President Obama Says Marijuana Should Be Treated Like Alcohol

[dixiegrrrrl]

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, I’ve 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.”

He added, “It is untenable over the long term for the Justice Department or the DEA to be enforcing a patchwork of laws, where something that’s legal in one state could get you a 20-year prison sentence in another. So this is a debate that is now ripe, much in the same way that we ended up making progress on same-sex marriage.

”http://blog.norml.org/2016/12/01/president-obama-says-marijuana-should-be-treated-like-alcohol/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=President+Obama+Says+Marijuana+Should+Be+Treated+Like+Alcohol

edited to show link to Rolling Stone interview, which is excellent read:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/obama-on-his-legacy-trumps-win-and-the-path-forward-w452527

[pangaia]

1. GREAT.. Now,

HOW SHOULD TRUMPO BE TREATED??

[Lint Head]

2. Executive Order NOW!

A little late outta the gate.

[Amishman]

27. i'm pretty sure he really can do that by executive order too

unlike a lot of the other things floated as executive orders

DO IT!!!

[cstanleytech]

59. I suspect Trump would just undo it as the current laws on the books help

funnel a ton of money to law enforcement who happen to mostly be GOP voters.

[Lint Head]

60. Probably so. Or more than likely.

[SHRED]

3. Except that...

Cigarettes and alcohol can kill you and give you cancer or both.

[SoCalMusicLover]

9. Well....Ya See.....

Cigarettes help sustain lots of farmers in those oh-so important Red States that ALWAYS vote republican.

And alcohol? Heck, that's the engine which drives our country. The sports industry and venues depend upon the ability to charge $16 for a 12 ounce Coors draft.

There's lots of them there tax dollars in cigarettes and alcohol. Eventually the federal government might realize this is an additional revenue stream to tap, just like the states are now doing.

The moral is, if there is something which can be used to make money, the government will be on it right away. Legalization could have 80% public support, but that will make Zero difference. Money on the other hand, that talks.

[Qutzupalotl]

4. He could reschedule it today. n/t

[SoCalMusicLover]

5. Yeah, He Really Did A Lot On That In His 8 Years

It's so nice that now that his 2nd term is almost over, that he thinks the drug policy should be less restrictive.

I'm so glad he came out with a statement of support. It will mean so much, now that the repubs are about the control all branches of the government, and I'm sure they'll be willing to help the cause.

The only candidate who gave a damn about lessening the criminal aspect of marijuana, is Bernie Sanders. A Clinton presidency would have been more of the same, years of lip service about how change is necessary, but no actual effort to make the change happen.

Perhaps after 80% of the states have made it legal, the federal government will catch up.

[SHRED]

7. Sarcasm noted

It's been frustrating to say the least.

[Dustlawyer]

58. I was thinking the same thing. The scheduling of marijuana has been an issue throughout his

Presidency. He could have done it well before now. His administration blew this one.

I have a friend who got licensed and started a grow operation in CA. Right before harvest Obama does an about face and starts enforcing the Federal law again when they had said they would not. My friend lost everything.

What is going to happen now in a Trump administration in the states that have approved marijuana for medical or recreational use?

[Calculating]

8. Interesting

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. Now we're in a highly volatile situation where legalization depends on the administration in charge not enforcing federal law. That's fine under Obama, but who knows what Trump will do on the issue. He's said he sides with state rights, but his AG pick Sessions seems to believe cannabis users are subhumans or something.

[AtheistCrusader]

16. He could make it schedule 2, today. With a stroke of his pen.

[Leontius]

45. He does talk a good game though

Problem is he just talks about a lot and leaves the room.

[TonyPDX]

46. He leaves the room in those "comfortable shoes" he promised to walk picket lines wearing.

[SammyWinstonJack]

63. +1

[Tikki]

10. Gonna be hard to do unless or until there is an on site test for driving under the influence.

Once again, the courts will sort this out with the rich getting off with fines and the poor going to jail. The laws will fall that way.

If you believe you can drive while under the influence of marijuana...you are incorrect.

But lots of lawyers will make lots of money with DUI arrests...you all know this already.


Tikki

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Would be interesting to see how the Western states are handling the driving issue.

I know they are liking the tax income a lot.

[Tikki]

12. Money over peoples' accidents, injury or death.

Like I said, the courts will work it out. Lawyers will win the prize.




Tikki

[Warren DeMontague]

13. Oh, bullshit. Legalization is working fine and there isn't any increase in any of those.

First off, people have been smoking marijuana for decades. This hyperbolic crap that suddenly now there's gonna be some giant influx of stoned drivers is baloney.

Also, there is already a way to determine whether people are incapacitated, it's called evidence of impairment combined with field sobriety testing. Some states as well have adopted measurable tests for THC levels, however, those are not necessarily a good idea since THC being fat soluble can show up in the blood even without impairment. But even in those states, they're not running around testing everyone on the road. Impairment is, again, the threshold.

And in the meantime people are working on realistic equivalents of a breathalyzer to test for marijuana. There is no good reason to oppose legalization, unless someone is on the drug war gravy train or otherwise emotionally invested in telling consenting adults what they can do with their own bodies on their own time.

[Calculating]

14. This

100%.
The BS scare tactics are just that......BS scare tactics.

[Tikki]

18. People have been drinking alcohol forever...and people are injured, and killed in accidents...

where a driver is under the influence of alcohol.

There is no lobby to protect those on the road from being involved in accidents that involve driving under marijuana's influence...
except for the laws.

If you think drivers can use marijuana and drive in legalized States, without a test for impairment to make a determination of legality to
drive and in many cases with a test...then the courts will make it clear to you. Have marijuana on you; poor or of color..Arrested, based on officers opinion of guide lines.

I'm not against the legalization. Show me anywhere that I have stated that.

I want everyone to know that using the laws that most States use for drunk or under the influence driving
is biased toward the wealthy getting off with fines and the poor going to jail.

WE need to make it clear that just because marijuana is legal, it doesn't mean you are safe to drive while under the influence. EVER

I have not heard that message STRONG and CLEAR from legalization advocates. I have looked.

And if you tell me there is no increase in traffic accidents, injury or death in legal States, tell me what will be your threshold.



Tikki

[Warren DeMontague]

20. Funny, I've heard over and over the message "don't drive under the influence"

Everyone involved in the fight for legalization has been incredibly responsible and careful in that regard.

"You've looked"? Really? No one is saying "don't drive under the influence" in the process of working towards legalization? Again, bullshit. The messaging is constant, and universal.



You know, I had a friend killed by a drunk driver. You don't get to finger-wag at me on this shit.

[Tikki]

24. I, also, had a relative killed by a drunk driver. My S-I-L. The poster you posted was not...

shown as a PSA on TV or radio in my State before legalization. Is it shown in legal States in their High Schools?

Where do you see this poster...you didn't say.

I would like to print up copies and see if I can distribute them.

Tikki
ps I am not a fan of DUI lawyers..as you might be able to tell.

[Warren DeMontague]

28. You might do better with one specific to California. That is part of Oregon's legalization regime.

http://whatslegaloregon.com/

http://www.oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana/pages/default.aspx



I would suggest, if you're interested in messaging or public outreach, you get in touch with the relevant authorities in CA who will be working on similar stuff. My hunch is they will probably roll out graphics and posters in the same vein as the law comes online.

I can tell you that part of the tax revenue from Oregon's legal sales does definitely go towards education measures in High Schools, etc.

Lastly, as I've said over and over, people shouldn't drive under the influence of anything, but that said I firmly believe there is simply no contest between something like marijuana and alcohol in terms of impairment, physical and societal harm, the violence and fights started by drunks, etc. Alcohol is simply and objectively a far worse substance.

