Biden reverses, says marijuana isn't a gateway drug

[demmiblue]

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Monday walked back his previous comments about marijuana's status as a "gateway drug" while also insisting that he had never made such a claim.

The former vice president told reporters during a press call that marijuana was not a "gateway drug," or a drug that supposedly leads to the user becoming addicted to other, more powerful substances.

“I don’t think it is a gateway drug. There’s no evidence I’ve seen to suggest that," Biden said, according to a reporter for The Nevada Independent.

"I didn't [say that it was]," he added, when asked about his statement about the issue at a recent town hall. "I said some say it's a gateway drug

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/472093-biden-reverses-says-marijuana-isnt-a-gateway-drug

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. Oh my.

Where is my popcorn?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

29. Seriously... but it's good that Joe's advisors advised Joe, once again, to reconsider his views.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[beastie boy]

36. Biden's view before reversal: I need more research to determine whether Marijuana is a gateway drug.

Biden's view after reversal: I need more research to determine whether Marijuana is a gateway drug.

The Hill header: Biden reverses his view.

Your reaction: Seriously...

...Seriously??? That's your reaction?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. Lol.

[cwydro]

4. It bothers me that he is so unwilling to admit when he's wrong.

That’s troubling.

The Anita Hill thing is number one in that category.

[loyalsister]

9. I really dislike how defensive he is

I see it as a reduced potential to learn and adjust to changing conditions. It is a terrible quality for a president.

[ChubbyStar]

25. It is a terrible quality (or lack there of) for an adult human being

It turns me off.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Right there with you!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[WA-03 Democrat]

5. Pot vs. The Rule of Law

As a happy daily user in the state of Washington I would give it all up for Joe Biden to be our next President.

Biden is the best candidate. He is a proven Democratic Executive and Legislative leader. He can win WI, MI, OH, PA and FL. His coattails will bring us control of the entire Congress.

Go Joe Go!!!!

[jberryhill]

10. I too would imprison thousands of people for a win!

[WA-03 Democrat]

13. I just said I would give up Pot for a President Biden

I would miss God’s Gift but want our democracy to survive much more. Will being stoned help you watch our constitution being destroyed? It has not for me. A law degree may not be worth much if Trump wins in 2020. You are a lawyer so I am sure you are super duper smart. Your posts are usually funny, informative and I do enjoy them.

Does it seem like the incarceration rate has gone down under Trump? Prisons for profit are a growth industries.

Have a great day.

[Autumn]

15. Marijuana was a gateway drug for me ...

the gateway to health and pain relief. It's a lot more than your God's gift. To some of us, it's much more. I wouldn't give it up for any reason.

[WA-03 Democrat]

19. Disappointed you did not pickup on my reference/please allow me to explain

God’s Gift is a very heavy Indica marijuana strain. It helps me sleep and not take benzodiazepines. I would highly recommend it! I also smoke Durban Poison during the day for complete disclosure.

[Autumn]

23. Haven't heard of God gift. But Durban poison and Black Beauty for my RA

rock my world.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

31. THIS!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[jberryhill]

21. The key to empathy is being able to consider the situation of persons other than yourself

Whether you personally would forego pot has nothing to do with the countless lives ruined by its illegality.

[WA-03 Democrat]

35. Smoke

all you got? You created the construct that I was for imprisonment of Marijuana users. I am not advocating that. I would sacrifice something I love for the benefit of all my fellow citizens.

1. Biden is not for federal legalization of marijuana until more research is done.
2. To conduct marijuana research you would have to change it from a schedule one drug to like a schedule two or three (potential human benefit to research). He would have to move it to allow point and promise 1.
3. Biden is for states making their choices

Please get back throwing Spaghetti at the wall like a child and see if something sticks.

[stonecutter357]

6. marijuana was a gateway drug for me ...

[AtheistCrusader]

22. There's an anecdote in every room.

[ChubbyStar]

26. To what?

Your post is vague.

[Bradshaw3]

27. Gateway to vagueness?

[ChubbyStar]

28. Could be

[jcgoldie]

32. Makes sense

I can barely talk sometimes if I get too stoned.

[Bradshaw3]

39. I can talk - but in vague terms

That only I understand.

[tonedevil]

33. I think you are correct. /nt

[tritsofme]

7. Nothing wrong with saying you've evolved on the issue.

Polite opinions on the matter have transformed in the last 10, or even 5 years.

