By "Radical" Russ Belville on March 31, 2009
202-456-1111
Would arresting this guy for smoking pot make you laugh, Mr. President?
Call. Send a letter.
“I’m one of the tens of millions of Americans who believe that cannabis should be legally regulated like alcohol.
The American public is ready and willing to engage in a serious and objective political debate regarding the merits of legalizing the use of cannabis by adults. The time for joking is over.
Please consider apologizing for your dismissive tone, and please consider treating those of us who believe that there are viable alternatives to marijuana prohibition with the respect we deserve.”
Posted in ACTIVISM, GOVERNMENT, LEGISLATION | Tagged Barack Obama, Obama Administration, Open for Questions, President Obama
I am the host of the NORML SHOW LIVE and The NORML Stash Blog. I'm married, live in Portland, Oregon, and I am a registered medical marijuana caregiver in this state. I've worked days as an IT geek and nights as a professional musician. Previously, I have been the host of my own political talk radio show on satellite radio. I've been the High Times "Freedom Fighter of the Month" for my work producing Oregon NORML's TV show, "A Cannabis Community Forum", and for helping to institute Portland's wildly successful medical marijuana cardholders meetings, where we help sick and disabled Oregonians acquire cannabis plant starts, learn gardening, and understand the medical marijuana law. I've dedicated my life to bringing an end to adult marijuana prohibition and re-legalizing cannabis hemp, and I'm honored to be chosen by NORML to be our daily voice.
I’ve always wondered why more of the leaders of minority lobbying groups (NAACP, Urban League, La Raza, etc.) aren’t more strongly in support of drug law reform. I hear a lot of talk of “drugs are destroying our communities” but never “drug prohibition is destroying our communities”. Why is that (and not to question you as the representative of all black men, just as a black man, what do you think?)
Well, it’s only my personal conjecture, but I think it’s something along the lines of, “Look, I’m the first black president. Do you know what kind of narrow political ledge I have to maneuver on? And I used to smoke in the past and admitted it; you think I’M going to be the one to say, ‘Let’s legalize pot’? Naw, you guys need to know deep down, I’m down for your cause, but there’s no way in hell I can get close to it. What I’m trying to do is to keep bringing it up, and I’m playing y’all to get you riled up so much that there’s no safe political choice BUT to support legalization. Why do you think I brought up Al Capone and Prohibition? This is a slam dunk issue on the science and facts, all I should have to do is open the door for you.”
Ah, thank you, RevRayGreen and MrSpof. I think I’m beginning to understand the racism connection that Russ might have been implying earlier. I’m surprised that I didn’t see it before.
Speaking as a black man who voted for Obama b/c of his politics (and not b/c of our similar ethnicity), I’d be very disappointed in him if his reasons for cowering from this issue had to do w/ the racism aspect.
Bingo. How anyone could possibly look at these numbers and NOT see there’s a huge problem with racism in drug sentencing is higher than I’ve ever been. And that would pretty damned high indeed.
I think I’ve mentioned this elsewhere but I am white. Or Caucasian. Or the devil or whatever else I’m being labeled as of today …
No one should doubt that the fight to reform marijuana laws in a civil rights issue that is closely connected to abhorrent treatment of black and hispanic folks.
Reply is to Napoleon: how’s this for racism against the blacks? These quotes are attributable to that asshole Anslinger that started this whole mess:
“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.”
“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”
“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”
And there’s more to be found. Silly “Negroes” for thinking they can look at white women twice or step on a white man’s shadow.
Disgusting and all the more so for having an African-American President laugh off concerns about marijuana.
When I first told this quote to my cousin Kenny, he said, “As a black drummer, I must say, ‘Thank You, Marijuana!’”
Racism’s role now can be best defined in Jim Webb Prison Reform Act 2009.
“Justice statistics also show that 47.5% of all the drug arrests in our country in 2007 were for marijuana offenses. Additionally, nearly 60% of the people in state prisons serving time for a drug offense had no history of violence or of any significant selling activity. Indeed, four out of five drug arrests were for possession of illegal substances, while only one out of five was for sales. Three-quarters of the drug offenders in our state prisons were there for nonviolent or purely drug offenses.
