Posted on 05/06/2002 6:21:05 PM PDT by Texaggie79
In newly released audiotapes of Ronald Reagan's broadcast commentaries, Reagan made clear his view that individuals should be allowed to use marijuana if they wanted to.
The Reagan broadcasts come from the days before Reagan became president and were believed to be lost.
But in the new audio set "Reagan In His Own Voice" the unedited version of Reagan's most controversial broadcasts are now available.
In one broadcast, Reagan declared it was an individual's choice if they chose to smoke marijuana, as long as they were aware of the health risks.
Reagan had a strong Libertarian streak, though he also held strong views about prayer in school, abortion, sex-ed in schools and other social concerns.
You might be pleased to know that I agree with your statement, until you learn that I consider busybody types and totalitarian nutcases "riffraff."
For some at least. And I admire their independent thought, although I can't admire their conclusions on this matter. Liberty is liberty and Ronald Reagan recognized this. It simply reinforces my own admiration for the man.
Probably drinking a beer, opining about how much better they are than "them lowlife potheads".
His WOGATSA crusade is driven by the irrational obsession that states 'rights' can over-rule the US Constitution on individual liberties.
Strange fella.
Sniff..Sniff..Sniff... you smell fish??
In newly released audiotapes of Ronald Reagan's broadcast commentaries, Reagan made clear his view that individuals should be allowed to use marijuana if they wanted to.We really need to hear his words - and what context they were spoken in.
I'll reserve comment until then.
I was boarded on my sailboat several times by Customs, Coast Guard, DEA, etc.
And now we find out he wanted to turn the other cheek?
Well, to be fair, after he was shot by a friend of the Bush family (and probably a Secret Service agent) just a couple months into his Presidency he was probably too scared (not to mention getting to be too old) to do anything that would mess with the inteeligence community / prison-military-industrial complex's War on some Drugs cash cow.
When NewsMax reported that Ronald Reagan did not oppose legalizing marijuana, we were surprised by the buzz the story created.
Why the surprise? Reagan had a strong libertarian streak. He opposed such things as mandatory seat belt laws and requirements that motorcyclers wear helmets.
We know Reagan was one of the first to challenge the Nanny State.
Last week NewsMax publicized comments Ronald Reagan made in one of his radio broadcasts before he became president. (Reagan gave about 1,000 radio commentaries just before he became president.) After decades, the tapes have recently been released.
In August 1979, Reagan dedicated one program to marijuana. While he warned of the many health risks, he did say, "If adults want to take such chances [using marijuana], that is their business."
Soon after NewsMax ran the story we received a call from NORML, the Washington-based group that wants to legalize the drug.
NORML had created controversy when it took out huge billboards of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and current New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, quoting their admission they both smoked pot.
Bloomberg and Giuliani weren't chuckling and asked NORML to pull the ads.
One person who was chuckling was Michael Reagan, the popular radio host and son of President Reagan.
Mike saw the NewsMax story and said, "Of course Dad was for legalization."
"He wasn't crazy," Reagan added, laughing, "He didn't want his kids in jail!"
Of course, Ronald and Nancy Reagan's four kids came of age during the turbulent '60s and '70s. For the most part, the Reagan kids' lifestyles were not as straight-laced as their parents.
Reagan In His Own Hand pgs 395-99.
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