Just Say Now

Obama’s Marijuana Hypocrisy Is No Laughing Matter

2012-05-25T21:03:38Z

The consequences - for others. (photo: :Dar./flickr)

Details from a new book Barack Obama: The Story contains in-depth details about his frequent marijuana use as a young man. Although Obama admitted to using marijuana in his memoir Dreams From My Father, we now learn for example that Obama was a frequently indulging aficionado who was a big fan of hot boxing in cars. While Obama’s past marijuana use is treated as merely a funny anecdote, his hypocrisy on the issue of marijuana and the destruction his continued support for prohibition causes is no laughing matter.

In 2010 roughly 850,000 Americans were arrested for marijuana related offenses of which the vast majority was for possession. That means since Obama took office it is likely well over 2.5 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana. Millions arrested for committing the same basic “crime” our President often committed during his youth.

While Obama was lucky enough not to get a criminal record for his mostly harmless marijuana use, hundreds of thousands of other Americans this year were not as fortunate, especially young African American and Latino males who are disproportionally arrested at much higher rates for marijuana. Many of these young people will be burdened with a records that could permanently hurt their employment prospects and they will lose the federal support they need to attend college.

If Obama were a young man today and got arrested for his marijuana use under our currently policy, the negative consequences from such an arrest could easily have stopped him from ever becoming President. Clearly, the actual use of marijuana didn’t hurt Obama by making him less successful, but the consequences of our prohibition easily could have. But not only does Obama support maintaining this current drug policy, which is more damaging to people than the drug itself, but his administration has taken the federal war against medical marijuana to new heights.

While most of the media treats learning that Obama liked to hog the joint as a humorous but meaningless little story, it should be a huge scandal that Obama continues supporting a policy which ruins the lives of so many for doing something Obama did frequently.

With public opinion moving against marijuana prohibition so quickly, Obama should be forced to give a better explanation for why he thinks it is okay to waste billions every year punishing so many for doing exactly what he once did.

56% Want Marijuana Legalized and Regulated Like Alcohol

2012-05-23T16:58:31Z

A solid majority, 56 percent, of registered American voters favor legalizing marijuana and regulating it in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco, according to a new Rasmussen poll. Only 36 percent of the country is opposed to legalizing and regulating cannabis. This represents one of the highest levels of support for marijuana legalization ever in a national poll.

The same poll also found that support for marijuana legalization went up even higher if the poll question made it clear that the sale of cannabis would be very tightly regulated. A full 58 percent of voters would support legalizing marijuana if it was regulated so that it could only be sold in pharmacies. The poll found just 32 percent would still oppose legalizing marijuana even if tightly regulated.

Stressing that legalized marijuana would be well regulated is very important to winning over some undecided voters on this issue. There are many people who don’t use marijuana, but they think prohibition has proven to be an unworkable and costly policy mistake. That doesn’t mean, though, that this group wants no restrictions on marijuana sales, making it as easy to buy as bubble gum. Their basic opinion seems to be that the government should tolerate adult marijuana use, but they still want the government to regulate and discourage its use.

It seems that every few months there is a new national poll confirming that support for legalizing and regulating marijuana is steadily growing. Given the current polling trends, it is not a question of whether states will start legalizing it but when.

NJ Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Approved Unanimously in Committee

2012-05-22T16:06:39Z

A bill to reduce the penalties for minor marijuana possession in New Jersey won unanimous bipartisan approval in the Assembly Judiciary Committee yesterday. The vote on A1465 was 7-0, with five Democrats and two Republican on the committee voting to move the bill forward. Having cleared the committee, the bill could get a vote before the whole Assembly as early as Thursday.

The proposed bill would decriminalize the possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana and marijuana related drug paraphernalia. A person caught with a small amount of marijuana would be subject to only a $150 civil penalty for a first offense. A second offense would result in a $200 fine, and all further offenses would result in a $500 fine. If a person over the age of 21 is caught three times they would be referred to a drug education program. The possession of marijuana related paraphernalia would also no longer be a criminal offense and would result in a $100 civil penalty.

Under current New Jersey law possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use is a criminal offense that can result in up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.

New Jersey’s Republican governor Chris Christie has yet to take a position of the proposed bill one way or the other, but the bill has been cosponsored by three Republicans in the Assembly.

If New Jersey adopts this law it will be the latest state to reduce the punishment for minor marijuana possession. Last year Connecticut passed a law decriminalizing the possession of a small amount of marijuana, and in 2010 California reduced the penalty from a misdemeanor to a simple infraction.

Americans Overwhelmingly Want Obama To End Crackdown on Medical Marijuana

2012-05-17T00:39:40Z

An incredible three-fourths of American voters want President Obama to stop using federal resources to crack down on state medical marijuana programs, according to a new Mason-Dixon poll sponsored by the Marijuana Policy Project.

