Shock: Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson favors marijuana legalization

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

Shock: Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson favors marijuana legalization



"We're locking up people that have taken a couple puffs of marijuana and next thing you know they've got 10 years with mandatory sentences," Robertson continued. "These judges just say, they throw up their hands and say nothing we can do with these mandatory sentences. We've got to take a look at what we're considering crimes and that's one of 'em.

"I'm ... I'm not exactly for the use of drugs, don't get me wrong, but I just believe that criminalizing marijuana, criminalizing the possession of a few ounces of pot, that kinda thing it's just, it's costing us a fortune and it's ruining young people. Young people go into prisons, they go in as youths and come out as hardened criminals. That's not a good thing."

Robertson has in recent years come under fire for increasingly flamboyant comments, such as calling for the assassinations of foreign leaders and blaming gay people for the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/shock-christian-leader-pat-robertson-favors-marijuana-legalization/

[Lucinda]

1. This is a good thing if he actually has any influence

And I agree...its a bit of a surprise.

[molly77]

26. He has a lot of influence in the south. His program is on cable all the time.

I am so proud of brother Pat for making this announcement.

[Lucinda]

27. That is good to hear

I live in the south now, but don't watch tv, so I wasn't sure how much of a following he had!

[mitchtv]

2. even a broken clock

blah, blah, blah

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. He's probably got a planeload of it sitting on a runway somewhere.

[alsame]

5. Yep, there must be some money in it for him. nt

[GillesDeleuze]

17. yeah, he's got "chuck colson" style groups

ready to take the YOUR tax dollars to help treat marijuana users into soldiers for christ

[joshcryer]

19. There's no real money in it for individuals for legalization.

It would become a cash crop for tobacco companies and individuals won't be able to make tens of thousands of dollars with small grows.

[xxqqqzme]

30. or he is already growing it on a 1,000

acre farm somewhere. Follow the money.

[SHRED]

48. Your statement makes zero sense

If you are a black market seller then the last thing you want is for weed to be legal.

[freshwest]

54. You have a very good point, but

He wouldn't have to do something illegal to profit. In previous legalization attempts, tobacco companies had plans to make money off of legalized pot. Robertson could have shares in tobacco companies. I wouldn't put much past him.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/pot-economics-who-stands-to-profit-if-marijuana-is-legalized/19436146/

Here are some of his quotations:

"It is the Democratic Congress, the liberal-biased media and the homosexuals who want to destroy all Christians."

“Feminism is a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.”

“...There is no such thing as ... separation of state and church ... in the Constitution. It's a lie of the left.”

His remarks on Katrina and Haiti are well-known. I doubt the man has had an epiphany. Just my humble opinion, though.

[texastoast]

81. Absolutely.

And I perceive that as an obstacle to its legalization in the U.S. The "buy-my-pot" growers here in the U.S. are against legalization, risking criminal charges for higher profits.

[here_is_to_hope]

85. In my case, medical weed actually made

the market better. I don't get as much money per ounce but I do have a solid market with no worries.

[freshwest]

51. My first thought, too. He defended blood diamonds because he was getting rich off of it.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/1/14/825050/-Pat-Robertson,-Freedom-Gold-and-Blood-Diamonds

[Joe Bacon]

101. I bet Pat's Aero Garden caught fire and he got a good whiff from it!

:rofl:

[RandomKoolzip]

4. Shit, if Pat's for it I may have to reconsider my own pro-legalization stance....

[dmr]

70. Look out, Pat Buchanan wrote about legalizing it too!

Nearly fell out of my chair when I read it in one of his columns. Even clipped it out of the newspaper.
:shrug:

I don't have time now to Google it, but see if you can find it if you're interested.

:hi:

[jobycom]

6. Good. Now I'm going to take a shower and forget I ever agreed with him on anything. nt

[rpannier]

37. Actually I'm up to two things I agree with him on

the other was when he said it was crazy for Limbaugh to want Obama to fail.

[IrishEyes]

94. I was just thinking the same thing

Dear God, I just agreed with one of the worst people in this country. If I every agree with anything Sarah Palin, Glen Beck or Rush Limbaugh every says, I'll know I need to see a doctor.

