Our friends at High Times scored a really provocative and informative interview with Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, where Mr. Fox demonstrates both a wide range of knowledge about the need for countries like America and Mexico to end cannabis prohibition and forward-looking vision about the need for regulation and tax laws similar to alcohol products.
Mr. Obama and company, when your own Partnership for a Drug-Free [sic] America is left little-to-do but inane surveys indicating that American parents do not want cannabis marketed to their children when it is legal and the former president of the country where America’s failed war on some drugs has caused the most social upheaval, street violence, political and law enforcement corruption…maybe you should start listening and acting upon their recommendations.
Just saying…
Too bad the coward couldn’t speak up when he was actually relevant. I hate these people who suddenly recognize the evil of prohibition when they are no longer subject to reelection. This guy is not part of the solution, he is part of the problem. He should not be glorified for basically saying, “I knew there was a problem, I had the power to fix the problem, but I didn’t do it, I waited until my power was gone, and I was insignificant, and now I am going to tell you about that problem.” No, he shouldn’t be recognized, or applauded for that, he should be ridiculed and scorned.
[Editor’s note: Apparently you don’t believe in redemption, even for politicians. C’est la vie. However, thankfully for cannabis law reform, mature professionals are engaged with Mr. Fox, not spiteful idealists.]
Best video I’ve ever seen by a very knowledgeable politician! Truer words about cannabis prohibition and its destructive effects have never been spoken by a former President. GOD bless you, Mr. Fox. May your message be incorporated far and wide!
Chente you got the right mentality, lead the way..
I like what he says but I wish he would have said it when he was President. He must have been paid mega bucks from the US to say NO! Just like President Pena is being paid now?
@Editor: Fox can redeem himself by getting more involved than giving a High Times article. He’s talking the talk, but can he walk the walk? Not anymore, as he’s fucking retired, and can do piss-all for our struggle now…
[Editor’s note: “Retired”? Maybe from Mexican politics, but Fox is part of consortium of business leaders looking to enter the cannabis business…he has also taken part in conferences and panels with other world leaders condemning cannabis prohibition. He has given numerous print interviews, but having a pro-cannabis publication interview a former president of a major American neighbor who favors legalization on camera is progress by definition, which is worthy of praise and further investigation not condemnation and bile.]
It is not a matter of redemption for politicians. A politician can have redemption, up to a point anyway. What cannot, however, are continuing failed policies which have absolutely ravaged one’s nation, lead to tens of thousands of deaths, and are completely contrary to the purpose of government. No, Mr. Fox sealed his legacy during his Presidency when he failed to take the opportunity to pursue the policies he is now espousing.
[Editor’s note: How does change happen if people are condemned for changing? While Mexico’s drug war is more overtly violent than America’s in the last 5-6 years…America’s war on some drugs is far, far larger and more pervasive then Mexico’s. If the previous living American presidents came out against cannabis prohibition, would you attack them too for not ‘doing the right thing’ when they were in power? Or, would you see it as obvious progress and an indication of people’s ability change?
Attacking people, notably political leaders, for the change you want to see is short-sighted at best, at worse it is political ineptitude.]
Better late than never I guess. These ex-presidents never seem to say it when they have power…
Sadly some of the Presidents of other countries are held back from speaking out from fear of and intimidation from the US government. I admit that they probably do take the money anyway but when someone says,”do what we say and we will give you millions or don’t and we will kill you and starve your people out of the global economy, which, we run.” Which do you think a majority of people will do? If you stand up for what you believe in they just have the CIA hack your car or the Army send a drone your way. The revolution is coming I think, and weed will be legalized under the reclaimed American government. 2014 people, last chance to do it without blood in the streets, get ready, get angry, and take back America. Don’t let it be close enough at the polls for them to fudge the numbers. Fall on every voting center in swells and wash away the filth in Washington, Dem, Repub, and the fence sitters alike. NO INCUMBENTS 2014! NO WASHINGTON ROBBER BARRONS 2014! NO CORPORATE SLAVES 2014! lets get real Americans back in charge of America. Let’s crowdsource campaigns and through the power of the internet and block corporate interest and money out. Lets take to the information highways and stage huge viral campaigns to promote and air debates run by the People instead of the Washington lap dog media. Let’s use the tools we have to take back the country and fix it. Don’t every one of us know someone we would rather be in charge than the thieves in Washington; let’s put them there and then when the crazies have been run out of control, we can finally legalize this miracle we call Cannabis.
