Sarah Palin: Smoking Pot Is No Big Deal

AOL ^ | 6/18/10 | Mara Gay

[nmh]

Sarah Palin says recreational pot smoking is "relatively speaking a minimal problem" in America.

...

"I think we need to prioritize our law enforcement efforts," she said. "If somebody's gonna smoke a joint in their house and not do anybody any harm, then perhaps there are other things our cops should be looking at to engage in and try to clean up some of the other problems we have in society."

Allen St. Pierre, the director of NORML, which supports liberalizing drug laws, said Palin's position on pot is perfectly in line with her identity as a politician.

"If you're a populist as she appears to be, it's maybe not that surprising," he told AOL News in a phone interview today.

[Vigilantcitizen]

She’s absolutely dead on right.

[AmusedBystander]

I think it falls under the Jeffersonian principle of Pursuit of Happiness.

[SoDak]

I agree with her. Good on her.

[Will88]

Sarah Palin: Smoking Pot Is No Big Deal

I've posted several times this year that we really don't know what Sarah's views are on many issues. More to come.

[HearMe]

I don’t smoke, anything. Never have.

But I have to say, if anything this position makes her more appealing? I hope she doesn’t retract.

How can any adult today say that smoking pot is a big deal? My generation and friends smoked pot all the time. And I know for a fact that they are today your doctors, lawyers, succesful businessmen, good family people, etc.

And most of all, how the hell is it the politically “Conservative” position that the Government has any damn right to control what you do that harms NO ONE and is no one else business?

[catfish1957]

Maybe her and her buddy John McCain can fire up a doobie at their next campaign rally.

DeMint/Jindal 2012

[tophat9000]

She not a populist... she runs to "Alaskan Libertarian" mind your own business school

[Free America52]

“Smoking pot makes you a loser”

OK, my successful sales career climbing to VP Sales and part owner of a software company has nothing to do with catching a buzz in the evenings. Some people come home and have beer, wine, martini’s, scotch, etc. to relax at the end of the day. And I’m a loser but they are not?

[bamahead]

Are you a conservative who cares the least bit about individual liberty? You really need to familiarize yourself with the Harm Principle.

The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties, or the moral coercion of public opinion. That principle is, that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinion of others, to do so would be wise, or even right... The only part of the conduct of anyone, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.

--John Stuart Mill "On Liberty"

By her words, it seems Sarah knows it well.

[catfish1957]

It’s natural. It will not send you flying off the side of an interstate highway like the other stuff. Most likely you would reach for a bag of corn chips.

You must have not lived though the '60's and '70's. Smoking pot has a lot more side effects than getting the munchies. The lack of intiative and forgetfullness is the real side effect.

[presently no screen name]

I agree. It is common sense - she’s talking about priorities.

Some here deliberately twist what she is implying to suit their agenda - the MSM pawns.

[SoDak]

Exactly. I’ve never touched the stuff, but the WOD is an abomination, and is really a war on the constitution and limited government.

[Le Chien Rouge]

Smoking Pot Is No Big Deal and I agree.

It’s nobody’s business if I want to sit home on Saturday night, listen to Europe ‘72 by the Dead and smoke a fatty.

It’s my business not the government,the nanny staters nor the holy than holy crowd.

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

Drinking vodka has a lot of terrible side effects as well. And it is legal.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This seems like common sense to me.

Yeah but, common sense doesn't matter to statists who want to stick their noses into other people's lives.

[HearMe]

“DeMint/Jindal 2012”

Almost anyone who can beat Obama/Almost anyone who doesn’t harm the changes of beating Obama 2012

[SoDak]

Dint say dat

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Post #19 ROFL

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Alaska has one of the worst drug-abusing states in the Union. Her home town of Wasilla is the methamphetamine capital of the Alaska!

How is that relevant to Palin or her views on drug policy?