White House: "Marijuana should remain illegal"

[MannyGoldstein]

From today's NY Times:

The White House Tries, Fails to Explain Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal

No sooner had the Times published its opening editorials advocating legalization of marijuana than the White House fired back with an unconvincing response on its website. It argued that marijuana should remain illegal because of public health problems “associated” (always a slippery word) with increased marijuana use.

Careful readers will immediately see the White House statement for what it is: A pro forma response to a perceived public relations crisis, not a full-fledged review of all the scientific evidence, pro and con. The White House is actually required by law to oppose all efforts to legalize a banned drug.

Besides, it is hypocritical for the White House, whose chefs brew beer for the president, to oppose legalizing marijuana, which poses far less risk to consumers and society than does alcohol. Two recipes for the White House brew are posted on its website under the headline “Ale to the Chief.”

The White House lumped its public health argument under four main headings. Before addressing them individually, we should note that there was an enormous upsurge in marijuana use in the 1970s. So far as we know, no one has claimed that it produced calamitous health or societal harm in subsequent decades. The main metric that soared was arrests for possession of marijuana.

I guess smoking pot is more of a threat to society than war crimes and lying to Congress.

[Politicalboi]

1. So sad

Hillary says she NEVER smoked pot.

Are we going to have to go through this shit again. Her school chums says she ALWAYS wanted to smoke weed. Is she going to stand in our way in 2016. Do we have to go state by state with the fear of Feds coming in and taking it all away. I'm so sick of alcohol being praised and weed being laughed at and considered a health risk. Such bullshit.

[Jack Rabbit]

21. Hilary said that, did she?

Do you know anybody who believes that? If so, have them give me a PM. I've some beachfront property by the Sea of Tranquility that might interest any one who believes that.

[billhicks76]

66. White House Is Illegal

Sad but true. At this point they are all criminals. They defend and commit war crimes but target a harmless flower to enrich their buddies and empower cops on the backs of ruined families. Obama is either an idiot or hoping Republicans gain power again because I know many people who will vote on the legalization issue alone (and against NSA too) and Rand Paul is the only one smart enough to get this????

[BrotherIvan]

2. It will be a sandwich crisis

The guy at the sandwich shop was so stoned, he totally messed up my sandwich. I mean, what is the world coming to?

[MannyGoldstein]

4. What if it's a toasted sub, the toasted guy loses

his balance, and - bang! - the hard, sharp end of the sub goes through your eye?

It would suck! Very, very dangerous!

[BrotherIvan]

5. What if the stoner who's making my coffee

Puts in soy milk instead of almond milk? The horror!

[NightWatcher]

7. alcohol is legal, but you can't be drunk at work.

If you show up to the sub shop drunk or stoned, you're sent home.

There is not going to be a rash of people stoned in public anymore than there are now.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. But we can smell alcohol on a person's breath

And send them home.

I defy you to detect if a "toker" has "lit up" by their smell.

[NightWatcher]

9. look in their eyes and judge their behavior

[shanti]

69. Visine. N/t

[easychoice]

31. not a problem at all manny.

give them a shower and change their clothes.I will smell it.

[BobbyBoring]

35. Don't defy too hard!

The high test of today really clings to the user!

[rhett o rick]

50. Maybe but it's easy to tell a "toker" by their smile.

[grahamhgreen]

60. Yup! There's is illegal:p

[rppper]

75. Other stoners know Manny, other stoners know...

You just....know.

[PoliticAverse]

3. I guess some people need to evolve more on this issue. n/t

[customerserviceguy]

37. Exactly

Maybe Joe Biden will give him a push in the right direction, like he did with equal marriage.

I don't know why Joe's numbers are so bad, he'd be a decent President. I'd venture to guess that most of what Barack Obama's gotten through Congress was because of Biden's hard work and connections there. He certainly paid his dues in government.

[stillwaiting]

56. Joe pushed bankruptcy reform that has been a horrible anchor on the struggling working class. nt

[customerserviceguy]

62. How so?

I'm not aware of any bankruptcy reform that has particularly affected the working class.

[MADem]

63. He's from the Credit Card State. That's his "anchor." Those guys kept him in the Senate for years.

We won't even go into his rather serious medical issues, involving brain surgeries (plural) or his garrulous nature, or that Neil Kinnock misstep--all things that would be brought up and re-hashed.

I like Joe, I think he's done a great job as VP. Of course, some say he would have preferred SECSTATE. He has a deep love for foreign policy, and he's got a good mind for that stuff.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. So we can expect repubs to take the opposite position.

head hurt. head really hurt...

[n2doc]

70. Rand Paul is already there

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/03/24/1767241/rand-paul-is-right-on-marijuana-and-that-should-scare-democrats-into-action/

Only a matter of time until the rest of the 'libertarian' wing of the repubs all come out the same way.

And yes, it sucks. i despise Paul. Even if he is right on this particular issue.

[JaneyVee]

10. BOO :(

[leftstreet]

11. Democrats. Arguing against pot prior to an election

Guess they wanna make sure Hillary gets her OBSTRUCTIONIST !!11 Congress

What utter shite

[CanonRay]

12. So much for change you can believe in...

Business as usual is more like it.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. "The White House is actually required by law to oppose all efforts to legalize a banned drug."