Vicente Fox, made so many fabulous statements and observations throughout this interview.
My favorite was near the end of this clip,when he said: “Prohibition started right from the garden of Eden”… that’s fing genius,because that has been the role- that governments have trying to play throughout the centuries, through the use of propaganda and the media, for a long time now.
”I am you’re selfish Old testament God’: Don’t eat that apple,it’s mine all mine,and on top of that,,, you are now a criminal for disobeying You’re property is mine,sink or swim, you simple witch.
No different than the 16th century!
@Editor: Cheers for the link. You say that having the former Mexican President speak out in such a manner is progress, and it really is, but it’s a toddler’s tiptoes compared to what he could have done a decade ago. Why is it that only after they leave politics do these politicians finally take our sides? They could do so much more for us in office than out. Fox’s words carry far less actual weight these days, and those of us making the complaints that we are do so out of frustration of this fact.
Yes, it’s nice to have his support, and yes, it looks better to the right to have Fox speak for our cause than, say, Willie Nelson or Snoop Dogg. We all just wish he had seen the light when he could still effect real change…
You ask in another comment if former USian Presidents would similarly earn our ire. I’ll answer you here that yes, if Clinton or Carter came out and finally said “legalise it”, it would irk me. Every soldier in our war is a boon to be sure, but we need active generals on the front lines, not retired war heroes getting whimsical about a battle they were on the wrong side of.
Vincente Fox, thank you for your support. I’ll thank you a lot more if you can get Nieto to make this realisation *before* he leaves office!
[Editor’s note: Rather than damn reformed prohibitionist politicos ‘wishing’ what they ‘could’ have done, is it not better to 1) work with former world leaders who support reform and 2) NOT to elect politicians who favor the status quo regarding cannabis prohibition?
BTW, you must not understand Mexican politics very well as Mr. Fox and Mr. Nieto are from different political parties.
Do American presidents take totally different policy positions because their predecessors disagree with them? Does Obama do Bush’s bidding? It is unrealistic to think that Fox is going to convert or persuade the current Mexican president, who is from a rival political party.]
Thanks Norml; last evening in a news article on channel 8 covering the Pocatello,and Idaho Falls area local law enforcement admitted that “the arrest of another major Mexican drug cartel leader would have absolutely no impact on the amount of illegal drugs coming into, or through Idaho.” This is unusual Chanel 8 is strongly prohibitionist most often taking law enforcements side on the legalization issue. Now if we could just get Governor Otter to get a haircut, and clean the spuds out of his ears Idaho could follow Washington State, and Colorado in legalization.
Me cae bien, Señor Fox. Él tiene razón. Me cae bien, usted Señor Fox. ¡Muchisimas gracias! Quisiera trabajar por usted, Señor.
Now it’s time for Congress to listen to Mr. Fox instead of Fox News.
I like Mr. Fox, and would like to work for him. It would be so cool to export premium Mexican varieties LEGALLY to the U.S. and to The Netherlands, etc.
I agree. Make it legal now. Thank you Mr Fox
Doesn’t mean shit now. Why didn’t he open his mouth when he was still being a US puppet?
[Editor’s note: Do you have 84,000 Google hits when your name + marijuana + legalization are entered? When former presidents and prime ministers support legalization, even post their time in elective office, clearly helps drive a public discussion. No public discussion basically equates to no reform.]
Editor, somehow I have this idea that they did not change their minds when they left office; rather they were just chicken shit.
I don’t think they’ve “come around” as much as feel like jumping into supporting legalization because it has more support in the general population. When in office, they are surrounded by law and order types who they realize have a stake in keeping the War on Drugs going, so they save face with these folks by not ending the War on Drugs, but by watering it down a little bit at a time, or strengthing it as they feel like. No, I do believe they are weasels who have nothing left to lose politically and so now feel free to do the right thing.
Still, they have some pull, so it is a good thing they are at least taking the time to help.
[Editor’s note: There are many who’ve observed over the years the similarity of weasels and politicians, but, that being said, their coming around to supporting reform is welcomed any which way.]
Excellent interview. Fox is on point, eloquent as I’ve ever heard him in English, and I wish him Godspeed in his persuasions within the Mexican government.
