Sorry, Stoners, Looks Like Obama’s Not On Your Side For Marijuana Legalization

by William Teach | April 21, 2012 8:51 am

Two points to start out: first, I could personally care less about legalization of marijuana for medical use or complete legalization (with certain regulations such as age controls), as I do not use it. But, from my classical liberalism point of view, smoking it doesn’t hurt other people, and, if it doesn’t hurt other people, then the government should stay out. Also, pot is much less a worse drug than even alcohol.

Second, it’s interesting to note that I made the point several times regarding the Arizona immigration law, wondering if the politicized Obama DOJ would also go after[1] medical marijuana in the states that allow it based on the Obama administrations use of the Supremacy Clause, since pot is classified federally as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no medicinal value. Actually, it seems that they have gone after the medical marijuana companies, though the DOJ hasn’t sued the states that allow the usage in violation of federal law

(Politico[2]) President Barack Obama has turned out to be a real buzzkill.

Back when he was running in 2008, Obama said he supported the “basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs” and that he was “not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws.” He didn’t go farther. But he also didn’t do anything to dissuade speculation among medical marijuana proponents who took this as a sign that the man headed to the Oval Office was on their side.

Four years later, the raids on drug dispensaries have kept up – despite a Justice Department memo formalizing low-enforcement priority instructions from Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced in a March 2009 press conference that the raids would stop on distributors who were in compliance with state and local law. Obama never said anything about supporting legalization or decriminalization, but his medical marijuana statements were enough to get him heralded by some in the larger pro-pot community as the best hope for chipping away at the decades-long drug war.

Like, a total bummer, dude. Of course, the Obama admin. has also done their best to kill off fun stoner foods. But, really, Obama voters heard what Team Obama wanted them to hear

But the hopes that Obama would be a kinder, gentler, more tolerant drug warrior have gone up in smoke.

“I’m very disappointed,” Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), a longtime supporter of marijuana legalization and medical marijuana, told POLITICO. “They look more like the Bush administration than the Clinton administration.”

So, why didn’t you put forth legislation to legalize it at the federal level, Barney?

“I believed in him,” Montana-based activist and medical cannabis user Sarah Combs said about the president. “I don’t believe a word he says now.”

That’s because the DOJ started rolling up the Montana medical marijuana dispensers, as well as ones in other states in 2011. You basically heard what you wanted to hear, and you ended up with an incompetent who really doesn’t care.

Still, even allies of the president find the status-quo unsustainable: with the medical marijuana community dazed and confused over how exactly how tolerant the federal government is willing to be.

Why should they be tolerant? The law is the law. Either the Obama admin. will follow the law, or he should be impeached, or at least resign.

Just a hint for those of you who want to legalize medical marijuana nationally: no one is buying the notion that it won’t be misused[3]. Furthermore, if you want to totally legalize it (which could bring in some nice tax revenue, I might add), don’t show up at rallies stoned and looking like this (via WRAL[4])

Oh, and don’t expect Obama to do anything: he’s too busy vacationing, golfing, partying, and campaigning.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove[5]. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach[6].