President Obama ignored medical marijuana during his Twitter Town Hall yesterday. He won’t be able to do that for much longer.
When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, he vowed to take a “hands off” approach to medical marijuana. “The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind,” said a White House spokesman in 2009.
But Obama has broken that promise by repeatedly approving Department of Justice raids on legal dispensaries from coast-to-coast and looking the other way as patients are denied their right to relief.
And not only is Obama looking the other way, he’s completely ignoring the issue: during yesterday’s Twitter Town Hall, the president neglected to answer 4911 questions about his pot policy. “Would you consider legalizing marijuana to increase revenue and save tax dollars by freeing up crowded prisons, court rooms?,” asked the inquisitive public of the president. It was the most asked question of the Town Hall, receiving nearly 3 times the number of retweets as the second most-asked question.
The president also refused to answer related questions during a YouTube question and answer session earlier this year. But last week the President’s Justice Department released a memo insisting that they will continue enforcing the federal government’s anti-pot law.
“Persons who are in the business of cultivating, selling or distributing marijuana, and those who knowingly facilitate such activities, are in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, regardless of state law,” wrote Deputy Attorney General James Cole, who frets over “increase in the scope of commercial cultivation, sale, distribution and use of marijuana for purported medical purposes.”
In addition to having what pot advocates call a “chilling effect” on various states’ possible legislation for medical marijuana, the Obama administration’s continued war on pot will have political ramifications, as well.
On the most obvious end of the political spectrum, Obama will have to explain to his liberal and progressive supports why he both broke a political promise, not raiding medical marijuana dispensaries, and why he denies patients the right to herbal remedies.
On the other end of the spectrum, meanwhile, Obama will face Tea Party and Republican activists who champion states’ rights. He is, after all, extending his federal power into states where voters approved of medical marijuana, like Montana, and risks whipping the masses into a frenzy.
If he wants to avoid being shouted down by red and blue voters alike, the President will start changing course and evolve on medical marijuana, or face the electoral consequences.
July 07, 2011 at 2:50 pm, Sound Verite said:
C’mon President Obama, let’s the brothers & sisters get right!
July 07, 2011 at 3:15 pm, Corryoneill said:
For pro-cannabis Democrats, this must constitute a crisis of faith. As a Libertarian, it looks to me like business as usual.
July 07, 2011 at 4:07 pm, Thomas Cline said:
should run a poll asking people on facebook how likley will they vote for obama in 2012 if he doese not legalize marijuana and by the time election day if its not legal he will see how many voters will not vote for him in next election maybe he see how seriuse this subject is to his next election
July 07, 2011 at 5:12 pm, Frédéric Charles Schultz said:
Many (maybe most!) Tea Partiers and all libertarians believe in legalizing all drugs from a human rights, “government should leave us alone” standpoint. Oh, and to release the millions in jail and save trillions of dollars. And to stop allowing cops to break down our doors and steal homes, and to have militias dust peasants’ crops with poison and shoot up villages overseas. -f
July 07, 2011 at 5:14 pm, Mark F said:
Ron Paul 2012
July 07, 2011 at 6:39 pm, Elizabeth Isaacson said:
I am a OPPRESSED DISABLED AMERICAN I resent the President laughing at my plight. I was born in the 60′s & want to be FREE to choose how I medicate myself. My way of thinking is simple @MuckSticky pretty much summs it up. I love everyone ~@&
July 07, 2011 at 7:30 pm, Obamaforprez2012 said:
It’s all about politics. When Obama gets reelected (hopefully) in 2012, you will see the true Obama. If he openly supported gay marriage, medical marijuana, freedom from religion, reproductive rights for women, etc. he is committing political suicide with the religious right and majority of conservatives. His main objective is to get reelected, and we are all going to have to be patient. Our time is going to come.
July 07, 2011 at 7:59 pm, Daddio918 said:
Fool me once, shame on Obama . . . there won’t be a second term for this high yellow liar.
July 08, 2011 at 1:27 pm, Surfbum232 said:
Drink some more Kool-Aid! Ron Paul 2012!
July 07, 2011 at 8:13 pm, Arnold Maribel Jr Hernandez said:
Hahahahah right on! Decriminalize it atleast on a national level.
July 07, 2011 at 9:10 pm, Matt Longpre said:
Behind the times i see Mr President. You’ve been weak in countless other dire affairs from the socioeconomic status of the middle class to the funding of a war that is out of control and unjust.
No surprise you should ignore something that is so prominent and at home. If you won’t listen to us know, then you’ll have to hear our thunder at the voting booths, you will not get my vote if you decide to brush this major issue aside any longer.