And prohibition as a public policy doesn't solve anything.

[Tikki]

31. Thank you...I am all about the driving, I have never been against someone hanging out with MJ.

I hope the legal system will find a fair and balanced way to handle under the influence. I fear marijuana could be a scapegoat for all but the rich...especially now with all that is going on.



Tikki

[Warren DeMontague]

32. I can tell you, as someone who lives in a place with up and running recreational legalization

nothing much has changed, at all. Except increased tax revenue.

I don't want stoned people on the roads, either. That was why I always wanted venues to allow overnight camping after Dead shows. It always seemed ridiculous to me that they were in such a hurry to clear out the parking lot.

[Warren DeMontague]

29. Also, measure 64 (California) specifically allocates tax revenue towards that specific end.

http://www.yeson64.org/about

Majority of revenues will be allocated to:

Teen drug prevention and treatment
Training law enforcement to recognize driving under the influence of drugs
Protecting the environment from the harms of illegal marijuana cultivation
Supporting economic development in communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition

[YOHABLO]

64. Families and people's lives have been torn apart because of alcohol.

I've never in my 61 years seen anyone become abusive to themselves or loved ones because of the use of marijuana. Also, people do not need to go to rehab hospitals to detox from the use of marijuana. It's such a load of hypocrisy from the very ignorant in this country.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. Its funny how people invested in these scare tactics treat it like some vague hypothetical

The reality is, legalization is up and running in multiple states, and the sky most definitely has not fallen.

[tom_kelly]

22. A rich feller in Delray Beach, FL

was racing his girlfriend at an estimated 80 mph in a 35 a few months ago. He was driving his Lamborgini and she was driving his Porshe at 4:45 in the afternoon. He broadsided and killed an 84 yo Uber driver who was on his way home on break to eat dinner with his wife. The couple had been in a Delray bar all afternoon getting snookered. The rich feller already has at least 2 other DWI convictions and she has one. I was blown away when the Palm Beach Post quoted the cops as saying they were unsure if they have enough evidence for an arrest in the case. I've been keeping an eye out for any news on this and don't believe he's been arrested yet.

[gollygee]

40. That's already illegal

How do they test for it now? They could do the same thing.

[Strelnikov_]

17. This means the Republicans will be screaming for enforcement in 'legal' states

ramping up the WOD.

And therefore alienating another chunk of the electorate.

20% approval by the mid terms.

[progressoid]

19. Gee, that's just swell. Gonna do anything about it?

[RAFisher]

21. Ummmm the Controlled Substance Act gives the executive branch this power...

I'm in no mood for this fucking shit. Obama can do something. Put up or shut up. We all know Sessions is going to be enforcing federal laws of marijuana. Under federal law it's completely illegal. Medical and Recreational. Yes both are illegal under federal law. So if Obama wants to get up off his fucking ass and do something instead pandering to Rolling Stones then do it. If not, piss off. Like I said I'm in no mood for this shit.

[Warren DeMontague]

23. He could deschedule it entirely, of course... and Trump could reverse it on day one.

which would be sort of pointless, to my mind.

Obama hasn't been perfect, but he has undeniably moved the ball forward vis a vis the drug war more than any other POTUS. And all those pardons of non-violent drug criminals- I can't think of any other DC pol save Sanders who would have done such a thing. Those people had absolutely ZERO political clout, he stood to gain nothing by doing it other than it's the right thing to do. For all that, I respect the man.

As for Sessions, Grassley, etc.. there's no doubt in my mind that all these drug war dinosaurs have a giant prohibition-based hardon to get in there and "do somethingggg!!!!" on Jan 21... but I also have to believe there are voices in Trumptown who rightly question whether they should expend a whole ton of political capital going against something so immensely popular.

[Calculating]

33. But would Trump do so?

As opposed to leaving it federally illegal and leaving the matter in the hands of Sessions?

