Community | April 03, 2009 | 41 comments

I smoke pot, and I like it

source: http://www.theweek.com/article/index/94981/I_smoke_pot_and_I_like_it

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ras_menelik
I smoke pot, and I like it

"The answer is no, I don't think that is a good strategy to grow our economy." President Obama said it with a chuckle last week at a town hall-style forum. The idea was for Obama to answer some questions about the economy submitted to the White House website. The most popular ones all had something to do with the virtues of legalizing and taxing marijuana. “I don’t know what this says about the online audience,” Obama joshed, and the good Americans assembled at the forum shared a little laugh. What does it say about the online audience? Maybe it says that advocates of marijuana legalization have hope that a president who once inhaled will, even in the middle of a recession, devote some attention to our country's disastrous drug policies.

Have you heard of Santiago Meza Lopez? They call him “The Soupmaker.” In January he confessed to Mexican authorities that he had dissolved over 300 dead human bodies in acid. There’s a lot of money to be made in America’s black market for drugs and Mexican suppliers are willing to kill a lot of people to control those markets and capture the gains. Conservative estimates put the death toll of the war between rival Mexican gangs at over 5,000 in the last year alone. When you kill so many people it’s hard to know what to do with all of the rotting bodies. One way to handle the problem is to call in the Soupmaker. Six hundred American dollars per corpse.

Did you know that the United States of America, the Land of the Free, puts a larger portion of its population behind bars than any country on earth? Thanks in large part to the War on Drugs, Americans lock more of their own in cages than do the thuggish Russians or those “Islamofascist” Saudis. As it happens, American drug prohibition and sentencing policies hit poor black men the hardest, devastating already disadvantaged black families and communities—a tragic, mocking contrast to the achievement of Obama’s election. Militarized police departments across the nation month after month kick down the wrong doors, terrify innocent families, shoot lawful citizens, and often kill the family dog.

So why is Obama laughing? To be fair, in 2004, Obama called the War on Drugs “a complete failure.” And he’s much saner about pot than most politicians. He has in the past called for decriminalization of marijuana and his Justice Department has promised the DEA will ease up on medical marijuana dispensaries that comply with state law (though the Feds just cracked down on a cannabis coop in San Francisco). Sure, Obama’s got a lot on his hands these days. But his dismissive snicker reflects a sadly common nonchalance toward America’s disastrous experiment in prohibition. This is a “war” that has not only failed utterly to shut down the market for drugs, but has, on the way, perpetuated the shameful American legacy of racial stratification, eroded the rights and safety of American citizens, and fomented a civil war on our southern border in which knock-on markets for assassins and corpse liquidation specialists flourish. To call this “complete failure” is to put on a happy face.
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41 comments // I smoke pot, and I like it

  • Ish05
  • ejasun
    • 0
      ejasun  
    • Image

    • ................ we need cops to fight terrorist not families & Friends ...........
      YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TO END TODAY'S FAILED PROHIBITION NOW:
      COPS SAY LEGALIZE DRUGS!
      ASK US WHY
      After nearly four decades of fueling the U.S. policy of a war on drugs with over a trillion tax dollars and 37 million arrests for nonviolent drug offenses, our confined population has quadrupled making building prisons the fastest growing industry in the United States. More than 2.2 million of our citizens are currently incarcerated and every year we arrest an additional 1.9 million more guaranteeing those prisons will be bursting at their seams. Every year we choose to continue this war will cost U.S. taxpayers another 69 billion dollars. Despite all the lives we have destroyed and all the money so ill spent, today illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent, and far easier to get than they were 35 years ago at the beginning of the war on drugs. Meanwhile, people continue dying in our streets while drug barons and terrorists continue to grow richer than ever before. We would suggest that this scenario must be the very definition of a failed public policy. This madness must cease!

      http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

    • 3 years ago
  • ruberube
    • 0
      ruberube  

    • Try to look at this issue from a different vantage point...
      Take two states...
      say California and Texas.
      California legalizes THC...
      Texas crimalizes THC even more so...
      Hell dont stop there.
      Cal gets stem cell research, green technology, pro choice, regulation of guns and the financial sectors etc...
      Now Texas does all the opposites- no gun control, no green tech, no stem cell or science money, etc etc

      What state do you feel will benefit or slide into the ditch?
      Political conservatism is killing the world!

    • 3 years ago
  • stephenthomson
    • 0
      stephenthomson  

    • by the way, I really want to make a video on this subject but have not yet thought of a creative angle to bring to the discussion. if anyone has ideas, please get in touch.

