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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,538
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Does Obama support legal pot or not?
#13394526 - 10/27/10 10:30 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Does Obama support legal pot or not? October 27, 2010 - salon.com
The Obama administration publicly opposes Proposition 19, the California ballot measure that would legalize pot. But the White House, perhaps fearful of angering the already frustrated Democratic base, is being conspicuously careful not to draw too much attention to its own stance on the issue.
Attorney General Eric Holder went on the record earlier this month in a letter to former chiefs of the Drug Enforcement Administation saying that the Department of Justice "strongly opposes" Proposition 19. And drug czar Gil Kerlikowske was in the state last week criticizing the measure.
But as far as the administration's active opposition to the measure goes, that's about it.
"It seems like they feel compelled to shake their finger at California. [But] they haven't been super forceful," Tom Angell, spokesman for the group "Yes on 19," tells Salon.
There has been speculation that Proposition 19's presence on the ballot will promote turnout among progressive voters, helping California Democrats -- even though statewide candidates Barbara Boxer and Jerry Brown, like the Obama administration, oppose Proposition 19. That theory could explain why the White House is not eager to talk about its stance on the issue.
When Salon contacted the White House, a spokesman repeatedly declined to criticize the initiative, instead referring all inquiries to the Justice Department. A DOJ spokeswoman referred us to Holder's letter on the issue. And when we called the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (led by the drug czar, Kerlikowske), a spokesman was careful to point out that Kerlikowske went to California last week only after he was invited there by a local group. That's a distinction without a difference, but it's another sign that the administration is not eager to broadcast its opposition to the measure.
Angell, the Yes on 19 official, characterizes the administration's opposition as lukewarm. He points to a plea from a group of former DEA administrators, who, in the event Proposition 19 passes, want the federal government to sue California, asserting the Constitution's Supremacy Clause. (This is what the administation did in the case of Arizona's immigration law.) In his response letter, Holder pledged that federal drug law would be "vigorously enforced" and that the DOJ was mulling its legal options in case the initiative passes. But, Angell notes, Holder fell short of promising to sue California over the measure.
As for the president himself, he has not commented publicly. When asked about the measure at an MTV youth forum earlier this month, he seemed to play down the idea of prosecuting people for possession of small quantities of drugs:
QUESTIONER: So my question for you is this: When Arizona passed a law, the Justice Department said it infringed upon their jurisdiction and struck it down. However, when California passed the legalization of marijuana, an issue with drugs -- which also ties into federal policy -- the federal government said that they would stay out of the way. How do you reconcile those two things, particularly how they relate to the border and the security of our country?
OBAMA: Well, let me first of all be clear. When it comes to our approach to federal drug enforcement, we take federal drug enforcement extraordinarily seriously, spend a lot of money on it. But obviously we have to figure out who is it that we're going after, because we've got limited resources. And so decisions that are made by the Justice Department or the FBI about prosecuting drug kingpins versus somebody with some small amount in terms of possession, those decisions are made based on how can we best enforce the laws that are on the books.
Support for Proposition 19, meanwhile, has in recent weeks been rapidly losing support in the polls after months of maintaining a small lead. It would be supremely ironic -- and would suit the Obama administration just fine -- if supporters help propel anti-Proposition 19 Democrats to victory in California, even as the measure itself falls.
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Naz
Fungal Infection



Registered: 12/14/09
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: veggie]
#13394733 - 10/27/10 11:16 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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i hate the political BS that goes on day to day on capital hill..... these men and women are so worried about keeping the job that they fail to do the job....when will it ever end.... why cant Canada invade or something??
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guest1
Mycena




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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: Naz]
#13394906 - 10/27/10 11:48 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
prosecuting drug kingpins versus somebody with some small amount
Where do these small amounts come from? Someone has to supply it. You can't say it is OK for people to have small amounts, but bust the people they buy the small amounts from and act like your not effecting the people with small amounts.
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skatealex2
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Registered: 07/04/08
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: guest1]
#13395160 - 10/27/10 12:50 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
guest1 said:
Quote:
prosecuting drug kingpins versus somebody with some small amount
Where do these small amounts come from? Someone has to supply it. You can't say it is OK for people to have small amounts, but bust the people they buy the small amounts from and act like your not effecting the people with small amounts.
Its pretty absurd. it obv. brings up the question- where does all that money go to that the users with small amounts get from? I hate when the govt. people say they don't bust anyone for small amounts cause that doesn't help the policy in anyway
Edited by skatealex2 (10/27/10 12:52 PM)
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PsilocybinMike
T.F.Y.Q.A


Registered: 02/18/08
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: skatealex2]
#13395239 - 10/27/10 01:13 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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I bet Obama wouldn't be opposed to it personally, but his wife probably gives him shit about it because of his kids. I'm sure that by the president coming out and publicly advocating legalization it would "send the wrong message" to his two daughters.
He's doing exactly what a politician does, he's on both sides of the fence. That is why the "Obama administration" opposes prop 19 but they haven't come out full force with some Raegen era Just Say No campaign. I'm sure many people in the Obama administration are in the same boat, they want prop 19 to pass but have young children who they are afraid will think it's ok to start smoking weed because it's legal.
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adamantasaurus
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: veggie]
#13395302 - 10/27/10 01:30 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
veggie said: He points to a plea from a group of former DEA administrators, who, in the event Proposition 19 passes, want the federal government to sue California, asserting the Constitution's Supremacy Clause. (This is what the administation did in the case of Arizona's immigration law.) In his response letter, Holder pledged that federal drug law would be "vigorously enforced" and that the DOJ was mulling its legal options in case the initiative passes. But, Angell notes, Holder fell short of promising to sue California over the measure.
Yea ok buddy we'll see how far you get with that one you will have an uprising on your hands
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PsilocybinMike
T.F.Y.Q.A