And although experts have found little statistical difference among racial groups regarding actual drug use, African-Americans–who make up about 12% of the total U.S. population–accounted for 37% of those arrested on drug charges, 59% of those convicted, and 74% of all drug offenders sentenced to prison.”
@Napoleon
Harry J. Anslinger Quote:
Source: testimony to US Congress supporting Marihuana Tax Act, 1937
“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US,and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers.
Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage.This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.”
Wasn’t the racism geared toward Mexicans?
Yes, I do understand that racism played a fairly large role in the process of marijuana prohibition but what is racism’s role now? And what about it makes Obama so uneasy about discussing it?
here’s my letter……..
Dear President Obama,
I live in Iowa, where there is NO state medical marijuana program. Please
don’t joke about those endorsing marijuana legalization simply
“highjacked” you questions. There are millions of us who feel this way.
We are smart, we work,own our own homes and know how to use a computer.
Please don’t be so passe. We are human, we voted for you.
I want to jail in 2005 for less then 1 gram, it cost me over $1,000 in
fines, classes and 6 days in county jail to get off probation. My choice
of medicine is a very serious matter, you should know better than anyone
that marijuana prohibition is institutionalized slavery.
Because a big part cannabis prohibition was based on
racist lies.
Marijuana prohibition is Institutionalized
Slavery.
Please expound on that thought, Radical Russ. You’ve peaked my interest by your last statement. How does racism play into Obama’s discomfort about marijuana?
I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV. (Dating myself with that reference!)
I could address the racism that plays into President Obama’s discomfort at broaching marijuana topics, but that’s for another post.
I believe that type of laughter is a mask for not being able to cope with the feelings one gets from the topic. They are uneasy so they laugh to mask their discomfort. They can’t face the reality of the topic so it becomes a joke.
Thank you Dr. Russ. I think BO, the reformed pot smoker, just got scared and had to hide behind his chuckle.
Dear Mr. President,
Your making light of legalization of cannabis, and the Internet community
has made a former supporter leave the fold. I will no longer support you
in conversation, social debate, or in elections. The Internet community is
one that helped you attain your position.
We need every tool available to us to solve the current economic crisis.
Some might say that your very job depends on it. So you can make fun of us
as the ‘Cheech and Chong’ crowd all you want, but it will not make your
job easier, and it will alienate supporters of cannabis who also may have
supported you.
So much for change, it’s more of the same.
Obama will be on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer this weekend. Please let CBS know that you want Obama to answer our serious questions seriously.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/07/08/ftn/main13469.shtml
Mr. President,
Yesterday afternoon on March 26 you held an online town hall meeting. You asked the internet blogger and on liners to submit questions to the Whitehouse, we responded to your request. Again the top question submitted to the polling was, Marijuana and re-legalizations’. This will make the second time we the people have come thru and brought a point to the main public view and you have blow it off. In fact this time you have not only said no but you have shown no regards for the true people hurting from this war on drugs. President Obama if you continue to laugh in our faces on this matter, you will lose the respect from the people who voted you into office.
Now I am proud you’re my President and I may not agree with something you are doing now in office. But I am ashamed you have chosen to treat us this way, as if I am a redheaded step child. These issues we have asked to you look at, you said it yourself…”A complete utter failure”…. With more then 20 million people affected by this war on drugs, and let me chime in here for a minute, 20 million is only for Marijuana. I don’t want the government to legalize ALL DRUGS. What we the people want is for you to reclassify marijuana and remove penalties from it and possible tax it!
Do I want coke, meth and heroin legal…..NO WAY I DON’T….President Obama you have said your self that we the people need more scientific studies …You want a cure for cancer. OK here is a chance that science can work.
President Obama your losing touch with your young voters… If you don’t do something before you start your campaigning for your 2nd term on this, young voters won’t favor you. Don’t be the old guy! Obama you wanted change and here it is…
NOW WORK FOR THE POPELE WHO VOTED YOU IN!
Do the right thing here!
Legalize it
I’m wondering when the masses will realize the illuminati WANTS us all to get cancer & die young, This is just the tip friends!
Search for the truth!!!