What happened to the Obama who said the War on Drugs was "an utter failure" and that we need to "rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws"?
Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 1, 2010. President Obama’s CitizenTube forum concluded today with questions about ending marijuana prohibition receiving the most votes, by far. Yet, an answer to the most popular question was absent from the president’s address, which took place on YouTube this afternoon.
Last year, when marijuana reform questions topped the president’s “Open For Questions” forum, the president at least answered — albeit without serious consideration to the issue.
You are never going to hear Barack Obama seriously address the issue of legalization of marijuana until it is more politically expedient for him to do so.
Look at health care “reform”. Candidate Obama promised all sorts of tough talk against the combined interests of Big Pharma and Health Insurance. When push came to shove, the healthcare titans got pretty much everything they wanted in the debate.
So, with public option health care a landslide issue supported by super-majorities of the American people, with health care a vital issue that directly affects nearly every American, with 47 million Americans going without health care insurance altogether, Barack Obama found the words of the health care lobbyists better than he heard the shouts of the majority of the American people.
Do you think he’s then going to react favorably to the cyber-screaming of 14.5 million American cannabis consumers demanding the same rights as beer drinkers, especially when the issue hasn’t even yet achieved full majority support in America? Most especially when those same health care lobbyists who killed bulk drug negotiations by Medicare and cheap drug importation from Canada don’t want to see people growing their own pot plants and cutting their demand for opioids, NSAIDs, and benzodiazapenes. And considering that health care lobby is joined by chorus of law enforcement lobbies protecting their jobs and Pentagon lobbies protecting their off-the-books cash cow.
So, no, do not look to Washington for any serious discussion on marijuana law reform. Barack Obama does not want to be “the Pot-Legalizing President”.
However, come November when Californians are voting to re-legalize marijuana and Democrats are suffering mid-term defeats, if following re-legalization California realizes an economic revival in cannabis while the rest of the nation struggles, and if Republicans do the smart thing and latch on to a naturally conservative issue of ending adult marijuana prohibition and start winning some seats, we could have a whole new discussion in Washington.
Contact your elected representatives and urge them to 'Stop Arresting Marijuana Smokers'. 
[...] they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” – Gandhi [...]
[...] they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” – Gandhi [...]
[...] they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” – Gandhi [...]
[...] they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” – Gandhi [...]
[...] When you did this in 2010 you heard from us loud and clear about marijuana law reform. We asked about re-scheduling cannabis to allow medical marijuana to flourish, decriminalizing marijuana to end thousands of arrests, legalizing pot to raise tax revenue, ending prohibition to cripple Mexican drug traffickers, regulating cannabis to keep it out of kids’ hands, reforming drug laws to re-prioritize police resources, embracing industrial hemp as a truly green energy source, and using science, not politics, to dictate our drug policy. [...]
[...] from the American people on the issues they find most important in terms of national policy. When you did this in 2010 you heard from us loud and clear about marijuana law reform. We asked about re-scheduling [...]
[...] When you did this in 2010 you heard from us loud and clear about marijuana law reform. We asked about re-scheduling cannabis to allow medical marijuana to flourish, decriminalizing marijuana to end thousands of arrests, legalizing pot to raise tax revenue, ending prohibition to cripple Mexican drug traffickers, regulating cannabis to keep it out of kids’ hands, reforming drug laws to re-prioritize police resources, embracing industrial hemp as a truly green energy source, and using science, not politics, to dictate our drug policy. [...]
[...] When you did this in 2010 you heard from us loud and clear about marijuana law reform. We asked about re-scheduling cannabis to allow medical marijuana to flourish, decriminalizing marijuana to end thousands of arrests, legalizing pot to raise tax revenue, ending prohibition to cripple Mexican drug traffickers, regulating cannabis to keep it out of kids’ hands, reforming drug laws to re-prioritize police resources, embracing industrial hemp as a truly green energy source, and using science, not politics, to dictate our drug policy. [...]
Don’t worry folks when the midterm elections come the debate about cannabis will explode across the country. The greatest fights will begin. And we will have our Answer!
i thank marijuana shoud be legalized because god gave us a choice what we want to do in life and that means that if we want to do drugs then we shoud be able to.and im not a jesus freak,so why not make it legal?
Again??? His staffers answered more questions today in a follow up. Absent once again was the #1question. Google is a corporate giant who acts just like the others. Don’t be foiled by their friendly appearance. “Do no evil” my arse.
