You know we be inhalin'
The exciting and historic election of Barack Obama marks the third consecutive time, over five terms, that the American people have elected an admitted former pot-smoker to the White House. Slick Willie famously “didn’t inhale.” It’s been well-publicized that Dubya dabbled in both the green stuff and a little nose candy during his draft-dodging, cheer-leading Yale days. Now we have Barack, who has been more open than any past candidate about his “experimenting” with coke and weed, jokingly stating, ”that was the point,” when asked if he had inhaled. Don’t get me wrong, but, in my opinion if you’ve never taken a puff you’ve obviously led far too sheltered of a life to be the leader of the free world. Lets just not ignore the irony (hypocrisy) that none of these men would even have political careers had they been CAUGHT smoking marijuana, and had a drug charge on their records. Police in this country arrest over 700,000 people a year for simple marijuana possession, the exact same crime the last three presidents have not only admitted to, but joked about. In what has become a popular quote in the legalization community by NORML.org’s Russ Belville, had an officer of the law stumbled upon Obama while he was “experimenting,” he would certainly have never been Senator Obama, or President-elect Obama. In fact, he’d be lucky to be ”Barry the janitor.”
Filed under: Politicin' with TECB | Tagged: Barack Obama, Barry the janitor, legalization, marijuana, norml
I am not a marijuana advocate (don’t know enough on the subject) but this blog makes some really good points.
I don’t think drug laws should (or can) rely (or be based) solely on whether or not the President used drugs occasionally in his youth-but it is true that if any President had been arrested on drug charges, Presidency would be a no-go and they would never have an opportunity to appoint people into positions that could affect the fate of drug dealers/users, etc
Obama chose a strict drug warrior, Eric Holder, as his AG, which surprises me because of Obama’s harsh criticisms on the war on drugs and how it’s been handled and how he planned to change that–Eric Holder is like modern day gestapo…kind of scary–Reagan appointed Clinton reject…not much change there. We will see what happens.
I think what will continue to happen is drug laws will be determined by individual state’s Senates who vote on the rules and regulations of marijuana possession.
More Info on EH: Check it.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/11/19/holder/print.html
Your advocacy of marijuana is much appreciated.
yeah, Holder is brutal. Biden practically invented the “war on (some) drugs,” and Emmanuel was pulling the strings when Clinton flip-flopped his marijuana policy after election. True, this battle is more likely to be won on the state level, 12 states have already decriminalized and if the govt. can no longer bust pot smokers they will finally consider legalizing, taxing, and regulating weed just like booze and butts. Unfortunately, the rumored pick for Drug Czar (a position I was hoping Obama would eliminate) James Ramstad favors federal raids of dispensaries in medical marijuana states. This is an issue because California has abused the medical marijuana laws and basically made a mockery of it, it’s like the wild west for weed out there. I actually saw a debate with the director of NORML and a DA from Pennsylvania where, arguing against medical marijuana, the DA cited the episode of Entorage where turtle got a bullshit prescription so he could get dank nugs and Drama could get a hat. I think it actually proves my point for legalization. Yes, pot smokers are running amok in Cali, but what has been the real consequence? Are the streets of California littered with the bodies of OD’d potheads? Are school children dropping out and spending their days at the “compassion centers”? The answer is no. All that happened was old-ass Drama took one too many bong rips and made an ass of himself in front of his younger cast-mates.
Anyway, Obama is still the man and I hope he acts like the boss and tells his cabinet what to do, not the other way around as so often is the case. Time will tell.