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Bridgeburner
Not spiritual at all.




Registered: 09/16/06
Posts: 20,010
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Obama: Decriminalize pot
#7959940 - 01/31/08 11:56 AM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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link
Last fall during a nationally televised presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama hesitantly raised his hand and joined with most of his Democratic rivals to declare that he opposed decriminalizing marijuana.
But as a candidate for the U.S. Senate four years ago, Mr. Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use or possession, according to a videotape of a little noticed debate that was obtained by The Washington Times.
"I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws," Mr. Obama told an audience during a debate at Northwestern University in 2004. "But I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana."
Asked about the two different answers, Mr. Obama's presidential campaign said he in fact has "always" supported decriminalizing marijuana as he answered in 2004, meaning the candidate mistakenly raised his hand during the presidential debate last fall.
That position leaves Mr. Obama as the lone presidential candidate among the four leading challengers in either party who supports eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana. Mr. Obama's chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton, opposes decriminalization, Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said.
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ManianFH
living in perverty


Registered: 07/06/04
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Well thats a step in the right direction.. I was going to vote democrat anyways.... I guess Obama just got my vote.
-------------------- notapillow said: "you are going about this endeavor all wrong. clear your mind of useless fear and concern. buy the ticket, take the ride, and all that.... " ChrisWho said: "It's all about the journey, not the destination."
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JohnBlaze
CriminalMastermind.


Registered: 05/15/07
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Last seen: 14 years, 2 months
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: ManianFH]
#7960173 - 01/31/08 01:25 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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thats some bullshit. hesitantly is the key word. i guess if everyone else wants it then i do to...
-------------------- In The End Revenge Sends Zen to the Defendent.- 311 Today, a young man on acid realized That all matter is simply energy condensed and slowed to a low vibration That we are all one consciousness experiencing itself and there is no death That life is only an illusion created in the imagination of ourselves.
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Konyap


Registered: 06/30/07
Posts: 33,945
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: JohnBlaze]
#7960350 - 01/31/08 02:09 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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not that he's gonna do it but legalization of pot is political suicide
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pokermush
Waterboardingmyself toprotect America!


Registered: 09/17/06
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: Konyap]
#7960739 - 01/31/08 03:38 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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I'm not an Obama supporter (except he's clearly the best when it comes to the war on drugs), but don't be too quick to judge him just because he felt the pressure to raise his hand.
I think it's obvious that his true feelings are that cannabis should be legalized, but he can't play that card now. But that's fine, politicians are well-known for going back on campaign promises, especially the ones that don't reflect their true feelings on a subject. Even if he keeps his promise of not supporting legalization, decriminalization, or medical cannabis, it will still become legal when he's president.
Obama as president won't demand (or probably even tolerate) the enthusiastic enforcement of marijuana laws that we see today. The harrassment of medical cannabis users, particularly in California, will end. (Remember, just because someone doesn't openly support medical marijuana doesn't mean they support all of the injustices perpetrated by our government.) Without decriminalizing it, he can shift the focus for enforcement and penalties, issue pardons, revamp budgets (damn, no funds for raids on California dispensaries), etc. He can and will appoint a new drug czar and DEA head, and you can bet the farm that these appointments will understand the failings of the current drug war.
The long-standing interference with clinical research into medical cannabis will end, and the DEA will be instructed to stop interfering with the process of rescheduling cannabis. Without active obstruction from the DEA, cannabis will soon be rescheduled and available by prescription. Perhaps the difference is subtle, but by allowing the drug approval system to work the way it's supposed to, we get legalization of medical cannabis. And at a minimum, cannabis enforcement won't be the priority it is today.
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Skeeblix
Dave Thomas



Registered: 01/28/07
Posts: 1,745
Loc: Wendy's
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: pokermush]
#7960827 - 01/31/08 04:03 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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Guys, even if he gets the presidency, he can't just go "Oh, hey pot is now legal."
Chances are any bill he draws up for the decriminalization or legalization of marijuana, medical or otherwise, is going to die in Congress. The government is already full of far-right nutjobs who oppose a plant for "moral reasons" because it's "dangerous, makes people kill each other, go insane, and steal". Sadly, the odds of any measure like that passing, be it proposed by anyone in the federal government, are next to none. As long as bible-thumping, Christian, republican citizens keep voting bible-thumping, Christian, republican Congressmen and Senators into office, we're not going to see legal pot.
-------------------- This post approved by:
Premedman1 said:
I just shat my pants.
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Cowgold
Bullshit


Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 12,486
Loc: .
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: Skeeblix]
#7960833 - 01/31/08 04:06 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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It's not the right-wingers at fault, it's nearly everyone's inability to distinguish decriminalization from legalization. You are a good example.
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highdroponics
Professional Deadhead



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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: pokermush]
#7960860 - 01/31/08 04:14 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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i dont believe him, sorry, hes just too young and has flip flopped on the issues too much. i recall hearing obama saying that he does not believe in medical marijuana and that the only reason he wanted to cut off the DEA from raiding medical marijuana dispensaries was to cut government spending, that was the only reason he gave for that.
ron paul is the only candidate for true change, if that is what us americans really want. forget about the republican classification, as he does not stand for anything the other republicans have been preaching for the past decades, hes an old-fashioned conservative that respects the constitution(none of the two-party candidates, republican or democratic, can say this). everything we are MEANT to be ron paul not only follows, but has voted that way for 20 years(hell he has voted against congressional pay-raise-HE VOTED AGAINST GIVING HIMSELF A RAISE!) and has stood up for his vote even if all of the rest of congress has voted against him. best of all he has never changed his stance, he sticks to his word, and that is what we need as a president, someone trustworthy, even if some of their policies arent of your liking, because at least you know you would be getting the straight truth instead of someone going behind our backs abusing their power in any way they can to get what they want.
-------------------- Dr says to stop trying to treat the side-effects of big government and focus on the core issues. End the Federal Reserve/audit the gold reserves at Fort Knox, abolish the IRS, end all wars and occupancies, stop the building of an empire that will inevitably fail, and cut all unconstitutional federal programs. Put the power back in the peoples' hands by ending this nanny-state.
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doitagain
He-Bro



Registered: 02/22/07
Posts: 1,947
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Last seen: 13 years, 7 months
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Quote:
highdroponics said: i dont believe him, sorry, hes just too young and has flip flopped on the issues too much. i recall hearing obama saying that he does not believe in medical marijuana and that the only reason he wanted to cut off the DEA from raiding medical marijuana dispensaries was to cut government spending, that was the only reason he gave for that.
ron paul is the only candidate for true change, if that is what us americans really want. forget about the republican classification, as he does not stand for anything the other republicans have been preaching for the past decades, hes an old-fashioned conservative that respects the constitution(none of the two-party candidates, republican or democratic, can say this). everything we are MEANT to be ron paul not only follows, but has voted that way for 20 years(hell he has voted against congressional pay-raise-HE VOTED AGAINST GIVING HIMSELF A RAISE!) and has stood up for his vote even if all of the rest of congress has voted against him. best of all he has never changed his stance, he sticks to his word, and that is what we need as a president, someone trustworthy, even if some of their policies arent of your liking, because at least you know you would be getting the straight truth instead of someone going behind our backs abusing their power in any way they can to get what they want.
Ron paul is very far to the right, and even if he were to move towards decriminalizing marijuana he'd also do what he can to have abortion outlawed. Realistically though, Ron Paul won't win. Obama still has my vote.
-------------------- now i hear the police comin after me
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Madtowntripper
Sun-Beams out of Cucumbers



Registered: 03/06/03
Posts: 21,287
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Quote:
highdroponics said: i recall hearing obama saying that he does not believe in medical marijuana and that the only reason he wanted to cut off the DEA from raiding medical marijuana dispensaries was to cut government spending, that was the only reason he gave for that.
Where did Obama say this?
Lets keep things factual, please...
-------------------- After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action. If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it. - Ernest Hemingway If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it. In the law courts, in business, in government. There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent. -Cormac MacCarthy He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus
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FurrowedBrow
Free yourself from yourself