[AndyTiedye]

7. In Other News, A Flock of Pigs Was Seen Winging Its Way Over Tulsa

[Blue_Tires]

8. a friend, relative or someone else connected probably got busted

Because Pat just thinks laws only apply to other people...

Either that, or he's just talking crazy to get in the news again...

[trud]

13. well

George Schultz came out for marijuana legalization after his wife died of cancer. I'm thinking it must have helped the late Mrs. Schultz. If the Repubs walked in other people's shoes a bit more, they'd be less mean.

[Fearless]

9. Never thought I'd agree with Pat Robertson

:shrug:

[Mafia Killer]

10. where I live

it's still illegal as hell.
even for medical use.

and if the right-wing hypoChristians are for it.....
then I'm against it.

nothing but dirt weed here anyway.

[PassingFair]

11. Most republicans and most democrats I know want marijuana at LEAST

decriminalized.

It is only law enforcement that wants
to keep locking people up over weed.

[bongbong]

25. Not just law enforcement

It's mainly due to the alcohol and cigarette lobbies.

And it very well may NOT be taken over by the tobacco companies if it's legalized. Pot is a weed that is hard to kill, much less hard to grow, in most climates.

[Lord Magus]

34. I still think the tobacco companies would make a killing on legalized pot.

After all, they already have the infrastructure set up for making cigarettes. Just devoting some of their production to different ingredients would be a much lower start-up cost than for a new company that doesn't have mass production facilities for rolling joints.

[duhneece]

36. The pharmaceutical and private prison industries

The pharmaceutical and private prison industries don't want cannabis legal...along with the status-quo law enforcement.

Our non-profit hosted a LEAP speaker at our county fair. Incredible organization, amazing speakers.
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php


Founded on March 16, 2002, LEAP is made up of current and former members of the law enforcement and criminal justice communities who are speaking out about the failures of our existing drug policies. Those policies have failed, and continue to fail, to effectively address the problems of drug abuse, especially the problems of juvenile drug use, the problems of addiction, and the problems of crime caused by the existence of a criminal black market in drugs.

Although those who speak publicly for LEAP are people from the law enforcement and criminal justice communities, a large number of our supporting members do not have such experience. You don't have to have law enforcement experience to join us.

By continuing to fight the so-called "War on Drugs", the US government has worsened these problems of society instead of alleviating them. A system of regulation and control of these substances (by the government, replacing the current system of control by the black market) would be a less harmful, less costly, more ethical and more effective public policy.

Please consider joining us and helping us to achieve our goals: 1) to educate the public, the media and policy makers about the failure of current policies, and 2) to restore the public's respect for police, which respect has been greatly diminished by law enforcement's involvement in enforcing drug prohibition.

[bongbong]

73. Good points

Yes, the two special interests you mention are probably involved too. To put it in repig-speak (AKA Fox "news" speak):

"Some say pot legalization is being fought behind the scenes by an evil cabal of tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceutical, and private prison corporations. I wouldn't say that! But some say that pot legalization is being fought behind the scenes by an evil cabal of tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceutical, and private prison corporations."

[AngryAmish]

100. Prison guard unions and law enforcement unions generally, also

[clixtox]

103. In the run-up to the vote in CA for Prop19...

There wasn't much organized activity on either side, those for passage and those opposed. Most of the information was spread in a "viral" fashion from one person/friend to another.

A significant segment of the anti-19 rhetoric was promulgated and promoted by those involved in the growing, distributing and dispensing of "Medical Marijuana" and, of course, those selling home-grown sinsemilla through traditional "black market" channels. Others, like criminal defense attorneys focused on marijuana cases and doctors who are getting rich writing letters of recommendation for Medical Marijuana patients, and those in their offices, were also active in spreading lies and half-truths about the Proposition.

The fear of further softening of wholesale and retail pricing of cannabis was the reason for much of the propaganda that convinced many, who should have known better, into voting against that incremental step Prop 19 represented towards the eventual legalization of marijuana.

"Pot" has about halved in value in the last 15 years since Prop 215 in the mid-nineties opened the gate for medical use. This year there has been so much grown in Northern California that there is an absolute glut which will inevitably lead to further softening in the pricing. From $4000/lb., ten years ago, to $2500 the last few years, the wholesale price from the growers is heading down to $2000, or less when buying 20+ lb lots, right now.