[Warren DeMontague]

35. I don't think the political calculus for reversing a last minute descheduling is all that different

from that involved with letting Sessions do his prohibition thing.

The only difference, to my mind, is if Obama does it then it becomes "an Obama issue", just another Obama executive decision that Trump can reverse on Day one, like he's promised.

I don't really know which is better- the idea of Obama descheduling it on the way out the door has occurred to me more than once, myself. I also question whether attaching a political impetus or "side" to the thing might be more detrimental to the cause of legalization, in the long run, or not. As it is, right now legalization or reform of marijuana laws enjoys a broad bipartisan consensus among voters, if not elected officials. Here's a separate example: I've considered, in the past, that despite Al Gore's wonderful work raising the profile of global warming, a side effect of his whole inconvenient truth thing is that for better or worse by having the issue associated with him, it became politicized and eventually more of a political football. I realize it is more complicated than that- the Koch Bros and fossil fuel profits really being a big driver- but again, something that isn't really a red/blue issue, became one.

Obama acting unilaterally on weed might have a similar effect. And if Sessions, etc. are going to crack down on it, I suspect they'll do it either way. Like I said, if Trump is really gonna let Sessions go nuts on legal states, he could also just reschedule it going in. The political costs are likely to be similar in either regard.

But I'm sort of hoping they'll look at the matter and decide it's not worth expending massive amts of energy and capital to fight it. What I suspect is, they may make some token moves to "tighten up" the anti-weed front, but they'll decide stopping it altogether is just too much trouble.

[Feeling the Bern]

25. 49 days left of his presidency and now. He's been one of the most anti-Pot presidents in memory

Nice courage there, Barack. Where was this shit the last eight years?

[Warren DeMontague]

30. "one of the most anti-Pot presidents in memory"- that's an absurd allegation.

No, he hasn't been carrying the full legalization banner for the past 8 years, no. But he has moved the ball forward more on ending the drug war than any other POTUS, ever, period.

They could have come in hard when WA and CO legalized. I'm sure there was tremendous institutional pressure to do so. The Drug War train isn't easily stopped, I'd imagine.

I think it came straight from Obama, to let recreational legalization go ahead. That was huge.

[Feeling the Bern]

36. Umm. . .no. Put the Kool Aid down. here are seven sources to prove you're wrong.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/obamas-war-on-pot-20120216

http://marijuanapolitics.com/obama-leaves-behind-marijuana-nightmare/

http://www.politico.com/story/2012/04/obamas-pot-promise-a-pipe-dream-075421

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/obama-marijuana-raids-rolling-stone_n_1451744.html

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/04/politics/pot-politics/

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/223693-obama-defends-action-on-medical-marijuana-dispensaries

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/president-obamas-war-on-medical-marijuana/

[Warren DeMontague]

37. You will note, most of those are prior to 2013 and the Cole Memo.

Has he been 100% as forward-thinking on this issue as he could have been? No. Is he "the worst President ever" on the issue? That's fucking ridiculous.

[Feeling the Bern]

38. You believe your kool aid. I'll believe my eyes. Thank you for playing.

Please stop responding.

[Warren DeMontague]

41. Sorry, but it's a discussion board.

Your non-substantial answer notwithstanding. Fact is, there's a fairly large difference between 1st and 2nd Term Obama on that deal. He improved markedly after re-election, spurred on of course by leadership at the state level.

Pro Tip: The absolute worst way to get me to stop responding is to tell me to. If I was a river, I'd run uphill.

[Feeling the Bern]

56. Or you just block the person who lowered this into insults. Bye.

[Warren DeMontague]

57. Sure, that's another option.

But I'm not going to block you, even though you accused me of "drinking the kool-aid" or some shit. Not my style.

That was the lowering into insults you were referring to, wasn't it?

