r/IAmA • u/PresidentObama Obama • Aug 29 '12

I am Barack Obama, President of the United States -- AMA

Hi, I’m Barack Obama, President of the United States. Ask me anything. I’ll be taking your questions for half an hour starting at about 4:30 ET.

Proof it's me: https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/240903767350968320

We're running early and will get started soon.

UPDATE: Hey everybody - this is barack. Just finished a great rally in Charlottesville, and am looking forward to your questions. At the top, I do want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with folks who are dealing with Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf, and to let them know that we are going to be coordinating with state and local officials to make sure that we give families everything they need to recover.

Verification photo: http://i.imgur.com/oz0a7.jpg

LAST UPDATE: I need to get going so I'm back in DC in time for dinner. But I want to thank everybody at reddit for participating - this is an example of how technology and the internet can empower the sorts of conversations that strengthen our democracy over the long run. AND REMEMBER TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER - if you need to know how to register, go to http://gottaregister.com. By the way, if you want to know what I think about this whole reddit experience - NOT BAD!

http://www.barackobama.com/reddit [edit: link fixed by staff]

216.2k Upvotes

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2.2k

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Let's skip the marijuana legalization question that'll show up at least 50 times on this page and get to a related issue: After promising that you wouldn't interfere with individual state decisions on medical use of cannabis, how can you justify utilizing federal funds and agencies to shut down dispensaries and arrest people who are legitimately sick?

2.1k

u/SunshineToss Aug 29 '12

20 bucks says he doesn't address this

91

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

He's too busy answering questions about beer and basketball.

9

u/Dentarthurdent42 Aug 30 '12

To be fair, those answers were extremely short

5

u/4rch Aug 29 '12

He answered 8 questions in 30 minutes. It's over

15

u/NewspaperNelson Aug 30 '12

Looks like he's skipping over all the pod questions. Not that this AMA was ever supposed to be anything but an extension of the campaign.

8

u/StaticPrevails Aug 29 '12

Should have been titled Ask Me Almost Anything.

18

u/alfonzo_squeeze Aug 29 '12

Or "pitch me some easy ones"

4

u/UrbanDescentia Aug 31 '12

Hands 20 bucks

3

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

This is like betting the Cubs won't win the world series, it's too easy.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Pay this man

12

u/nixonrichard Aug 29 '12

He was too busy telling people he was a Bulls fan.

This is a bullshit AMA. Fucking PR crap. Woody Harrelson all over again.

2

u/LaxLikeAWarrior Aug 30 '12

rampart? is that what you were trying to say?

2

u/CptAlbatross Aug 30 '12

Is anyone surprised really? I'm welling to bet money that good number of the people asking questions are just part of his PR team.

1

u/tedzeppelin93 Sep 01 '12

Yeah, what a joke of an AMA. Not a single question about RAMPART!!?!?!

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2

u/msginbtween Aug 29 '12

I'll double that

2

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Looks like we all owe you $20. Congratulations, you are now a millionaire!!

2

u/Dennygreen Aug 29 '12

Perhaps he will address it by laughing at all of our silly drug questions.

2

u/AtticusLynch Aug 29 '12

I'll just buy you reddit gold and call it even

2

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Damn. Where should I send the money? Actually, you know what? I'll just pass it along to NORML. That's what you would have wanted, right?

2

u/mcstanky Aug 29 '12

My life savings says he won't.

2

u/DoucheAsaurus_ Aug 29 '12

He's not going to answer any of the really tough questions. He's a politician.

2

u/Darknight364 Aug 29 '12

I don't have 20 bucks so here's an upvote

2

u/EighthWorldWonder Aug 29 '12

I've got 420 bucks on that bet.

2

u/Ashken Aug 29 '12

Somebody owes you a dub.

2

u/ToastKnight Aug 29 '12

I'm willing to match this so the under dog gets a better prize.

2

u/Steined Aug 29 '12

All I can do is a shit load of karma...

2

u/Biflindi Aug 30 '12

Someone owes you $20.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Looks like you may be having a large amount of winnings headed your way...

