Obama open to limited legalization of marijuana

[Richard Tafoya]

MSNBC:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/25/479649.aspx

Obama can't seem to escape the smoke of his youthful indiscretions wafting after him on the campaign trail. Just four days after he told a group of high school students that he had experimented with drugs in high school, Obama had to admit to it again at a town hall here.

When a voter asked Obama if he was for the legalization of medical marijuana, Obama said that he wasn't in favor of legalization without scientific evidence and tight controls. Citing his mother who died from cancer young, Obama compared marijuana to morphine saying there was little difference between the two.

"My attitude is if the science and the doctors suggest that the best palliative care and the way to relieve pain and suffering is medical marijuana then that's something I'm open to because there's no difference between that and morphine when it comes to just giving people relief from pain,” Obama said. “But I want to do it under strict guidelines. I want it prescribed in the same way that other painkillers or palliative drugs are prescribed.”

But he added that he was concerned that the reasons for the use of marijuana would grow and create a "slippery slope."

"I was feeling really tense, so I needed a joint," Obama joked with the crowd of those who might try and undermine that type of system.

The question was followed up by another voter asking him, "Unlike other presidents, did you inhale?"

"I did," Obama said to loud applause and laughter. "It's not something that I'm proud of. It was a mistake … But you know, I'm not going to. I never understood that line. The point was to inhale. That was the point."

[DoubleEdgeSword]

My brother has cancer. The nausea from chemo has left him unable to eat. The only thing that has given him back any bit of appetitie is pot, so he's smoked it. Yes, it's illegal in this state, but guess what? He doesn't care and neither do I. If marijuana can help him regain the 45 pounds he's lost, then I'm all for it.

[SparkleHugs]

Is it possible to make marijuana into pill format for the same results?

not that I think they should do that or anything, I was just thinking how much it would suck for myself who hates weed with a deep rooted passion to one day need to smoke it.

I figure for any medical condition it helps, it should be available.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

There is a drug called Marinol which is an active cannabinoid; however, for whatever reasons, doctors don't prescribe it very often and refused my brother's request for it. It's a schedule III drug and classified an hallucinogenic. The other problem is that when you're vomiting, it's difficult to keep down pills, so... *shrugs*

[CAStyle]

I find it sick when patients are denied prescription pot when they need it, and when their DOCTOR recommends it. I think the mentality that the Nixon administration put into effect several years ago still stays, unfortunately.

[SparkleHugs]

I think seeing addicts is what discourages people. Even if its just marijuana it's still negatively affects people's lives(and I do mean addicts, not your random social smoker). It probably just makes people wary. I know I do not know a single person who has gotten high with marijuana and didn't get high with something stronger. and I know a crap ton of people who have gotten high.
But I do think that there is a difference between those who are out to get a high and those who are out to feel healthy.

[Sunflowergirl]

I find it sick when patients are denied prescription pot when they need it, and when their DOCTOR recommends it. I think the mentality that the Nixon administration put into effect several years ago still stays, unfortunately.
Sorry but I'm fairly in the dark when it comes to marijuana. When was it banned in the first place? What was the logic behind it? Banning things is usually counterproductive...

[DoubleEdgeSword]

This should sound familiar... blame it on drug-crazed Mexican immigrants in the 1930s. Lots of tabloid stories, lots of Congressional chest beating and voila, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Here is a letter sent by a newspaper editor in Colorado to be read into the record of the Congressional hearings into marijauna use:

Alamosa Daily Courier

Alamosa, Colorado, September 4, 1936

United States Treasury Department

Bureau of Narcotics

Gentlemen: Two weeks ago a sex-mad degenerate, named Lee Fernandez, brutally attacked a young Alamosa girl. He was convicted of assault with intent to rape and sentenced to 10 to 14 years in the state penitentiary. Police officers here know definitely that Fernandez was under the influence of marihuana.

But this case is one in hundreds of murders, rapes, petty crimes, insanity that has occurred in southern Colorado in recent years.

The laws of this state make the first offense of using, growing, or selling marihuana a mere misdemeanor. The second offense constitutes a felony.

Indian hemp grows wild within the limits of this city. It is clandestinely planted in practically every county in this section. Its use amounts to a near traffic in drugs.

The people and officials here want to know why something can't be done about marihuana. The sheriff, district attorney, and city police are making every effort to destroy this menace. Our paper is carrying on an educational campaign to describe the weed and tell of its horrible effects.

Your bulletins on traffic in opium and other dangerous drugs state that the production and use of Indian hemp are not prohibited by Federal law. Why?