    • 3 years ago
  • stephenthomson
    • 0
      stephenthomson  

    • Obama will concede, if the pressure continues.

      like the article says, he confesses to pot and even cocaine use, but not without the political caveat of regret. makes sense. the initiative has to come from us, not him.

    • 3 years ago
  • cabinettags
    • 0
      cabinettags  

    • There are 2 "Best Things" the pot smokers of this country can do.

      1. Refuse to shut up.

      2. Continue to push state legislators.

      The people don't have the power to make this happen. We're laughed at; as was just demonstrated. Down played. But the states have the power. Look at Mass.

      Never mind the nay-sayers. Continue to push. Everyone that can do so go to DC this coming July 4th. Nothing happens fast; but we can't let them silence us - with laughter or anything else. The more that stand up, the more that will come out of the closet.

      Responsibility? yes. Prohibition? phewwwww

      The days of stoners and hippies are past. The truth is already out there. Let us adopt the quote from John Paul Jones. "I have not yet begun to fight."

    • 3 years ago
  • artemis6
    • 0
      artemis6  

    • Common sense dictates it should be legal . How great must the pressure be from big oil and big pharma ! Obama is intelligent . He knows who got him where he is , besides the people . Only by lessening the influence of big pharma and big oil , will it ever have a chance . Obama cannot do that directly . As much as possible the public must turn away from these corporations . Do what you can to not support them . Try a natropath , alternative healers . Alternative energy , there are lots of resources online . This is how you can fight for freedom ...

    • 3 years ago
  • humanpasta
  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  

    • I mostly support Obama (I am independent), but I also know he's not the answer to everything. He looks awesome compared to Bush. Some things like his mocking response to legitimate cannabis questions worry me, because I think he knows better. To me, this means he is either playing politics, not doing what is right, or I am wrong that he knows better. Either way, I don't like it. It's time to base American policies on facts, not propaganda, ignorance, or political career goals.

      ADDENDUM:
      Also I am bothered by his refusal to full-on investigate the former administration for war crimes.

    • 3 years ago
  • keviar
    • 0
      keviar  

    • Obama isn't a saviour we perceive him to be. He is one step up from former pres Bush.

      Its really hard to tell whether or not Obama has been doing a good job or not.

      Their have been many scandalous things especially in the economy that obama simply ignored.

    • 3 years ago
  • ruberube
    • 0
      ruberube  
    • keviar:

      I agree I supported Obama with time and money...
      now he looks like one step better than Bush.
      A centrist leaning to the right!

      I really belived he would be more progressive?

    • 3 years ago
  • Mikeysfake1
    • 0
      Mikeysfake1  

    • Legalizing marijuana doesn't fall into Obamas campaign investors agenda. I'm sure Obama would change things if he thought for himself.

    • 3 years ago
  • nursediesel
  • davzap
    • 0
      davzap  

    • Potheads for varying reasons do not take the effort to put into legalization. For example letter writing and phone calling to legislators.
      Visit Marijuana Policy Project website and sign letters there for legislators.>MPP.ORG
      Do something!

    • 3 years ago
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  

    • Slarabee, Yes, I agree it's not a good thing for the government to outlaw what we do in our personal lives. We should fight for the right to do these things until they are legal. Flagrantly breaking the law is not a good roll model for the young people around you.
      Show them how to do it the right way.
      I think we should be able to choose to do what we want in the privacy of our homes.
      On the otherhand my youngest brother was just recently killed by a repeated drug offender who was high and plastered when he smashed my brothers steering collumn into his chest. This kid had had his license revoked and just downed 7-11(his testimony) mixed drinks within the hour before.And had weed, a scale and other paraphinelia on him. And he had cannabis in his blood. He was newly out of rehab and off methadone and just went over board. My brother had 4 children.
      If the young man had stayed home and not broken the law he would not have hit and killed my brother.
      Why didn't he just stay home and do his partying?
      He was irresponsible.
      Can you understand my point?
      We should be free to do what we want BUT responsible about it.

    • 3 years ago
  • H0M3GR0WN
    • 0
      H0M3GR0WN  
    • Image

    • My whole family smokes and likes Marijuana/Cannabis for different reasons.

      I'm smoking as I type this. And before I leave for work!

      I deliver pizza's for a living while going to college! Smoking in between school and work helps me de-stress to focus on the task at hand, DRIVING!

      I've been smoking pot since I had my Driver's license, accident free for 8 years of being high and driving! Makes me a more relaxed and logical driver. Nixes my road rage( which is bad and scares friends and family) in the butt. Enough to where I'm only worrying about safety on the road!

