Obama: Marijuana Is No More Dangerous Than Alcohol
Last edited Sun Jan 19, 2014, 07:40 PM - Edit history (2)
Source: Huffington Post
When asked if he believes marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, Obama said it is less damaging "in terms of its impact on the individual consumer."
And that marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington state is an important move towards a more just legal system.
Recently, U.S. Attorney General Holder took steps to relax federal prosecution of marijuana offenses, by averting mandatory minimums and by avoiding prosecution of marijuana users who are complying with state law. Too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason, Holder said.
The significance of the recreational marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington state is that they not only remove criminal penalties for possession at this point, 17 states and many cities have passed decriminalization measures they also legalize or regulate distribution and growth. Legalization supporters view that latter step as critical to driving out the black market and controlling the health consequences of marijuana consumption.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/19/obama-marijuana-alcohol_n_4627740.html
To which can only be said that alcohol has caused more death and destruction since LAST NIGHT than marijuana has done in its entire history.
valerief
(53,235 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Triana
(22,666 posts)Scairp
(2,749 posts)Not physically addictive anyway. I think perhaps a person can be psychologically addicted but not like any other substance including alcohol. No doubt Obama will get a great deal of grief over these comments from ignorant twerps who don't have the first clue about pot, or have an interest in keeping pot on the list of scheduled drugs. I'm so tired of uptight, scotch drinking assholes who think that pot is on equal footing with everything from prescription pills to heroin. It's not true, it's never been a "gateway" drug, whatever that means. When I was a teenager the "gateway" drug was the booze my friends got out of their parents' liquor cabinet. And it was free. I'm pretty sure that hasn't changed.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)but even as it is it veers amazingly close to truthful for a politician.
Rozlee
(2,529 posts)broken marriages and homelessness due to alcoholism, alcohol-related violence, etc. Granted, the narco wars have caused their fair share of deaths and destruction in the distribution of marijuana to the American public, but legalizing that would address most of that.
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)This issue has been my biggest irritant where Obama is concerned... since he did indeed toke as a younger.
But this puts the lack of reason an hypocrisy of prohibition out front.
This is huge.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)gtar100
(4,192 posts)And turned lives into living nightmares for no good reason.
riversedge
(70,347 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)gulp...last part...
on point
(2,506 posts)Last edited Sun Jan 19, 2014, 03:35 PM - Edit history (1)
Leadership would be to come out and say
1. It is LESS harmful
2. It should be legalized
3. I am directing the AG to stop persecuting those in states with Medical Marijuana laws
4. I am calling for a bill to have it legalized in the country as a whole.
That's leadership with backbone
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)SHRED
(28,136 posts)...and confiscating private property via "Forfeiture and Seizure" laws??
Where is Obama's legalization proposals??
Talk...talk...talk...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)this is how change comes about. In steps.
These steps just got considerably quickened. Be happy, not dour.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)What remains to be seen is how much is left on the bill now.
riqster
(13,986 posts)And people bitched then, too. Look how much progress has been made since that first step.
tridim
(45,358 posts)Sorry, I just don't get the attitude. It's a buzz-kill.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Can you give me the details of any Federal legislation that has a chance?
tridim
(45,358 posts)And Obama just gave our cause a major boost.
And you're complaining. Screw that.
Legislation will happen after we kick GOP ass in 2014.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)State by state I think Cannabis illegality will lessen however the "war on drugs" will continue I think.
gtar100
(4,192 posts)is a very progressive step to stopping it. Obama's words may be lip service to the winds of change but all change begins with saying the right words. We're not ready to throw a victory party but at least we can say, "It's good to hear you say that." It just might open some doors. But I hear you on the distrust. Few politicians speak out of the convictions of their soul.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)as the interviewer Remnick noted, this is an area of shifting public opinion where "he seemed even less eager to evolve with any dispatch and get in front of the issue."
I'll give him credit for not getting in the way in Colorado and Washington, though.
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)Divernan
(15,480 posts)Oh, you sillies - it's clear to me that Obama's comment is laying the groundwork for his full-throated endorsement of smoking pot. As soon as Monsanto completes developing genetically modified marijuana (which I'm sure they're working on right now), and planting crops next to all established marijuana growers, allowing for wind-carried cross-pollination & suits against farmers for patent infringement - probably in the next growing season, you know what's going to happen. Bob's your uncle, the justice department will be immediately called off prosecuting and Obama will hail all the jobs created and positive impact on the economy. It will be touted by him right up there with the (corporate profits) "benefits" of clean coal, nuclear power plants, the Keystone pipeline, fracking and the TPP.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Scairp
(2,749 posts)This especially a problem in the states that still criminalize pot. They have a big financial interest in keeping marijuana illegal, which is very infuriating. Maybe he is finally going to direct DEA to remove it from the scheduled drugs list with heroin and cocaine and crystal. Fingers crossed.
WhoWoodaKnew
(847 posts)Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)or at least a sane drug policy. we are ready!
should be on the dem platform, asap
Deep13
(39,154 posts)... arises from its illegality, not its pharmacology. Alcohol kills people and destroys lives.
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)by alcoholism. It kills families, relationships, kids.....strongly linked with violence.....
I hate alcoholism.
DustyJoe
(849 posts)And in the same vein, a lot have been affected watching their children start with pot, upgrade to crack or meth. Not much different than the beer drinker upgrading to straight shots of vodka IMO. Personal experience and watching tragedy unfold have me on the no-booze and no-drugs side for years.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Alcohol...ruined some people and relationships I love(d) very much.
Exultant Democracy
(6,594 posts)That leads to deaths.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Like Lily Thomlin said:
"My high school councilor asked me if I had a drug problem. My only drug problem is I can't get my mother's prescriptions refilled...."
And every one of us knows how dreadful alcohol is.
With these two...that puts pot way down at the bottom of the list of "drug problems".
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)Orsino
(37,428 posts)bvar22
(39,909 posts)Quite a disconnect there between the WORDS,
and the ACTIONS.
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)And it is a huge potential cash cow. Win-win-win (including not cramming our jails).
Pterodactyl
(1,687 posts)Kennah
(14,337 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)Shoulders of Giants
(370 posts)The harm of the actual drug itself can't even come close to the threat of losing your job or going to jail for using the drug. This is a perfect example of society creating a problem where one didn't really exist.
TroglodyteScholar
(5,477 posts)...in its entire history."
Wish more people understood/acknowledged/acceptied this fact.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)But for political reasons I realize the President can't tell this truth.
SunSeeker
(51,745 posts)One_Life_To_Give
(6,036 posts)US DoT still cites any trace of Marijuana in any of the individuals/workers it regulates as a Crime. So everyone from truck drivers to merchant mariners remember your license can be forfeited for it.
Lint Head
(15,064 posts)marsis
(301 posts)thy name is Obama. Bla Bla Bla Bla bla. What has he done on this topic other than prosecute more MM users than Bush ever thought of? ...............silence......................hypocrite!
Typical of a Chicago Democrat, God I despise those politicos up there, almost but not quite as much as teabaggers.