I love his point about free trade making it optimal and necessary to end cannabis prohibition throughout North America. Opening the conversation of cannabis trade to the broader Americas such as including the Organization of the American States demonstrates a much broader conscience that invites stronger, healthier and less violent economic development. (Much more productive than Boehner’s suggestion to cut foreign aid and diplomacy… what does he feel like he NEEDS to be a typecast 2-dimensional villain? Hah– I just googled “Bane” to find that there really is a supervillain named Bane in Batman comics! Ok, Captain Tangent… moving on…)
On a more personal note, my wife is Mexican. She comes from a strict Mexican family who raised her to fear cannabis like all drugs. The prevalent danger of cartels is so great in Mexico that parental imprintation of fear for drugs is understandable. That is why I relate to Fox’s prioritization of investing in education with the tax and regulation money that will come from ending cannabis prohibition. Nothing is more damaging to the health and progression of society than fear and ignorance. Fear is a palapable illness, ignorance is the infectious symptom… and cannabis is the medicine that can help us heal, learn and grow.
Listening to Fox speak gives me hope. That one day I can drive my wife and kids to see their grandparents in Mexico without fear of stray bullets or getting our vehicle hijacked from cartel-controlled governments. That my kids can grow up and not have to worry about getting busted with some weed in a friend’s car and having to lose a job or their education to the injustice of a profit-driven prohibitionist justice system.
Listening to Fox speak, I feel my spirit pull up like holding down the “zoom out” button on Google Earth to see our American hemisphere… and feel the harmony of being a member of the American continents… I envision sitting on my front porch, inhaling aromatic kine bud from a brand new vaporizer and watching the wind make waves through acres of hemp on my farm, where I can make my own food, fuel, medicine and building materials…
I want to build houses out of carbon-trapping hemp.
And when I snap back to it, I count my savings and donate what I can to Norml.org and votehemp.com– because we have a long way to fight to get it right my friends. Let’s not lose the momentum.
Good work High Times. And what a well prepared analysis for ending prohibition from Presidente Fox. He took it back to Adam & Eve! What a confident, sharp and provocative philosophy this man has to question the role of government in prohibition so profoundly as to recognize its roots in Christianity.
Fox is correct, for more than just the apple; Prohibition of herb is written in the old testament:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter matters times, some shall… speak LIES and HYPOCRISY… commanding to abstain from meats.” –(“meats”: meaning “every herb bearing seed”-Genesis1:29-31) –“which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth (Paul:1, Timothy 4:1-3)
To think, it has been more than a decade since High Times published an article on Kaneh-Bosem, the holy anointing oil ordained by Moses, used by Jesus on his disciples, the sick and imprisoned that contains cannabis.
Three of the four ingredients, including cinammon and merryh are found in all translations of the bible to English. But cannabis was lost in English translation to mean “calabus” from the original Aramaic that Jesus spoke. If Calabus was the correct translation, the little yellow middle eastern flower when absorbed in oil and metabolized in the liver produces the chemical known as “ecstacy.” Cannabis, during the time of Christ (which means “the anointed one” in Hebrew), would have been much less psychoactive.
Greek translations to English actually mistranslate cannabis to “sweet cane,” or “aromatic cane.” Could you imagine during a climate and ritual where there was barely enough water to wash everyone’s hands and feet if people basted themselves in cane sugar mixed with olive oil? Aside from the uncomfortable mess, people would have been eaten alive by desert ants.
Still, the discrepency between “calabus” and “sweet cane” highlights that there was one ingredient in the holy anointing oil of the bible that, whether intentional or not, was lost in translation from Aramaic and Hebrew to Greek, latin then English: the lost ingredient is the Hebrew name of the holy oil itself: “kaneh-bos” (cannibis).
In 1936, Sara Benetowa, later Known as Sula Benet, an etymologist from the Institute of Anthropological Sciences, in Warsaw wrote a treatise, “Tracing One Word Through Different Languages.” This was a study on the word Cannabis, based on a study of the oldest Hebrew texts. Although the word cannabis was thought to be of Scythian origin, Benet’s research showed it had an earlier root in the Semitic Languages such as Hebrew. Benet demonstrated that the ancient Hebrew word for Cannabis is Kaneh -Bosem. She also did another study called Early Diffusion and Folk Uses of Hemp. There is a reprint of this in Cannabis and Culture ISBN:90-279-7669-4. On page 44, she states, “The sacred character of hemp in biblical times is evident from Exodus 30:23, where Moses was instructed by God to anoint the meeting tent and all of its furnishings with specially prepared oil, containing hemp.” On page 41 Sula Benet writes, : In the course of time, the two words kaneh and bosem were fused into one , kanabos or kannabus know to us from the Mishna. According to the Webster’s New World Hebrew Dictionary, page 607 the Hebrew for hemp is kanabos.