Mason-Dixon 5/10-14
Do you feel President Obama should: (ORDER ROTATED)
- Respect the medical marijuana laws in these states, or
- Use federal resources to arrest and prosecute individuals who are acting in compliance with state medical marijuana laws?
74% Respect State Laws
15% Prosecute Fed Law
11% Not Sure

The desire for the federal government to leave states alone when it comes to medical marijuana is strong across the political spectrum, with a solid majority of Democrats (75%), Independents (79%) and Republicans (67%) all feeling President Obama should respect state laws. In addition, a solid majority of every age group, race and gender think state medical marijuana laws should be respected by the federal government.

Not surprisingly, national support for the federal government leaving state medical marijuana programs alone closely matches the national support for medical marijuana in general. Clearly the American people think medical marijuana has value and the government shouldn’t stop sick people from obtaining it.

Unfortunately since Obama took office the executive branch has waged an aggressive multi-agency war on medical marijuana. Most observers have concluded that the federal crackdown on state medical marijuana programs under Obama has been worse than any other recent president, including George W. Bush.

Obama has claimed that his administration must go after any state medical marijuana system because it is against federal law. But in reality the Controlled Substance Act gives the executive branch the authority to unilaterally reschedule cannabis to make it legal for medical purposes. This action would not require Congressional approval and would finally bring federal law on medical marijuana in accordance with the overwhelming wishes of the electorate.

New Yorkers Want Medical Marijuana Legalized

2012-05-16T14:25:49Z

A strong majority of registered voters in New York want their legislature to legalize the use of medical marijuana in the state, according to a new poll by Siena College. Nearly twice as many voters support medical marijuana as oppose it.

Siena College 5/6-10
Do you support or oppose legalizing the use of medical marijuana in New York State?
57% support
33% Oppose
8% Don’t have enough information
2% Don’t Know/No opinion

Looking at the crosstabs, medical marijuana has broad support from the entire population of the state. A majority of every age group, gender, geographic region, religious group and income bracket supports the state legalizing medical marijuana. The only group with a plurality opposed is Republicans with 46 percent against and 44 percent for.

Currently there is a bipartisan effort underway in the state capital to approve medical marijuana before this legislative session ends, but Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo has been rather dismissive of the bill. One can only hope this new poll showing that the voters overwhelming support medical marijuana will spur the state government to finally act on this issue and provide relief to those in need.

Study: Marijuana Helps With Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

2012-05-15T18:01:04Z

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that medical marijuana helps relieve some of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The study found that marijuana helped reduce muscle pain and spasticity. From the Canadian Medical Association Journal:

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, conducted a randomized, double-blinded controlled trial with 30 participants to understand whether smoked cannabis can have an effect on muscle spasticity in people whose spasticity does not respond well to existing treatment. The average age of participants was 50 years, and 63% were female. More than half of the participants needed walking aids, and 20% used wheelchairs.

Most trials have focused on the effect of oral cannabis rather than smoked cannabis.

Rather than rely on self-reporting by patients regarding their muscle spasticity — a subjective measure — health professionals rated the spasticity of each participant’s joints on the modified Ashworth scale, a common objective tool to evaluate intensity of muscle tone. The researchers found that participants in the smoked cannabis group experienced an almost one-third decrease on the Ashworth scale — 2.74 points — from a baseline score of 9.3, meaning spasticity improved, compared with the placebo group. As well, pain scores decreased by about 50%.

The study is just more confirmation about the medical potential of cannabis, and the results aren’t in any way surprising. It has long been known that medical marijuana can help individuals suffering from sclerosis. In fact Sativex, which is just a combination of cannabis extracts, has been approved for the treatment of MS in the United Kingdom and Spain.

Yet despite the large and growing body of research proving the medical benefits of cannabis, the United States federal government still classifies it as schedule I, which means it has no legally accepted medical use.

Romney Really Doesn’t Want to Talk About Medical Marijuana

2012-05-11T19:31:33Z

While in Colorado, local CBS Denver reporter Shaun Boyd asked Mitt Romney about his position on medical marijuana and the candidate was not happy. Romney became visibly upset about the question. He repeatedly interrupted the reporter and chided her for even asking him about it.

(exchange starts at 2:13)

Reporter: Should marijuana be legalized for medical use and taxed?

Romney: Aren’t there issue of significance that you want like to talk about?

Reporter: This is a significance issue in Colorado.

When Romney did finally get around to answering the question he said that he does think marijuana shouldn’t be legal in this country and that he believes it is a gateway drug.

Romney’s position on medical marijuana is terrible. The small solace you can take from his hostility to being asked a basic question about medical marijuana is that it could be a sign Romney is at least aware how incredibly unpopular his stance on medical marijuana is.

With 77 percent of the country believing medical marijuana should be allowed Romney is in a tiny minority on this issue. If I were a politician and my position on a particular issue was extremely unpopular, I, too, would hate being asked about it.

From the Fringe to the Political Mainstream

2012-05-10T19:39:55Z

Yesterday something historic happened. A sitting president and current candidate for the office stated his support for same-sex marriage. This is monumental because as little as ten years ago a president making such a statement was almost unthinkable.

It was, after all, only 16 years ago that the Democratic President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which codifies the federal non-recognition of same-sex marriage. The law easily won approval in Congress with broad bipartisan support. At the time Gallup found only 27% of Americans thought same-sex marriage should be valid while 68% of the country opposed it.

Same-sex marriage was once a fringe idea supported by only a tiny minority of the population and almost no politicians, yet in less than a generation things have completely changed. It now has the support of half the population and the de facto leader of one of the two major political parties.

Marriage equality is a fascinating example of how a country can rather quickly undergo a paradigm shift — an example of how, through activists, efforts to build public acceptance in the popular culture and demographic changes a fringe idea can become part of the political mainstream.

It is a particularly useful example for the marijuana legalization movement, which is experiencing an almost identical trend of rapidly growing support driven by a younger generation. As with marriage equality, less than 20 years ago marijuana legalization was an incredibly fringe issue with little popular or political support. In 1995, just 25% of Americans thought it should be legal, with 73% thinking it should be illegal.

Yet just 16 years later in 2011, Gallup found 50% thought marijuana should be legal and only 46% thought it should be illegal — putting popular support for marijuana legalization right on par with that for same-sex marriage

As with both marriage equality and marijuana legalization, much of the change in popular support is generational, thanks to a young, highly accepting generation replacing an older more conservative one. In 2011, 62% of adults under 30 thought marijuana should be legal but just 31% of those over 65 thought it should. An almost equal generational divide exists for marriage equality. That same year 68% of those under 30 supported it but only 33% of senior citizens thought that it should be allowed. For both issues, the nature of demographics should continue to push public support up for years to come.

The support of a sitting president for marriage equality is a powerful tipping point for the issue. It clearly signaled that this once highly fringe position is now firmly in the political mainstream. Looking at the similar polling and demographic trends for marijuana legalization, it might not be long before it experiences a similar symbolic victory publicly signaling its emergence as a mainstream political stance.

Pelosi Expresses “Strong Concerns” About Federal Medical Marijuana Crackdown

2012-05-03T20:38:52Z

Medical Marijuana (photo: Coaster420/wikimedia)

Following the recent petition delivery by medical marijuana activists to her San Fransisco office, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) put out a statement expressing strong concerns about the federal government’s increasingly aggressive efforts against medical marijuana. From her office:

“I have strong concerns about the recent actions by the federal government that threaten the safe access of medicinal marijuana to alleviate the suffering of patients in California, and undermine a policy that has been in place under which the federal government did not pursue individuals whose actions complied with state laws providing for medicinal marijuana.

“Proven medicinal uses of marijuana include improving the quality of life for patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and other severe medical conditions.

[...]

“For these reasons, I have long supported efforts in Congress to advocate federal policies that recognize the scientific evidence and clinical research demonstrating the medical benefits of medicinal marijuana, that respects the wishes of the states in providing relief to ill individuals, and that prevents the federal government from acting to harm the safe access of medicinal marijuana provided under state law. I will continue to strongly support those efforts.”

The administration has been particularly aggressive about going after medical marijuana establishments in the San Francisco Bay area. In the last several months threats from U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag has result in nine dispensaries in San Francisco shutting down. It was also only one month ago that the DEA and IRS raided Oaksterdam University in neighboring Oakland.

The new statement puts Pelosi at odds with the Obama administration who in the past few years waged an aggressive multi-agency war against medical marijuana. Unlike Obama’s recent actions towards medical marijuana, Pelosi’s support for respecting states’ medical marijuana laws is inline with public opinion. A CBS News poll from last year found 77% of the country supports medical marijuana.

Holder Admits Obama Misled Rolling Stone About Marijuana Law

2012-04-30T15:13:55Z

While attending the White House Correspondents’ dinner Attorney General Eric Holder admitted to the Huffington Post that President Obama misled Rolling Stone about federal marijuana law. From the Huffington Post:

Attorney General Eric Holder was a guest of The Huffington Post at the correspondents’ dinner. Before it began, a HuffPost reporter noted to Holder that Obama’s reference to “congressional law” was misleading because the executive branch could simply remove marijuana from its “schedule one” designation, thereby recognizing its medical use.

“That’s right,” Holder said.

After Kimmel’s speech, a Holder deputy told HuffPost that there was no coordinated war on medical marijuana, but that some individual clinics were breaking both state and federal laws.

In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Obama provided a factually wrong answer that radically distorted the nature of federal law in an attempt to deflect criticism for the federal crackdown on medical marijuana. Obama claimed he “can’t nullify Congressional law” when it comes to medical marijuana, even though the Controlled Substance Act actually gives the Executive branch the authority to “reschedule” (reclassify) marijuana without Congressional action. By simply moving marijuana to a lower schedule the Obama administration could make medical marijuana legal under federal law. Obama would not need to nullify this Congressional law, because Congress already gave him the authority to change marijuana’s legal status.

It is very important that Attorney General Holder himself admits that Obama’s “can’t nullify Congressional law” statement is completely misleading, because the relevant section of the Controlled Substance Act specifically gives him, the Attorney General, the power to implement a process to reschedule cannabis administratively.

Even Obama’s Attorney General admits there is nothing forcing the administration to wage a war on medical marijuana and nothing stopping the administration from making medical marijuana legal under federal law. This is an active choice the administration is making.