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 Lord_McLovin
mad scientist on shrooms
Registered: 04/09/11
Posts: 2,495
Loc: infinite dimensional void
Last seen: 5 hours, 25 minutes
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 Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana 
#16088740 - 04/14/12 12:42 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana
April 11th, 2012 - usnews.com
President Barack Obama touted a progressive attitude on medical marijuana on the campaign trail, but since taking office, Obama's administration has hardened its stance and supporters of the drug are crying foul on the flip-flop.
In a March 2008 interview, Obama told the Oregon Mail Tribune that medical marijuana ranked low on his list of priorities.
"I think the basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors, I think that's entirely appropriate," Obama said. "I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue."
But the numbers tell another story.
Since October 2009, Americans for Safe Access, a group committed to legalizing medical marijuana, estimates the Justice Department has carried out 170 raids on dispensaries and cultivation facilities in nine states.
"Every time a dispensary is shut down, there are literally hundreds of people waking up that day wondering where they will get their medication," says Kris Hermes, the spokesperson for the Americans for Safe Access.
Hermes says he's confident that the number of raids since the president took office is actually around 200.
"He's broadened his attack," Hermes says. "Until Obama was elected, George W. Bush had the most aggressive posture toward medical marijuana...he's been even more aggressive than his predecessor."
Americans for Safe Access estimates that during the entire eight years of the Bush administration, roughly 200 raids were carried out, something Hermes says the Obama administration has accomplished in less than four years.
Asked why the Obama administration had been so aggressive in pursuing federal drug law violations involving medical marijuana, the DOJ told Whispers, "Sorry, we do not have statistics to support [that accusation]."
Pro-marijuana groups say Obama has expanded the attack on medical marijuana from DOJ to a wide array of other federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, which has lead dozens of audits of medical marijuana businesses. The IRS has also aggressively penalized medical marijuana businesses for selling an illegal drug by requiring the businesses to pay federal taxes on gross income, not net income, eliminating the tax break most businesses receive from deducting payroll costs.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development released a memo in 2011 that allows public housing agencies to evict tenants who use medical marijuana. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also issued a memo in September banning the commercial sale of firearms to medical marijuana patients.
There are 16 states and the District of Columbia that have their own medical marijuana laws.
And experts say U.S. attorneys' threats against local and state officials who enact medical marijuana laws in their states have even slowed down the implementation of new laws in Arizona, Montana, Rhode Island, and Washington.
"It's a weaselly threat, but it has scared a few governors," says Bill Piper, the director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, a group committed to finding alternatives to current drug laws. "The intensity and multi-agency assault is far worse than the Bush administration and the Clinton administration."
Allen St. Pierre, executive director for NORML, which seeks to reform marijuana laws, says the president might have political as well as legal motivations for reversing his initial position on medical marijuana. St. Pierre argues that current laws prohibit the Obama administration from turning a blind eye to state's medical marijuana legalization.
"In essence, the administration is sort of hamstrung," St. Pierre says.
St. Pierre says letting states regulate marijuana as they please would burn up a lot of the president's political capital, adding that Obama has to take action or he risks earning a reputation in 2012 election as soft on drugs.
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the_drummer
Stucking Foaned
Registered: 03/20/09
Posts: 1,647
Loc: The Kan-Abyss
Last seen: 2 months, 6 days
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: Lord_McLovin] 1
#16089020 - 04/14/12 02:05 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Lord_McLovin said:
the president might have political motivations for reversing his initial position on medical marijuana.
Ya' think?
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"That's the vernacular, isn't it?" --Mrs. Peel
Edited by the_drummer (04/14/12 02:06 PM)
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Almond Flour
Registered: 12/26/08
Posts: 9,102
Last seen: 21 days, 18 hours
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: Lord_McLovin]
#16089114 - 04/14/12 02:38 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Whatever his reason, he is still a meanie butt for doing what he is doing.  He lost my vote 
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In other words, thinking outside the box might be facilitated by having a somewhat less intact box. -Random Doctor 
Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition -Timothy Leary
Everyone has their own unique brand of toxic psychosis -Alexander Shulgin 
living forever would be a terrible curse if there were not also quality of life to match it.  -Unknown
There may be flies on you and me, but there are no flies on Jesus -Hunter Thompson
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 LongStrangeTrip
Deadhead
Registered: 09/19/09
Posts: 4,482
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: Almond Flour]
#16089233 - 04/14/12 03:16 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Real CA Milk said:
Whatever his reason, he is still a meanie butt for doing what he is doing. He lost my vote
Please god don't vote for Romney just because he has not done the impossible yet 
If you think this has been bad.... 
