ITG

Arnold to explain his marijuana stance on Wednesday
05/21/09 | San Francisco Chronicle- SFGate | Joe Garofoli

Sure, we know that Guv Schwarzenegger wants to start a debate about legalizing marijuana. But does the Guv -- an on-screen spliff-sucker back in the day -- think that cannabis should be legalized, taxed, sold and consumed by adults? Just like Tom Ammiano said -- but doesn't have a lot of Sacramento support for yet.

The answer could come shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday when the Guv has agreed to answer questions posted on Digg, the online news site where the readers vote on which stories should be at the top of the queue. CNN will deliver the questions.

Now, we know that among their charms, stoners -- ahem, Cannabis Patriots -- have become geniuses at e-ballot box stuffing. Remember, when the Obama crowd called for questions from unwashed online masses during the transition period? And then again, when the O became president? Yup, dope legalization questions were near the top of both lists. And to his credit, The O answered the question, albeit not to the delight of the sticky-icky crowd.

NORML czar Allen St. Pierre just whispered to the Politics Blog that he wouldn't be suprised if another legalization question is near the top of Wednesday's list. In fact, it's already the No. 2 most popular question. But Allen has posted another more pointed one, which he asks the Green Bud Nation to rally behind:

Earlier this month, you said, 'I think it's time for a debate (regarding taxing and regulating the sale of cannabis for adults).' You made this statement in response to a recent Field poll showing that a majority of California voters support such a policy. When and where will this debate take place, and what steps will you take to assure that this topic is addressed in an open and objective forum."

Gov, what say you?

"I think he has already answered those questions," his spokesman Jeff Macedo told us. "If Californians really feel that this is something they want, then we should be talking about it."

But PERSONALLY, how does the gov feel about blunt-blowing? "Anything the governor answers, he's answering as the governor of California," Macedo said. And he doesn't think harvesting dope taxes is the answer to the state's money woes. As for St. Pierre's more detailed question, Macedo didn't know details of how the state's doob debate will be conducted.

Well that stomps on our buzz.

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Frid

I really dont like cali. THe whole socialism part.

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Join us in the chat! http://www.marijuana.com/chat

yoman3

Let's see if he answers the pot questions in a clear, rational matter, instead of brushing it off as a joke like Obama did.

But I have to admit some of the top questions are pretty funny. Like the japanese commercial one.

shears

hahaha some of the questions are hilarious.

anyone think this online questioning thing could be short lived for all politicians considering all the "stoner deck-stacking"? maybe i'm just paranoid but if everyone of these things has a marijuana question at the top of the list, i feel it's more likely for politicians to just dismiss it all together instead of actually believing what people want.

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Buzzby

I find it really annoying when reporters write cute about a serious issue. All of the cure little "stoner" jokes and use of stoner slang take away from the truth: this is an issue that strongly impacts the lives of millions of Americans. People go to jail. People get criminal records that detract from their lifetime ability to earn a living. Thousands of people are dying in drug violence along the Mexican border. People lose their jobs because they smoked a joint three weeks earlier.

This is serious stuff and ought to be taken seriously.

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the goober

Agreed but you have to keep in mind it's a positive shift from the BS the media was spouting about weed not too long ago.

mud_head

goober, both you and buzzby have a point. BUT buzzby is right; right now, making jokes about it is almost as bad, if not worse, than the gov straight lying about it. nowadays, when the government BS's something, everyone catches on, and doesnt let go. but if you turn something into a joke, its easy to forget about it, or just toss it to the side and ignore it, because you dont see it as a serious issue- its a joke, right? wrong. its a serious issue, and we dont need the press to treat it flippantly.

SacredJellybean

Marijuana smokers are a pretty small minority, so I don't think most people will take it seriously anyway. Those who don't smoke it see it as an indulgence, and therefore a subsection of them believe that it's not an important issue. Those who drink alcohol are a much larger minority and thus why its prohibition was not sustainable.

I don't like it much when people joke on it either, but it's not hard to see given how marijauna's role is portrayed in popular culture, not to mention how it was introduced to us as a nation (especially given the excessive usage of drugs during the 60s and 70s, a pendulum swing that went far enough that I think ultimately also hurt us as it caused people to view smoking pot in retrospect and associate it with doing harder drugs or laziness or immaturity or risky behavior in general).

The internet has been a huge help as any regular joe with a computer and internet connection can easily research it and pull up articles/resources from more than just the fucking ODNCP or sensationalist news or what have you.

Sorry, rambling. I'm eager to hear what he says, good or bad.

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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

Ska

That's a joke right? Small minority? Maybe as far as frequent smokers but it's valid enough to generalize and say most of the US has tried pot once in their life,

jpbc99

Something tells me that the govonator is gonna terminate his support for marijuana. This is a typical move for a politician.