Obama: Marijuana users in states that have legalized it should not be 'top priority'

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23536

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full http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS...ority-drug-war/story?id=17946783#.UMs_tW_EY3U

President Obama says recreational users of marijuana in states that have legalized the substance should not be a "top priority" of federal law enforcement officials prosecuting the war on drugs.

"We've got bigger fish to fry," Obama said of pot users in Colorado and Washington during an exclusive interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters.

"It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it's legal," he said, invoking the same approach taken toward users of medicinal marijuana in 18 states where it's legal.

Obama's comments on marijuana are his first following Colorado and Washington voters' approval of Nov. 7 ballot measures that legalize the recreational use and sale of pot in defiance of federal law.

Marijuana, or cannabis, remains classified under the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I narcotic whose cultivation, distribution, possession and use are criminal acts. It's in the same category as heroin, LSD and "Ecstasy," all deemed to have high potential for abuse.

Obama told Walters he does not – "at this point" – support widespread legalization of marijuana. But he cited shifting public opinion and limited government resources as reasons to find a middle ground on punishing use of the drug.

"This is a tough problem, because Congress has not yet changed the law," Obama said. "I head up the executive branch; we're supposed to be carrying out laws. And so what we're going to need to have is a conversation about, How do you reconcile a federal law that still says marijuana is a federal offense and state laws that say that it's legal?"

The president said he has asked Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department to examine the legal questions surrounding conflicting state and federal laws on drugs.

"There are a number of issues that have to be considered, among them the impact that drug usage has on young people, [and] we have treaty obligations with nations outside the United States," Holder said Wednesday of the review underway.

full http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS...ority-drug-war/story?id=17946783#.UMs_tW_EY3U
 
"We've got bigger fish to fry," Obama said of pot users in Colorado and Washington
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Who? Dealers of weed in Nevada or Oklahoma?
Time to stand back and wake up. Marijuana is a plant. Nobody should go to jail for a plant.

So what about drugs like LSD, that are synthetically-derived chemicals? It is ridiculous for anyone to go to jail for those, as well, since they are used to make people feel good or better.

Go chase real criminals like murderers, thieves, and rapists, or the crooked people in your own administration, Obama.
 
red herring. the fed going after users was never the issue. the real issue everyones wondering about is the discrepancy between state and federal law, but of course hes careful not to address it. so annoying when politicians pull this shit
 
choco1ate said:
red herring. the fed going after users was never the issue. the real issue everyones wondering about is the discrepancy between state and federal law, but of course hes careful not to address it. so annoying when politicians pull this shit
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OK, lets be clear, the discrepancy between state law and federal law is irrelevant. Federal law trumps state law, it is that simple. If the feds want to they can roll in any minute and start arresting people.

And he also made it clear he does not support "widespread legalization" the federal law isn't going to change anytime soon despite the fact he has the power to issue an executing order removing cannabis from schedule 1. Even if the feds ever remove it from schedule 1, most of the southern states and many of the other states as well would surely keep cannabis illegal at a state level.

I'm not sure what else you want him to say.
 
Pro-marijuana groups, others mixed on meaning of Obama's apparent marijuana-friendly comments
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Obama's statement "should have an impact, a positive impact, for both medical marijuana and also Aaron," Diamond said.

Diamond said Judge Percy Anderson will be given Obama's statement during Sandusky's sentencing hearing.

Anderson would not allow Diamond to introduce evidence in support of Sandusky related to Obama's past statements about legalized medical marijuana. Sandusky was also barred from even mentioning the president in his testimony.

"In fact, the president made that statement the first time in 2008, and Aaron relied on that," Diamond said.

"Hopefully, the judge will consider his position once we show him the interview that will be shown to all the viewers of the country. It's just not fair to single out people arbitrarily for prosecution, especially when a nationwide announcement is made."

Christopher Kenner, a former patient at G3 Holistic Inc. in Upland, said he is wary of Obama's statement to Walters, but remains hopeful that it will have an effect on Sandusky's sentencing.

"I'm hoping he's being truthful this time and is going to stop these prosecutions," Kenner said. "I'm hopeful that he understands that by arresting these people he is messing with patients."

Kris Hermes, spokesman for Oakland-based Americans for Safe Access, said he had heard this type of political rhetoric before.

"It's incumbent on the Obama administration to show good faith in this regard and not say one thing and do another, as we heard both before and after the 2008 election," Hermes said.

"In other words, he can say all he wants at this point, but what's going to matter most is what the U.S. attorneys do and what the Drug Enforcement Administration does."

Paul Chabot, founder of Rancho Cucamonga-based Inland Valley Drug Free Community Coalition, said the statement by Obama speaks volumes about his true feelings.

"I think the bottom line is we are really concerned because Obama has said on social issues that his opinions have evolved," Chabot said.

"For example, gay marriage. We hope that the president isn't going to evolve his opinion and say that drugs should be legalized."

Amanda Reiman, the California policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance, said that if the Obama administration does respect voters' rights in Colorado and Washington and allows them to use marijuana, it has a positive effect on California medical marijuana cases.

"You could say why are you respecting state law in Washington and you're not respecting state law in California? Reiman said.

"Right now, we don't have that. The administration doesn't respect state law anywhere."
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from
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/s...a-groups-others-mixed-meaning-obamas-apparent
 
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