It is all politics guys. With health care being screwed up and the economy, Obama does not want to lose votes from moderates talking about marijuana. In the 2012 election, Obama will have nothing to lose in a second term, and if you think a first term Republican president will give a crap what you think about cannabis (or anything for that matter) then I have too point and laugh at you. I don´t like my voice being ignored in our supposed Democracry either, but welcome to America. This is what it has become, and untill all of us come out of the cannabis closet to our friends and family to broaden our support base it seems unlikely anything will change.
i was referring to the unpredictableness of the substance (and comparing it to our governments unpredictableness)
first of all what did any of you expect to happen? you vote on a web poll and expect to be taken seriously?
2nd of all write your congress people pen, paper, and stamp and snail mail to tell them you are not giving any time or money to a candidate who does not strongly and publicly support ending marijuana prohibition.
campaigns are driven by volunteer labor, if you are not giving time to candidates to support your view those candidates will support the view of people who do give their time.
Dude… exactly how is he a traitor to the republic? and I mean really strong irrefutable evidence of aid and comfort to the enemy, or spying otherwise you are just another stupid American who gets told what to think by millionaire, demagogues.
This is perhaps the most perfect analogy I have yet read Bluz. These fools don’t even take seriously the arrested incarceration of millions of their own citizens, instead they reduce it, like they reduce everything else, into a political question rather than a social one.
What happens when you make it into the senate or white house? Do they wipe your brain of any common sense that may be left over after campaigning? These assholes are so detached from reality, no wonder they can never come to a good decision on REAL public policy.
I do not know if I can ever forgive Democrats for totally messing up health care reform. Russ has it right. Tons of families need afforable health care but they refused to actually do anything about. BS Where is the democracy? Hate to say it but it is looking dead. Republicans and Democrats aren´t any different, Washington is so out of touch with the democracy created by our founding fathers. It is all corporate and private interest. THe only way to correct this is unite and show these a-holes that we are not going to mess aroung anymore. If they continue to ignore the will of the people which supposedly have power then we will take to the streets, and also take to the polls.
Nitro… dependable to blow stuff up.
I knew we were in trouble when Pres.Obama met with the Clintons in that house before the election.I would like to know the deals that went on there.He was never the same from that day forward.
IT IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US DOING SOMETHING.If one cant give .Write your congressman and senators.Be active in spreading the word..Words can be powerfull.Being productive on our cause is key.Look like you are a productive part of your community dont just look the part , be the part.(as Bill Murry might say)The people that pot helps should have it .The Adults that like it should have it.I personlly.Have payed a very high price for my use.(Born with Spinal Bifida) It helped me and I knew at age 13 pot was my choice and the best choice for my body!I have been made a FELON for growing(.For my own use.)It is public record ,so I am not afraid to talk.I Had to serve time .4 months of a 2 year term.PLUS (5) FIVE years probation..This is absurd.I do feel alittle lucky thou.I could have got Full 5 years Federal Pen , $10,000.00 fine AND 5 years probation.HOW WOULD FEEL if this were you. But thats Kentucky for you.They did mention taking my kids or only child left in the house. The other two are already out of Collage none of which use any drugs and are great people.They like helping other people .We must keep trying to help Pres Obama see the light . He surely has not for got all OUR people in jail .He is one of us he has some how forgot what group of people that put him there.Keep reminding him about his history! WE ALL have one! Peace /out : BOSCO3d :)
http://www.mikecann.net/2010/02/citizentube-censorshiptube-youtube.html
5 star all these videos except for the one from citizentube, give that one star. Haha. They totally lied, I’m more upset about the fraud that youtube pulled than anything. They lied and lied some more. At least be honest about it. Don’t call it an “open” debate and say you plan to take the questions with the most votes when you have no plan to do that if it’s a tough question that the President doesn’t want to answer. I understand the President gets to set the agenda with youtube but really, how stupid can you be? Apparently both the President’s office and the folks at youtube are pretty damn dumb.
just goes to show that our government is as dependable as a jar of Nitro-Glycerin…
looks like we have to do everything ourselves…
Fans of cannabis let Youtube know what you think of their “methodology”:
http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2010/02/your-questions-for-president-obama.html#comments
It’s sad how big pharma and and the likes pretty much have the power and ruin lives at the same time. Well, when push comes to shove money will help our cause in the end. Everybody wonderin’ where’s jobs Obama with the recovery plan? Meanwhile, the little green people in the background are paving the way to a new industry. He He He! :)
I did’nt like hin before and care for him even less now My opinion is that he is a traitor to the republic and his mission is to bring this country to it’s knees
I know what you’re saying. God knows Franklin Roosevelt never lived down his reputation as the “alcohol relegalization” president!