Registered: 10/26/06
Posts: 2,439
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: Skeeblix]
#7961382 - 01/31/08 06:13 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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Quote:
Skeeblix said: Guys, even if he gets the presidency, he can't just go "Oh, hey pot is now legal."
Chances are any bill he draws up for the decriminalization or legalization of marijuana, medical or otherwise, is going to die in Congress. The government is already full of far-right nutjobs who oppose a plant for "moral reasons" because it's "dangerous, makes people kill each other, go insane, and steal". Sadly, the odds of any measure like that passing, be it proposed by anyone in the federal government, are next to none. As long as bible-thumping, Christian, republican citizens keep voting bible-thumping, Christian, republican Congressmen and Senators into office, we're not going to see legal pot.
But he can put A LOT of muscle into the DEA to stop raiding caregivers and dispensaries in CA and other states where it's legal under state law. He will have a lot more influence than you may think. I wish they would comment on the fucking research that STILL needs to be done into these drugs, not just mj but the psychedelics especially.
-------------------- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - Become a member!
I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery. ~ Thomas Jefferson
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pokermush
Waterboardingmyself toprotect America!


Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 475
Loc: Utah
Last seen: 15 years, 9 months
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highdroponics -
Actually, I don't support either Obama or Paul, I think they'd both make a terrible commander-in-chief (sorry everyone! LOL), even if I do like some of their individual positions.
I've followed politics closely for a very long time, and my assessment of Obama is that he is flip-flopping on this issue because he has to. As others have pointed out, openly calling for drug legalization is political suicide.
However, I think it's reasonable to assume that Obame would remove the anti-marijuana bias that has kept marijuana illegal. Research would be allowed, and the DEA would be instructed to not obstruct any reclassification. We would finally be in a position where the pros and cons of marijuana can be fairly considered, and those in charge dare to ask "should growing marijuana in a closet REALLY be treated more harshly than molesting a child?"
We don't need someone to champion legalization, we need someone who would put fairness into the process. Make no mistake, legalization is the inevitable by-product of a fair system. In that regard, I'm really looking forward to Obama being president.
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FurrowedBrow
Free yourself from yourself



Registered: 10/26/06
Posts: 2,439
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Quote:
b0red5tiff said: link
Last fall during a nationally televised presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama hesitantly raised his hand and joined with most of his Democratic rivals to declare that he opposed decriminalizing marijuana.
But as a candidate for the U.S. Senate four years ago, Mr. Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use or possession, according to a videotape of a little noticed debate that was obtained by The Washington Times.
"I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws," Mr. Obama told an audience during a debate at Northwestern University in 2004. "But I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana."
Asked about the two different answers, Mr. Obama's presidential campaign said he in fact has "always" supported decriminalizing marijuana as he answered in 2004, meaning the candidate mistakenly raised his hand during the presidential debate last fall.
That position leaves Mr. Obama as the lone presidential candidate among the four leading challengers in either party who supports eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana. Mr. Obama's chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton, opposes decriminalization, Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said.
There's another page to that article. here it is:
The campaign for Arizona Sen. John McCain did not respond immediately to questions. But the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates decriminalization, says both Republicans have told its supporters they oppose that move, including in medical cases.
When asked by The Times about decriminalizing marijuana, the Obama campaign reiterated the candidate's opposition to legalization. "Senator Obama does not believe in legalization of marijuana, but agrees with President Bush that long minimum sentences for first-time drug users may not be the best way to occupy jail space or heal people from their disease," Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
The campaign went on to say that, as president, Mr. Obama "will review drug sentences to see where we can be smarter on crime and reduce the blind and counterproductive sentencing of non-violent offenders, and revisit instances where drug rehabilitation may be more appropriate." His campaign later stated that Mr. Obama "always" has supported decriminalizing marijuana.
Mr. Obama's differing answers on marijuana are among a half-dozen conflicts between positions he took while running for Senate in 2004 and those he now articulates while running for president, a review of debate tapes shows. Other conflicts range from ending the embargo against Cuba to providing health care for illegal immigrants.
The Times obtained video footage of the public debates from a variety of sources, ranging from open sources such as YouTube to political operatives who oppose Mr. Obama's presidential campaign or his Senate bid four years ago in Illinois. Mrs. Clinton's campaign, for instance, recently released footage on its Web site of a 2004 speech in which Mr. Obama spoke about universal health care.
-------------------- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - Become a member!
I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery. ~ Thomas Jefferson
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tsquad
Stranger

Registered: 09/18/06
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Just because he raised his hand stating he's not in favor of legalization doesn't mean he isn't in support of decriminalization. They are very different things. I've been a longtime Barack supporter, also like Ron Paul, just don't think America and our situation is ready for Paul yet. B Rock can fix things up, then Ron Paul comes in
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DontPlay
Yeah Science!