Bingo.

[passiveporcupine]

20. I was going to highlight that too.

Just ignore anything coming from the white house. It will not be up to them. The people are changing, and the prison issue and racial aspect need to be addressed.

[conservaphobe]

26. Don't ruin a good Obama punching session with facts.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

29. Sorry,...I should be stoned.

[christx30]

32. Hopefully it's like

Willie Wonka trying to stop Agustus Gloop from going into the chocolate river.
"No. Stop. Wait."

[Hoppy]

33. Bullroar. The White House is supposed to follow the will of Congress.

So they are supposed to opposed legalization of marij because Congress wants its use to be illegal.

--- then why did the White House go against Congress's will and not support marriage equality?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

45. It's still on paper as against the law so on paper the Prez has to play the game.

[Hoppy]

49. Then why didn't he play the game with gay marriage?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

59. Maybe because DOMA was just an act.

[MannyGoldstein]

34. We were assured they had to fight for DOMA, too

Which they did.

Until they didn't.

IIRC, they had a sudden revelation that DOMA was unconstitutional, so they didn't have to defend it.

[joshcryer]

41. Obama acted within 3 months of the filing of the Windsor suit.

That's lightning quick in bureaucratic terms, especially when you consider the holidays shortly followed, so it was really more like 2 months of legalese and wrangling.

This was two years before DOMA was actually ruled unconstitutional, btw. It was an open and shut case.

[MFrohike]

43. That's an illogical talking point

No law passed by Congress can require a president not to just enforce it, but to actively oppose its repeal. Forget the free speech issue, it would be a clear and blatant violation of separation of powers. The president would be duty-bound to ignore such a law.* Whoever made this argument is either an idiot or assumes everyone else is an idiot who's completely unfamiliar with the constitution.

*This doesn't mean that Congress couldn't limit the ability of federal employees to advocate for repeal in their capacity as federal employees.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

46. I would have released that statement printed on ZigZag papers.

[TeamPooka]

14. Prohibition is a failed public policy, again. nt

[Scuba]

15. Hey, the War on Drugs is working exactly as it was intended ...

[blkmusclmachine]

17. ^This.^ Somebody's bilking the Gov't for a TON of moolah!!!

And, yeah, I'm not so sure our bi-partisan DEMS wouldn't love a Republican Senate next year. That would make it sooooo much easier to "bi-partisan" away all those DEM Party Planks they love to give faint lip service to!!!

[Initech]

27. $10 says that the CCA has something to do with this.

After all, they profit when more people are incarcerated, don't ya know.

[steve2470]

16. sigh it needs to be legal nt

[rickyhall]

18. Big pharma behind it all

Best anti-depressant I ever found is pot, it's nonaddicting and I can grow it in my backyard. Can't have that can we? Oh, no, no politician can survive without "soft money" (bribery). And I get so tired of drug pushers on teevee?

[rppper]

78. Don't count out the alcohol industry...

Most of my drinking friends would give up booze the second it was legalized...I've got a feeling jack Daniels distilleries is aware of that too...it wouldn't surprise me at all if they weren't already setting up the systems in place for when it does happen...they have the marketing and tax structure already there. It would be an easy entry for any of them...it's closer than I've ever seen in my 47 yrs...keep the faith!

[navarth]

19. Political Whoredom

doesn't look good on anybody. Our side, their side, any side. Political Whoredom is fucking disgreaceful. We can do better than this.

[WinkyDink]

22. "....because the Party that de-criminalizes it will lose the next Presidency."

Is the real reasoning.

[MannyGoldstein]

23. Most Americans favor legalization.

And the percentage will only increase with time.

[WinkyDink]

79. And I'm one of'em! But politicians get skeered.

[Comrade Grumpy]

24. To be fair, this is the drug czar's office, not Obama. It's their job to say shit like that.

[raindaddy]

25. It's not like this current crop of "leaders" have their own house in order.

I wish they would spend more time regulating the banks, polluting petrochemical industries and the special interest buyout of our government than regulating an herb that's been mainstream for over forty years.

They're probably afraid that people will become "distracted" and instead of letting the blow dried TV talking heads tell them what to think they'll take more walks, listen to more music and maybe even start reading again. They might even begin to feel that red, white and blue shaft George Carlin warned them about.

[tridim]

28. You should file a lawsuit Manny.

The headline is: "The White House Tries, Fails to Explain Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal"

Not "White House: "Marijuana should remain illegal""

DERP

[easychoice]

30. yeah.well lying your asses off to the American public for 100yr's.

Ought to be a Felony...

[villager]

36. Hope and change and stuff!

And you know, some hypocrisy, dissembling, and cowardice thrown in the mix, for good measure!

[ReRe]

38. K&R

I cringe at the thought of how many have died prematurely over the decades since MJ was criminalized. Or at the numbers of people who suffered with terminal illnesses that MJ would have eased their suffering. I could go on and on. There are so many positive uses of the plant. The plant.

Common sense don't make sense anymore, Manny.

