prisons around “the people”. We could use a lot less prisons and police.
come on man!!!! start the coneversation already!!!!
Oh it’s “serious” alright. They know they are losing and are preparing for a massive smear campaign. and if that fails (there’s actually a chance it will fail this time) they will try to play it off with “new studies show that…” crap.
Now is the time to push harder then ever… I hope we don’t fail again..
Did you notice that there wasa a gun troll or two among the commentators?
Don’t be fooled, read the statistics on gun murders per year. Compared with cannabis zero fatalities (in the case of “suspected cannabis related” traffic accidents, ask, combined with what? If HBOM hot burning overdose monoxide joints and blunts are replaced by 25-mg one-hitter vape tokes, those will disappear).
Consider this: the root cause of gun violence is America’s favorite disease, DEPRESSION. Kids sitting like “stones” hours in front of a screen– tv, movie or video– vicariously indulging in gun violence are DEPRESSIVES indulging in their favorite false relief, mania.
The “stoner” myth about cannabis is based on DEPRESSIVES indulging in a carbon monoxide combustion cocktail and sittin’ around telling you the cannabis did it. The crazy talk and munchies is the mania flavoring. If masses of such “consumers’ learn how to use cannabis intelligently (on rising mornings or before Serious National Handwork) interest both in “entertainment” pastimes and in GUNS will shrink, which is what the video merchants and the NRA BOTH DON’T WANT. I looked up prices on some guns– one place selling Glock pistols at $600-$800 each– follow the money. Think how much more $$$ they will get if W. LaPierre has his way and there’s an armed guard in each school. Pack-a-day $igarette addict– $3000-$4000/year depending how much bribe (“tax”) money the governments local, state, federal take.
Follow the money and you will see who hates cannabis.
Legalize it. All of it. End of conversation.
We voted for Change, we wanted the anti-Nixon, let’s have it.
This is my response to the identical letter as you printed above:
LATEST UPDATE: PLEASE PROMOTE WITHOUT DELAY! This petition is over a day old and has 21 signatures, the threshold for this petition to be “publicly searchable” is 150 signatures so the urgency now is to get 129 more signatures to reach that threshold.
PLEASE SIGN & PROMOTE!
There were 173,185 signatures (combined there may be duplicates) on the three petitions that were responded to from the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The one I signed was to Federally Legalize Marijuana which started 11/8/12 – after the election and specifically mentioned the voter results from the states of Washington and Colorado, that petition received 44,049 signatures before it was closed. Each of those three did indeed require legislative action to accomplish the substance of the petitions.
What is unique about this current petition is that it lists specific actions that can be taken by the Executive branch WITHOUT legislation.
Again, please don’t delay to sign ASAP and promote with URGENCY of the deadline of 2/10/13 to have 25,000 signatures!
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/end-war-drugs-and-work-oas-presidents-open-un-single-convention-treaty-controlled-substances/dlkkBzfx
@ eveningbud
Well the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that gun control is illegal. The ninth amendment says that “these rights must not be construed” or as I see it insanity.
The legalization of cannabis in Washington and Colorado is just the start. The feds will fight but we must not lose hope for a better future for this country.
For us in Asia, there are so many Hindus not in India who don’t know about their religious right as a Hindu and how sacred ganja is for them. Like in Malaysia, the Hindus there don’t even know what even ‘bhang’ lassy is, and any Hindu or anyone else caught with a substantial amount of ganja faces the death penalty. As a result of this many Hindus are hang. Set Bhang/Ganja Free Pretty Please and visit my site:-http://thetunku.blogspot.com/
The fact that Obama used the term “hard drugs” is encouraging too (and I bet Kerlikowski advised his boss that doing that is a bad idea) because so far, the government has claimed all drugs are bad, period. In fact they are even claiming marijuana as a hard drug with its schedule 1, while cocaine has the absurd beyond belief label as “safer” at schedule 2.
Just vote for the people who support legalization.
