Posted on 01/10/2009 1:17:51 PM PST by IbJensen
Esquire magazine recently reported that representatives from Barack Obama's administration team admit the president-elect will give strong consideration to decriminalizing marijuana by the end of his tenure in office.
Those remarks follow comments issued last summer by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts), who introduced H.R. 5843 -- an act to remove federal penalties for the use of marijuana by "responsible adults." According to CNN, the liberal lawmaker "doesn't think it's the government's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time."
Lending the Esquire article additional credence is an interview with Obama, recorded in January 2004, during which the then-U.S. Senate candidate expressed interest in decriminalizing the personal use of pot. (See YouTube video)
As someone who is very much aware of how this drug has harmed so many people from my generation, I adamantly disagree with this "floating" proposal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency lists marijuana as "a Schedule 1 controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse."
It's irresponsible for members of the incoming administration to float this idea and to send such a message to millions of young Americans -- although I'm sure many supporters of medical marijuana use would disagree. But I think they should reconsider. Currently more than 50 head shops in San Francisco act as fronts for marijuana distribution in that city. According to The O'Reilly Factor, these shops not only attract petty crime but other non-desirable activity as well.
Anyone who knows anything about drug abuse knows that marijuana has been a "gateway" drug for many of those who use and abuse hard narcotics. Many people are first exposed to that dark world through a few puffs of a supposedly "innocent" marijuana cigarette.
Marijuana desensitizes people -- and its everyday use makes people lazy and unproductive. And it's addictive! I have personally seen this substance harm friends from school days past. Perhaps that's why I am so upset that consideration would be given to decriminalizing its use.
Still, Congressman Frank garnered support from seven other Democratic House members in sponsoring his legislation. Included in that group was Rep. Barbara Lee from California's District 9 (Berkeley and Oakland). By voicing her support, Lee -- a member of the House Black Caucus -- made light of the recreational use of a drug that is destroying the lives of hundreds of her own constituents.
If Lee wants to act responsibly and do something constructive, she should target the drug dealers in her district who are irreparably damaging the lives of untold numbers of people. Ironically, though, Congresswoman Lee's tact is to say that present drug enforcement laws are "inhumane" and "immoral."
Similarly, if president-elect Obama wants to act responsibly, he should immediately retract this reckless proposal being "floated" by his advisors.
The Communists are always happy to provide “the masses” with a way to keep their minds off of the misery of living in a corrupt Communist system. The Soviets used Vodka. I guess “pot” is just as good for use here.
Perhaps "special education" might interest you.
Learning among your peers can only increase your hopes of literacy.
Where does the Constitution delegate to the feds the power to penalize individuals for marijuana possession, in your personal view?
A plant is a force of evil? A better example of a force of evil would be that of a government pretending to wage war against drugs when it really is using said war to add to its own power over its citizens. The militarization of police forces, no-knock raids, property seizure, etc. is not something that should be done to a supposedly free people.
I’m all for the decriminalization of marijuana. And no, I’ve never tried it.
Once again, its people 0 can throw under the bus making those statements. If people go for it, he can claim it. If they don’t, he never said it.
We won’t hear 0 make any substantial remarks until he declares his dictatorship and he will probably focus group that too, just to be sure.
Me three. And, as someone who has never smoked the ganga (career military officer), I don't think it's the government's business what you do in your own home.
I do have one caveat. If you are on public assistance, you should have to take and pass a random drug test. If you want to lay on the couch, baked all day long, have at it. On the other hand, if you want to be baked and then have the government reach their hand into MY pocket to pay for your habit, with that I have a problem.
Interesting point!
Pot is boring. At least legalize coke and gold razorblade necklaces. Now that would make Obama Cooooooool!
Thats okay, the liberals will be happiest when everyone is a parasite living off of the government
Nor can they really, it is a state issue.
That is my big beef with Reagan... His escalation on the War on Drugs..
Ditto...
I love a good legalize pot thread! Good arguments by all. My personal opinion is that what you do at home is your business. I will also say I know people that would rather work at a low pay, unskilled job then go pee in a bottle to get a job that pays twice as much......such as the oilfield industry. This creates many job op’s for me......have CDL, can pass drug test, will travel. I’ll have fries with that please....
And, also meanwhile, Ritalin addled kids and Prozac pounded moms, in search of another govt teat to suck on, run rampant...
These pot threads are always fun to watch. The hatred of liberty can run as deep here as on any leftist board. The utter raw fear that, Oh MY FREAKING GOD, somebody somewhere might actually be able to grow what they want in their garden and have what they want on their coffee table is almost fun to watch. But, of course, it actually sucks to have to watch it.
If one can not tolerate freedom for their neighbors, one can not tolerate freedom period.
The solution will only come by
-- killing drug warriors by the gaggle in every no knock raid and every way possible. As a society, we simply are failing to kill enuf drug cops. Real death tolls will make a difference.
-- teaching kids the concepts of classic liberalism. Live and Let Live and Don't tread on me must get in to our kids heads. Unwavering love and trust for Individual Responsibility and Limited Government must be inculcated in our youth.
-- shaming shunning and actively discriminating against the dumbass's that support the drug war.
Okay, end rant.
If marijuana represents such a threat ,and the enforcement against it is to continue to be such a vast expense for society to bear , then it must follow that we need to re-visit the total banning of all alcoholic beverages and spirits .
We need to outlaw and ban killer tobacco too. Both of these substances have a long and indisputable record of bringing death and major health crisis to their helplessly addicted users . The fact that consenting adults freely choose to use them should be overridden by laws maintaining the public order and safety . Build more prisons now !
Interesting point!
Continue to allow drug testing and exclude users from all responsible and high paying jobs and professional educational opportunities. This can be done at the state level.
PUT A HUGE TAX ON IT. I’ve always wanted to put a huge tax on dopers. They’re mainly liberals anyway. If they like taxes so much, let THEM pay them.
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