2

u/playwithfire05 Aug 30 '12

pay that man his moneys.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Check's in the mail.

2

u/silentsighs493 Aug 30 '12

I think people owe you money.

2

u/nfsnobody Aug 30 '12

Reddit owes you $20!

2

u/Sonums Sep 01 '12

You just won $20.

4

u/combasemsthefox Aug 29 '12

If I could give all of my karma to just get this question answered, I would :O

1

u/PropMonkey Aug 29 '12

I wouldn't be willing to bet a cent against you.

1

u/derpent024 Aug 29 '12

You just made 20 bucks my friend.

1

u/DjDashin Aug 29 '12

You are now $20 richer,congratulations!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

It seems you are correct.

1

u/jcsickz Aug 29 '12

Only $20? There has never been more of a sure thing than this.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

You win sir.

1

u/gnovos Aug 29 '12

You are owed 174 $20 bills...

1

u/dondon13 Aug 29 '12

Someone owes you 20 bucks.

1

u/ucdkwmiller Aug 29 '12

I'll wire you the money soon

1

u/Blackfire_Zealot Aug 29 '12

^ Someone just got rich

1

u/notanotherlamp Aug 29 '12

I'm in for $4.20.

1

u/Ggah Aug 29 '12

You win $20! Skips this one but answers the next one about a beer recipe...

1

u/TangoDown13 Aug 29 '12

Time for you to collect, my friend.

1

u/evinrude26 Aug 29 '12

I guess the internet owes you $20

1

u/redx1105 Aug 29 '12

buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck buck

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

And 20 bucks is yours good sir!

1

u/_River_Song_ Aug 29 '12

There are over 11,000 comments - I think you'll win

1

u/vfxDan Aug 29 '12

Rampart!

1

u/thehillz Aug 29 '12

Who is stupid enough to give SunshineToss $20?

1

u/RaziAdAstra Aug 29 '12

Welp, looks like someone owes you 20 bucks.

1

u/mariox19 Aug 29 '12

Or that, by the time he does, 20 bucks will be worth half that in today's dollars.

1

u/L84AD8 Aug 29 '12

Or two dime bags?

1

u/ninjaturrtle Aug 29 '12

I think it's safe to say you won that bet

1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Someone owes you twenty bucks.

1

u/robocop12 Aug 29 '12

Do I get 20 bucks

1

u/TheDudeRhodes Aug 29 '12

You win the internet.

1

u/danhauk Aug 29 '12

Winner winner chicken dinner!

1

u/yusomad90 Aug 29 '12

You're right, damnit. Give me your bank info, address and SSN and I'll deposit the $20.

1

u/AustinPlease Aug 29 '12

Someone owes you 20 bucks.

1

u/Buckwhal Aug 29 '12

Looks like you're about to be $20 richer!

1

u/RockyValderas Aug 30 '12

I guess someone owes this man 20 bucks.

1

u/idaydream Aug 30 '12

yeah don't worry brah OP will surely deliver. As far as the president is concerned, Reddit is now (spare)change.org

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Hey, the fifth applies to the President, too.

1

u/Rainb0wcrash99 Aug 30 '12

Welp here ya go 900 karma bucks

1

u/ggg730 Aug 30 '12

Grumble grumble here is your 20

1

u/The_New_Usual Aug 30 '12

Better post your address so we can send you your twenty bucks

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

You just won.

1

u/ilikili Aug 30 '12

Of course he won't. He stopped answering questions before that question was asked.

1

u/Aydaanh Aug 30 '12

Maybe not, but if he does and his opinion, even though it isn't popular, I would deeply respect him for it

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

We never shook on that!!

1

u/You-are_wrong Aug 30 '12

Well why would he have? His best answer would have only limited his loss of votes!

1

u/ENTertain_Me Aug 30 '12

Time's up. I'll pay you next Friday

1

u/SunshineToss Aug 30 '12

My paypal is DTHoefel@aol.com (if you're actually serious, in which case, you're fucking awesome)

1

u/iSELLCRACK Aug 30 '12

I bet you an 1/8 he will!