[NashVegas]

63. If Legalized, It Will Be Taken Over By Pharms and Monsanto

Monsanto will seek a way to own and collect money from a patented GM crop in circumstances where natural competitors are kept off the market and made illegal via USDA/FDA. Just watch.

Be very fucking afraid about what we will be opening the door to, if MJ is legalized, beyond decriminalization.

[Ex Lurker]

67. the stuff grows everywhere. it's not like tobacco that has to be cultivated

when I was in college, it grew along a drainage canal behind the dorm. We'd just go out and harvest some whenever we felt like it.

[Uncle Joe]

75. I had a good friend; in the Marine Corps that went on leave for a couple of weeks. He flew home

leaving his Pontiac Firebird at the base, the window was cracked down an inch or so allowing some rain in.

He returned to find a small MJ plant growing out of the back seat carpet.

He; continued to drive around with Cannabis growing out of his green house on wheels for a week or two before pulling the weed out.

[bengalherder]

97. Hemp still grows along the RR tracks

in IL, a result of hemp shipments in WW2.

Long may it wave, it is our best ticket home...

[bongbong]

74. Monsanto

I saw a screening of the anti-Monsanto movie "The Future Of Food". Scary stuff.

It appears that Monsanto, the bankers, and MIC are in a mad race to see who finishes off the human race first.

[lildreamer316]

72. ...don't forget the for-profit prison industry.

follow the money..

[Pacifist Patriot]

78. Actually, I know quite a few people in law enforcement who would...

dearly love to spend less time concerned with a few ounces of pot. They think it's equally absurd.

[duhneece]

90. Same here

I know some decent law enforcement folks who would rather use their limited resources to go after people who actually hurt other people. These law enforcement recognize that the decrease in murders solved after the 1950's and early 1960's coincides with the increase in effort to arrest & convict non-violent substance users and abusers.

[PassingFair]

95. I believe there are cops on the street that feel that way.

But every time I bring it up to
our local sheriff, he asks,
"But what about the CHILDREN!".


:puke:

[old mark]

12. The dude's a stoner - check his eyes!!!... K&R nt

[westerebus]

14. He never inhaled either.

[glinda]

15. I think he is recruiting.

[GillesDeleuze]

16. FOLLOW THE $$$ -- they want to christianize punishment!

they want to divert tax dollars form prisons to churches!

yes, end criminalization, but don't force people into christian treatment centers!

[mindwalker_i]

18. I initially read that as "Pot Robertson"

Guess that wasn't so far off the mark.

[Tace]

22. Wow -- The Perfect NY Post Headline: "Pot Robertson."

In 100-point font, over a picture of Pat with puffy eyes. : )

[calimary]

60. ROFL!

Amazing. I too never thought I'd agree with this guy on anything. Wonder if it's one of those "sounds too good to be true" things?

[Turbineguy]

20. He's probably thinking

these people could send him money if they weren't in fuckin' jail!

[immoderate]

21. *GROAN* With friends like Pat, who needs enemies?

--imm

[Friday]

23. Awesome

The more support we get from those in positions of influence the better. Even tho I am a little creeped out that I agree with him on something.

[BB1]

24. Turn it around, then, if you're creeped out

Make him feel creeped out because he agrees with you.

[Bluzmann57]

28. Now that is a shocker

I had to read it twice to believe it.

[Tx4obama]

29. The private prison owners will hire lobbyists to fight against decriminalization

they are making a ton of money off of the misfortunes of others and won't give it up willingly.

[valerief]

31. He must be investing in medical marijuana. nt

[Roy Rolling]

32. Future illogicals

C'mon people, why all the cynically negative and paranoid comments? You may not agree with most things he says but when he says something reasonable don't continue the ideological fight against someone who changes their positions. Do you just want to fight against any position or give credit when the fight is over and welcome the victory and accept the defeated side? I will be humble and graciously accept his apology and change of heart on this one issue and not use it as a platform to reject his reversal because he is disliked on other issues.