Is there any assistance your Bureau can give us in handling this drug? Can you suggest campaigns? Can you enlarge your Department to deal with marihuana? Can you do anything to help us?

I wish I could show you what a small marihuana cigaret can do to one of our degenerate Spanish-speaking residents. That's why our problem is so great; the greatest percentage of our population is composed of Spanish-speaking persons, most of who are low mentally, because of social and racial conditions.

While marihuana has figured in the greater number of crimes in the past few years, officials fear it, not for what it has done, but for what it is capable of doing. They want to check it before an outbreak does occur. Did you read of the Drain murder case in Pueblo recently? Marihuana is believed to have been used by one of the bloody murderers.

Through representatives of civic leaders and law officers of the San Luis Valley, I have been asked to write to you for help. Any help you can give us will be most heartily appreciated.

Very sincerely yours,

Floyd K. Baskette

City Editor, The Alamosa Daily Courier



http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/alamosadailynews.htm

During this time in America, Mexican immigrants were pouring across the border, and yes they brought marijuana with them. They were also working cheap, and at this time during the Great Depression, many thought these immigrants were a threat to jobs for American citizens. Some historians have speculated that the marijuana laws were a way to scare these immigrants back across the border, and to arrest them if they remained and were caught with pot.

Sound familiar?

[SparkleHugs]

If you watch refer madness it explains it all...lol

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Ah, yes! The quintessential propaganda drug film. Funny as hell, too, until you realize it was supposed to be taken seriously. lol

[SparkleHugs]

Did you see the remake done a couple of years ago?? It was made to mock the original, my roommates love it. You probably would too.

I personally dont care for them very much because I just don't find weed funny, I have seen a different side of it than most people have. *shrugs* but other people freakin love it! lol

[CAStyle]

Sorry but I'm fairly in the dark when it comes to marijuana. When was it banned in the first place? What was the logic behind it? Banning things is usually counterproductive...

Well I was probably a few months old when the Drug Act was passed in 1986. But if I remember correctly didn't Nixon also do something around his presidency to start the war on drugs?

Ah, yes! The quintessential propaganda drug film. Funny as hell, too, until you realize it was supposed to be taken seriously. lol

I always thought it was a comedy until I realized it was suppose to teach kids something. Just goes to show how scared people get with drugs

One big misconception people have with Marijuana is that it leads to other drug uses. Although that may be true in some cases it doesn't validate the fact that marijuana is deadly, it's the person who crosses over to the man-made drugs, not a plant.

[SparkleHugs]

One big misconception people have with Marijuana is that it leads to other drug uses. Although that may be true in some cases it doesn't validate the fact that marijuana is deadly, it's the person who crosses over to the man-made drugs, not a plant.

I don't think its necessarily a misconception, as I said previously, I do not know a single pot smoker who has don't at least tried other, more serious drugs.

But at the same time I dont think it's any kind of guarentee that one will try harder drugs. I think calling it a gateway drug is a incorrect global statement, but its definitely an avenue to allow you to do more. but if you're unwilling to try weed, the liklihood of you trying anything harder is very slim, in my opinion anyway.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Did you see the remake done a couple of years ago?? It was made to mock the original, my roommates love it. You probably would too.

I personally dont care for them very much because I just don't find weed funny, I have seen a different side of it than most people have. *shrugs* but other people freakin love it! lol

I've not seen the remake, no, but it does sound interesting.

Eh, potheads are potheads. I've known many. I'm not talking about dealers, but just the average looser stoner ala the Brad Pitt character in True Romance. They're harmless.

[SparkleHugs]

The remake was made by a bunch of SNL actors. You should rent it.

I know a crap ton of potheads, and they are harmless. and they were harmless when they were doing meth, speed and cocaine. I have just been too personally affected by their selfish drug use that its completely intolerable to me. I remember i shocked the hell out of a guy once because i said i would never date someone who smoked, even just socially. he was absolutely floored. But too many people have loved their drug more than me, and i figure if a drug is that powerful...then it isnt as harmless as people make it out to be. But I do know that it isnt as bad as the hardcore drugs and certainly shouldnt be treated as such. but its not good either. But if you're sick and cant hold anything down....then what else can you do? go make some pot brownies. lol

[CAStyle]

But at the same time I dont think it's any kind of guarentee that one will try harder drugs. I think calling it a gateway drug is a incorrect global statement, but its definitely an avenue to allow you to do more. but if you're unwilling to try weed, the liklihood of you trying anything harder is very slim, in my opinion anyway.

Alcohol is also another avenue, it just depends on the person.