There is absolutely no need for Congress to change the law, as it pertains to hemp being rescheduled or even removed from the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. Whereas, there has always been a provision within the Act that empowers the United States Attorney General (USAG), the Presidents subordinate, as the sole authority to make such decisions; reference, 21 USC Sec. 811 (a) (2).
It’s about oil and always has been! Industrial hemp is big oil’s arch nemisis and always will be. Our government is corrupt.
The prosecution of Matthew R. Davies by federal attorney Wagner, as discussed in today’s NY Times, appears to be exactly the case that can be used to stir widespread protest against continued federal opposition to state legalization. NORML should start a campaign to send letters to Obama and Wagner on this specific case. I think it could viral on facebook and elsewhere. The NY Times has given you the start, are you going to follow up on it or let it wither?
I’m glad to see that the falsely so-called concern for harmful side effects has been dropped as well. I have always thought that this was a spurious argument given the lists of harmful side effects listed in commercials for prescription drugs during the evening news. Take for instance the statin drugs for treating high cholesterol, most are hepatatoxic (liver damage). Yet, I’ve actually heard doctors say they want all of their patients on them! It boils down to what those in power are convinced are priorities and how those are presented by the pharmaceutical industrial complex. There’s a great deal of money involved and we should be very alert to what transpires on that level. The federal drug schedules are very susceptible to changes occuring at the corporate level. And while I’m not completely convinced that the corporate interests are actively subverting democratic processes, I think we need to be wary.
Cannabis is a herb dumb fuks and no one will stop it and the government will never legalize freedom so fuk em
Chris, Cocaine is a schedule two material. What do you suppose you get when you’re teeth are pulled? Sure it is not called “coke”, but it really any different?
By law, marijuana is a schedule four material or lower. It does not cause drug abuse which is the only reason it is placed in schedule. A fairy tale that says marijuana somehow, magically turns one into an addict of other drugs.
This is my reply to their response. Please go to this petition, read, sign and promote.
What is unique about this current petition is that it lists specific actions that can be taken by the Executive branch WITHOUT legislation.
Again, please don’t delay to sign ASAP and promote with URGENCY of the deadline of 2/10/13 to have 25,000 signatures!
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/end-war-drugs-and-work-oas-presidents-open-un-single-convention-treaty-controlled-substances/dlkkBzfx
Its no wonder so many are seeing the War on Drugs (people) as a terrible policy. When you arrest 800,000 people a year for decades you’ll reach a saturation point where nearly everyone knows someone effected by these terrible laws.
Adults should have the right to choose whether they want to smoke marijuana, drink alcohol, smoke cirgarettes, ect… Its about personal freedoms.
If people suffering from illness have a better quality of life because they can smoke marijuana, more power to them.
Let America be a shining example of freedom rather than a Country that keeps its citizens down.
Can you believe in this day and age we are still fighting over a Plant….a plant….grows naturally. Yet some Pharm company can go about mixing and matching til their hearts content and it kills people..but that’s good,no problem.
It should never have been illegal…and it needs to be legal and give the people their choice if they want to smoke it, grow it, or wipe their ass with it….period.
or maybe we should just make tomatoes , cucumbers, and many various plants illegal.
Lets see….get caught growing tomatoes….. that’s it 20 yrs to life.
all I can say is F**ing A..holes need to STOP this BS..
I think everyone should just sit in their front yard smoking and let them come arrest you until the jails are so full there is nowhere else to put people.
Lets set a certain day as “American Smoke Out Day” where everyone just sits outside smoking and holding a sign that reads….GO F yourself government..we’ve had enough.
The Prez sez that there is a discrepancy between state law and Federal law. The answer is simple. Maintain the ban on Federal property:(T.V.A., Military bases, Federal Offices, etc.)and allow the states to dictate their own legislature within their own jurisdiction. Nuff said.
Just look up the names Harry J. Anslinger,his uncle Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, and newspaper titan William Randolph Hearst on this issue. It will become clear why the law is policy.