Man up and do the right thing for once.
July 08, 2011 at 12:20 am, Jc said:
Yeah lets vote for ron paul. obamanis 2008 2012 is for a real person to lead and fire all thosenold farts that give crap abt our country. vote for people that make sense not just repeat inspirational speeches a speech is just words but actions are what makes me beleive u are worthy. Ron already is trying to help us imagine as president its time a new thinker and someone with real testicles get in the white house that deosnt require writters to tell him what to say and how to be a puppet for the people abd take the blows. We need a real leader no more bs people leading in history how many presidents from all nations have actually helped people and made a nation free od debt problems. I dont think in my lifetime ive seen such a thing. Cooperations should pay high taxes and little guys that are strigfling should get better breaks. If ur a cooperation worth billions it shoud be required to donate or help society someway not just pack on the money and for what just so it sits in a vaukt or a number in a calculator. We need reak change reap compassion open books and true human hearted leaders that know what it takes to feed a family and knows that a job at mcdonalds cant pay for an apartment. Ive never voted in my life but i wil this time for ron paul and ilk spread te word.
July 08, 2011 at 3:08 am, john charles webb jr said:
Congress has declaired pot to be a “class 1″ highly addictive “drug” with NO MEDICINAL VALUE .
That law is highly questionable in-so-far as its wisdom is concerned . (it sucks) .
Obama has a duty to follow and enforce the laws enacted by the Congress , who represent ‘the people’ .
Obama has consistently come-out for ‘State’s Rights’ BUT BUT BUT . . . . the Federal Law ‘trumps’ state enactments .
It is my opinion that if the voters give Obama the seats (Democratic) in Congress (a majority) then we will see the anti-pot laws go bye-bye .
Election year 2012 . . . . let’s get busy !
July 08, 2011 at 3:12 am, john charles webb jr said:
In God we Rust .
July 08, 2011 at 3:54 pm, Rondoparker said:
I could not agree more he doesnt stand much of a chance unless he starts moving medical marijuana forward I dont see how he stands much of a chance even against other democrats that may try to take his spot I think if he continues what he is doing now hes not going to last which is a huge shame he could be the revolutionary president he said he wanted to be but instead he is giving into a failed policy
July 08, 2011 at 3:54 pm, Rondoparker said:
I could not agree more he doesnt stand much of a chance unless he starts moving medical marijuana forward I dont see how he stands much of a chance even against other democrats that may try to take his spot I think if he continues what he is doing now hes not going to last which is a huge shame he could be the revolutionary president he said he wanted to be but instead he is giving into a failed policy
July 09, 2011 at 5:08 am, Dave K said:
“If he wants to avoid being shouted down by red and blue voters alike, the President will start changing course and evolve on medical marijuana, or face the electoral consequences.” - damn right
July 09, 2011 at 6:45 am, Genie-in-a-bott said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Ajaarw-6o
Public Service Announcement for the legalization of Cannabis
July 09, 2011 at 5:33 pm, Kennet_42 said:
Gary Johnson 2012
July 10, 2011 at 8:04 am, Hal Mason said:
YOUR FIRED>>>BITCH!
July 10, 2011 at 2:35 pm, StunnedByTheirIgnorance said:
16 states have ALOT of voters to alienate……..
July 10, 2011 at 2:35 pm, Anonymous said:
Barack Obama must think I am such an idiot that I will not be able to detect when I am being lied to. I feel completely disrespected by this coward of a president and I cannot believe I voted for him. This is not leadership–this is blatant abuse of the american people. I am not voting for him again.
July 10, 2011 at 2:47 pm, StunnedByTheirIgnorance said:
We are a nation in crisis. We need emergency help.
America currently arrests HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of Americans every year for cannabis related “crime”. We then disqualify any of those Americans from receiving any Government financial aid for schooling, not to mention the countless unfortunate who lose good jobs after these incidences. Thank goodness nobody caught our President smoking cannabis while he was younger…….. Am I the only one who thinks that this is completely insane?
What country on Earth should be willing to reduce their talent pool willingly? It is national suicide. If you did that you would lose any chance of remaining the most advanced nation on Earth. Surely no country would do that……….
July 12, 2011 at 6:13 am, Chad Williams said:
U know…with all this deficit crap going on….dont you think that if the president legalized it and the gov grew it and taxed it just like going out buying food….you know how many people would buy it and how much the gov would make extra for saving and using the money on things the USA really needs……sheesh they really are pathetic and dumb