Sara Benetowa discovered that the Kaneh-Bosm or Cannabis is mentioned 5 times in the Old Testament. The first occurrence appears in the Holy Anointing Oil as Calamus, (Exodus 30:23). Sara argued that the translation of Calamus was a mistranslation which occurred in the oldest Bible the “Septuagint” and the mistranslation was copied in later versions.
Christ in the Greek, and the Messiah in Hebrew, means “the anointed ” For Jesus to receive the title “Christ”, he must have been anointed with the Holy Anointing Oil or Nazer Oil, as given to Moses in Exodus 30:23.
Yesterday we baptised my Godson who was born with spinal bifida. Since he has surgery tomorrow, a priest came in to do the baptism in the NICU and asked if the parents wanted him “blessed with the holy oil for the sick?” Videotaping, I couldn’t resist but ask what the “spice” ingredients were in the olive oil. He answered the same as our local priest, ” I don’t know… we get it from the arch Bishop.”
I chuckled at the thought of a Vatican conspiracy to hide the secret ingredients of cannabis in the holy oil for the sick… But I still wonder…
Thank you Vincente Fox for your current views on the prohibition of Marijuana. I admire anyone who shows the intelligence and courage to realize that what we have been doing is wrong!
I wish that more of America’s leaders would demonstrate those qualities…
dont get me wrong I am all for legalization but this guy is ONLY speaking up b/c hes trying to make mexico the provider for our smoke…fox we have and grow the best smoke here on our own and WITHOUT drug cartels. your govt officials and police took bribes from these scumbags and now you all live with your daily murders…stay out of AMERICA.
[Editor’s note: Ummm…America has plenty of drug cartels–both legal and illegal. American police, border guards and politicians are as corrupt as any on the matter of the war on some drugs. This is not unique to Mexico, just more pronounced (because of America’s dysfunctional drug policies…).
Stripped away from the politics of prohibition and ethnocentricity, when cannabis is legal, because of the lower costs of production, and a longer growing season, North American consumers, just like with ‘off-season’ fruits and vegetables, should enjoy lower cost/better quality cannabis from Mexico.]
Did you hear Obama mention the “drug wars” from the White House Press Office today in reference to the disparity of prosecution of African American men over the Trayvon Martin case?!!! Did Obama catch this video from Presidente Fox or what?
Did we just walk through some kind of twilight zone door-of-no-return-to-enlightenment? The nay-sayers may continue to rant that talk is cheap, but they certainly can no longer say that the President of the United States is in denial or even ambivalent about the issue of the drug wars detrimental affect in general, to say the least for what it has done to the African American community.
According to David Brooks on the NewsHour, the President’s response was intuitive with very little regulation or scripting from the White House staff. We could feel the authenticity of his speech.
“What if Zimmerman was black, and Trayvon was white” was a shocker coming from a President, but quite necessary in light of the suffering and persecution of black communities particularly with the urban tragedy occuring in the City of Detroit that declared the biggest bankruptcy yesterday. The struggle is real.
But then he said it…
“drug wars…”
We really need to embrace and appreciate how significant this is for an American President to say.
To put the significance of the President’s mere mention of the Drug War into perspective, only two years ago Obama would never have dared to even speak the words “drug war.”
Remember the Secret Service Scandal the February of Obama’s re-election year? All most people will recall is that a Secret Service Agent refused to pay a prostitute in a hotel in Cartagena when the President was visiting Colombia.
Colombia was hosting the Summit of the Americas in Feb. 2011, where up until this Secret Service Scandal, the headlines of the event read that many Latin American Presidents including Calderon from Mexico would not attend unless Obama officially responded to the failed drug wars.”
I had been anticipating the President’s response to the Summit of the Americas following coverage from NPR, but even the Dianne Rheim Show was covering the prostitution scandal. That did it. I called in.
“Thanks for having me on your show, Dianne.”
D- “You’re wel-come. Wha-a-a-at… is.. your… question?”