      No Tickets, No Accidents, No STRESS!

    • 3 years ago
  • ii386
  • Ish05
  • ii386
    • 0
      ii386  
    • H0M3GR0WN:

      actually im a college student making about double what any of my friends make doing my cool pizza job. its no career but an enjoyable job. what's your job? does it make you feel awesome about not smoking herb?

    • 3 years ago
  • Ish05
  • oneofthree
    • 0
      oneofthree  

    • i'm with you godzilla; obama shouldn't just laugh this suggestion off. cash crop, fewer people in jail, fewer money going to the penal system, more money for education/environment, less violence in mexico - this pot thing could be really valuable and not just because 'internet stoners' say so. logic says so, a@$hole.

    • 3 years ago
  • MinneapolisMafia
  • lovelander
    • 0
      lovelander  
    • MinneapolisMafia:

      I have been wondering what kind of constituency would elect a tard like Bachmann - I now have the answer.

      A better education a little critical thinking will help you filter out the propaganda.

      But for you I think it is too late. Too bad so sad. Who is pulling your strings?

    • 3 years ago
  • MinneapolisMafia
    • 0
      MinneapolisMafia  
    • MinneapolisMafia:

      As usual with the Obama supporter people, name calling.... sad. I have researched thousands of hours to try to find the truth of our world history as it pertains to war, money, government.... And I find Alex Jones and his http://www.infowars.com/ staff to be right. Now, rather than name calling as if your a child how about watching the film and providing substance filled facts to prove it wrong?

    • 3 years ago
  • lovelander
    • 0
      lovelander  
    • MinneapolisMafia:

      Don't cry. Didn't your mom teach you "that sticks and stone can break your bones, but names can never hurt you"

      Alex Jones is Rush Limbaugh they are one and same preaching to audiences that swallow their opinions as TRUTH.

      The burden of facts is on you bud. You wrote "Barak Obama is a slave puppet for his New World Order handlers." Really?! Slave?! Who are the handlers? What is the New World Order? The burden of proof is on you to provide "substance filled facts to prove it correct"

      Without substance all you posted was a commercial, which is exactly what you handlers wanted. Well done!

    • 3 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
    • 0
      Ihatethemall  
    • MinneapolisMafia:

      Fuck that, Alex Jones is nothing like rush limbaugh. Rush is a big bag of wind. Alex is much more truthful. Just because you are to scared or to stupid to see the truth for what it is even when it's shoved down your throat doesnt mean it isn't the truth. Go back to your pen, the sheep hearder is calling you.

    • 3 years ago
  • MinneapolisMafia
    • 0
      MinneapolisMafia  
    • MinneapolisMafia:

      "We are grateful to The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years. But, the work is now much more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national autodetermination practiced in past centuries." David Rockefeller, founder of the Trilateral Commission, in an address to a meeting of The Trilateral Commission, in June, 1991.
      http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=new+world+order&...

      and it goes on and on and on and on......

    • 3 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
  • Godzilla555
  • ras_menelik
    • 0
      ras_menelik  

    • I Would give up medical and/or recreational THC today to see Hemp and ONLY Hemp used to heal the only home we have!

      to replace
      OIL burning
      FOREST killing

      to clean
      TERRA
      AIR

      for the cure
      THC is only one of 100s of compounds with wonderful values that replacing ALL diesel fuel on earth with HEMP OIL(a simple task) would take us back a century to the time of hardly any cancer in a few decades.

      (pipe dreams? if spilling fossilized oil fuel on Terra is certified as toxic punishable in jail, who would ever consider vaporizing it back in to the atmosphere that we NEED to breath every second is a good idea WAKEUP!!!)

    • 3 years ago
  • krush_productions
  • kcfoxie
    • 0
      kcfoxie  
    • ras_menelik:

      Hemp and Soy mixed to be a biodiesel; some say hemp cannot be cultivated to produce enough seeds for oil alone, however like soy the seed meal can be used to feed animals like soy.

      regardless my hemp socks just turned 6 and I can't keep a pair of cotton socks a year. that alone tells me why industrial hemp was criminalized, it didn't fall into the planned obsolescence business model.

    • 3 years ago
  • cabinettags
  • Ish05
  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  

    • Very good article. The fact that it is illegal is a huge stain on America. Prohibition is handed down to us on a flaming sleigh of lies and propaganda. I do not see a great need to blindly obey every single misconceived law that we have, especially laws steeped in corruption. I am no sheep, and I have but one life to live. I don't have the time to wait for human beings to overcome ignorance.