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Nothing I say or do is factual; every single thing I write is a work of fiction. Got no idea what I'm talking about here~
"Once in awhile, you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right"~ (Grateful Dead)
"o puer, qui omnia nomini debes"; "You, boy, who owe's everything to a name"~ Mark Anthony
"Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum."; "Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system."~ Cicero
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Gilgamesh18
Registered: 03/01/12
Posts: 3,836
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: LongStrangeTrip]
#16089626 - 04/14/12 05:24 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Vote for me.
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SbstratAlchemist
Enthusiast
Registered: 01/29/09
Posts: 1,164
Last seen: 3 months, 20 days
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: Lord_McLovin]
#16089889 - 04/14/12 06:56 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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The legalization movement has picked up a lot of steam in the last few years. If Obama had allowed it procede unfettered Republicans would make a huge issue out of it this election.
If more states pass MMJ and legalization this year national support for full on legalization will likely rise well above its current 50% level and we may see some real progress.
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mushiefeet
Iron Lung420
Registered: 01/18/11
Posts: 369
Last seen: 8 months, 19 days
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: SbstratAlchemist]
#16090015 - 04/14/12 07:25 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
SbstratAlchemist said:
The legalization movement has picked up a lot of steam in the last few years. If Obama had allowed it procede unfettered Republicans would make a huge issue out of it this election.
If more states pass MMJ and legalization this year national support for full on legalization will likely rise well above its current 50% level and we may see some real progress.
As it should!! 
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starfire_xes
Living colors,,,,
Registered: 10/24/09
Posts: 12,678
Loc: Southwest US
Last seen: 6 hours, 32 minutes
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: LongStrangeTrip]
#16090024 - 04/14/12 07:28 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
LongStrangeTrip said:
Quote:
Real CA Milk said:
Whatever his reason, he is still a meanie butt for doing what he is doing. He lost my vote
Please god don't vote for Romney just because he has not done the impossible yet
If you think this has been bad....
And your REASON to not vote for him is????? Give a good logical reason and I won't.
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 IF THE NEIGHBORS COMPLAIN BECAUSE THE MUSIC'S TOO LOUD, TURN IT UP SO YOU CAN'T HEAR THEM BITCH
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starfire_xes
Living colors,,,,
Registered: 10/24/09
Posts: 12,678
Loc: Southwest US
Last seen: 6 hours, 32 minutes
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: the_drummer]
#16090082 - 04/14/12 07:45 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
the_drummer said:
Quote:
Lord_McLovin said:
the president might have political motivations for reversing his initial position on medical marijuana.
Ya' think?
Absolutely there is at least one political motivation. Obama is in favor of FEDERAL Government controlling the states--i.e. the Federal Government trumps all state law. To allow states to make their own laws takes away power for him to impose his agenda--through laws and regulations in the states.
This is a real paradox to me of people whose vote is left-leaning and use drugs. If the federal government wasn't try to control stuff at the state level, say drugs, then states would be free to implement their own laws. Now states have done that, but the federal government doesn't like it.
You see, in our system, the direct democracy occurs at the state level--not the federal level. In other words, a vote for a politician who will implement federal control over state control (which is illegal in many cases) takes away some of the democratic power his vote. You see? Your state makes a drug law, you vote for it, it gets passed.....people start using the drug....BAM. Big Nanny Federal government rushes in and fucks you up the ass--busts you for the drugs, and shits on your democratic vote. LOL.
The irony is, people scream for the federal government to take charge, and these same people, who vote in the centralized government types i.e. Bush, Obama, etc, then piss and moan when the system they wanted implemented fucks them over and shits on their democratic vote. What total irony.
Don't get me wrong now, BOTH sides do it. That's EXACTLY why states rights are a better deal--by far--than federal government control.
It's either the states calling the shots, or the federal government--you can't have it both ways, selectively only forcing the laws down your throat that YOU want.
