Obama blows off drug reform question

politically he has more to lose than to gain by publicly being in favor of outright legalization...maybe he's just laying low on the issue until he can exact radical change in this area. and it has got to be radical, not incremental. Bill Richardson as commerce secretary gives me hope.

It is very disappointing that he totally brushed off that question. It is even more disappointing that in the beginning of the campaign he was making promises about ending the raids on MM Dispensaries and now he just seems like any other politician dodging the question as if it were a shoe and not even giving an intelligent answer.
Our voice has to be heard.Everybody that wants Marijuana legalized should just go to Washington in herds and protest while sparking it up. And if we have to be taken in handcuffs and in herds they wont be able to arrest all of us! In herds I tell you! And blow smoke in all of those cops and contact high the shit out of Washington.(takes bong hit) We should all do this just like in the 60's . It doesn't matter to me anymore what Obama wants or what the fat chief of police wants or what the czar wants it is about what we want people it is our right to smoke and that right was taken from us. This is not the end of this. This is just the beginning. There is a Real Million Marijuana March on DC - July 4th 2009 Everyone that truly feels passionate about ending the marijuana prohibiton laws should go to this event. http://current.com/items/89509842/the_real_million_marijuana_march_on_dc_july_4t... .

That kinda sucks but i guess i could understand why he wouldnt want to. Theres myriad reasons why he wouldnt even want to touch the subject too. I mean cmon the man is getting death threats from hardline neocon pricks already. Do you really think he needs to be hated by the anti-marijuana establishment too?

People used mary jane in the 20's openly! Legally! I don't get it, it costs America more to keep this weed illegal than it would if you made it legal. It's just a WEED! More people would be happy if it was legal, but I guess the American dream these days is to be unhappy.
Mentioned earlier in this post, this weed is a good source for bio fuels, RENEWABLE ENERGY.

He's not against it, there's just more important shit to worry about right now. I'm gonna go lite up a bowl now.

ughh.

Doesn't sound like he blew it off. Sounds like he answered the question. I am a big supporter of legalization and a member of Norml. I am also a HUGE Obama supporter. So I too got real excited when he said he wouldn't waste DEA resources to go after pot heads but lets face reality, we all knew this back tracking was going to happen. Look at Bill Clinton. He was the first President to admit to smoking weed since it's been illegal. (Washington, Adams, and Jefferson use to talk about how much they loved to smoke weed all the time.) So everyone naturally thought that Clinton would lighten up on drug enforcement. Instead he enacted drug policies that put more people away for weed then Nixon, Reagan, and H.W. combined. Jimmy Carter almost legalized marijuana until Republicans got on his case about it and then he turned around and passed measures that would be the foundation for Reagans "War on Drugs". Democrats do not like looking weak on drugs. Infact, they go overkill just to keep pace with Republicans. Obama has a hill to climb with this issue being that he is very open about his past. I don't see any true drug reform in the next 4 years. I hope I'm wrong.

If he was about Change, he would realize he needs to step up to the plate now. I hope he has a country to lead in a month.

BO's got enough to worry about, dude!

the amount of money spent on the war on drugs (a war against nature) could have fed and clothes every man and woman on the planet. cannabis makes you think, that is why it is illegal, governments do not like people that can think (and therefore point out their errors). Alchohol is legal because it makes you stupid, ill, angry, and emotional.

Yes, hemp can be used as an energy source, but hemp and marijuana are so controversial in this country that Obama needs to tackle the bigger things at hand first.

I don't see Marijuana being legalized for a long time. Decriminalization is a a good way to start, but smoking pot is still a big taboo here.

As if legalizing it will make it safer.

Cars are legal and they are no safer than most any weapon people can use to harm people. MPG doesn't rise with each year as it should. It's just a waste of words to think the Government could make things better via it being legal.

"When I was a kid, I inhaled... frequently.... that was the point"

Decriminalization is a possibility from Obama, but I wouldn't bet on it until the latter part of his presidency. Mind you, he's playing with fire on such a topic....

If we look at the "Organic Tolerance" policy of Holland and the results there, the "War on Drugs" here in the US has been an obvious failure. Obama will eventually tackle this issue. Have faith. He has to stop the end of the world first.