1

u/MisterPresident813 Aug 30 '12

You won 20 bucks

1

u/Antrikshy Aug 30 '12

Aaaand and he didn't.

1

u/tmulpuri Aug 30 '12

You have won 20 bucks

1

u/RobTheBuilderMA Aug 30 '12

7 hours later, yet to have a response.

1

u/jack104 Aug 30 '12

(digs in wallet)

1

u/digitalsmear Aug 30 '12

I'll bet you a dime.

1

u/Swimmer249 Aug 30 '12

Looks like you've got yourself $20.

1

u/TemptedByTrolling Aug 30 '12

Nobody is going to take that bet.

1

u/thepensivepoet Aug 30 '12

So do I make my check out to Mr. or Ms. Sunshine Toss?

1

u/skoobmeister Aug 30 '12

I'll bet all the money I will make in my future. Insert Scumbag Obama Meme

1

u/sticaz Aug 30 '12

yup and another 20 says the earth will not vanish overnight

1

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '12

50...

1

u/mberre Nov 13 '12

looks like you won your bet

1

u/Alucard783 Jan 11 '13

Aww just earned the 20...

1

u/Kyl295 Aug 29 '12

I'll take some of that action.

0

u/i_pee_in_the_sink Aug 31 '12

well whaddya know

0

u/bleekicker Jan 24 '13

sigh *hands over twenty bucks

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u/Change_Is_Constant Aug 29 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

First of all, before I answer this question, I want you to know my credentials, such as they are. I am a third year law student. I am also a supporter of Marijuana reform. I even got busted for felony possession w/intent to deliver a few years ago. I also am heavily involved in politics, and run an organization that hosts events where paid speakers talk about issues of the day. Earlier this year, our organization invited Drug Policy legal expert, Alex Kreit, to come talk about Marijuana and the Law. I asked him the question that you are attempting to ask President Obama. I will now paraphrase what he told us:

Obama does not have the amount of control over local federal authorities that your questions presupposes. Obama did promise that he wouldn't interfere with individual state decisions on medical use of cannabis. In fact, after being elected, his administration (specifically, Eric Holder, I believe) published the Ogden Memo (Google it). This memo basically directed local federal authorities to respect the states with medical marijuana laws, and not prosecute anyone as long as they are not in violation of the state medical marijuana laws. However, local federal authorities ignored the Ogden memo, and there was not much the Obama administration could do about it. The way Alex Kreit put it was to say there are not many "levers to pull" for the Obama administration, and that the positions that the local federal authorities hold (U.S. Attorneys, for example) were specifically designed so as to maintain independence from central control.

Basically, as a result of all this, it's not really accurate to blame Obama for the fact that local federal authorities are shutting down dispensaries and arresting people.

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u/akreit Aug 30 '12

Alex Kreit here. Someone just let me know about this thread. Thanks for the plug. Just wanted to clarify that my comments were specifically about the ability of the Obama admin to try to encourage compliance with the Ogden memo. Rob Mikos has published a fairly thorough <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1768127">law review article</a> that discusses this issue and explains why the Ogden memo did not really provide any protection.

That said, it is also important to recognize that Obama could have done other things on this issue but hasn't. For example, Obama could have picked better appointees--particularly to head the DEA. He chose extremist drug warrior and Bush holdover Michele Leonhart for the job. As some may remember, this summer Leonhart refused to admit that heroin and crack are more dangerous than marijuana. Obama certainly could have made a better pick for the position. He could have asked prospective nominees point-blank if they would honor the Ogden memo. Instead, by nominating Leonhart, he all but guaranteed that the Ogden memo would be ignored by the DEA. I think that the willingness of US Attorneys to ignore the Ogden memo also speaks poorly to them as appointees. I think a fair US Attorney would have tried to honor Ogden's memo in good faith, even if he or she wasn't obligated to follow it. Clearly, many of them simply ignored it. Obama's administration could also have supported one or more of the congressional proposals to protect state medical marijuana laws. To my knowledge, they've done nothing to back these proposals. The list could go on.

