Obama considering an anti medical marijuana republican for drug czar?

[BadDog40]

I hope to hell Obama has more sense than this, especially after Obama promised he would end the federal govt from raiding and arresting medical marijuana users.

From Politico:

Rep. Jim Ramstad's name is bouncing around as a possible "drug czar" — the name given the head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Ramstad, a Minnesota Republican, is in recovery himself and has been a longtime proponent of treatment for drug abuse.

Along with Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), he has been an advocate for mental health parity — the push to treat mental illness with the same effort as physical illness. Ramstad has consistently voted against medical marijuana in Congress, opposing an effort to prevent the federal government from raiding or arresting medical marijuana clubs in states where it is legal.

"It’s gratifying to hear Jim’s name being mentioned for drug czar," said Ramstad spokesman Dean Peterson. "Jim has worked in a bipartisan way for 27 years on anti-drug efforts in Congress and the Minnesota Senate. And as a recovering person, he’s worked every day to help those suffering the ravages of chemical addiction."


http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1108/Ramstad_for_Drug_Czar.html?showall

[cali]

1. Fucking terrible idea

I sincerely hope this goes no where. It's unjustifiable.

[BadDog40]

3. I agree, to continue with the current direction with the war on drugs is insane

Surely if anyone can see this it is Obama.

[sandnsea]

2. A Republican in recovery??

is still a Republican???

Okay, now that's just downright scary. No matter what he thinks of medical marijuana.

[tuvor]

4. Is this one of those jobs that serves at the pleasure of the president?...

...asked the ignorant Canadian.

[Oldenuff]

5. Everything serves at the pleasure of the president.

Including our rights as patients,or as adults it seems.


Still,he gives a rousing speech doesn't he?Thats something I guess.

[99th_Monkey]

6. Is it time to flood "Change.gov" with some emails to oppose Ramstad's appointment? ~nt~

[Truth2Tell]

7. Can we retire the title "drug czar" ferchrissakes already?

And how about deep-sixing the phrase "war on drugs" while we're at it?

Come on Obama! How 'bout a little fresh air on this one?

[GoesTo11]

26. I really don't like the idea of a czar at war.

Maybe we can call it a pogrom on marijuana users!

[Truth2Tell]

27. Maybe the head mullah

of the drug jihad?

[Oldenuff]

8. I hate to be a "Negative Nellie" but

It appears to me that Obama MAY have turned his back on a large segment of the population who helped him get elected.I said he may have turned his back on us,but all indications point in that direction based on some of his possible appointments.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x403041

[LynneSin]

10. delete

delete

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

14. Deleted sub-thread

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[Doityourself]

19. concern alert!! n/t

[LynneSin]

9. delete

delete

[BadDog40]

12. Its Drug Czar, not Attorney General

And what does Bush's executive orders have to do with this at all other than the fact that he has persecuted and prosecuted sick and dying people in states that have voted for this? This guy Ramstad agrees with Bush on this and having him threatens for this to continue. What more important issues are there to someone sick and dying than the threat of federal prison??

[LynneSin]

13. My bad - it's late and I'm on Nyquol if that's any defense

:cry:

[BadDog40]

16. Sorry if I was a little harsh, but I feel strongly about this issue

I have been battling a kidney tumor for the past 5 years and I am a legal medical marijuana user. The DEA under Bush has and still specifically targets medical users for prosecution. Obama has stated that he would put a stop to this but this is NOT the way to do it.

[FrenchieCat]

18. Here, you can contact them here, and ask about the rumor you heard.....

http://www.change.gov/page/s/contact

[Cleita]

15. There goes my job with Dr. Dooby. n/t

[Window]

17. There certainly are a lot of names "bouncing" around for

President-Elect Obama's cabinet choices, but none from Obama himself.

Thanks, but I'll wait for him to announce his picks for his cabinet.

[KillCapitalism]

20. Sadly, nearly every Dem out there strongly opposes medical MJ.

There are only a few out there who support it. Most every Libertarian does & that's the one (and maybe only) thing I like about that party.

[FrenchieCat]

21. 3 day old rumor!

I'm tired of those who would post rumors that appear posted to provide negative reaction. Almost makes me think that Politico has an agenda. Oh yeah... I forgot, they are not our friends. They are a web based corporate political manipulative of public opinion piece of shit of a rag.

[BadDog40]

22. My agenda is to prevent this from happening

Whats yours?

[FrenchieCat]

23. I gave you the contact address, didn't I?

You can write, if you haven't already.
That's why they have a contact page.

The name you have heard is a rumor.
Write to them a cite the article.

Somebody's reading the correspondence.
Don't think they aren't.

Bitching at DU ain't gonna be quite as effective, I'm afraid.

[MN Treehugger]

30. Thank you FrenchieCat

I actually did just that - sent a message explaining the rumor that I heard and the reasons why Ramstad would be a horrible choice. Even if it's an unfounded rumor, it also allows me to get my voice out there.

Personally, I also think the choice of someone in recovery is suspect as well. I have tremendous respect for people who are able to kick their addictions but I also believe that many who do tend to have "tunnel vision" on the issue based solely on their experiences. If we must have a Drug Czar (I'd like to see it disappear entirely), I'd rather have someone in there without that pre-existing bias.

Medical marijuana is a very important issue for my family. I don't consider it a "second tier" type of issue at all, particularly when you consider the economic repercussions of the drug war as is, not to mention the human toll. I don't only think a fresh approach is needed; I think it should be demanded. Particularly considering what voters across party lines have already stated loud and clear.

[happychatter]

24. if Obama cares about US money used for political assassination and repression

then he'll pull the carpet out from under our bullshit war on drugs

I love the guy, but I'm not going to hold my breath

[victoryparty]

25. Better Republican as Drug Czar: Dana Rohrabacher

He introduced pro-medical marijuana legislation in 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinchey-Rohrabacher_medical_marijuana_amendment

It was defeated 262-165. With the New Congress and a new president and a better "drug czar" than Ramstad, who knows?

[democrattotheend]

28. This guy does not sound so bad

I disagree about medical marijuana, but I like that he's for mental health parity and is a proponent of treatment for substance abuse.

[cbc5g]

32. If Obama can't change a policy that puts hundreds of thousands of young AA males in jail

And keeps the status quo on the drug war, then what can he really change anyways if he is going to be controlled by past figures? That guy has the same views as the current drug czar.

[Skwmom]

29. We need to protect the drug companies.

Do you want to see them fail too?

[cbc5g]

31. Obama promised to stop the federal raids on MMJ clubs and patients

He needs to keep his promise.

[Bluenorthwest]

33. If Obama pursues patients and even rec users

while letting the DC criminals walk, he will be the biggest hypocrite ever to draw a toke.