I think he has a few more important things to worry about then the legalization of Marijuana. For example: The economy, the environment, the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, escalation of force by Russia.... to name just a few. Let's give the guy a few years to clear this mess up before we start lobbying to get weed legalized.

Obama is a huge hypocrite if he chooses to ignore this question. During the debates he said that he would do anything within his power to reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of energy. Legalizing industrial hemp would be a huge step in moving American renewable energy production into the 21st century. I would say that legalizing industrial hemp could be the defining issue of this generation if we the people could be smart enough to wake up and demand that politicians stop marginalizing this issue. Obama's marginalization of this issue shows his allegiance to the nuclear and GMO lobbies, both with strong ties to his home state of Illinois, that paid to get him elected. Industrial hemp could save our economy and the planet. The health risks of smoking pot pale in comparison to the health risks of drinking. Hemp seed is the most complete, most soluble protein found in nature. Hemp will grow just about anywhere with limited water, fertilizer, and pesticides. The reason that politicians don't like the hemp issue is because if industrial hemp were legalized then the world would begin to move back to a local economy where money stays within the community instead of flowing into the pockets of global industry. Industrial hemp doesn't need to be a fertilizer and pesticide dependent GMO crop like all of the other shit that is being sold to farmers around the world. WAKE UP, GET STONED if you want to, AND REALIEZ HOW MUCH THE MARGINALIZATION OF THE HEMP ISSUE IS KEEPING THE PEOPLE OF THIS PLANET OPPRESSED!! I can't yell about this loud enough. If you want to get really real then read this article in it's entirety.
http://www.scienceray.com/Biology/Botany/A-Brief-History-of-Hemp.277027

It's just a plant for hells sake. The taxes from it could do a lot of good.

not to mention is backing the legalization of marijuana a good move politically? methinks this is a pretty polarizing subject. its a 2nd term issue if at all...

Marijuana isn't that big of a deal but a lot of people think it is. And compared to all the shit that's going on right now, why should we have legalizing weed as the top priority? I mean, I'm all for it, but there ARE more important things.

On top of that, the clear lack of effort or professionalism in addressing the question, the possibility of millions of jobs and $$$, and any info as to why the administration believes such is just apalling as well.

How can people say this is not a relevant issue? That there are other more important issues? Complain about education and spending? Well look at the BILLIONS of YOUR TAX DOLLARS that are wasted arresting almost 900,000 INNOCENT Americans every year.

Stop the damn prohibition and use those BILLIONS of $$$$ to fund your mathematics for elementary and middle school education. Or for alternative energy research....i.e. hemp or other biofuels.

I think that is complete horseshit to blow off the top question on his online poll, I know the political clout that it would take is not worth the effort but he could show supporters of legalization that he at least backs what has been done in 13 states already.

Legalize it for the economy's sake I say.

Almost 1/3 of the Nation has entered into open rebellion of the laws of our Union and has the sympathy and support of at least another 1/3 of the Nation. Any government that casts unjust laws makes criminals of it citizens. The spineless Politians have sold our rights, our economy and our environment. They cause this division of our more perfect union, which is a fortunate thing, because a great change like this can only come after great agitation. Hopefully it won’t cost 620,000 lives like the Civil War did!
Opps, I forget, how many Americans were arrested last years for marijuana? NORML said there were 872,721 marijuana arrests on record for 2007; a few of my friends are included in that number.
How much further must we travel down this path before we realize that the Drug War is really our largest Civil War ever? Puff, Puff……

Besides hemp is our best supplier of biofuel and if Obama will not remove the Federal Government from our path then he was just "blowing smoke" and deservers the civil distress. I heard a Million Marijuana Smoker March on Washington is planned for July 09. It will only get worse till the government changes!

Puff, Puff......

I doubt he wants to use any of his political mojo for marijuana reform until after he tackles the less controversial issues such as medical reform.

While national reform would be nice, it clear the war is being waged at the state level, and with success. Once enough states have made significant reforms, the fed will follow.

Legalization of Marijuana is a simple yes and no question. It is a complex issue where states rights are often at the top of the issue. It would be very difficult to pass legislation at a Federal level to legalize it.

I think that if the economy wasn't crashing, two wars and health care reform on the table for any president to consider.

ummmm i think he has way importanter things 2 worry about....

Obama's got a lot on his plate right now.

Hopefully he will reconsider this question in the future.
GO Obama!