“I have three: First, What happened to the Summit of the Americas?” I asked, while the S.S. Agent on the panel said,”what?”
“Allow me to refresh our memories; It’s the event where this scandal occured.”
I continued,
“This would be the first time in U.S. history since Nixon signed the Controlled Substance Act that a U.S. President would be force to respond to international scrutiny over the made-to-fail Drug Wars” (THIS WAS ONLY TWO YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS AGO!)
“But no one heard Obama say ‘We will not be changing our drug policy at this time,’ because the whole world was worried about whether some Colombian prostitutes committed SEXpionage? Really?!!?”
“Which brings me to my third and final question,” I continued, “Is it Secret Service Policy to protect the President from political bullets? Because, if that’s the case, it would appear the Secret Service did their job after all…”
After some laughter from the panel, Dianne turns to the retired S.S.Agent and says, “Bill, what ARE we talking about?”
To which he quickly replied in rehearsed professional manner,
“I don’t know, but that’s the BEST conspiracy theory I ever heard,”
D-“And I’m afraid… that’s all the time we have on the Dianne Rheim Show… thank you for listening, follow us on twitter,” etc.
It was later discovered through a series of Congressional hearings it was the DEA that lured the S.S. to the happy hotels in Cartagena. So the DEA couldn’t pay the press so they throw a classic decoy to derail the narrative of prohibition?
Well then eat your heart out DEA director Michelle Leonhart. Good luck derailing this conversation. Obama may have been riding a tight hemp rope with our failed exit from the made to fail Afghan drug war, but it took a racial verdict to provoke the dialogue. Obama got infront of the microphones today and said “drug war,” in a dramatic, personal speech, live from the White House Press Room; and it wasn’t about offering more funding to drug enforcement…
He’s working with the an ex-Microsoft manager to develop the starbucks of marijuana.
This discussion about Fox’s belated support of legalization brings back memories of a somewhat similar discussion several months ago, when House minority speaker Nancy Pelosi supported Colo’s and Wash St’s recent legalization.
Back then, many of you will recall, Pelosi was similarly attacked on these boards–for supporting legalization!
I still recall the litany of complaints:
“She’s a hypocritical b*****
“She just wants votes
“She’s just doing it because she sees the way the wind’s blowing . . . ”
etc etc etc
So, it seems, even when politicos support the cause or parts thereof, even while in office, there will always be some who will not be satisfied, will find some reason to complain.
I suspect these criticisms often have much to do with political affiliation or philosophy, or, as it now appears, nationalism (or even racism?). I also suspect many of the complainers–and I’m not pointing a finger at those criticizing Fox now–are some of the same ones who helped defeat Calif’s attempt at legalization a couple of years ago, because the legislation wasn’t perfect or to their liking, meaning, among other things, that it called for taxing and regulating: “I can only grow 7 plants legally!?! Oh gawd! I can never vote for this legislation! Free the bud! Free the bud!” Etc etc.
@Evening Bud:
I hadn’t heard about Pelosi’s support of the CO and WA laws – totally looking into that.
That aside, if she did speak out in support of legalisation, then I support her 100%, and am *thrilled* that she had the courage to speak up while still holding public office. Here’s hoping Cali will be next in line for legalisation, and for the rest of the states to follow.
I did criticise Fox here, and I don’t take back what I said. If he had Pelosi’s cojones, the drug war need never have gotten as bad as it is in the first place. I’m grateful for his support now, but yes, I’m even more grateful to have Pelosi on our side.
Also, Texan here. I remember the California bill you’re on about, and how disappointed I was in that state’s citizens in shooting down the bill. I fully support legalisation, *taxation*, and *regulation* of all illicit substances (and prostitution, but that’s for another forum). I would love for such a vote to come up in Arizona, where I now live, and hope residents of other states with similar items on the docket come together and move this country forward!
It is in the right direction,
and he is gaining much needed visibility.
Not to mention, Mexico has the most glaringly obvious negative symptoms of this failed drug war, (a large part of the violence they face is due to the black market economies of the cannabis suppliers, and that violence is the only aspect that is beyond the fallout of our incarcerate-counsel-bill-rinse-repeat process)
I, for one, welcome his efforts.