Registered: 02/18/08
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: adamantasaurus]
#13395354 - 10/27/10 01:40 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
adamantasaurus said:
Quote:
veggie said: He points to a plea from a group of former DEA administrators, who, in the event Proposition 19 passes, want the federal government to sue California, asserting the Constitution's Supremacy Clause. (This is what the administation did in the case of Arizona's immigration law.) In his response letter, Holder pledged that federal drug law would be "vigorously enforced" and that the DOJ was mulling its legal options in case the initiative passes. But, Angell notes, Holder fell short of promising to sue California over the measure.
Yea ok buddy we'll see how far you get with that one you will have an uprising on your hands
Lol exactly. That would ignite the fuse to a political time bomb that's been waiting to blow since the late 60's/early 70's. In the event of prop 19 passing and the federal government trying to sue the state of California I would probably have to try my best to go to California be apart of that uprising. It'd be a hell of a party, just like it will be the day prop 19 passes.
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I AM SWIM
doin' thangs



Registered: 12/24/08
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: PsilocybinMike]
#13395658 - 10/27/10 02:50 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Obama is a jive mother fucker.
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dragonhat
Stranger
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: skatealex2]
#13395666 - 10/27/10 02:52 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
skatealex2 said: I hate when the govt. people say they don't bust anyone for small amounts cause that doesn't help the policy in anyway
It's a bullshit statement anyway, I was charged in federal court for possession of something like 1.28 grams. They didn't actively investigate me or go after me or anything, but they did waste the courts time and tax payer dollars prosecuting me in federal court for possession of an amount small enough to roll 3 joints with.
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PsilocybinMike
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: I AM SWIM]
#13395731 - 10/27/10 03:08 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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I AM SWIM said: Obama is a jive mother fucker. [/flash]
LOL, a jive mother fucker.
Key terminology right there that's a +5 worthy comment. If you were seated beside me right now I would politely pass this blunt to the nigga on my left. It's some stress though but it burns nicely in a blunt. Not real stress though just some average cheap sensi but lower than medical quality would should be the standard.
I'm tired of not living in a Medical Marijuana state, I shouldn't have to PAY for medicine, especially being diagnosed with multiple things that would get me a medical recommendation in any of the 14 states most likely. After prop 19 passes that should be the next thing on the agenda, Medical Marijuana in all 50 states.
I have only been smoking awesome headies when people smoke me out lately. I have appx. 9g of Grandaddy Purp curing from a 1 small outdoor plant I just found growing in some random spot in the woods. I am forcing myself to let it cure for the proper time since there was so little, and have only smoked a bowl or two of it within the past week just to test the waters a little.
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skatealex2
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: dragonhat]
#13395799 - 10/27/10 03:24 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
dragonhat said:
Quote:
skatealex2 said: I hate when the govt. people say they don't bust anyone for small amounts cause that doesn't help the policy in anyway
It's a bullshit statement anyway, I was charged in federal court for possession of something like 1.28 grams. They didn't actively investigate me or go after me or anything, but they did waste the courts time and tax payer dollars prosecuting me in federal court for possession of an amount small enough to roll 3 joints with.
Its total bullshit. There shouldn't even be an $100 fine if i have an ounce in my car, its simply none of their fucking business what me or anyone else does on their own time.
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Heffy
BrauMeister



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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: Naz]
#13397689 - 10/27/10 09:48 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Naz said: i hate the political BS that goes on day to day on capital hill..... these men and women are so worried about keeping the job that they fail to do the job....when will it ever end.... why cant Canada invade or something??
Yes Canada... the enlightened utopia where Stephen Harper wants to put people who make pot brownies in jail for 18 months.
Harper also routinely suspends parliament when he thinks they might make a decision he disagrees with.
If Americans knew practically anything about Canada they would know it is pretty much just as bad.
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tha_doctor
student of the Plant Teachers



Registered: 10/24/09
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: guest1]
#13397718 - 10/27/10 09:54 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
guest1 said:
Quote:
prosecuting drug kingpins versus somebody with some small amount
Where do these small amounts come from? Someone has to supply it. You can't say it is OK for people to have small amounts, but bust the people they buy the small amounts from and act like your not effecting the people with small amounts.
Exactly! What bullshit
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Green_T


Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 4,042
Loc: UK
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Re: Does Obama support legal pot or not? [Re: tha_doctor]
#13399150 - 10/28/10 03:20 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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That whole issue of whether or not California will be sued is very interesting.
(if any of this is wrong, someone please point it out) When AZ put that racist bill, they were sued because of elements that went contrary to the constitution. Politically, it was a good move because it made the latino voters happy.
Now, if CA is sued, then what voting bloc will be thankful?
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"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims
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