[ritapria]

8. Joe favors research to determine whether cannabis is a gateway drug

That is what he said during the last debate

[still_one]

12. That is correct, he didn't say whether it was or wasn't

[guillaumeb]

11. Well.....he did recently say:

“The truth of the matter is, there’s not nearly been enough evidence that has been acquired as to whether or not it is a gateway drug,” the 2020 presidential candidate claimed at a town hall meeting in Las Vegas. “It’s a debate, and I want a lot more before I legalize it nationally. I want to make sure we know a lot more about the science behind it.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2019/11/17/biden-says-marijuana-might-be-a-gateway-drug/#16328014130d

[emmaverybo]

14. Not big on my list of American or world problems. Main issue for me is need to decriminalize.

Regardless of the reason for pursuing more research, particularly on youth use, we need information and if it’s positive then all the better for consensus to legalize at Fed level.

In any case, it is doubtful that all professions will drop drug testing for cannabis use and I would rather my surgeon not be under the influence or my driver. Pot is far stronger than when young people first started using it decades ago. In any case, glad to see that, as usual, Biden is not pandering for votes.

Biden’s qualifications, particularly in foreign policy and relations, is far more important to me than
his pot stance, which I find enlightened enough for now.

[Maven]

16. I'm glad he clarified his position. I still prefer a candidate who supports legalization. nt

[billpolonsky]

17. Welcome to the 20th century

....

[beastie boy]

18. Biden reverses something he never said?

That must be something! How did he ever manage that?

The Hill has a bit of explaining to do about their editorial choices. Time and again, they title their articles with a headline that, upon scrutiny, turns out as genuine as a seven dollar bill.

[AtheistCrusader]

24. See post 11.

In post 11, we see he clearly thought it was a debate, when it's not and everyone else knows it. And now, he says it's not as well.

So, it's not a 'reversal' in the sense that he said it WAS a gateway drug, because that's not what he said. But he did support research to settle some supposed debate that isn't a debate about whether or not it is a gateway drug (It's not).

I think it's fair to call it a reversal. That said, I'm glad to see he's modifying his position on it, since his previous statement (see post 11) was wrong. It's not a 'debate' any more than climate change is a 'debate'. Just because some people still insist pot is a gateway drug, or some people insist climate change isn't real, doesn't make it a credibly outstanding debate.

[beastie boy]

34. Problem is, several preeminent health research institutions disagree with you.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuana-effects

https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191113153049.htm

Centers for Disease Control, National Institute of Health and Harvard University, among others, are neutral on whether Marijuana is a gateway drug. Just like Biden is. And the only thing he expanded on is his personal view of marijuana not being a gateway drug. He still maintains he needs more research outcomes to make a definitive determination, supported by science, on the subject.

How in the world this is a reversal of his previous position that he needs more research to make a definitive determination, supported by science,on the subject, escapes logic.

[AtheistCrusader]

38. Sorry, the Federal Government is biased on this issue.

I'm not believing a study from the coal industry that more carbon emissions are good for the planet, because plants consume CO2.

Health orgs don't typically consider POLICY. If they found a correlation with entry level drug use with pot, and later harder drugs, that doesn't show pot is the cause/trigger/gateway/etc. Policy can be the gateway. In Portugal, when they decriminalized drug use, pot use went down, first time attempt to use it went down, the age at which people tried pot went up, and all other drugs across the board use also went down even more. There's no buoying effect, in their society, by way of pot use, into harder drugs.

The valid question the CDC isn't to my knowledge asking, is 'Does pot use in a society that bans pot and other recreational drugs, lead to increased drug use beyond pot.'

It's a very different question than 'does pot lead to other drugs'.

As for Biden, it might be more fair to say he's evolved on the issue. In 2010 he flat out said it was a gateway drug. Period, full stop. That appears to have changed, and that's good. He could just say that. That would be laudable.

Earlier this month, however, he made this explicit and falsifiable claim:

“The truth of the matter is, there’s not nearly been enough evidence that has been acquired as to whether or not it is a gateway drug,”

And that is simply wrong, and at odds with his current statement. He said there wasn't enough evidence. There is, and has been for some time. Now he's saying he's saying he's certain it's not, and he's willing to act on it politically. Movement in the right direction, but still, a reversal. The characterization is accurate. I'm still going to vote for him if he's the nominee, but my vote was never in question. (Nor is my state, to be clear)


We don't have a lot of wiggle room here. We're trying to mine the middle for a few scant percentage points in a few states to flip the country. We can't afford un-forced errors like this. Look, my candidate has made some errors as well. Now's the time to show leadership, a steady and solid message, and land this fucking plane. That's what the primary is for. We gotta get it right.

[tirebiter]

20. The Hill has been a platform for John Solomon to spread conspiracys about Biden

You know the ones you heard Fiona Hill telling the Republicans just aren’t true. Catch up, people.

[TidalWave46]

37. Glad to know where he stands. Thanks for sharing. NT