Besides, to all those who would throw rocks,
what of our fearless leader? A confirmed Choom-gangsta/”I inhaled, that was the point” leader that is, (at least if he follows the stated law), unable to seek a 3rd term, and therefore, more able to speak of his 1st-hand knowledge of this wonderful plant. But has he?
Will he?
Support NORML, support the efforts, and communicate, (wisely), with your peers when the time is right. The tide is turning.
I do think he needs to be thanked for his help. Our law enforcement people have basked in the light of easily gotten seized property to enrich themselves with. The war on drugs was a time they will never forget. SORT OF A GOLD RUSH! When you think of the lives that are ruined by an arrest for basically harming know one it boggles the mind. You can see how some of the states do not want to let go of this racket. The longer they keep a class one rating on pot the creepy states have a green light to keep the racket going. You know they see the tide changing but just do not want to give up the ghost. AG Holder could right this wrong but he too is hanging on to the past. Some leadership!
OBAMA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL SITS ON HIS HANDS AS PEOPLE HAVE THEIR LIVES RUINED. HOPE THEY GET THIS GUY OUT!
Good video, he comments are great, more info on the global effects of prohibition can be found at jeffrey Dhywoods World War D, web site. Prohibition has affected societies negatively on the entire planet Cannabis should not even be included with all other drugs for obvious reasons, but any substance should be able to have research conducted with it by scientists to find cures for disease etc, something which is now near impossible due to the red tape involved to get permits issued from fda dea etc,
Partnership for a Drug Free (certain drugs, not pharma, or OTC) America is wasting money trying to change public opinion? What are they trying to do?
A lot of the BS public service commercials like fried egg brain come from that group. They also had a commercial where flashing lights and sirens report on the accidents caused while “driving stoned.” What they fail to report is that of all the fatalities that involved cannabis, alcohol was also involved. So those accidents were really drunk-driving, alcohol related, where the deceased tested positive for THC in the autopsy.
They do surveys where people answer yes/no questions like, “Would you want cannabis marketed to your children?”
Who cares if cannabis is marketed to children? It is a uncannily more safe than most over-the-counter or prescription drugs. Studies have shown that of people who are given samples of drugs by their doctors, those people then to begin taking those drugs on a long term basis, like a subscription that is very expensive. Or possibly the drug wasn’t necessary to begin with, like many over-prescribed drugs today. But people who take the samples overwhelmingly take the samples and then also begin having the doctor prescribe it regularly to them. Patients, assume it was the doctor’s exact orders, since usually few or no alternatives are given or are not presented with the same enthusiasm as the new brand-name experimental drugs. Most of doctor’s continuing education credits come from PHARMACEUTICAL company ‘teaching’ (marketing). Free samples lead to the patient taking the drug regularly
Umm…..this is just like the crack/meth/heroin dealer giving small amounts away for free to get their new customers hooked.
Still, in this day and age? how can people still demonize cannabis when we know it is medicine used by humans for almost 10,000 years with no deaths attributed to overdose.
Tylenol kills thousands a year based on accidental and intentional overdose.
There is a job for Partnership for Drug Free America. Stop Tylenol. Stop caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, which are all drugs. Otherwise, choose a more appropriate name that is not so vague as to obscure the mission of the agency so that its name choice indicates the sort of people who want to keep that agency and their jobs “afloat” although useless to anyone
@ceil420,
Hey there,
Yes, Pelosi did come out several months ago and say she did support those states’ rights to legalize. I’m not sure if you can go back and access old comments on these boards, but the attacks were there. Glad that you would not have been among them. I think it’s great any time a politico comes down on our side–even when it’s someone I wouldn’t usually agree with on other issues. (Gary Johnson, for instance.)
I was so bummed when CA failed to legalize a couple of years ago. I think it was a combination of old conservatives, black-market growers, no-tax libertarians, etc who helped defeat it. But, I think it’s just a matter of time before CA legalizes.
BTW, I’m actually a Texan, too, by birth, tho living in NM now. Hey neighbor.
Keep the faith, and spark one for those who can’t. Hopefully your state, or mine, will follow the path of our brothers and sisters in Colo and Wash.
He is quite right and it is very unfortunate that he is no longer in a position of power to effect change. That said, it is still wonderful to see a person of note willing to have a candid discussion about the real problems that reside in this overall issue.
Guess it is all about the money. Seems former politicians often find cash cows grazing in pastures they did not help fence in….. Yeah when former presidents and Micro Soft dudes start counting MY money, it is time for co9ncern among those who actually help the cause of legalization. Fuck legal if the hyenas get the cash, eh???