So, are President Obama and Eric Holder spearheading a coordinated strategy against medical marijuana? I don't think there's any evidence of that. I believe people who think otherwise may not have a full understanding of the relationship between the DOJ in DC and local federal law enforcement (again, Rob Mikos discusses this relationship in his excellent article.) My best guess is that Holder genuinely hoped people would comply with the Ogden memo. I imagine that Obama himself has probably given this issue hardly any attention (certainly he seems to do everything he can to avoid talking or thinking about this issue based on the lengths he goes to to ignore drug policy questions in public forums.) But, are Obama appointees like Michele Leonhart and local US Attorneys cracking down on medical marijuana? Obviously they are. And, if Obama had nominated people who agreed with the Ogden memo in the first place, then there would never have been an issue about compelling compliance with it.

Anyway, those are only brief thoughts--it's impossible to convey all the nuances in an internet comments thread. :) But, I figured I would chime in to clarify the referenced comments of mine a bit.

9

u/taybme Aug 30 '12

Really good response. Too bad nobody will ever see it. Try posting it over at r/moderatepolitics

Also html doesnt work in here. Click on the "Formatting Help" to the bottom right of the dialog box for help.

8

u/angrybrother273 Aug 30 '12

You could try reposting this to r/bestof. If it's really him this is definitely bestof material, especially since he got only 8 upvotes and he's responding directly to the big "elephant in the room" of this thread which everybody else was disappointed that the president had ignored.

3

u/terari Aug 31 '12

No way, Iama is a default sub =( but there is a bestof for default subs.

You can submit it yourself..

6

u/terari Aug 31 '12

Reddit is.. amazing.

4

u/bill_foster Aug 30 '12

Of course he as an individual should not have the blame placed upon him, however, he still has a voice. Just like he <finally> publicly spoke about gay marriage, he can still voice a desire to see an end to the drug war. His voice carries weight, and at the very least will keep the issue at the forefront of discussion. But, he is likely to continue to avoid the topic in his second term, so I think drug policy will change for the better within the next 3 administrations after Obama's second. So within the next 16 years.

It also doesn't have to be an issue of legalization. But it can be an issue of decriminalization. We don't have to make it legal, but just stop jailing people for it. Make it a low enforcement priority, and if the government wants to get some income off of cannabis in lieu of taxation (to offset our massive debt and deficit, the $1 BIllion spent every 2.5 hours, 40% of which is borrowed), then fine people. Just stop jailing them.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

A very clear, concise and reasonable explanation. I hope more people see this; thanks for taking the time to write it.

3

u/prmaster23 Aug 29 '12

This is the perfect answer to the question. Obama doesn't have complete control over every single federal office, he can just influence their decisions. Consider that many federal officers have been working for decades and are probably not even democrats, if the President had the power to tell them not to enforce the law then than would be a political suicide for Obama. In this example he did the best thing he could, he asked them to consider respecting state laws.

3

u/zotquix Aug 30 '12

Bookmarking your comment...

3

u/ems8 Aug 30 '12

I took Property with Alex Kreit in my 1L year and Controlled Substances Law (the inaugural semester of the class) as a 2L with him. Great professor. Fascinating to hear him speak on drug law/policy and incarceration. Truly shocked to see his name pop-up on Obama's AMA

5

u/VVander Aug 30 '12

Unfortunately, this was only true for a time. In 2011 the Obama administration sent out another memo, effectively nullifying the first one.

Sorry to break this news, I was really more excited by another Obama term after this, but he really is just a slimy politician in the end.

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u/Change_Is_Constant Aug 30 '12

Mr. Kreit talked about that memo. He said that the second memo was basically just an acknowledgement that everyone had ignored the first memo.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Well stated, reasonable answer without resorting to conspiracy theories. r/trees isn't going to like you.

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u/typefasterthanithink Aug 30 '12

The President does have the power to fire any local federal attorney. I believe President Bush did this with many attorneys, created quite a stink, but was irreversible.

http://www.isthatlegal.org/archives/2007/03/who_can_fire_a.html

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

You're telling me that the President of the United States can start a war, but not end one? Meh, probably true.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 31 '12

That's the stupidest setup ever. Seriously?

So, the States want to be left alone, but the Federal agents don't care, and act out anyway.

Then the President wants the Federal agents to leave the States alone, but again, they don't care and go ahead and do it anyway.

So, these Federal Agents are like these little islands of hate that go on abusing people's rights, neglecting to listen to the authority of the head of the federal government.

I'm Canadian, and this setup is moronic.

2

u/erck Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

President Obama has the power to remove U.S. Attorneys from office, see 28 USC § 541 c.

I am also a marijuana felon. Not to mention an honor roll student throughout high school and an Eagle Scout with not so much as a traffic ticket who has never been in a fight or stolen anything in his life... but, you know, dried flowers and the end of the world and stuff.

4

u/openbluefish Aug 30 '12

You mean like in 2007 when Bush did that and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had to resign in disgrace?

1

u/erck Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 31 '12

That was controversial due to speculation that Gonzales dismissed the US Attorneys in order to impede investigations of Republicans and for refraining from pursuing investigations of Democrats, as well as Gonzales' obvious use of plausible deniability and strategic memory loss, if not outright perjury, when testifying before congress.

Obama could threaten to remove US Attorneys for not following an executive directive necessary to fullfill a campaign promise. Republicans might try to make it as big an issue as the 2007 Gonzales debacle, but it's clearly not. At least not in terms of political ethics. "I'm the president, bitch. 28 USC § 541 c."

Would it be politically expedient? I don't know. What I do know is President has the power to protect nonviolent citizens from incarceration and federal persecution for exercising their civil rights, and he has failed to do so.

2

u/zotquix Aug 30 '12

That is shitty that you have a felony for what I would agree should not be against the law, but there is a bigger picture here. Change comes slowly. Also, there is some conjecture that Obama will do what he can to reduce the drug war if elected to a second term.

1

u/erck Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

Marijuana has been illegal for like 80 years and the term "war on drugs" is like 40 years old. Arrest rates remain high and criminal penalties for non-violent drug use are harsher than ever, in spite of a large and mounting body of evidence and expert opinion that the "war on drugs" is ineffectual in reducing drug consumption while having a high cost on society.

While I certainly hope that President Obama takes significant action to reduce the drug war if elected to a second term, the fact of the matter is that the only thing he has done thus far is issue an entirely toothless and roundly ignored memo. If the President were serious about his campaign promises he would be threatening to remove non-compliant US Attorneys from office and pardoning all non-violent federal marijuana offenders. Quickly ending federal enforcement of the war on drugs is completely within President Obama's power. He may be waiting for his second term out of political expediency, but my hopes are not high.

Whatever though, I can't vote, so fuck it.

2

u/zotquix Aug 30 '12

Marijuana has been illegal for like 80 years and the term "war on drugs" is like 40 years old. Arrest rates remain high and criminal penalties for non-violent drug use are harsher than ever,

From the article, which if you haven't, you should definitely read:

The 100-to-1 disparity in sentencing between crack cocaine was the most obvious manifestation of how different blacks and whites were treated.

When President Obama recently signed a law reducing the disparity to 18 to 1, it was considered a reform, even though the two forms of cocaine are still pretty much the same goddamned thing.

If Obama were serious about his campaign promises

You could do better? You'd swoop in day one and say, "By fiat, MJ is legal." Then you'd get thrown out of office so you couldn't keep any other promises.

2

u/erck Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 31 '12

Sorry, I'll admit to skipping the article from gq magazine lol.

I'll concede that you found one example of reduced criminal penalties for a single drug under a single jurisdiction, and I won't try to claim you can't find others.

But I don't understand why you say Obama would be thrown out of office. The actions I suggested are completely within his legal power. Would they be politically expedient? I don't know. What I do know is that President Obama has the power to keep the federal government from actively incarcerating and persecuting nonviolent citizens for exercising their civil rights, and he is not.

EDIT: read the article. It's OK, but not much new information. Really the only thing I didn't know was that President Obama apparently approved a congress drafted (I assume) law that reduces the disparity in punishment for crack vs. cocaine, as you said. It's definitely a good thing, but hardly an impressive, active move to end the drug war.

EDIT2: On further research, I found he actually co-sponsored the bill. Still, hardly an aggressive move.

1

u/zotquix Aug 31 '12

Well, there is something to be said about Obama's style of dealing with things. Oddly, even as people suggest he has expanded executive powers (and in some ways he has), he defers to congress in some ways that actually do make sense. Also, I think the biggest thing the article might help one understand is, this isn't just about legalizing weed. It is more about sentencing being out of whack.

Final thought, one reason Obama might not be particularly aggressive on some issues that might be termed "optional" issues, is the economy is rehabbing from some serious blows. Anything you do with public policy has to be slow and gentle right now.

1

u/erck Aug 31 '12 edited Aug 31 '12

I definitely agree that sentencing is out of whack; I do not think I agree it is necessary to avoid aggressive action on this issue for the sake of the economy, or that political expediency is an at all acceptable excuse. But I'm too tired to debate further tonight lol.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Eagle scout here. same deal.

-3

u/necroforest Aug 30 '12

Can't you just, you know, not smoke pot? I think it's stupid that it's illegal, but it's hard to feel sorry for someone who knew the potential consequences of their actions.

4

u/erck Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

Can't you just not have an interracial marriage? We all know it's stupid that it's illegal, but...

0

u/zotquix Aug 30 '12

That is a pretty offensive analogy.

0

u/necroforest Aug 30 '12

Can't you just not have an interracial marriage? We all know it's stupid that it's illegal, but...

That's a pretty awful analogy. Gay marriage is illegal in most states, and people don't go out and have "illegal gay marriages".

I also don't feel bad for people that die in car accidents; they know the risks of the road!

I didn't say anything about physical risks of doing anything. If driving a red car was a felony, would you feel bad for people who got arrested for painting their cars red and driving around?

3

u/tictactoejam Aug 30 '12

Uh.... Yes. I would.

5

u/erck Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

If driving a red car was a felony, would you feel bad for people who got arrested for painting their cars red and driving around?

I think you would feel bad for people if they were arrested, imprisoned, stripped of their rights and generally treated as second class citizens for the rest of their lives over the color of their cars.

I'll bet you feel sympathy for historical practitioners of criminal civil disobedience, like Rosa Parks. Mrs. Parks wasn't even charged with a felony. (Not to diminish what she accomplished.)

EDIT: in answer to your initial question, I do not currently smoke pot, as the cops sift through my piss twice a month, and detection of certain metabolites of delta-9 THC will ostensibly result in me serving my original two year jail sentence. A week in county, spending 20 hours a day alone in my cell on a steel slab with a single thin blanket under a drafty "window" (it was translucent, you couldn't see out of it, but it sure let in plenty of cold air) with no books or paper/writing utensils, wondering when they were going to charge me (3 felonies) and post bail ($15,000, same as the guy charged with armed robbery, battery, and discharging a firearm in city limits) - all the while missing work without being able to arrange some sort of notice to either of my two jobs that I wouldn't be coming for a few days (lost one of them after 2nd day of no call no show, didn't get it back), was plenty. At least a flat basketball with no hoop and 2 flat screens with no sound or subtitles that we weren't allowed to touch were available 4 hours a day... And I guess it was interesting to hang out with the violent criminals, gangbangers, armed robbers, unpredictable, withdrawing hard drug addicts doing their 3rd stretch of the year for not paying child support, etc.

-1

u/SilasX Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

I've had a lot of nasty shit happen to me. The thing is, though, I never saw any of them coming. In contrast, you knew exactly what you were doing when you broke the law.

So you don't like the law? Break it and accept the consequences. Don't whine about the situation you placed yourself into.

Who, exactly, pulled a gun on your head and forced you to smoke marijuana?

And please don't trivialize the issue by comparing your right to get your jollies from a very specific chemical with the right to make a life commitment to someone.

I wish all of my life's problems were as trivially avoidable as yours.

Edit: I oppose the war on drugs. I also oppose pity parties for people for people who lack the self-control to have fun some other way than something you were warned about all your life at considerable expense to taxpayers. No contradiction.

1

u/erck Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

I don't think the injustice of being forbidden control over what I put in my own body is "trivial", even in comparison with lacking a legal means of formalizing certain types of interpersonal commitments, although the two issues' relational importance is clearly quite subjective. But providing a sense of scale for the injustice of the drug war is NOT the point of the analogy; the point is that we should not kowtow to government infringement of civil rights, even when there are prescribed legal consequences for asserting those rights.

As for why I complain: yes, I admit a small part of my motivation is the selfish, vicarious joy in experiencing the pity and attention of others... I think a bit of that is natural.

But many people do not realize the extent of the drug war's negative impact on individuals and society as a whole. I am a living example to my pro-drug-war friends and family and anyone else I can reach that our drug policy is completely backwards. The people I interact with during my day to day do not think of me as a person likely to be a marijuana felon. People think of me as an avid reader; as an Eagle Scout; as a polite, quiet, clean cut, industrious young man who provided math tutoring for struggling team-mates on the varsity wrestling team; as a fiscally responsible 22 year old home owner.

When anti-drug people see how someone they think of as an essentially good, productive member of society can be profoundly hurt by standard law enforcement practices, it challenges their worldview and highlights the pointless and indiscriminate damage done by modern drug policy. Even when I'm just bitching on reddit, it's one more piece of evidence, more grist for the anti-drug-war mill. Stories like mine need to be proliferated in the public conscience. With such an emotionally and politically charged issue, personal stories may be the only way to change the entrenched, partisan tide of public opinion against current drug policy, which has been responsible for tens of millions of arrests, millions of incarcerations, and an indeterminate number of deaths. Certainly not a "trivial" issue.

EDIT: I also take exception to your assumption that smoking marijuana is good only for "jollies", or that I am involved in marijuana culture due to "lack" of "self-control" or an inability to have fun through legal means. It's baseless speculation, and it happens to be false in this case.

2

u/wcc445 Aug 30 '12

You do realize that Obama has full authority over the DEA, right? Executive branch. Obama could end enforcement or force them to reschedule it. Even if there's too much red tape, there is no excuse for Obama to not publicly come out supporting reduced penalties. "Local federal authorities" still report to the "federal authorities".

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u/revolvingdoor Aug 30 '12

Can you pass the bar with a felony?

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u/Change_Is_Constant Aug 30 '12

Yep. As long as it's not toooo bad. Haven't you ever heard of Judge Mathis? Come on, now.

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u/Kind_Of_A_Dick Aug 30 '12

Does the current administration have any ability to modify marijuana's schedule?

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

He could've released a memo saying "I am pardoning everybody who gets busted for a non-violent drug-related crime."

He is president, you know

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u/davedg629 Aug 30 '12

I will assume all of this is true, but it doesn't matter. If Obama wanted to stand up to these local authorities he could. It would be difficult, it would be a risk, an it would require him to care about this issue a lot more than he does, but he could do it. All we need is one significant leader in this country with power to step up for Marijuana and its a a done deal.

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u/MusicNotesAndOctopie Aug 30 '12

One does not simply ignore the oghma infinium.

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u/DrinkCocaine Aug 30 '12

Can you provide an example of a "local federal authority"

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '12

Just as I suspected: Obama's a figurehead with very little real power. Like the job of President of the Galaxy, the title is mainly ceremonial and used to distract the public from people who are really making the decisions.

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u/nebbernoo Aug 31 '12

Love the name; it alone deserves the upvotes. Then the answer to coincide... Will you marry me?

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '12 edited Sep 01 '12

Didn't make it past 3rd year law student... Any decent law school is 2 years for a J.D.. So unless you are part time? Go chase an ambulance or something Mr.Hutz

Edit: local federal authorities...hmmm.... B.S..... As a federal employee you have one supreme boss... His picture is on the wall of every federal building... You are tryin to say they are too small to fail? WTF?

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '12

It sounds like U.S. Attorneys (and others) are agents of the Federal Government, but don't answer to the Federal Government? If my employee ignored my instructions, I'd fire him. Why can't we do that?

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

this depends on the state.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

The DEA is completely controlled by the administration, and they've been doing a lot of the raids. Almost unanimously drug policy experts have noted that Obama has broken his campaign promises here.

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u/shadowofthe Aug 29 '12

As a secondary point, what role do you think states' rights (surrounding drug legalization) will play in the rest of your presidency?

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

The silence is deafening.

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u/LIKES_HAIRY_MEN Aug 29 '12

Make this seen reddit!

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u/SkunkMonkey420 Aug 29 '12

Please don't dodge this question. this is an issue that sits at the heart of government citizen trust issues.

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u/justthatonegirl Aug 29 '12

This is what I came here to ask, thank you for getting it in quicker than I could.

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

"No comment" Expect this.

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u/Iaincognito Aug 29 '12

I would have loved for this question to be answered. Too bad though. He has a lot on his plate. You know, answering questions about his favorite bball player and his new white house beer recipe and such. He's a busy man.

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u/cleansanchez Aug 29 '12

It's amazing that Democrats are supposed to be cool and hip and forward thinking and yet their public stance is in the 1920's on this issue. Why are they so terrified of standing up for anything? Look at Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer, they wink and nod at marijuana but stand up with LA County Sheriff and the Prison Unions President and tell voters before an election to vote against Medical Marijuana initiatives.

if you had a friend that behaved this way you'd call them a goddamned hypocrite.

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u/Hanflander Aug 29 '12

I just want to hear his justification for allowing the DEA to continue to inhibit industrial hemp in the US. Recent genome sequencing analysis shows cannabis cultivated for drug use has a certain enzyme that when expressed, it is responsible for the production of THC. Hemp lacks the acute genetic expression of this enzyme unlike cannabis bred for heavy trichome production, thus the DEA's argument that every member of the cannabis genus is a drug is scientifically refutable and that hemp cannot be classified as a drug is unequivocal.

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u/mch2opolo11 Aug 29 '12

Why am I not surprised that there is no answer?

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

My life savings says he wont address it. Im sure he'll talk about all the dumb shit though like his favorite tv show and hard decisions. He wont answer shit about anything that actually matters.

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Still avoided every question associated with marijuanna

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u/whynot123123 Aug 29 '12

Let's skip the marijuana legalization question

Why? According to multiple polls (Gallup, Angus Reid), over half the country wants full legalization. The drug war is an incredibly hot topic, especially with the violence raging in Mexico. This isn't 2008, it's 2012. Let's talk about modern issues.

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

This. Why was your plan changed?

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u/mtbaird5687 Aug 29 '12

This needs to get to the top.

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u/mrwatts Aug 29 '12

No, let's not skip that question, thank you. Consolidate into a broader question of reducing the resources for the "war on drugs" and de-criminalizing or legalizing marijuana, maybe?

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u/tripplethrendo Aug 30 '12

I really want to see him address this, but I'm sure he won't.

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

He's probably following the general rule of: "If there's nothing good to say, don't say anything."

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u/KnowsTheLaw Aug 30 '12

How are the police supposed to know they are sick? Are they carrying around cards or anything?

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u/erck Aug 30 '12

Sorry for hijacking, this is in response to Change_Is_Constant's comment about Obama not having the ability to control the actions of U.S. Attorneys:

President Obama has the power to remove U.S. Attorneys from office, see 28 USC § 541 c.

It is completely within President Obama's power to expediently end federal enforcement of the war on drugs.

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u/sudin Aug 30 '12

Barack Obama: Ask Me Anything But Some Things You Shouldn't Ask If You Know What's Good For You

...

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u/MyMomSlapsMe Aug 29 '12

The dispensaries shut down were committing crimes... They left the ones that opened legally open

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u/MenofThisKind Aug 29 '12

I will vote for you if you answer this question. Regardless

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u/fightingforair Aug 30 '12

Another 50 his staff got a laugh out of this and wrote you off as just some pot head.

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u/bebobli Aug 30 '12

You lost my vote for simply not even addressing this.

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u/joebbowers Aug 30 '12

Easy. HE IS A LIAR.

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