Even if at the federal level, say, we could have direct vote on laws....there are what, 150 million people who vote? Your single vote loses a lot of power--and your vote has to go against pools of people in other states who want a different agenda. Where as...at the state level, it is MUCH EASIER for the PEOPLE TO IMPLEMENT THE LAWS THEY WANT.
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IF THE NEIGHBORS COMPLAIN BECAUSE THE MUSIC'S TOO LOUD, TURN IT UP SO YOU CAN'T HEAR THEM BITCH
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starfire_xes
Living colors,,,,
Registered: 10/24/09
Posts: 12,678
Loc: Southwest US
Last seen: 6 hours, 32 minutes
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: SbstratAlchemist]
#16090095 - 04/14/12 07:48 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
SbstratAlchemist said:
The legalization movement has picked up a lot of steam in the last few years. If Obama had allowed it procede unfettered Republicans would make a huge issue out of it this election.
If more states pass MMJ and legalization this year national support for full on legalization will likely rise well above its current 50% level and we may see some real progress.
Have you ever thought that if THE STATES MAKE THE LAWS AND NOT THE ASSCLOWNS IN WASHINGTON that we wouldn't be having this debate?
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IF THE NEIGHBORS COMPLAIN BECAUSE THE MUSIC'S TOO LOUD, TURN IT UP SO YOU CAN'T HEAR THEM BITCH
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SbstratAlchemist
Enthusiast
Registered: 01/29/09
Posts: 1,164
Last seen: 3 months, 20 days
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: starfire_xes]
#16090524 - 04/14/12 09:43 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
starfire_xes said:
Have you ever thought that if THE STATES MAKE THE LAWS AND NOT THE ASSCLOWNS IN WASHINGTON that we wouldn't be having this debate?
I never said this was not the case. 
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bloodsheen
ChemChaplin
Registered: 09/24/08
Posts: 2,664
Last seen: 12 hours, 48 minutes
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: SbstratAlchemist]
#16090954 - 04/14/12 11:22 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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I'm all for states rights but you gotta remember the implications of that. For instance, if Arizona had its way all Mexicans would be required to hold an ID card that they could be asked to produce for any reason at any time. Like the nazis did, and the government in South Africa did.
So its all a matter of degree of control. Everyone (almost) here would agree that all races should have equal rights. But just imagine if some states allowed legal weed and even all drugs in general. There would not only be trafficking to other states, which would have to be fought on the dime of the surrounding states, but the state would become a drug mecca.
Are all of these things horrible awful things? No. But nobody has a good idea of how to implement this so it would be political suicide, regardless of who the politician is. Americans are trained to blame the government for everything, regardless if its what they want/need or not. Every politician knows there are not enough people that want it to be worth their career.
As sad as it is laws are passed by politicians not human beings. Politicians have careers that often span their life, they don't give a flying fuck about the lives drug laws destroy, just like back in the 50's they didn't really give a fuck about blacks. But when public opinion gets overwhelmingly in favor of something, shit will get done. Don't blame the politicians, blame yourselves for not presenting a strong enough case.
Or do what I do and hate humanity 
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A cautious young fellow named Lodge / Had seat belts installed in his Dodge. / When his date was strapped in / He committed a sin / Without even leaving the garage. That's clever, isn't it?-A boy and his dog
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Absent Minded
Registered: 04/13/12
Posts: 2,852
Loc: New Jersey
Last seen: 5 days, 4 hours
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: bloodsheen] 1
#16094618 - 04/15/12 08:59 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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I'm torn on this election: I cannot in my right mind vote for Obama, generally not favoring the liberal, pro government approach to politricks nor him in general.
I also cannot stand to see myself vote for that fuck stick Romney, because the only thing I hate more than liberal ideology is brain dead and ass backwards republican ideology, favoring ramping up the drug war and continuing to have our boys killed overseas, and Romney is both braindead AND ass backwards (no offense to his supporters, this is simply my personal opinion, nor will I be engaging in any e-battles over why I hate him and/or obama so please don't try to start one).
I would vote for Ron Paul, but know full well he has not a shot in fucking hell, and also know that regardless of who is in office, it's not the president himself who is calling the shots, it's the people/organizations/groups truly in charge, with the president essentially being a puppet. I've essentially lost all faith in any real hope for change in the American politics system. It is completely and utterly fucked.
and for those confused as to me talking shit on both parties, I consider myself an adamant libertarian.