[Warpy]

26. Good for him!

I very much agree--legalize it and tax it for adults. Undersell the black market enough that it goes away, closing the pipeline for kids (inhaling concentrated smoke of any kind is bad for developing lungs), and generally stop the stupid, hypocritical and futile war against one of the most beneficial plants on the planet.

No, pot is not a panacea and not everyone will enjoy the stuff. However, the WOD has got to end, and it should start there.

[awoke_in_2003]

34. I just wish

there was something he could do about it.

Oh, this might be needed

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

39. With all the money to be made by businesses though profit and governments through taxation

now being seen by many, the odds seem more likely for legalization. It's just sad that everything really is about money rather than reason.

[TuslaUltra]

42. I'm gonna miss this guy. I actually think this issue may have been

a better way to use political capital in his second term than some of the other hot button issues he got into.

[blue cat]

43. I do too.

It's the only thing that can bring people over from the other side.

[Warren DeMontague]

44. I think he butted heads with some serious institutional inertia

and for whatever reason the East Coast beltway conventional wisdom crowd is a good 5 years behind the curve on this one, anyway. Apparently California, Oregon, Washington are some exotic locale, sort of like Mars.

Maybe now that Mass. and Maine have voted it in, they're getting a clue.


Shit, even here you'll still get the occasional "huh huh stoner put down the bong" crap from some self-infatuated low IQ moron when the topic comes up, although not quite as much as in the old days.

[0rganism]

47. maybe tell that to incoming AG Sessions?

oh wait, i forgot. Sen. Sessions won't be looking for advice from anyone of ... shall we say ... dark intent.

[YOHABLO]

49. He reminds me of Elmer Fudd .. on the redneck side.

[Warren DeMontague]

50. Tell keebler

We found their missing elf

[YOHABLO]

48. All I can say is DUH!

And alcohol is more harmful than Cannabis.

[Abq_Sarah]

51. On his way out the door?

The President had 8 years to voice that opinion.

[napi21]

52. Ohhhhh, Barry, WHY didn't you make this decision a year ago?

I'm still glad you did but there's no time left for a bill can pass and go to you for signature. Please slip a note in the pocket of the head of the FDA asking him/her to push to remove it from the controlled substance list.

[Internationalist]

53. Why is he saying this now?

This statement may be trying to gain support from jaded members of what was once his own coalition.
How many people have had their lives ruined because of regressive drug laws? How many have died at the hands of vicious cartels? Those questions should have driven his substance policy for the last 8 years and not whether it would cost him votes according to the pundits. To clarify, it wouldn't have if he were truly on the side of the working class in other areas.

[benld74]

54. I always treat my blunt with a beer chaser😎

[Warren DeMontague]

55. He's right.

As usual.

[IronLionZion]

61. Then do something before leaving office!

Have the DEA reschedule it at least, to support research and stop arresting the people doing it legally in the states that legalized it. Because, you know, states rights.

[Warren DeMontague]

62. There are many arguments to be made that rescheduling wouldn't help and might hurt. Descheduling

entirely, OTOH, would be the way to go.

But as I said upthread, I've considered whether Obama unilaterally descheduling out the door would help or hurt. It's conceivable that it might make it an "Obama issue" and just something for Trump to overturn on day one.

Or it might just solve the issue and cause Trump/Sessions to leave it alone, as more trouble than it's worth. Remove the decisionmaking entirely from the new admin.

I don't know. If he did do it on the way out the door, I'd be surprised, but supportive.

[IronLionZion]

65. There's only one way to find out for sure

which is to try it and see what happens. I'd support it. There's not much to lose.

It is very unlikely to happen if we wait for Trump/Sessions.

[Warren DeMontague]

67. You're right about that.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

66. It should be treated as a freedom of choice issue. There are lots of responsible users.

Prohibiting drugs works as well as prohibiting alcohol -- less than zero good net effect.

Stop the War on Some Drugs.

[C Moon]

68. Probably said above: we're all going to need plenty of marijuana once Trump takes over.