Registered: 12/13/07
Posts: 750
Loc: On Land most of the time....
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: tsquad]
#7961698 - 01/31/08 07:18 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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Vote RON PAUL!!! if you want someone to at least try to legalize drugs.
-------------------- My Trade List I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. Hunter S. Thompson
I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery. ~Thomas Jefferson
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Madtowntripper
Sun-Beams out of Cucumbers



Registered: 03/06/03
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: DontPlay]
#7962649 - 01/31/08 10:53 PM (16 years, 1 day ago) |
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Legalize drugs but ban abortion...
So, you can make your own decisions unless you're a pregnant woman?
WTF?
-------------------- After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action. If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it. - Ernest Hemingway If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it. In the law courts, in business, in government. There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent. -Cormac MacCarthy He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus
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Ojom
member




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Ron Paul has said that abortion should be left up to the states. True he is definetely against abortion, but he would not be for a federal ban on abortion.
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Madtowntripper
Sun-Beams out of Cucumbers



Registered: 03/06/03
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: Ojom]
#7963195 - 02/01/08 01:38 AM (16 years, 23 hours ago) |
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They are tantamount to the same thing.
If you throw Roe v. Wade out the window, 15 states will immediately outlaw abortion.
Guaranteed.
There are basic rights the federal government will not let a state government infringe upon, I think being able to do what you want to your own body should be one of those.
-------------------- After one comes, through contact with it's administrators, no longer to cherish greatly the law as a remedy in abuses, then the bottle becomes a sovereign means of direct action. If you cannot throw it at least you can always drink out of it. - Ernest Hemingway If it is life that you feel you are missing I can tell you where to find it. In the law courts, in business, in government. There is nothing occurring in the streets. Nothing but a dumbshow composed of the helpless and the impotent. -Cormac MacCarthy He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God. - Aeschylus
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highdroponics
Professional Deadhead



Registered: 11/14/06
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Last seen: 11 years, 3 days
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Re: Obama: Decriminalize pot [Re: doitagain]
#7966824 - 02/01/08 09:40 PM (16 years, 3 hours ago) |
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Quote:
doitagain said: Ron paul is very far to the right, and even if he were to move towards decriminalizing marijuana he'd also do what he can to have abortion outlawed. Realistically though, Ron Paul won't win. Obama still has my vote.
actually ron paul has said that he will not get the federal government involved in issues like abortion and gay marriage, he is the only one of the two party candidates that will let us off the federal leash we are on. he is the only one out of the two main parties that will not abuse his power in any way, he is the only one speaking any lick of sense out of the two main parties because he is the only one that will follow the rules. we need someone like this, someone who isnt going to lie to us and take our freedoms from us behind our backs, or tax the hell out of us for any reason.
the main reason to vote for ron paul is because of our economic situation. our dollar is hardly worth the paper it is printed on thanks to constant printing by the federal reserve. ron paul would eliminate this counterfeiting organization and return to using the gold and silver standard, which if you have been paying attention lately is worth 14 TIMES MORE than our dollar now, so imagine that next paycheck being worth 14 times more than its worth right now, gas prices would go back down into the pocket change area, a doctor bill would be easily paid off. and it only gets better because next comes HUGE tax cuts because ron paul will cut spending to useless organizations, like the DEA and the IRS, that are causing more harm than good, to equal government tax income. lastly, ron paul would get us out of the 150 countries we are occupying right now that we do not belong in, which is costing us a lot of money just as well as the war in iraq is, which ron paul PROMISED the very minute he is elected that he would pull our troops out, eliminating the need to go further in debt by $1 trillion per year.
-------------------- Dr says to stop trying to treat the side-effects of big government and focus on the core issues. End the Federal Reserve/audit the gold reserves at Fort Knox, abolish the IRS, end all wars and occupancies, stop the building of an empire that will inevitably fail, and cut all unconstitutional federal programs. Put the power back in the peoples' hands by ending this nanny-state.
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TheCow
Stranger

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