Silverbackman

I'm not sure. He says he is in support of the state's rights to medical marijuana laws.....at the same time I read an article not too long ago that stated that Obama said New Orleans, Louisiana should have another "Just Say No" program. Does anyone know for sure?

Freedom_User

I for the life of me, cannot find the youtube video were he says we need to rethink the drug war. But, that could mean any number of things.

Trocisp

Ending the drug war is not even remotely the same as stopping prosecution of Medical Marijuana Patients.

Buzzby

Mr. Obama, along with all of the other Dem candidates, said that he would stop the DEA from interfering with medical marijuana patients and distribution. That's about it.

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FunkySkunky

I don't see the situation straying very far from where it is at the moment. Perhaps, as already stated, a bit more leniency, even protection, for medicinal patients. Obama's position on the matter might persuade a few more states to allow medicinal MJ, which indeed is a start... it's going to take a while to get this country to warm up, especially on the federal level.

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mtvesuvius

He originally supported decriminalization. However, he withdrew this once he started his campaign. Report Sees Shift in Obama Stance on Marijuana Policy

FunkySkunky

That's a good article. At least he is steadfast on making the laws a bit more lenient as to not have "first-time, nonviolent drug users in prison for very long periods of time". That's a very good idea. I hope he follows through with that one.

Andrew87

Most people (I would go as far as to say over 99%) in this situation don't do any time, let alone 'very long periods.' Even for "hard" drugs.

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The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants. -- Albert Camus

SacredJellybean

That sounds like a states issue, so I doubt it. What president would triumphantly announce a plan to impose a federal ban on mandatory minimum sentences for marijuana convictions? It's a small, special-interest issue that would be too controversial. IMO, we have to work harder at a state level before we can hope for anything in the eyes of federal law.

There's only so much he can do as president. He might put more competant people in charge of the ONDCP or end raids on MM patients, but that's about the best you can hope for. Anything else would be too controversial, including putting forth an executive order to end the War on Drugs.

We can hope, guys, but we won't be seeing an end to the War on Drugs any time soon. I wish it were so, but it's political suicide.

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"Every age has its peculiar folly and if Charles Mackay, the author of the 19th century classic, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds were alive today he would surely see 'cannabinophobia' as a popular delusion along with the 'tulipmania' and 'witch hunts' of earlier ages. ... I also believe that future historians will look at this epoch and recognize it as another instance of the 'madness of crowds.'"
~Dr. Lester Grinspoon

troublemaker_42

I would argue those stats. I know here in SD, possession of even residue left in a snort tube or baggie sends people to prison, often for periods of 5 years or better( I worked in a prison here in SD, and know this to be true not only from inmate accounts, but also from reading their files and sentences). 99% is a HUGE number, and if SD is even remotely on the same page as other states, its in no way accurate. I'd guess that 50%, even 75% of SD felony (any drug other than weed) offenders serve at least a significant stinty in county jail with most of them serving some prison time, often years. I know in major urban areas, it isn't feasible to lock every drug offender up, but in many areas it cqan and does happen on a very regular basis. If I were caught here with a tabof lsd or a gram of coke, you can count on me taking an extended vacation in the South Dakota State Pen

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Ted Nugent: "To my mind it is wholly irresponsible to go into the world incapable of preventing violence, injury, crime, and death. How feeble is the mindset to accept defenselessness. How unnatural. How cheap. How cowardly. How pathetic."


If total government control equals safety, why are prisons so dangerous?