[DeSwiss]

39. Damn 'em all to hell......

...for the innocent people they are MURDERING.

- But then the WH is used to murdering innocent people.

K&R

[Go Vols]

40. I have been pro MJ legalization

since the mid-late '70's.

Set us free!

More disgust to the powers that be.

[MannyGoldstein]

57. Maybe that guy will grow up to be President one day

Then, surely, he will legalize the stuff.

[Rex]

42. Got keep those prisons supplied with non-violent drug offenders!

Heaven forbid some other country like China or Russia overtake us as the number #1 prison nation on the planet.

[williesgirl]

44. Say goodbye to the youth turnout in 14 and 16.

[brooklynite]

61. How many people do you really care ENOUGH about this issue to determine who they vote for?

[Zorra]

47. Maybe they're "evolving" on this issue. nt

[Psephos]

48. Choom Gang excepted.

WTF?

[fredamae]

51. What "We" Believe Does NOT Matter

I mean just because The majority of Americans fully and wholly disagree.
Why the Hell would that matter to our elected officials?

Talk about getting the "Democratic Finger"......

[Nye Bevan]

52. If Liz Warren came out in favor of fully legalizing pot,

and granting a general amnesty to all non-violent pot offenders, I might have to seriously reconsider my support of Hillary.

[MannyGoldstein]

53. Sadly, I don't think she will.

On the other hand, her experience with marijuana might be based on her experiences in Massachusetts - it's almost impossible to get arrested for the stuff here, several police chiefs have said they will not bust people for it.

[MADem]

76. She is not in favor of legalization. She's OK w/medical MJ.

http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2013/03/22/elizabeth-warren-doesnt-support-outright-marijuana-legalization/

Somehow, the standard bearer of modern progressivism is on the record opposing “outright” legalization. And though this issue hasn’t gathered a consensus in either party, it is gaining momentum even among conservatives.

Warren’s stance came back into public consciousness last week when she made a joke at a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast about a pro-legalization Republican who is also anti-gun control, saying he wanted the state “armed and stoned.”

But opponents pounced on the lighthearted remark, pointing out that Candidate Warren gave a one-word answer (“no”) about marijuana legalization in an interview before the election, not even suggesting that it might be regulated.

Liberal media sources focus instead on Warren’s support of medical marijuana legislation, like the ballot initiative her state passed last fall. Warren cites her father’s battle with cancer influencing that opinion.

I think she's a bit out of step with her own constituency on this issue. It doesn't get too much play because it has basically been decriminalized in MA--a small fine if one is caught with reasonable amounts.

[librechik]

54. Mr. President, I'm trying really hard to like you. But why do you keep favoring frivolous laws

and STUPID positions over the will of the people? In particular, liberals?

Who are you? The Times hands you opportunity after opportunity, and you just blow them off. Don't you know that's what a president does? You have to jump up on the board and ride that media wave!

However, after public option and immigration opportunities went the way of the dinosaur, I don't expect you to do much except paddle the water with your hands. What a waste.

[raouldukelives]

55. Cool. As long as climate destroying industries will continue to get full support of US.

I'd hate to think we would legalize anything that has the potential to not only help those in pain but that could be a major step in climate remediation.
We must assure the destruction of every animal species and legalizing MJ would be a step in the wrong direction. Now if you wanted to legalize shooting people who want to stop you from destroying the climate, we can talk.

[Doctor_J]

58. The white house works for pharma, the prison industry, and the dea

and of course Big Insurance. The only reason our leader finally "evolved" on gay marriage is because it didn't cost the big lobbies money

[WheelWalker]

64. Reverse psychology. What you have to do

to get Congress to act otherwise (or act at all).

[hueymahl]

65. Can't believe they took that position - what were they smoking?

Sorry, could not help myself!

[hughee99]

67. How about a compromise, let's make it the least illegal possible. n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

72. The Obama Grand Unification Principle

I like it!

[NealK]

68. I'm shocked!

A politician lying and being an hypocrite? Impossible.

[JohnnyRingo]

71. I hate to agree, but I do.

Like NORML, I want reform to current marijuana laws that preclude incarceration. Here in Ohio 100 grams is personal use with a mere citation and a $100 fine. I believe that's a small price to pay to ensure free market cultivation and unregulated higher quality.

Unfortunately, the kicker is in the paraphernalia. A dirty weed pipe is the same offense as a crack pipe, and possession of a half joint earns a drug abuse arrest. While prison time is slim, those laws are not likely to change with legal marijuana. Walking out of a shop with the product would be fine, but lighting up in public would be a fine. I fail to see the advantage of "legalization".

I remember the '60s when $15 got you a bag of crap. Today's marijuana horticulturists go to great lengths to emulate the centerfold in High Times Magazine, and even the local biker smoke is two hit weed. In states where it's legal, certain THC levels can be considered too strong for public consumption. Then there's the taxes... I guess I'm just a Mary Jane Libertarian.

[bluedigger]

73. If you want a President to support legalization, elect one that doesn't have two teenagers.

Until then...

[Nuclear Unicorn]

74. What have they been smoking? nt

[mike_c]

77. torture, on the other hand...

...is just part of the fog of the war on terra, folks....