Mexico has lost more lives in their drug war than the US has in our middle east war. This man has good reason to be aware of the failures of the war on drugs.
Keep dreaming people. Obama was against the drug war right until he was in a position to do something about it, then it was “Let’s bust more potheads than Bush, that way the Christians will finally give me a break.” – how’d that work out? Like dropping the public option so people wouldn’t call him a socialist. Sure.
Actually, editor, both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton have spoken about ending the drug war AFTER leaving office. But it won’t do. The powers that be will never allow poor people freedom over their own bodies, for one simple reason: they own us. You rich people can have your “medical” (wink wink) marijuana, but don’t for a second believe that just because a majority of Americans are on our side that it has a chance of happening.
Remember back-ground checks, closing the gun-show loop hole, etc? 90% support in the public. 0% support among the majority party (bafflingly Republican despite getting a third less votes as a whole for congress).
This isn’t a democracy, your voice doesn’t matter. You have a billion dollars? Well maybe you get a peep, and some medical buds, but the bottom 90% of the populace will get arrested no matter what. They still arrest people for being homosexual in the south. They can’t charge them, of course, because of a 2003 supreme court decision, but it doesn’t matter. There is absolute impunity among rich white people and they can bust whoever, whenever, and even get away with murder.
Who cares what the law says? People who remember the ’70s know that this isn’t the first time on this merry-go-round. Wait until Chris Cristie’s wife’s “Just say no” campaign.
You guys are such a bunch of dewy-eyed naive children. Bend before your masters people. The only rule that really counts is the golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
First, the scheduling of cannabis into schedule I, is unjust and based on lies. Worse is that the scheduling system itself is arbitrary and also based on lies, not on science. Drug agencies like DEA and NIDA suppress the scientific spirit by focusing on a desired conclusion, e.g., NIDA only allow research for the harm (not any benefits or good) caused by “drugs.” The term “drug” there means “substances banned by Nixon’s Failed Drug War.” They are talking about certain, select drugs that were chosen to have draconian penalties for use, mere possession.
The social problems caused by prohibition are so pervasive, unnecessary, yet so inanely marketed as “someone else’s” problem. Drug war prohibition is a national problem that affects everyone starting with the wasted revenue to fund the drug war.
It is commonly stated that the word “failed,” as in “failed drug war” has become inextricably linked to “drug war.” That’s how other countries refer to it
The Drug War is terrorism against its own citizenry. The punishments are draconian and do not fit the crime, and matter in general is simple oppression, human rights violations, terrorism.
If there is a War on Terror, that war should put an end War on Drugs. So many damn wars it is a state of constant warfare from Orwell’s 1984. Let the wars starting fighting each other like battle bots.
War on Terror vs. War on Drugs. One has to be victorious. We wouldn’t want to be inconsistent and hypocritical with our wars, would we? After all, 1/3 of our pay goes to federal taxes and so they better be honest (shudder) in Congress.
And people are not making that connection. Nixon’s drug war was meant primarily to oppress people and then to create a score of worthless money wasting federal agencies like a tax-payer funded iron fist that tax-payers had no say in stopping their creation or dismantling.
Laws that are obscenely unjust, and based on deliberate lies, when carried too far, even after the majority of states have decided (and they will)to change a bad law and also corruption that causes more problems than it solves, then people will figure out a way to put the politicians, who are government workers/servants, in their place.
And BTW, IMO, nothing any president, past or present, says about the drug war, matters. It has to be taken down, state by state, and not by a single person which would make it dictatorial.
The people who are powerful enough to be of higher rank than the president, like the people who gave orders to Nixon in office, about starting the CSA drug war, about the genocide in Vietnam, and creating HMO’s.
I would think those people don’t care what any president’s opinion is. I don’t think he could end cannabis prohibition IF HE TRIED. Seriously
Hello
President Obama is out of touch with the people!The majority of the citizen’s of our country want cannabis legalized. The president thinks if he ignore’s us we will go away. But, we will not go away! Stand Strong!
Help NORML help us win! this senseless war on people. Help legalize Cannabis! Suport NORML, Pledge to send in a monthly donation to NORML. $10, or $20 a month. Which is very affordable, it works out to only $.33 to $.66 a day.