cannabisnews.com: Three Former Presidents and The Law










  Three Former Presidents and The Law

Posted by CN Staff on March 31, 2009 at 05:30:15 PT
By Debra J. Saunders, Chronicle Staff Writer 
Source: San Francisco Chronicle 

San Francisco, CA -- It seems pretty obvious that the last three presidents - Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama - once smoked marijuana. OK, Clinton claimed he didn't inhale. Bush refused to say whether he ever used drugs, instead he coyly alluded to mistakes in his youth. Obama didn't play games in his memoir, "Dreams from my Father," he wrote about using marijuana and cocaine as a kid. The big question: If all three men nonetheless managed to become president, why can't Washington decriminalize marijuana? 
Or better yet, legalize, regulate and tax it.At what the White House billed last week as an "experimental" town hall meeting with questions submitted online, the most popular questions were about marijuana. President Obama chose not to answer any such question directly. Instead, the president volunteered that "there was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high, and that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation." Then he quipped to laughter, "And I don't know what this says about the online audience."His answer to his question: "No, I don't think that is a good strategy to grow our economy."Fair enough, legalizing marijuana isn't a strategy to improve the economy. But there are reasons to legalize marijuana, such as the 872,720 marijuana arrests made in America in 2007 - more than 775,000 were for possession, not sale or manufacture. Those individuals who are convicted may have criminal records and may have trouble obtaining financial aid for college - even if some day they could grow up to be president.And what can America show for its drug laws? The World Health Organization found that 42.4 percent of Americans had tried marijuana - the highest ratio of any of 17 countries surveyed. WHO researchers concluded that drug use "does not appear to be related to drug policy, as countries with more stringent policies (e.g., the United States) did not have lower levels of illegal drug use than countries with more liberal policies (e.g. the Netherlands)." In short, drug laws don't work, but they cost the federal government alone some $3.7 billion annually, according to Harvard economist Jeffrey A. Miron. Ess Eff's Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project observed that "I can't say that I'm completely surprised by the way Obama dealt with it, but I wonder if he was smart to insult the online audience that played a very large role in electing him."Insult? I don't think Obama meant to insult anyone. I think that was a well-executed political straddle - Obama winked at the pro-legalization crowd, even as he ran from the policy it so craves. Snipped   Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/TWFucJQmSource: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Debra J. Saunders, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Tuesday, March 31, 2009Copyright: 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml

Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help





Comment #41 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 08:55:24 PT
runruff
That's a good one.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #40 posted by runruff on April 01, 2009 at 08:51:56 PT
Waxed my floor with Pride!
Yep, slipped and fell! Pride before a fall!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #39 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 07:46:05 PT
George
Ego to me is just another word for pride.Pride comes before a fall. I'm sure almost eveyone has heard that.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #38 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 07:44:31 PT
George
You made me think of something I heard a lady news broadcaster that is from Texas say.She said it's hard to punch a person in the nose when they are smiling at you.I thought that was good and true. If people smile and go on their way and let haters spin themselves into the ground only the hater will lose. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #37 posted by George Servantes on April 01, 2009 at 07:34:09 PT
hate
Some people must protect their ego roles with their hate. Hate is only one of many symptoms of ego defense - to protect their vulnerable ego. Love is antidote. Ego knows that love will kill him, so there's hate as defense.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #36 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 06:22:17 PT
George
Hate is a wasteful emotion. It can get a person sick and can destroy everything valuable in their lives. I avoid it. I don't have any friends that dwell on hate as a means to an end.Hate only hurts the hater.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #35 posted by George Servantes on April 01, 2009 at 06:18:35 PT
Hate is ego defense
I don't hate anybody since it's all just ego illusion and I know some people might misread my writings since I think very much different then even most liberals.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #34 posted by George Servantes on April 01, 2009 at 06:14:58 PT
One more thing
Let me say one more thing. I believe our bodies are designed to use drugs, legal or illegal. Everybody is using drugs, weather it's caffeine, alcohol or tobacco. Even our food contain natural chemicals that help keep our bodies in running order. 
Presidents are admitting their illegal drug use, and that's OK since every one of them in power circles use cocaine as drug of their choice. You don't see any rich people in jail for cocaine possession, right?
At the end, it's all about money and power that fuel our egos. It's all ego circus. And some accept and act role of their choice. But they forget they are mortals as well.Cannabis is ego buster. That's why it's illegal because you can see clearly what is root of all evil, madness and injustices - but if you mix with other drugs then you won't see any truth. Too bad our presidents are mixing it with other drugs. It same if you took psychedelic and then took Thorazine to abort it's true effects.
So that's why I don't see Obama was ever a true cannabis user, but just another recreational multi-drug user that takes anything he can get.
And I am anarchist who don't believe people should be restricted what they can do with their bodies.
Yes, I am also against government of any kind since cannabis is main proof governments are contra productive. There are other proof like wars and famine, but cannabis injustice is so clear to see and prohibition defenders can only argument with ignorance.
[ Post Comment ]

 


Comment #33 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 06:07:46 PT

George
I would never assume what our President might or might not use. I know that anger is desired to stir up hate towards are new president. It isn't coming from Democrats but Republicans. People who are progressive are patient because we have been waiting since Carter for change.How do Republicans beat Democrats in elections? They are great hate mongers and that isn't the way to change anything. I pity people who hate.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #32 posted by George Servantes on April 01, 2009 at 05:56:56 PT

FoM
Yes, I agree.
But I see him as lesser but still evil.
Yes he used cannabis and other drugs like says in his writings, but it's clear to me that he sees cannabis as drug for losers and he's right, for him and other who sold their sold to Mammon.
He used cannabis but with other drugs that change how cannabis works or blocks cannabis and change how it works. i think he prefers cocaine and I bet he still use cocaine on regular basis.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #31 posted by FoM on April 01, 2009 at 05:20:50 PT

George
All I can say is I am happy we have Obama and not McCain. If McCain would now be our President many activists would have quit and said it won't ever work. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #30 posted by George Servantes on April 01, 2009 at 05:15:47 PT

Obama
He actually avoided answering this question - that's why smiling and just ignorant "no" for answer. No explaining, arguments or reason.
He might want to change lots of things but he just wont bother.
He already said he's not going to do anything about medical marijuana/don't want to spend political capital like he says - even though I assume he supports medical use.
I think we'll just have more of the same and he's not going to do anything about marijuana until maybe we put him under more pressure.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #29 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 16:32:03 PT

Hope I Found This
Head downTurning the chin and head down protects the vulnerable neck from attack. It also avoids looking the other person in the face (staring is a sign of aggression).EyesWidening the eyes makes you look more like a baby and hence signals your vulnerability.Looking attentively at the other person shows that you are hanging on their every word.MouthSubmissive people smile more at dominant people, but they often smile with the mouth but not with the eyes.http://changingminds.org/techniques/body/submissive_body.htm
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #28 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 16:21:56 PT

Hope
He was trying to answer purely a question on economics on marijuana. He wasn't looking at anything beyond the question. He has picked a drug czar that will put Walters to shame in my opinion. He has a serious issue with the economy and wanted to stay on the topic of the forum. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #27 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 16:17:57 PT

Hope
Hand in pocket and head down means oh shucks what can I say or do about this right now.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #26 posted by Hope on March 31, 2009 at 16:14:47 PT

How many arrests for pot last year?
Is it 800,000? Well right there, there are are at least 800,000 people and their friends and families that are seriously concerned about it right now.Around here, there's at least one pot arrest, and often more, in our paper every single day. It's important. Very important.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #25 posted by Hope on March 31, 2009 at 16:10:54 PT

Body Language
He smiled. Kind of lowered his head slightly, for a moment, smiled some more, and started walking, a pacing thing sort of... and put his right hand in his pocket, like someone might jingle change in their pocket, for a minute.Nervous or slightly embarrassed a bit. Smiling. But he knew he had to say something about it. At least he didn't act like the question never came up. It really couldn't be ignored under the circumstances.I hope they don't stop the question site just because they aren't happy with all the questions. They wanted to know what was on people's minds. They ought to know now. That was what was on a lot of people's minds... as it should be. It's not the marijuana... it's what they're doing to people over it and how costly it is for everyone, in many ways, for them to keep doing it. What do you think, body language wise, it means to put your hand in your pants pocket?
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #24 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 14:48:50 PT

Hope
I believe he was smiling thinking of how inexpensive marijuana will be when the laws are changed. I really think that is what he smiled about. He really didn't laugh but smiled and chuckled.I'm sure Maui Wowie wasn't big bucks when he was smoking himself in Hawaii.http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Maui%20Wowie
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #23 posted by Hope on March 31, 2009 at 14:42:54 PT

"He needs to wink harder!"
I'm certainly thankful he didn't actually wink. I would have been horrified. I have this thing about winking I always think of when I see someone wink. It's a scripture. "The devil winketh his eye".Aaargh. Winking freaks me out.Like I said, bad as I felt about it, it isn't the sour, angry face that McCain would have had and/or the completely ignoring us like they usually do.If felt treated as though I'm more naive than I am.As time goes by, I've still got a wondering going on at the smiling. Smiling? That's new.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #22 posted by Hope on March 31, 2009 at 14:23:24 PT

Comment 17
So true!They can laugh all they want to if they call off the "Gestapo". Pot is funny. What our government does to people over pot isn't one bit funny. It's a horror and sometimes a murder.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #21 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 11:16:07 PT

Sam I Was Wrong
It isn't chum but choom.http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Barack+Obama's+Drug+Use?t=anon
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #20 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 11:07:03 PT

Sam
I watched it when it happened live on the news. It was a forum on the economy. Just the economy so he answered an economy question and he said no but he had that smile that says I know I get it but now is not the time. He spent his young years in Hawaii where it was easy to get and back then inexpensive. I don't know how much but I read they would go and pick some near a church or something close to that. He addressed his Chum friends in his yearbook. He knows what's going on.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #19 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 11:01:46 PT

OT: Sam a Question
I have been wondering a lot recently about your states mandatory insurance. How much is the average monthly premium and deductible? If a person doesn't pay how much is the fine? I read where your Governor is concerned with how it's going because of increases in premiums.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #18 posted by Sam Adams on March 31, 2009 at 10:59:24 PT

FOM
what do you mean? I didn't watch the video, I'll have to go watch it.

[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #17 posted by Sam Adams on March 31, 2009 at 10:58:51 PT

one more thing
I don't mind if the pols crack jokes about cannabis and pot smoking. It is a funny substance.They can keep right on laughing as they legalize it and call off the police witch hunt.The problem isn't the laughter, it's the 800,000 arrests. They should realize there's nothing funny there. that is the problem, marijuana is a funny thing, not a send-armed-thugs-to-arrest-16-year-old-girls thing
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #16 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 10:57:47 PT

Sam
I saw it right away. I love to watch people's body language. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #15 posted by Sam Adams on March 31, 2009 at 10:56:23 PT

Big O
"Insult? I don't think Obama meant to insult anyone. I think that was a well-executed political straddle - Obama winked at the pro-legalization crowd, even as he ran from the policy it so craves."He needs to wink harder! I didn't see anything ;-)
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #14 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 10:27:07 PT

dongenero
I agree! Somethings are very tangled up and changing drug policy in any form will upset some people but others will understand. It will take time to fix the mess we are in and some people will get burnt unfortunately in the process. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #13 posted by dongenero on March 31, 2009 at 10:22:37 PT

Obama
We have to keep in mind, Obama has only begun.He has not failed our issue until he is out of office without having taken action. I hope he will not wait for a second term to reform US drug policy. He needs some clear successes to diminish the fabricated "outrage" that would come from the Regressives. You know if McCain was in, there would be zero chance.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #12 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 10:10:14 PT

Just My Thought
I voted for Obama because of what his dream for America was. That's why he won by such a large volume. Many people have been waiting and some even praying for a new direction for many years actually since Carter. I didn't vote for him because of our issue. It helped that he was more positive about drug related issue but that was only a little bit of the reason why for me.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #11 posted by JohnO on March 31, 2009 at 10:02:04 PT:

The raids on MMJ clubs
are continuing as if there has been no *change*For those who feel betrayed, you should have guessed this would happen. All the while Obama is ruining everything else we all hold so dear, our capitalist society is now crumbling into a soviet style socialism. No matter what you think about that, it's not a good thing. This is very bad, and to make matter worse for the single issue crowds, Marijuana is now an unimportant distraction to a raving megalomaniac
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 09:04:55 PT

Jim Webb
18 months seems like a very long time but when we look how long this has been going on it really isn't very long. We will have a new drug czar hopefully soon. We don't know who the DEA head will be. So much hasn't been put in place yet. It took a longtime to get Bush's drug policy people in place too.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #9 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 08:56:21 PT

Hope
I think my disposition is similar to Obamas. I look at this issue differently and it definitely is ok to not agree.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #8 posted by Hope on March 31, 2009 at 08:38:34 PT

Jim Webb's study is expected to take 
eighteen months. That's still a long time... but there's hope in that, too.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #7 posted by Hope on March 31, 2009 at 08:36:11 PT

FoM...
If we can't disagree we don't have much of a friendship. That's true of all of us here.As far as getting irritated and ignoring us, I don't think that's an option. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 08:11:01 PT

Hope
You know how wonderful I think you are. You are my best cyberfriend I've ever had but I think it will hurt us not help us. He could turn us off and I would understand. It has happened before back in the 70s so I don't want to see history repeat itself because I won't be around to see a third time come around.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #5 posted by Hope on March 31, 2009 at 08:07:47 PT

The uproar
has been valuable. No doubt about that.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 07:36:22 PT

knightshade
I am tolerant of the situation our new President is in. He has one heck of a mess to fix after the Bush administration and they want to trip him up with every step he takes. I think he probably won't have anymore open questions since some folks get really angry. I know I wouldn't. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #3 posted by knightshade on March 31, 2009 at 07:27:54 PT:

whether or not he meant to
I'M insulted.
myspace
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 06:54:36 PT

About The Title
It seemed odd since Obama has just became our new President.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 31, 2009 at 05:36:21 PT

I Agree With This Sentence
Excerpt: Insult? I don't think Obama meant to insult anyone. I think that was a well-executed political straddle - Obama winked at the pro-legalization crowd, even as he ran from the policy it so craves.
[ Post Comment ]





  Post Comment