Obama, Democrats send mixed marijuana message
March 30th, 2011 4:34 pm


President Barack Obama and the Democratic party are sending mixed messages when it comes to marijuana in America.

Wednesday U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) called on Congress to end the prohibition on marijuana. Yet earlier this month the Obama administration under the direction of Attorney General Eric Holder allowed armed agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and ATF to raid more than two dozen medical marijuana dispensaries across California and Montana.

More than 20 states have decriminalized marijuana or legalized its use for medical purposes. Polls show most Americans and most Democrats favor making medical marijuana available for medicinal purposes. Indeed many Americans and most Democrats see the criminalization of marijuana as a mistake, a legacy from a failed war on drugs that does more harm than good.

Why then is the Obama administration allowing armed agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and ATF to storm through 28 stores and greenhouses, detaining workers, and seizing computers, plants, and other items? Why is the Obama administration using the federal government to thwart the will of the people?

Many Democrats feel the time to seize the initiative is now; many advocate for the federal decriminalization of marijuana. Many Americans feel the war on drugs is a failure, and that the incarceration of those involved in the use and distribution of marijuana must come to an end.



At the time of this post, a Twitter search for "marijuana" lists the top tweet as:
10 years from now people are gonna look in history books and say, "Marijuana used to be ILLEGAL????"


The sentiment from Twitter sums up the feeling of many Americans who have come to the conclusion that the decriminalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana would reduce drug violence while adding much needed tax revenues. Democrats would be wise to seize on this sentiment, and work together to bring an end to the federal prohibition on marijuana.


From Demand Progress:
PETITION TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AND ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER: On the campaign trail, Obama repeatedly asserted that he thought medical marijuana raids were a waste of federal resources -- and that his Justice Department would put an end to them. You need to keep your promise and end these Bush-style attacks on medical marijuana sellers and patients right away.



What do you think? Is marijuana prohibition, like alcohol prohibition before it, a failure? Is it time to free the weed