The biggest argument used against legalization is that marijuana leads to addiction yo harder drugs. Think about that. The worst problem with this.drug is.that it leads to other drugs, how insane is that. The truth is the only reason this argument exists is because of prohibition. If people didn’t have to meet illegal drug dealers to get their pot, they would not be near as likely to advance to other drugs. the sad thing is all these people that are complaining of government regulations on guns are predominately for prohibition. If republicans were consistent on their beliefs they would win every election held. now we can wait and see if they will learn.
Well, when the hell are you going to ask for a Shafer report like Marijuana, A Signal of Misunderstanding, not the same but more modern? Get the committee to recommend all federal funding for enforcing cannabis prohibition be cut, and it be legalized. The plant’s out of the Schedule altogether, personal cultivation allowed like totally hassle-free same as growin’ tomatoes, melons, corn in a little victory garden, no permit, no other hassles.
People just got to mellow out. Now we got this thing going on with the guns flyin’ off the shelves. Now there’s more firepower on the streets. Now all the gangs… Move the profit motive above ground and legalize it.
I wonder how many unemployed people would find a job and go to work if it wasn’t for the darned ole THC in their system. You bet, when the pain is mostly gone working is a joy. Really, we like to work and man can we produce. Mlr
Students enrolled in People Power and the Media class at Columbia College Chicago were given the opportunity to research a topic and to share their opinion in the public domain via blog and podcast. The topic selected was the controversial medical marijuana dispensaries in California and the clash between state and federal drug laws.
This is their blog:
The investigation of business owner, Matthew Davies, began in September of 2011 after a routine traffic stop where Davies was pulled over for speeding. From there, Davies told the officer he was responding to an alarm at his medical marijuana warehouse. This was just one incident in the chain of events that led up to Davies’ arrest even though he was allegedly following the California state law for his medical marijuana dispensary. He is now facing a minimum of ten years in prison after being indicted by the Federal Government. This situation is very unfortunate for something that is so unclear. California exercised the state’s reserved power to not punish medical marijuana users and distributers when recommended by a doctor, so they are not in any violation with the Federal Controlled Substance Act.
The Federal Controlled Substance Act deemed marijuana, as a drug with “no currently accepted medical use,” however, there is research available proving otherwise. The University of California, San Francisco, conducted studies in December of 2011 where inhaling cannabis reduces pain significantly and can reduce the medical side effects including nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite from heavy medication such as morphine and oxycodone.
It’s also understood that the Federal Government has the right to overrule any state law that contradicts Federal law due to the “Supremacy law,” which is Article VI, Clause 2, of the United States Constitution. However, the mere fact that the Federal Government’s stance on the use and distribution of medical marijuana being far different than the state of California’s stance needs to be addressed, ASAP.
In the early days of the Obama Administration, Attorney General, Eric H. Holder Jr., announced that medical marijuana users and caregivers would not be targeted, according to a Washington Post article in 2009. California voters approved the sale of medicinal marijuana according to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. What makes this unclear is that Federal law should not be able to “trump” state law – it is a separate jurisdiction. According to the New York Times, the Federal Government could sue the states on the grounds that any effort to regulate marijuana is pre-empted by Federal law, but such a severe response could raise complications for the Obama Administration.
It is sensible for the Federal Government to get involved if and when medical marijuana dispensaries are operating illegally. If the Federal Government sees the distribution of selling medical marijuana illegal, they need to address the businesses doing it illegally rather than raiding the dispensaries of professional doctors and managers. It is undeniable that time and money would have been better spent if the Government shut down the dispensaries throughout California that were selling marijuana illegally to minors and non-patients. With that said, Matthew Davies was the operator of a legally owned dispensary and is therefore being unlawfully prosecuted. Our call to action is that the Federal Government needs to find an equal balance with state laws in order to prevent innocent people from being wrongly accused.
Respectfully,
Margaret, Emily, Jessica, Ramon, Kyra, Ashleigh, Bridget, and Molly, members of the People Power in the Media course taught by Hope Daniels, Associate Professor/Teaching Fellow, School of Media Arts, Columbia College Chicago.
