General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPresident Obama Says Marijuana Should Be Treated Like Alcohol
Obama saying it like it is as usual. I really admire this man and his presidency. I only wish his administration had done a bit more to actually declassify cannabis, rather than leaving things in a state of limbo.
http://blog.norml.org/2016/12/01/president-obama-says-marijuana-should-be-treated-like-alcohol/
In a just published exit interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, President Barack Obama opined that marijuana use should be treated as a public-health issue, not a criminal matter, and called the current patchwork of state and federal laws regarding the drug untenable.
Look, Ive been very clear about my belief that we should try to discourage substance abuse, Obama said. And I am not somebody who believes that legalization is a panacea. But I do believe that treating this as a public-health issue, the same way we do with cigarettes or alcohol, is the much smarter way to deal with it.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)Remember at the beginning of his first term when you could put up suggestions on issues to be addressed. The Pot crowd was all over that and got enough support to generate a response. He was amazingly dismissive for someone with so much liberal support. At this point my response to this kind of thing is "Now, you're talking about this?"
SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)The only candidate who was willing to actually do something is Bernie Sanders.
Like anybody gives a shit what you say now Mr. Obama, lame duck president.
Calculating
(2,955 posts)He was just hesitant to act on the issue because he was afraid of how he'd be remembered in history. "Oh, we elect a black president and he legalized weed huh?" At the time it was more of a fringe issue, while now it's become a more mainstream issue. He probably wanted to let the states have a go at it like they've done with gay marriage. Problem is he didn't count on Trump getting elected, and now an entire industry is potentially in danger.
SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)There was probably more support for him on this issue than on the health care act, but that didn't stop him from pushing that through.
So now history will remember his main accomplishment as the one which the repubs promptly repealed. Legalizing weed would have been a piece of cake compared to the opposition towards his health care bill.
Calculating
(2,955 posts)If Obamacare gets repealed his legacy is already gonna be diminished by a lot. What does he have to lose at this point?
Loge23
(3,922 posts)The coup will not be kind to pot smokers. Will they send Feds in to legal states? Stay tuned.