[jberryhill]

It's really not a "changed position" as far as I know

They could take a poll over at Freeperville, and I'd bet the overwhelming majority there would agree with the overwhelming majority on DU on this issue.

[GillesDeleuze]

76. dude - hes trying to CHRISTIANIZE JAILS AND TREATMENT

and he's using marijuana as a cover. WATCH THE VIDEO.

[tabasco]

33. Fuckinay.

The harmless weed needs every friend it can get.

[AsahinaKimi]

35. I wonder if Pat smokes pot?

I could almost imagine him sneaking out of office building and standing in an alley smoking a doobie, yet he's so uptight about stuff..that I would think, its probably not so likely.. unless, he has mellowed out recently?

[Dulcinea]

83. That's my guess.

He's a closet stoner.

[musiclawyer]

38. Prop 19 really was the beginning of the end

It was leading until Eric Holder opened his trap. Regardless, the new measure will pass here in CA in '12. And starting Jan. 1 you can carry around quite a bit ( an ounce as I recall) and just get a citation, like a traffic ticket. Outdoor professional sports stadiums in CA already smell like a vapor bar. Especially ATT Park and all Raider home gamea...... Just like corporate america is starting to want a piece of gay marriage, it will soon be unified in wanting a piece of the cannabis pie. It's inevitable. And once the dominoe falls in CA, Bud will get normalized everywhere else over time.

[quakerboy]

46. Pretty much

It won't be long till we hit the inevitability point, at which point corporate America will jump on board wholesale so as to not mist out. Because they know that just like hamburgers or beer, most people will buy it from them even if you can theoretically make it at home.

[budkin]

39. Whoa. What??

[Dappleganger]

40. IOW, good christian white kids may go to jail...

so now we have to stop this gross miscarriage of justice!

/s

[lunasun]

92. Exactly, and probably someone he knows has a kid who just got

sentenced. It is only right and it is only injustice when its one of them ....how long has this kind of sentencing been going on???? a long time!

[humbled_opinion]

41. Cats and Dogs agree....

up is down and down is up, now if we can just convince the President that this could be the catalyst to pay off all that defecit spending. I believe that FDR once said .."everyone should go have a beer.." and that helped to end the depression also created jobs and demand with the thousands of neighborhood taprooms and bars that opened in response to the demand... Obama should say ok everyone chill out and go smoke a bowl....

[VPStoltz]

42. It's obvious he has been using it for years.

[Ruby the Liberal]

43. Up is down, black is white and night is day.

Or, he has a libertarian streak.

Under the broken clock syndrome, I can only hope that those who follow this man adopt his thinking.

[craigmatic]

44. So I guess somebody in his family is in trouble for posession.

The christian coalition was founded in the late 70's because they hated the disco lifestyle of drugs and sex, now 30 years later we get this shit. They knew all along their positions were bullshit but they never admitted a flaw or mistake they made. These people disgust me.

[Endangered Specie]

45. No wonder he wants it legal, hes clearly been smoking too much of something lately!

[cartach]

47. 2012

In a couple of months he'll be advocating the regular recreational use of pot as a way to prepare for the coming of the Apocalypse. If you're a true believer you've probably exhibited a lot of faith already in denying such things as global warming etc.,you didn't even have to come to grips with whether or not it was going to happen, whose to blame and what could be done about. Those things don't matter if the world is going to hell in a handbasket anyway. But deep down inside every true believer there just might be a little doubt. Encouraging his followers to become full time stoners is probably his way of relaxing them so they don't get agitated and start doubting. Something like a Jonestown experience but a lot more humanitarian and Christianlike. Just theorisin'.

[SHRED]

49. This will never change

You have for-profit prisons, DEA promotions, lawyers, drug cartels and full time growers who lobby to keep it illegal.

We the people suffer.

[queerart]

50. Having A Few Onces Of Pot Is Ok.....

As long as it's not Dirty Queers trying to smoke it......


See? Up is down, right is left, and black is the new white....


The human dementia process should not be played out on T.V......