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sheekle: fuck peace love and unity
sheekle: death despair and misery
sheekle: is where it's
"Foremost among them was the suspicion that my strange and ungovernable instincts might do me in before I had a chance to get rich. No matter how much I wanted all those things that I needed money to buy, there was some devilish current pushing me off in another direction – toward anarchy and poverty and craziness. That maddening delusion that a man can lead a decent life without hiring himself out as a Judas Goat." - The good Doctor
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Pilz
Think of the Children!
Registered: 10/19/10
Posts: 574
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: Absent Minded]
#16095944 - 04/16/12 02:51 AM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Absent Minded said:
I'm torn on this election: I cannot in my right mind vote for Obama, generally not favoring the liberal, pro government approach to politricks nor him in general.
I also cannot stand to see myself vote for that fuck stick Romney, because the only thing I hate more than liberal ideology is brain dead and ass backwards republican ideology, favoring ramping up the drug war and continuing to have our boys killed overseas, and Romney is both braindead AND ass backwards (no offense to his supporters, this is simply my personal opinion, nor will I be engaging in any e-battles over why I hate him and/or obama so please don't try to start one).
I would vote for Ron Paul, but know full well he has not a shot in fucking hell, and also know that regardless of who is in office, it's not the president himself who is calling the shots, it's the people/organizations/groups truly in charge, with the president essentially being a puppet. I've essentially lost all faith in any real hope for change in the American politics system. It is completely and utterly fucked.
and for those confused as to me talking shit on both parties, I consider myself an adamant libertarian.
 
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r3nzhe
NNUTTHOWZE
Registered: 06/12/09
Posts: 90
Loc: Psychedelic State 
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 Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: Absent Minded]
#16103026 - 04/17/12 07:54 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Absent Minded said:
I'm torn on this election: I cannot in my right mind vote for Obama, generally not favoring the liberal, pro government approach to politricks nor him in general.
I also cannot stand to see myself vote for that fuck stick Romney, because the only thing I hate more than liberal ideology is brain dead and ass backwards republican ideology, favoring ramping up the drug war and continuing to have our boys killed overseas, and Romney is both braindead AND ass backwards (no offense to his supporters, this is simply my personal opinion, nor will I be engaging in any e-battles over why I hate him and/or obama so please don't try to start one).
I would vote for Ron Paul, but know full well he has not a shot in fucking hell, and also know that regardless of who is in office, it's not the president himself who is calling the shots, it's the people/organizations/groups truly in charge, with the president essentially being a puppet. I've essentially lost all faith in any real hope for change in the American politics system. It is completely and utterly fucked.
and for those confused as to me talking shit on both parties, I consider myself an adamant libertarian.
yesss!! finally more people are starting to see it!!
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AlteredAgain
Think Spherical
Registered: 04/27/06
Posts: 11,051
Loc: Sol III
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Re: Pot Groups See Obama 2012 Flip-Flop on Medical Marijuana [Re: Absent Minded]
#16104714 - 04/18/12 02:17 AM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Absent Minded said:
I'm torn on this election: I cannot in my right mind vote for Obama, generally not favoring the liberal, pro government approach to politricks nor him in general.
I also cannot stand to see myself vote for that fuck stick Romney, because the only thing I hate more than liberal ideology is brain dead and ass backwards republican ideology, favoring ramping up the drug war and continuing to have our boys killed overseas, and Romney is both braindead AND ass backwards (no offense to his supporters, this is simply my personal opinion, nor will I be engaging in any e-battles over why I hate him and/or obama so please don't try to start one).
I would vote for Ron Paul, but know full well he has not a shot in fucking hell, and also know that regardless of who is in office, it's not the president himself who is calling the shots, it's the people/organizations/groups truly in charge, with the president essentially being a puppet. I've essentially lost all faith in any real hope for change in the American politics system. It is completely and utterly fucked.
and for those confused as to me talking shit on both parties, I consider myself an adamant libertarian.
I feel this way too. The way I see it though, a vote is to be given to a candidate who shares a similar vision as you, not to the lesser corporate-state media sponsored evils being given the spotlight. Sure, presidential elections take up so much attention and resources that could be better focused elsewhere, but that's another story. I would just rather vote on principle alone than voting to prevent the candidate we don't like from getting into office.
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