    • 3 years ago
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  

    • Wilkinson gives the reasons this is a back and forth subject. Yes, Obamma got 'free the weed' voters, maybe surreptitiously. He will, though, continue to be hounded by "pot-heads' until he addresses the issue in a satisfactory manner.
      But remember, it still is illegal as a recreational drug!

    • 3 years ago
  • jubal
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  

    • As a "flower child' of the 60's, I've heard this argument many times. The Drug War has been an abyssmal failure. It is designed to produce revenue to the civil authorities by confiscation of assets. While supporting a semi-military class of civil servants that operate above the law. Just as Prohibition created a criminal sub-class that eventually spread into mainstream America, so has the "War on Drugs". However, there is still some degree of danger when using even the most mildly intoxicating substance. Just my thoughts, I do not have a good answer to the issue. Generally speaking, I do not support gov't. intervention into private decisions; whether drug use, alcohol, health, adult content publications, or any other life decisions that only harm the decision maker.

    • 3 years ago
  • ras_menelik
    • 0
      ras_menelik  
    • Image

    • Barack Obama inhaled. “The point was to inhale,” he once smartly observed. But Obama also knows how to get elected president. Sadly, at this point in history, it remains a political liability to have become intoxicated on certain safe but illegal and stigmatized substances, like marijuana. Obama has said his past drug use was a regrettable youthful indiscretion, and he might even believe it. But why regret it? He managed to become president, didn’t he? It’s easy to laugh off the folks who jammed the White House switchboard when we imagine them as pranking “stoners,” and this picture of “the online audience” concedes the harmlessness of marijuana users while refusing to take them seriously. But why not imagine them as regular folks motivated by a love of liberty, justice, peace, and, sure, maybe a taste for grass? Why not imagine them as successful professionals, unlike Barack Obama only in political ambition?

      Marijuana is neither evil nor dangerous. Scientists have proven its medical uses. It has spared millions from anguish. But the casual pleasure marijuana has delivered is orders of magnitude greater than the pain it has assuaged, and pleasure matters too. That’s probably why Barack Obama smoked up the second and third times: because he liked it. That’s why tens of millions of Americans regularly take a puff, despite the misconceived laws meant to save us from our own wickedness.

      The Atlantic Monthly’s Andrew Sullivan has been documenting on his blog the stories of typical, productive Americans—kids’ football coaches, secretaries of the PTA—who smoke marijuana because they like to smoke marijuana, but who understandably fear emerging fully from the “cannabis closet.” This is a profoundly necessary idea. If we’re to begin to roll back our stupid and deadly drug war, the stigma of responsible drug use has got to end, and marijuana is the best place to start. The super-savvy Barack Obama managed to turn a buck by coming out of the cannabis (and cocaine) closet in a bestselling memoir. That’s progress. But his admission came with the politicians’ caveat of regret. We’ll make real progress when solid, upstanding folk come out of the cannabis closet, heads held high.

      So here we go. My name is Will Wilkinson. I smoke marijuana, and I like it.

      - WILL WILKINSON is a research fellow at the Cato Institute and editor of Cato Unbound. He writes on topics ranging from Social Security reform, happiness and public policy, economic inequality, and the political implications of new research in psychology and economics. He is a regular commentator on public radio's Marketplace and his writing has appeared in The Economist, Reason, Forbes, Slate, Policy, Prospect, and many other publications.

    • 3 years ago
  • DaShanti
    • 0
      DaShanti  
    • ras_menelik:

      I AGREE WITH THE TITLE BECAUSE I DO IT....... IT'S NOT LIKE ANY OTHER MAN MAD SUBSTANCE OUT THERE IT'S NATURAL AND WHEN USED IN THE FORM IT'S A MEDICAL HELP...... EVERYONE GET'S SO UP TIGHT ABOUT IT BUT NOONE SAIDS ANYTHING WHEN PEOPLE ARE POPPIN SCRIPT DRUGS LIKE SKITTLES..... THAT IS MORE HARMFUL TO EBERYONE THAN ANYTHING ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS THEY HAVE IT HELPS ONE THING ABOUT CAN HARM YOU AS WELL....... I WOULD KNOW I STUDIED IT..... I FEEL IT SHOULD BE MADE LEGAL AND THEN THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS JUST LIKE US CAN WALK FREE TAKING OUR DAILY PUFFS SO TO SAY........

    • 3 years ago
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