Pompo

Examining the Obama Marijuana Position
What Makes You Think Obama Will Legalize Marijuana?
3/27/09|Associated Content| by Sylvia Cochran



The history of the Obama marijuana position shows that he is in favor of decriminalization but at the same time doesn't want to legalize marijuana. Why are so many voters surprised?

January 2004 - Will Obama Legalize Marijuana?

A YouTube recording shows a younger Barack Obama discussing the failure of the war on drugs. He suggests that he is in favor of decriminalizing marijuana; however, he does not want to legalize it. What is the happy middle ground?

July 2008 -- Obama Marijuana Take against a Failed War on Drugs

In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, then-candidate Obama mentions a pattern change when it comes to combating drug use. He determines that moving the issue into the public health arena - much like smoking tobacco or using a seat belt - rather than letting the legal system deal with it is bound to have the best results.

December 2008 - Voters Want to Know: Will Obama Legalize Marijuana?

With his groundbreaking use of the Internet to connect with voters, the Obama campaign took a question posted on their website. It dealt with the legalization of marijuana for the sake of taxing and properly regulating it. The unequivocal response was that then president-elect Barack Obama was against legalizing marijuana.

March 2009 - Obama Online Town Hall Meeting Once Against Brings Up the Obama Marijuana Stance

There is nothing new on the western front, and no matter how many times Barack Obama is asked whether or not he will legalize marijuana, the answer is a consistent no. It is interesting to note that the specific Obama online town hall meeting question dealing with pot is - at least according to CNN - virtually identical to the one asked on the Change.gov site toward the end of last year.

Is the Democratic Party Divided when it comes to Legalizing Pot?

San Francisco, California democrat Tom Ammiano has come forward with a controversial Marijuana Bill that proposes to legalize cannabis while also imposing a cannabis tax. Public sentiment is divided about the legalization of the drug, although more and more voters appear to be in favor of it as this point.

This stands in sharp contrast to the president's position on the issue, and has more than just a few of those in favor of legalizing marijuana wondering just where the change is.

Frylok

Well at least he's consistent. I don't doubt one iota that The President is under any illusions as to what marijuana is all about, and that he thinks the laws against marijuana are unjust and uncalled for. The reason he will maintain the stand that he does not favor legalization is that it would be political suicide, even today, to say that the President of The United States favors Marijuana legalization.

Now, on the other hand, if, by some miracle of public outcry and hard lobbying, Congress were to put a Bill on the President's desk that removed all federal penalties for the use and possession of Marijuana by adults, and setting forth a rigid regulation and taxation framework, I believe that President Obama would sign it. If the Bill made it that far the press would be all over it, and the public would , necessarily, overwhelmingly support it, so his signature would be a political asset rather than a liability.

President Obama always has to be thinking about the NEXT election, in 2012. He can't afford to give the Republicans any easy attacks, like being soft on drugs, unless that's the overwhelming public opinion. Our job, as reformers is to continue the incredible progress we're making in tipping public opinion our way. The other option is that we get another conservative Republican in the White House in 2012, and I think we all know that is utterly unacceptable.

Best case scenario: The Republicans throw themselves in front of the reform train, not realizing that the drug war is over and talking themselves right out of office.

Worst case scenario: We get another George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan in the White House in 2012 and they dial up the drug war, on steroids, for another 80 years.

I keep saying it, now is the time to act. Blog, talk, give, call your representives, do something, it all adds up.

Buzzby

Frylok has said it all. It is not yet politically feasible for the President of the United States to come out in favor of legalizing marijuana. I agree that if he was presented with a legalization bill passed by the House and Senate, he would sign it.

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