I need to change the classification of marijuana so my son can have a chance at living. He has an inoperable brain tumor that according to some studies could be cured by marijuana. There is no one on earth who wants the study of this drug to happen more than me. I never thought in a million years I would want my son using illegal drugs and espcially for a horrible illness. It is so obviously and blatantly not a harmful drug I can’t beleive our government really thinks we’re that stupid to hold onto untrue beliefs that cannot be backed by any scientific evidence. Just how dumb do they think we are. I need to know what I can do to make a difference….and fast….my child is running out of time.
Drug enforcement is big business, employing thousands of people here and abroad. That’s a lot of jobs- most of them with good salaries and government pensions. It’s going to be very hard to switch these folks to a different career path and give up what they’ve got now and all the power that goes with it.
WHO STANDS TO GAIN FROM THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA?
Cancer victims and thousands of Americans with medical conditions that can be effectively treated with cannabis.
WHO STANDS TO LOSE?
The Liquor and pharmaceutical companies, the drug cartels in Mexico and Columbia and the srug dealers on the streets of our cities and towns.
WHOSE SIDE IS OBAMA ON?
He gave away the store to the drug companies in negotiating Obama care. Did he give them marijuana too?
I don’t think Cannabis will ever be legal as long as the Congress of NO (GOP) is the majority.
Obama’s the only President willing to even consider changing the laws good for him!
Well the answer is simple; if Marijuana was legalized people could be given the job to grow our hemp which can be industrialized to flourish economy. By providing paper; fuel; nutritious food; textiles; and much more; MJ would be the most important cash crop the world will ever see. there is much information on this website you can learn about. I had the misfortune of being ratted out because i smoked a bit of weed on the job instead of taking an hour long break, I would smoke every morning on my 3.6 bike ride to work and I was focused the whole day; not to mention i would have a great appetite upon arriving home and slept very well the night i did smoke grass. I was a very lonely person and herb helped me cope with the long hours of the day and allowed me to finish work on time, the only thing that made me retarded and paranoid were the police looking for any reason to lock people in jail which is also a privatized system which gets the fed more money, I call the system a vampire breed which sucks the blood of our youth and tries to brainwash our citizens by using social media, violent video-games and senseless ad campaign which only stunts brain development and will soon bring us back to the stone age, because people are so vulnerable Government takes advantage of this. There needs to be a balance, I say we go back to exchanging services for goods, and let the money be backed up by real tangible objects and not just debit. but real credit/assets. BTW (by the way) our constitution was written on Hemp.
Strange how modern science doesn’t concur with any of his claims.what is it going to take for them to stop all the idiocy.I went to a school in the middle of a major heroin and perscription drug epidemic I’ve seen the worst of addition and I refuse to be patronized by the federal government.I’m tired of this argument, 5000 of recorded use zero deaths, no proof of long term health problems as a resunt of long term use.its over the money grab is over leave us be.
theres tons of scientific evidence on OJMCB2; just use google… the info is out there; however one must research it to learn about it<companies are just afraid of losing their PROFITS (PROPHETS) HMMM,,,=interesting.
People die every day due to tobacco products. Then marijuana has no reported deaths, and marijuana is still illegal. Also if you were too say its illegal because of the effect it has on you, that is bull because alcohol is legal and it has an even worse effect on you body and the day you make alcohol illegal ill understand why marijuana illegal.
All Causes of death in 2009 Diseases of 2,437,163
Heart 599,413
Malignant Neoplasms 567,628
Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases 137,353
Cerebrovascular Diseases 128,842
Lack of Health Insurance3 44,789
Poisoning 41,592
Drug Overdose (2010)238,329
Intentional Self-Harm (Suicide) 36,909
Septicemia 35,639
Motor Vehicle Accidents 34,485
Firearm Injuries 31,347
Alcohol-Induced 24,518
Pharmaceutical Drug Overdose (2010)22,134
Illicit Drugs (2000) 17,0004
Homicide 16,799
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 9,406 Viral hepatitis 7,694
Cannabis(Marijuana) 0=Zero deaths
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