[dogday]

52. Word has it he smoked a spiffy before he had that interview.

guess it was pretty good stuff..:smoke:

[davidinalameda]

53. well this makes up for all the hateful and evil things he's said and done over the years

[dballance]

55. Just Wow. Something On Which Pat and I Agree?

He's showing a really sane opinion on this. It's so unlike him and even though I despise him for most of his rhetoric I'm really glad he came out to say this. Perhaps it will help other conservatives start to see marijuana use in a different light.

Maybe it's not tracked,reported out or I just haven't seen the reports but I don't recall seeing stats about how marijuana destroys families the same way alcohol does. I don't know of any evidence or studies that conclude the use of marijuana leads to domestic violence and child abuse that alcohol does.

Maybe he actually does want to cut government waste and other than the "War on Terror" the "War on Drugs" is the leading candidate for cuts in my opinion.

[GillesDeleuze]

79. do you agree with the part

where offenders would have to turn to christ?

[movingviolation]

56. Robertson probably saw Repo Man.

You know, the part where Otto asks his stoner parents for money, but they already gave it away to a TV preacher. "We're sending bibles to El Salvador" :smoke:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axq71RFAYgo

[DeadEyeDyck]

57. it all about Spriets

[DeadEyeDyck]

58. weird

[kenfrequed]

59. Yes, Pat

We agree that the sky is occasionally blue too. You are still a nut.

[SayitAintSo]

61. Will it still make you paranoid

if its legalized ????? :)

[DeSwiss]

62. Contributions must be way, way down.....

...this year for Pat Robertson to start having "compassion" for people.



K&R

[colsohlibgal]

64. Wow

A sure sign of the Apocolypse? Probably the most stunning headline I've seen this year.

[LawnLover]

65. He must have found out his favorite grandson is a major stoner. nt.

[RZM]

66. I'll take it

Way to go, Pat. :thumbsup: You're still kind of nutty on most other things, but this is good to hear.

[armodem08]

68. Good to see that not every Republican is a hypocrite on this issue... n/t

[eridani]

69. Do we all have to be against legalization now that Robertson is for it?

Just asking, as sometimes it seems like this general policy is often suggested here.

[GillesDeleuze]

80. no, just against mandatory christian punishment.

which is actually what he's fighting for. more $$$ for his front groups.

[tootrueleft]

71. Takes me back to the old Bill Hicks routine about how making pot illegal is like saying God made a

mistake....

[Creative]

77. Common sense...seems to becoming more common.

[LynneSin]

82. Even a broken clock is right twice a day

If he can help make the change we need then 'Go Pat Go'

[Enthusiast]

84. Now I must reconsider

my position on marijuana.

[felix_numinous]

86. I'll bet someone close to him got busted

--this sort of thing is an abstract concept until it hits home.

[mdmc]

87. r

[eShirl]

88. WTF

[irislake]

89. I read somewhere that you were going to have to start emptying

your jails cuz you can't afford them any more. But aren't most jails corporate-owned lucrative enterprises with slave labor down there? South of our now heavily-guarded border I mean.

Not that I want to visit. I sent a critical email to George W Bush a few years back so must be on the "no fly" list. I could end up god-knows-where if I crossed the border. Tch!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

102. Why don't you canucks stop whining and do something useful? Like invade us.

:-)

[LuckyTheDog]

91. I am not shocked

Sorry, but having watched his TV show from time to time for years (I know, but hey, people slow down to look at car crash scenes, too), I really don't have a problem imagining old Pat as an aging pothead. I could see him hanging out with Willie Nelson and sparking up a J. I really could.

:smoke:

[FogerRox]

93. It took him 30 yrs to get this far! ! KnR

Hey kpete, sup! long time. I got a new one:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=61938&mesg_id=61938

[jimlup]

96. Remind me again why we should care even a little bit what Robertson thinks.

It really doesn't matter that we agree with him on this trivial point. The guy should get none of our attention. I apologize for responding. Sorry.

[indimuse]

98. KNR! n/t

[DeSwiss]

99. Seen on the internets......

"Guess we'll have to call him Pot Roberston from now on."

http://wonkette.com/433296/pat-robertson-wants-pot-decriminalized-to-help-the-poor-young-people#IDComment117662001">link

;)

[and-justice-for-all]

104. I do not believe what I just read...

HOLY FUCKING JESUS TERDS!!