Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumBiden reverses, says marijuana isn't a gateway drug
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 dont think it is a gateway drug. Theres no evidence Ive 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
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Ferrets are Cool
(21,103 posts)Where is my popcorn?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,121 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
beastie boy
(9,233 posts)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?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,311 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Response to demmiblue (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Thats troubling.
The Anita Hill thing is number one in that category.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)I see it as a reduced potential to learn and adjust to changing conditions. It is a terrible quality for a president.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ChubbyStar
(3,191 posts)It turns me off.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,121 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
WA-03 Democrat
(3,037 posts)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!!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
WA-03 Democrat
(3,037 posts)I would miss Gods 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.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,980 posts)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.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
WA-03 Democrat
(3,037 posts)Gods 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.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,980 posts)rock my world.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,121 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Whether you personally would forego pot has nothing to do with the countless lives ruined by its illegality.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
WA-03 Democrat
(3,037 posts)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.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stonecutter357
(12,693 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ChubbyStar
(3,191 posts)Your post is vague.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Bradshaw3
(7,487 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ChubbyStar
(3,191 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
jcgoldie
(11,612 posts)I can barely talk sometimes if I get too stoned.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Bradshaw3
(7,487 posts)That only I understand.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
tritsofme
(17,370 posts)Polite opinions on the matter have transformed in the last 10, or even 5 years.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ritapria
(1,812 posts)That is what he said during the last debate
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
still_one
(92,061 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2019/11/17/biden-says-marijuana-might-be-a-gateway-drug/#16328014130d
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)Regardless of the reason for pursuing more research, particularly on youth use, we need information and if its 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.
Bidens qualifications, particularly in foreign policy and relations, is far more important to me than
his pot stance, which I find enlightened enough for now.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Maven
(10,533 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
billpolonsky
(270 posts)....
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
beastie boy
(9,233 posts)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.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)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.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beastie boy
(9,233 posts)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.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)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:
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.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tirebiter
(2,532 posts)You know the ones you heard Fiona Hill telling the Republicans just arent true. Catch up, people.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden