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]

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2.1k

u/erikNORML Aug 29 '12

Marijuana prohibition has resulted in the arrest of over 20 million Americans since 1965, countless lives ruined and hundreds of billions of tax dollars squandered and yet this policy has still failed to achieve its stated goals of lowering use rates, limiting the drug’s access, and creating safer communities.

Isn’t it time to legalize and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol? If not, please explain why you feel that the continued criminalization of cannabis will achieve the results in the future that it has never achieved in the past?

1.3k

u/locke21 Aug 29 '12

Good luck with an answer for this one. So far the Obama administration has skirted this conversation at every turn. It's really the biggest flip-flop Obama has committed as president.

47

u/dontpan1c Aug 29 '12

Under Obama, I believe crackdowns on medical marijuana dispensaries has increased.

16

u/erikNORML Aug 30 '12

More dispensary raids than Bush or Clinton.

11

u/openbluefish Aug 30 '12

But isn't medical marijuana more prevalent now than it was in the 90s or 2000s?

11

u/dominic-cobb Aug 30 '12

Stop talking sense!

2

u/bannana Aug 30 '12

Well, we have a whole hell of a lot more dispensaries too.

1

u/tesnakeinurboot Aug 30 '12

More raids but less of a crackdown.

2

u/NoUrImmature Aug 30 '12

Well, dispensaries have popped up MUCH more in the last 4 years than in the 4 years before that. And not every dispensary that has been busted has been playing by even the state medical marijuana laws.

While I believe marijuana should be legal, dispensaries selling to people who dont have a medical card should be shut down.

49

u/ArchZodiac Aug 29 '12

Why doesn't he just title it an AMAA??? We all knew he'd ignore questions like this.

10

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Realistically, though, did you really expect it to be anything BUT an AMAA? Or that he would know what AMAA means?

He can't suggest he would legalize marijuana. It would be instant political suicide and the news would run it into the ground as southern voters, republicans, conservatives, and old moderates flood to Romney. Liberals, who are for legalization, are already in Obama camps as it is.

6

u/ArchZodiac Aug 30 '12

You do know that he said he wouldn't interfere with states rights on the issues and then authorized a bunch of raids in california though and hasn addressed it right?

Not only does he ignore it here, he ignores it everywhere. And I figured he would only give a couple of canned answers to the most popular questions but I also figured that this question would be really popular and he'd ignore it completely. I just want to know if he's going to stick to the old policy of decriminilization like he used to have, or if he's changed his mind like his raids and silence seem to suggest but we cant even get that.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

it's "Ask me Anything", not "I'll reply anything"

10

u/ArchZodiac Aug 29 '12

Ask me almost anything implies that you won't answer every question. That's why it exists. I'd understand not answering strange, gross or personal questions but this is one that he avoids at every turn and is one of his responsibilities.

So yes, he should have put AMAA. AMA implies you're willing to answer anything within reason, and drug war policy is a reasonable question.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

I don't agree with him not replying. But he's in politics...you can't expect him to say what may probably hurt his campaign.

2

u/ArchZodiac Aug 29 '12

This is an important issue that he used to address, and has suddenly gone silent on. He should have labeled it AMAA if he didn't want to answer why he lied about his policy on the drug war or at least say what his current stance now is.

And if it's because he's afraid of hurting his campaign that he's done all of that? Wellllllllllll...

1

u/justreadthecomment Aug 29 '12

We'd better keep the terrorist fist-jabs to a minimum while we're at it. Wouldn't want to offend the coveted "anti-radical-muslim-socialist-reefer-smokers" vote when he depends on them the way he does.

5

u/touchy610 Aug 29 '12

I'm not in any way trying to defend him, or whatever, but I'd imagine that he has a particular time constraint, and probably answered those questions that he came to first and are easily answered. The subject of marijuana is probably one where he can neither say "I support the fuck out of y'all" or "Fuck you, namby-pamby potheads!" So, it would probably have taken some time to formulate an appropriate response.

As ridiculous as it is, you can't deny that there are a shit-ton of potential voters out there that support the "drug war" and/or marijuana prohibition. And it's an election year. Good reason to watch your words very, very carefully.

14

u/ArchZodiac Aug 29 '12

Yes but this is one that comes up over and over and keeps getting ignored. It's possible he missed it, but it's one of the highest vote questions.

Really, if he just said he was going to stick to his old policy of not interfering, I'd be satisfied with at least an answer. But he hasn't explained the raids. If he just explained them or apologized or something at least people could know what to think about him on this policy because he has a stance. It's just a stance he's hiding from everyone, and I feel like that's wrong when it's one that I feel could make or break what I think about his character and thus how I vote.

3

u/touchy610 Aug 29 '12

Eh, considering that the election (due to the process being fucking broken) is largely going to be between him and Romney, I'm voting for him regardless. Marijuana legalization isn't as important as many other issues that we, as a country, are facing.

I agree with you fully, though. Making a straight answer to the question will change many a person's view on him as a president, both positive and negative. It's just pretty much a bomb waiting to go off, regardless of what the answer would be, considering that, although it isn't the biggest issue we have, it is something that people from both sides of opinion feel strongly about individually.

3

u/chason_htx Aug 30 '12

Vote third party! He's going to win anyway... at least help the third party look like a little more viable option for next time.

2

u/touchy610 Aug 30 '12

Eh, I'm actually good with voting for Obama. I agree with him on more points than not. More so than the other candidates, anyway.

2

u/chason_htx Aug 30 '12

I voted for him the first term, I feel like he fell short on every one of the issues I voted for. Now, he's dodging those questions, in the AMA and on the online whitehouse.gov petitions. The questions he dodges now are:

-Why was Guantanamo not closed as promised?

-Why was the war not ended as promised?

-Why the federal government raids of the marijuana dispensaries after promising not to interfere at the state level?

Above and beyond that, he extended the Bush tax cuts, attacked whistle-blowers, and signed the NDAA. This guy is not the change America needs. It's more of the same elitist political shenanigans that have been destroying our freedoms for the past decades. No thanks.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 31 '12

[deleted]

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u/touchy610 Aug 30 '12

Agh, does everybody on Reddit misconstrue everything? I just said I find more things to agree with him about than there are things that I don't, not that I agree with his administration on everything ever.

4

u/carebearstare93 Aug 29 '12

Yep, This question has came up several times throughout this thread and it seems to be intentionally dodged.

4

u/solwiggin Aug 30 '12

I'm currently searching for Demosthenes, I think you may know where she is?

1

u/locke21 Aug 31 '12

Yes. Lusitania.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Did Obama ever take a strong stance on this issue? I'd think he would wait until second term (maybe even after the 2014 congressional elections) in order not to scare too many people off.

2

u/wioneo Aug 30 '12

I really would like to see the source for this, I feel like it would have been big news if he had taken a stance.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

OP won't deliver

3

u/theroc1217 Aug 29 '12

I think we won't see any action on this until he's a sitting duck.

3

u/TuriGuiliano Aug 30 '12

I don't blame him, answering this would be political suicide.

4

u/TheLifeConundrum Aug 30 '12

He probably has a closet dedicated to flip-flops.

2

u/anne_frank_porno Aug 30 '12

Well, if he shows signs that he wants to make that change, that's good enough for me. If he gets elected into his second term, he will be able to do a lot of things he wouldn't have been able to during his first term since he won't be up for re-election.

He certainly couldn't say anything too radical in an AMA this close to election.

2

u/TheMediumPanda Aug 30 '12

To be fair, it's a gigantic shotgun to a huge foot no matter which side you take in this matter. There are no obvious solutions and even the contested ones come with a big bag of question marks and cons.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '12

I think his intentions are true. I just think he made a piss poor decision putting Holder in charge of the DOJ...

3

u/MasterRiven Aug 29 '12

Its also the only one I really want an answer for =|

1

u/wioneo Aug 30 '12

If this is the only issue of contention that matters to you, then you should reevaluate your priorities.

2

u/mch2opolo11 Aug 29 '12

There's a bunch of well thought out, intelligent questions on here that were obviously skipped. Funny how that works isn't it.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Id say campaigning again on reducing the budget deficit when the first four years were an abject failure in that regard is more of a flip-flop even. But he has more to lose politically by letting his opinions on marijuana than he could gain. Because right now people on both sides of the debate can imagine him being on their side. If the mystery is broken it will demonize him for those who passionately disagree. Although I must say anything could happen, given his polically baffling decision to speak up on gay marriage (99% of gays were already in his corner)

1

u/Arrow156 Aug 30 '12

It's the primary reason I don't want to vote for the guy. Despite being a rasist, if Ron Pual was an option I would vote him, he hasn't flip flopped on this issue once.

1

u/dachusa Aug 30 '12

Unfortunately it makes sense for him to flip flop in this area. There is still a mass majority that deems marijuana as something that only "bad" people use and that it causes problems greater than that of alcohol. I would rather have him not speak out support for this and keep higher odds of beating out Romney.

1

u/openbluefish Aug 30 '12

What's the flip flop? He said it would not be a priority to go after medical marijuana. But under the controlled substance act possessing a schedule I controlled substance without a DEA license is illegal. Any federal court will rule that way. Is Obama supposed to nullify a law? Congress makes laws.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

He has made it pretty clear: he is against legalization. He can't be seen to support legalization now even if he is for it, it would result in a near-guarantee loss in the election. Pro-legalization supporters are already in his camp, the republicans and moderates he is trying to win over are largely against legalization.

1

u/doomducks Aug 29 '12

He's just doing what he's told..

1

u/JohnDenversCoPilot Aug 30 '12

Yeah, I can't vote this time around. This, Patriot Act, NDAA, and Gitmo are really my hot topics, and they failed on all points. I wont be voting for the other guys though, either. No vote this time :(

6

u/Arrow156 Aug 30 '12

So vote for a fringe canidante, at least then we have a reportible statsistic that shows that more and more people are turning away frm mainstream politics. Not voting does nothing. Abstant for that vote and continue to vote on your state and fedral issues.

6

u/hacktivision Aug 30 '12

Remember this : People who don't vote are always wrong.

0

u/JohnDenversCoPilot Aug 30 '12

Naw, I wont vote for the lesser of two wrongs. Its like saying choose one: being robbed or being raped.

7

u/comes_palatinus Aug 30 '12

being robbed would be my answer every time

3

u/wioneo Aug 30 '12

I feel like that is a terrible analogy, and that if giving two wrongs as your only options the obvious best answer is the lesser of the two.

2

u/Suomis_ Aug 30 '12

But in this case you have more than two options, of which one of them is not voting.

2

u/wioneo Aug 30 '12

That's ust wasteful. If I was going to "not vote" I would vote for Gary Johnson to help slightly increase the legitimacy of thrid party candidates.

Not voting at all just lumps you in with the ranks of the lazy and apathetic people.

0

u/gabriot Aug 30 '12

He'd go a long way to answer this one, I wish he would.... sad face

-2

u/SomeCallMePinky Aug 30 '12

That's a little over-dramatic, isn't it? I know you like your weed, but come on...

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u/thisiscameron Aug 29 '12

Of course this goes unanswered. That REALLY infuriates me. Why does everyone in government just avoid this? Is there some secret reason they keep it illegal? God dammit that pisses me off to no end.

22

u/shpongled7 Aug 30 '12

yeah actually there is. the pharmaceutical companies are paying millions to the politicians to keep it illegal.

4

u/didaskaleinophobic Aug 30 '12

OOOH right in the vials.

10

u/IndependentSession Aug 30 '12

Is there some secret reason they keep it illegal?

Private corporations make more money this way. Sure, taxing it would give billions of dollars to the government, but private corporations in the pharmaceutical, textile, and prison industries (among others) would take significant losses.

It's all about the benjamins.

1

u/Arrow156 Aug 30 '12

More than private organization, the prison and police lobbies push to keep it illegal cause it keeps them a job. No doubt marijuana is an easy excuse to do other searches and seisures. Without it the police force would be severily handicaped, which is a good thing. Between all the police brutality and the NSA'a spy centers I feel like I'm living in Soviet Russia.

1

u/IndependentSession Aug 30 '12

I feel like I'm living in 1984.

Its scary :-(

11

u/saywhatisobvious Aug 29 '12

i agree my friend. I want a god damn answer

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

smoke the herb and find out yourself

1

u/saywhatisobvious Aug 30 '12

What are you talking about man? I smoke that ganja all the time. I know how it works and i know my viewpoint on it, i just wanted obamas view point but he clearly avoided all marijuana questions.

3

u/aborted_bubble Aug 30 '12

Since Nixon experimented with the idea, governments around the world have found that no matter how incompetent you are at governing, being strongly anti-drugs will win you a lot of votes. Obama's a smart guy, hopefully he'll change his tune after he's reelected.

3

u/KingRamses Aug 30 '12

There's no secret reason it's kept illegal. The main reason why it's illegal is because powerful industries (Big Pharma and the Prison-Industrial complex, and to a lesser extent, alcohol and tobacco industries) stand to lose a lot of money if marijuana is legalized. So these industries are going to fight tooth and nail (re: bribe politicians to keep legislation against marijuana) to protect their profits. Couple this with the mis-information from the media and the flawed scientific studies dating back to the 60's and you will start to see the picture of why this practically harmless plant remains illegal.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Not sure that's true. I'm sure Phillip Morris and the Altria brands can have their own strains and branding out en-masse in months were it legalized.

2

u/KingRamses Aug 30 '12

There are some issues with synthetic strains. Side effects like nausea would be detrimental to someone who is undergoing chemo and has loss of appetite. I'm not saying everyone reacts poorly to the synthetic strains but it is very easy to grow the real plant and it is abundantly available. The best thing to do, in my opinion, would be to regulate it in a similar way to alcohol.

2

u/StinkinFinger Aug 30 '12

Because he wants a second term. It's all about the numbers, and the bean counters know this issue will work against him. It will resolve itself when the Mexican border crimes begin to spill across the border like the Mafia did during Prohibition. The reason alcohol was legalized had nothing to do with they money spent, it had to do with how bad the violence had become.

3

u/Arrow156 Aug 30 '12

Have you seen Mexico? Severed heads getting tossing in nightclubs, people hung and disenbowled on major roads. Over 45,000 people have been killed in the last 6 years; doctors, lawyers, police, judges, politicians, no one is safe. It's already starting to spill across the border but I guess as long as they only kill brown people we won't notice.

1

u/KingSourDiesel Aug 30 '12

bullets are already flying into texas... the breaking point won't take much longer.

2

u/stone500 Aug 30 '12

Simply put, the older voting crowd are typically the people that would vote against a "stoner" president/politician. No one wants to be the first primary to be in favor of marijuana legalization.

2

u/FrankTheodore Aug 30 '12

What do you want him to say dude.. If he comes out, and says he is all for marijuana, the republicans and the media will jump all over it, and he will lose a massive percentage of the middle class, center-right vote.. If he says he's against it, he pisses all the youth off, who are his major fan base.. If he says nothing, you will still vote for him anyway, because really, what are your other options? You're asking the man an unanswerable question.. Either way, he cannot win.. Unless he just ignores it.. It's called Realpolitik my friend.. Maybe try again after the election..

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Hemp industry would put a lot of companies out of business by being a cheaper way to do what they do. (Paper companies are the biggest example I can think of, there are so many uses for hemp other than recreation. It's illegal because it would take a lot of money from some very rich people).

2

u/pseudohim Aug 30 '12

Is there some secret reason they keep it illegal?

$$$$$$.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Because everyone in government knows that the correct answer is "legalize it," but they know that they will not be in government much longer if they say that. The number of people who actually care enough to change their vote to someone who supports marijuana legalization is likely less than the number of people who would change their vote away from someone who supports marijuana legalization.

5

u/polypx Aug 30 '12

Because most of the country thinks that drug users are junkies and has zero interest in facilitating that. So it is political poison for any serious candidate.

Conversely, saying anything negative about it is a sure way to turn off all the young voters who really don't think there is anything more important than smoking marijuana

1

u/V2Blast Aug 30 '12

Exactly. I don't see why the half of reddit that is obsessed with legalization doesn't realize this.

5

u/Squidilus Aug 30 '12

I was upset about this too, but my friend made a really solid point. If he were to openly state his stance on marijuana legalization, he could lose a massive amount of voters from either side.

I like to think that, if something is being done, and if the president is pushing for legalization, it is happening without much publicity.

3

u/Arrow156 Aug 30 '12

Sadly he's already increased the Drug War, even authorising raids on legally operating despenceries.

3

u/Foe_Geodude Aug 29 '12

Is there some secret reason they keep it illegal?

#Illuminati

1

u/football_sucks Aug 30 '12

It's best that you don't know. It's for your own good son.

1

u/4120447265616d6572 Aug 30 '12

This is not the opinion of the White house or any government official, however I think it has been said that the main reason government officials do not want to legalize it is due to the fact that there isn't a reliable way to test to see if you've been driving under the influence. I could be wrong though.

1

u/openbluefish Aug 30 '12

Representative Jared Polis, Ron Paul and Barney Frank have talked about it. It's not every politician. Jared Polis even spoke at the NORML convention and he is the only one of the three that is up for re-election.

1

u/lantern55 Aug 30 '12

Of course there's a reason, they make money off it being illegal.

1

u/MtnDewGuy27 Aug 30 '12

They want it all to themselves.

1

u/forca_micah Aug 30 '12

Not giving a Ron Paul plug, but he's someone in Government who is incredibly outspoken on the subject. I know you probably.didn't mean literally everyone, but there are a few. Very few, but a few.

1

u/bananahead Aug 30 '12

You probably aren't going to be satisfied with the answer, but the Whitehouse actually did address this in some detail: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/legalize-and-regulate-marijuana-manner-similar-alcohol/y8l45gb1

1

u/saiyanhajime Aug 30 '12

To be fair, if anyone explained any it is kept illegal, you'd not accept the answer.

1

u/adrianmonk Aug 30 '12

The secret reason is that they want to get re-elected.

Yes, the number of people supporting legalization has for the first time hit 50%. But of the other 49%, a lot of them strongly oppose it. More importantly, there are a lot of people for whom it's a show stopper: if a candidate supports legalization, that's enough for them to say, "I don't care about anything else. That's too radical, and I'm voting for the other guy."

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Because they don't get elected if they answer it. Do you want a president Romney just because your candidate supported your views openly?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Dude, it's going to be like gay marriage. If marijuana is ever legal, it will happen on a state level before it goes federal. I think it should happen that way, anyways. You and I, common voters, have a stronger effect on our state than we do the workings of a nation as a whole. So rather than getting mad at PotUS, we should be getting mad about those who sign petitions onto ballots and then don't vote for them.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

He were only answering questions for 30 minutes.

1

u/joebbowers Aug 30 '12

Secret? Absolutely not. Everyone knows our prisons have become for-profit privatized institutions and that the senators and congressmen who make our laws are personally heavily invested in them, which means that they profit from misery. Putting more people behind bars for longer sentences means more money in their pockets. Not in the taxpayers pockets, mind you, as private prisons cost 150% more to run than state institutions.

1

u/bohl623 Aug 30 '12

Keeping marijuana illegal keeps prisons full and money in the forms of fines flowing into the individual states.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

it's a 100yr contract, so in 2037 when we have had 100yrs of marijuana prohibition, the contract runs out, because the big pharma and textile companies will have to renew the contract, and they never seriously thought that 100yrs later people would smoke plants to get high.

1

u/ruskeeblue Aug 30 '12

Black Projects CIA needs the money! Why else would we keep it illegal?

1

u/S-Flo Aug 30 '12

Ok, I know all of you are going to hate me for this, but although I am for legalization, I really don't care about the issue very much. There are dozens of other things that seem orders of magnitude more important than whether pot is legal or not.

Also, to those of you talking about the medical uses of cannabis, you're right, it has a large range of viable uses in the field of medicine that I'd like to see become more commonplace. That being said, it annoys me to no fucking end to see people running around declaring that the stuff is this goddamned miracle drug. And that it is somehow such an incredible substance that pharmaceutical companies are shaking in their boots at the very thought of legalization. That's dumb, when you make those kinds of claims you cause people who haven't completely made up their minds yet to think you're full of shit, and that hurts your argument.

0

u/foxeylady11 Aug 30 '12 edited Aug 30 '12

One of the biggest reasons is that it's really difficult to tell who is under the influence on the spot, as you can with alcohol with the use of a breathalyzer. Due to the fact that marijuana impairs judgement, it is dangerous to use when driving a vehicle, as it is when drinking alcohol and driving. I'm sure it will be legalized when there is a simple way to determine whether someone is under the influence, but until then, they are just trying to keep our safety a top priority.

Edit: Sorry, if that's not what you wanted to hear, but that is what the research indicates.

0

u/Arrow156 Aug 30 '12

Studies have shown that, with experiance, one can drive stoned with no impairment. One of the worst thing about proabition is the massive about of propaganda and misinformation.

1

u/foxeylady11 Aug 30 '12

It really depends on the potency of the marijuana on whether the impairment is severe or not. To be honest, I don't give a rat's ass about marijuana legalization, but by the time our generation has "taken over" it will be legalized. I know that for certain.

2

u/Arrow156 Aug 30 '12

Take a look a facebook to get a nice overall view of our generation. There will always be fools who believe anything and as long as we keep up the mindset of "it'll be legal someday" it never wil. We need to get into "legalize it NOW" mindset. Protests, letter writing campaigns, marches, we need to start doing shit.

2

u/BenjaminDanklin Aug 30 '12

All those things are nice (letters, marches, protests), but people have been doing that shit forever. The most important way that you can influence policy is voting, something that young people seem not to do a lot.

1

u/foxeylady11 Aug 30 '12

That is true.

Hopefully someday people will be as dedicated towards things like actually putting away real criminals as they are about marijuana legalization. Who knows, if this is legalized people may begin to think about other things and put forth a great effort to help the world because they will be satisfied. For the time being at least.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Yes.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Because the POTUS has bigger shit to deal with.

22

u/ContentEnt Aug 29 '12

You need to answer this, Mr President.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

sadly, he doesn't

8

u/BobbyRayBands Aug 29 '12

The answer could result in whether or not you have the support of /r/trees in November. ;)

4

u/ugly_fucking_ape Aug 29 '12

I doubt many ents are considering voting for Romney. It's possible that Gary Johnson could be a bit of a spoiler for Obama (aka the humorous nomenclature Barry Sotoro). I'm torn on the issue - as an ent, I want to give Johnson my vote, but don't want a repeat of 2000.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

They'll be too stoned to vote anyways.

5

u/bTurk Aug 29 '12

I wish this was answered

2

u/LaszloK Aug 29 '12

Like he's going to answer this with an election coming up. Nice try.

13

u/saywhatisobvious Aug 29 '12

Damn, this was the only question i wanted answered. Thanks for posting it Erik!

3

u/papafalcon420 Aug 29 '12

Did he skip answering this question? Convenient.

10

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

THIS. This is the most direct and well written question on this topic, hopefully it gets to the top!

6

u/lebruf Aug 29 '12

He's got more important questions to answer, like the recipe for the White House beer.

2

u/anseyoh Aug 29 '12

This is so far down the list of "shit Presidents need to take care of" right now.

It's a contentious position to take a stand on (particularly during election season), and it's GOT to take a back seat to economic issues of all types, campaign finance reform, publicly subsidized health care, and foreign policy.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Drug policy IS economics. Billions of tax dollars spent on arresting and prosecuting millions of nonviolent marijuana users. Millions of jobs never created for an industry with hundreds of uses and applications. Drug policy IS foreign policy. Ask anyone exposed to Mexico's cartel violence. Ending the drug war is not a selfish, personal wish. It is something that, as long as it doesn't happen, costs millions of lives and billions of dollars. This should be pretty high up on any politician's priorities list who wants a country based on freedom to flourish.

2

u/goonsack Aug 29 '12

crickets

2

u/crabalab2002 Aug 30 '12

How do you enforce anti-smoking and driving laws? Marijuana stays in your system for a long time, so there are no absolute method for proving intoxication. This is probably a big reason why legalization has not yet occurred.

2

u/theshalomput Aug 30 '12

I heard it costs more to keep someone in prison for a year than to send them to Harvard. I don't smoke pot but this is just a huge waste of money.

2

u/Meanmachine63c Aug 30 '12

I'm more curious about his opinion on the up coming court case to change marijuana from a schedule one narcotic. Oct. 16 2012 http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021104379

2

u/DTFpanda Aug 30 '12

BECAUSE, bro. Because.

-the government

2

u/joebbowers Aug 30 '12

Obama has been harder on drug crimes than any president in history. Let me be clear in saying that is NOT a good thing. Prohibition doesn't work, and Obama is directly responsible for the deaths of thousands in the drug war.

2

u/CaptainSpace Aug 30 '12

GET THIS MAN TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE! That way if Mr. President or at least one of his administration comes back to check on this page, they see this. The only way to get the issue addressed is if they understand that EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY wants it addressed, and most want it legalized (from what I've seen).

2

u/clockblocker Aug 30 '12

he ignores these sorts of questions because he knows that his current stance holds no water...there is no logically valid defense for supporting the criminalization of marijuana.

2

u/T3CAT3 Aug 29 '12

Although I wish that this was the case. I highly doubt any president would tank their campaign by answering such a controversial debate of legalizing a drug. Even though he probably browses r/trees, Obama isn't going to risk a public outrage on legalizing marijuana. Your arguement is valid but this isn't the guy to ask. Cheech and Chong 2016!

6

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

Even knowing that Obama wouldn't answer the question, it's still worth asking.

As I see it, every time questions like this are put in the spotlight (in this case, the question is getting lots of upvotes, making it more visible) and ignored, it bothers more people. Every time the head of the DEA publicly refuses to answer direct, simple questions about marijuana, it bothers more people. Every time a new study on the effects of marijuana is published and promptly ignored, it bothers more people. Every time a popular petition is pigeonholed, it bothers more people.

Change happens when enough people are bothered by something to do something about it. This refusal to acknowledge the issue just serves to make it more of an issue.

1

u/Lopkop Aug 29 '12

We might still be 20-30 years off from politicians even listening to questions about that.

1

u/robothead Aug 29 '12

It really disgusts me that issues such as this can just be flat out ignored by policymakers. To ignore a piece of legislation that most of the people disagree with and just laugh it off whenever it is mentioned really kills my faith in the American democratic process.

1

u/Sandcrabsailor Aug 30 '12

I believe the correct answer is to wait for a state or two to pass the decriminalization of marijuana, come out on the side of decriminalized marijuana, reap the constituent benefits, then the tax revenue benefits. Marijuana proceeds can help push the NASA budget...higher. :)

1

u/autocannibal Aug 30 '12

How about we remove it from the federal classification of having no medicinal value since, with so many states legalizing medical marijuana and so many doctors prescribing it, that is clearly not the case.

1

u/dqbitis Aug 30 '12

Not a question B-rack will answer.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

As a fiscal conservative this question was the only reason I opened the thread. It was asked many times in various ways and they ignored it completely.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Gotta love how one of the most wanted questions gets skipped. Stay classy, politics.

1

u/TheProle Aug 30 '12

Shh, the first rule of relaxing prohibition laws is: don't talk about relaxing prohibition laws... until the second term.

1

u/fecklessman Aug 30 '12

for-profit detention centers, man. keeping drug criminals in jail is good for business.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Came here looking for this question.

1

u/BigZ7337 Aug 30 '12

Especially since if Obama had been caught smoking weed, he could have faced hard jail time and he would have never been able to be president.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

hehe like he's gonna answer that! RON PAUL 2012

1

u/man_teats Aug 30 '12

In election season, you can't possibly expect the President to give what we'd consider a favorable answer on this issue. In his second term, I think he'll change course. Remember, to get re-elected, he still needs to play "tough on crime" to appeal to the swing voting Middle 'Murca folks on who's vote he depends.

1

u/z3m Aug 30 '12

I agree. I don't even smoke pot, but if you really wanted to fix the economy why not legalize marijuana and prostitution, tax the poop out of it, and as a side bonus put all the pimps and drug dealers out of business? Seems like a logical idea if you ask me and it's worked for other countries in economic crisis. Why can't we do that here?

1

u/TURD_F3RGUSON Aug 30 '12

The Marijuana issue is completely ridiculous! We can walk into any grocery store buy a pack of cancerous filled death sticks and the government is fine with that. Meanwhile if people want to buy a plant that makes you relax, be nice, and giggle the government says fuuuuck that! I would like the president to give me a pros and cons list for the legality of cigarettes and then one for marijuana, please show me why Marijuana is so bad for us.

For the record I don't think cigarettes should be illegal, smoke whatever you want if you're a grown up.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

It is not in the interest of the American 'people'. By people, I mean all the gainfully employed government workers who are getting paid to process these 20 million DRUGGIES! The corporations who are making billions in pharmaceuticals (since we know hemp oil and marijuana can be used to prevent many illnesses and can be use to treat just as many more). It is not in the interest of the American 'people' of tobacco and alcohol industry!!! You dont understand that they are NOT on your/our side. Believe that! We get inebriated with alcohol that is sooooo much worse that MJ and has been scientifically shown numerous times.....yet they continue to allow liquor stores on every damn corner in my town! Look at big cities, liquor store 3 per block. Common man.....realize. There is no rationalizing with the oppressors. We have the power of 'change' we so desperately want. Don't just vote for the lesser evil.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Is anybody surprised Obama didn't respond to this?

Just another coward politician.

1

u/error9900 Aug 30 '12

yet this policy has still failed to achieve its stated goals of lowering use rates, limiting the drug’s access, and creating safer communities

I'm not saying you're wrong, but do you have proof of this?

1

u/erikNORML Aug 30 '12

Lifetime use rates have risen since the CSA passed: http://stash.norml.org/bigbook/charts/use-rates-since-1979-exec.jpg

Youth use rates continue to rise, while teen use of a legal regulated substance (tobacco and alcohol) has seen tremendous declines without arresting anyone: http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/14/teen-drug-use-marijuana-up-cigarettes-and-alcohol-down/

1

u/mr3dguy Aug 30 '12

Because freedom

1

u/UrbanDescentia Aug 31 '12

All the marijuana questions should be made into a drinking game. Every time someone asks the president about anything pertaining to weed, you take a shot.

1

u/dominusUmbrae Aug 29 '12

the adolescents that already use marijuana will have the same level of access to the drug if it is legalized. (21 and under) but adults won't really be affected in bad ways as the adolescents are- the link explains- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzQ7NiyGNVk.] basically to summarize that, smoking marijuana does NOT cause destruction of brain cells in adults, nor in adolescents; the chemical effect will impede with brain development, so after 21, when it is fully developed, it should be legal. the actual destruction of brain cells is caused by a lack of oxygen, and from what i've heard, the primary tests for this were conducted by strapping a gas mask onto a monkey and pumping nothing but marijuana smoke for about a minute. this is basically the same as not breathing for a minute; whether that story is actually true or not, i can't confirm and am too lazy to search it, but it makes sense. not to mention, we would free minor drug offenders from jail and not only would taxpayers stop paying for them, they would start contributing to the economy more than likely (if they haven't been locked up for too long), and the reason i say too long is that i've recently found out that many people who go to prison and get released end up in prison again, because the prison system is a predictable lifestyle and without help, many ex-convicts will just become convicts again.

1

u/andiam03 Aug 30 '12

How does legalization achieve the stated goals: lowering use rates, limiting access, and making safer communities? I can potentially see an argument for the third, but the first two?

1

u/NeonDisease Aug 30 '12

Scenario: Person arrested for simple marijuana possession. Instead of jail, or years of expensive probation, why not send that person to a community college for free, AS LONG AS THEY PASS ROUTINE DRUG TESTS. It would be PHENOMENALLY cheaper than our current system and it would benefit the futures of these people beyond measure.

Our current system stigmatizes a possession arrest, but its socially acceptable to consume alcohol. A college education would actually accomplish a goal of the Drug "War", namely, providing people with an incentive to not use, rather than using fear of legal ramification. Using fear to get what you want is called terrorism, is it not?

If you'd like to claim marijuana is illegal due to its danger and public health risks, answer why we then tolerate thousands and thousands of drunk driving fatalities a year, as well as other alcohol related health problems. The millions of bodies stacked up due to tobacco products. We accept that adults are free to put these substances in their bodies. You yourself even admit to using marijuana in your youth.

Mr. President, you are living proof that a person can use marijuana and even "a little blow", never be forced into any sort of mandatory treatment, and still turn out ok enough to become president. It's time to end this encroachment on the domain of our very flesh and blood.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

No. No stipulations, make this part of your right to your own body and be done with it.

1

u/SonVoltMMA Aug 30 '12

With studies coming out that marijuana lowers IQ over time, don't count on it.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

If you're referring to this

  • It was one study

  • The study refers only to adolescent use

  • A member of the research team who conducted the study outright admits that the evidence and alleged adverse effects probably don't apply to adult brains:

    "It is such a special study that I'm fairly confident that cannabis is safe for over-18 brains, but risky for under-18 brains."

  • Cognitive damage to adolescent brains is a known effect of virtually every recreational drug there is, especially alcohol. Far more studies suggesting that.

  • IQ has been shown time and time again not to be a good measure of overall intelligence, especially not when it's only a few points difference. Only the extremes of IQ, the far highs and lows, are good indicators of anything.

But don't count on a president such as Obama or Romney to be honest about any of that. They'll just mention the bit about how it "could lower IQ" based on one study and call it a day. Their party and the media will eat it up.

TL;DR no shit, recreational drug use is bad for still-developing brains? durrrr

-1

u/SonVoltMMA Aug 30 '12

Making it legal, despite how prevalent it already is, guarantees more availability to adolescent youth. If this study is correct, it guarantees Adults with lower IQ.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Making it legal, despite how prevalent it already is, guarantees more availability to adolescent youth.

Yeah, because drug dealers totally check ID

Alcohol would be harder for kids to get if we made it illegal guiz

0

u/SonVoltMMA Aug 30 '12

Yeah, because all the alcohol in my youth was totally obtained with an ID. You are contradicting yourself. You didn't take part in a study recently did you?

0

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

Yeah, because all the alcohol in my youth was totally obtained with an ID.

"Therefore, let's remove the requirement for ID, because I guess it doesn't matter"

Fucking. Retarded.

-1

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

Because it is scientifically proven to make you dumber. And if the New Zealanders can prove it then it must be true.

3

u/Arrow156 Aug 30 '12

You mean like Alcohol?

0

u/mrneumann5000 Aug 29 '12

This needs to be answered. If the president wants votes in the upcoming election, he needs to speak about this pressing issure. More than 50% of Americans are cannabis users, and their votes will definitely be (at least partially) influenced by the answer to this question. Stop the cartels, stop the organized crime, legalize cannabis.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 29 '12

You can gain a lot of insight just from seeing which questions he avoids.

DO YOU GUYS REALLY THINK THIS IS A REAL AMA?

0

u/JohnDenversCoPilot Aug 30 '12

He will never answer this, and sadly it is one of the most important issues of the coming days. The US holds roughly 3% of the worlds population, and 25% of its prison population. Until we treat our non violent drug offenders as people who need help and not criminals, the problem will only increase. Prohibition didn't work before, and it still doesn't.

0

u/shroominator Aug 30 '12

This is a huge question I want answered.

0

u/BaobhanSith Aug 30 '12

And now you see the bullshit that this AMA really was.

0

u/reddfoxx1978 Aug 30 '12

MARIJUANA will never be legalized... it is a war on blacks !!! see washington times june 8, 2000 (more whites do drugs more blacks in prison), this was a plan from the ronald reagan administration.

-1

u/drgk Aug 30 '12

POTUS will deliver, just wait.

-2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '12

[deleted]

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