Posted on 01/10/2009 1:17:51 PM PST by IbJensen
Esquire magazine recently reported that representatives from Barack Obama's administration team admit the president-elect will give strong consideration to decriminalizing marijuana by the end of his tenure in office.
Those remarks follow comments issued last summer by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts), who introduced H.R. 5843 -- an act to remove federal penalties for the use of marijuana by "responsible adults." According to CNN, the liberal lawmaker "doesn't think it's the government's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time."
Lending the Esquire article additional credence is an interview with Obama, recorded in January 2004, during which the then-U.S. Senate candidate expressed interest in decriminalizing the personal use of pot. (See YouTube video)
As someone who is very much aware of how this drug has harmed so many people from my generation, I adamantly disagree with this "floating" proposal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency lists marijuana as "a Schedule 1 controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse."
It's irresponsible for members of the incoming administration to float this idea and to send such a message to millions of young Americans -- although I'm sure many supporters of medical marijuana use would disagree. But I think they should reconsider. Currently more than 50 head shops in San Francisco act as fronts for marijuana distribution in that city. According to The O'Reilly Factor, these shops not only attract petty crime but other non-desirable activity as well.
Anyone who knows anything about drug abuse knows that marijuana has been a "gateway" drug for many of those who use and abuse hard narcotics. Many people are first exposed to that dark world through a few puffs of a supposedly "innocent" marijuana cigarette.
Marijuana desensitizes people -- and its everyday use makes people lazy and unproductive. And it's addictive! I have personally seen this substance harm friends from school days past. Perhaps that's why I am so upset that consideration would be given to decriminalizing its use.
Still, Congressman Frank garnered support from seven other Democratic House members in sponsoring his legislation. Included in that group was Rep. Barbara Lee from California's District 9 (Berkeley and Oakland). By voicing her support, Lee -- a member of the House Black Caucus -- made light of the recreational use of a drug that is destroying the lives of hundreds of her own constituents.
If Lee wants to act responsibly and do something constructive, she should target the drug dealers in her district who are irreparably damaging the lives of untold numbers of people. Ironically, though, Congresswoman Lee's tact is to say that present drug enforcement laws are "inhumane" and "immoral."
Similarly, if president-elect Obama wants to act responsibly, he should immediately retract this reckless proposal being "floated" by his advisors.
Barney the pervert delivers for the forces of evil once again.
What a disgustingly corrupt administration will be ruling our lives and putting the finishing touches on ruining our economy!
Why wait/
Just to create an election year issue that attract the young and the listless to the voting booth, of course.
Cynical bastard.
Meanwhile, they’re on the road to criminalizing tobacco, sugar, fat, fast food, and junk food.
Barry can obey Soros’ Prime Directive if he wants but he will declare himself as frivolous in the eyes of the public if he does so.
“President O-bong-o” is not the sort of “branding” any administration should want to take on.
George Soros wants to decriminalize drugs.
Is Big Jail-Prison going to allow it?
Unfortunately, there is no way Obama or any president and Congress will do this.
Photoshop is the best!
Can’t a brother get a smoke on, and drink on, and snack on. Chill my babies.
>>Why wait<<
I agree. I’ve got to have something to help make it through the next four years.
Legal, I might just go for it.
will employers be able to hire/fire on the basis of + urine drug screen in your idealized world of decriminalization ? Because of the persistence of the substance, it makes casual use and employment mutually exclusive.
Pot is the forces of evil?
Really?
I believe in employment at will. Thus, an employer can fire someone for a failed drug test or for smoking Marlboros.
The legal status of pot has no bearing on such an employment decision.
If it was legal, I probably would. Yet another reason I’m glad I don’t live in california.
No, but they will hire & fire on the basis of illiteracy.
Like not beginning a sentence with a capital letter.
it does if a bus driver is + after an accident or a truck driver, or any other of a myriad of liability issues, just as with alcohol, a legal substance, which is relatively quickly cleared from the body.
check your tag line, scholar.
Rats know that once pot is legal, they can tax it.
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