Barak, Where Would You Be Today If Arrested For Cannabis Possession?
President Obama angered many in the Marijuana Legalization Movement some weeks ago when he dismissed the most asked question in preparation for his Virtual Townhall Meeting.
The question? Here’s the exact quote from the president:
“THE PRESIDENT: Three point five million people voted. I have to say that there was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high and that was whethe
More..r legalizing marijuana would improve the economy — (laughter) — and job creation. And I don’t know what this says about the online audience — (laughter) — but I just want — I don’t want people to think that — this was a fairly popular question; we want to make sure that it was answered. The answer is, no, I don’t think that is a good strategy — (laughter) — to grow our economy. (Applause.)”
Not cool and definitely does not reflect the intelligence and thoughtfulness that has put him in the White House. He made a mockery of it which not only was disrespectful and dismissive to the thousands of families suffering from a loved one imprisoned for a victimless non violent crime but also to those actually in prison. The United States has become a support system for the prison industry through cannabis prohibition, jailing people who in many cases had never had so much as a traffic ticket. Where is the justice there? Where is the REAL CRIME?
What is so ironic and what angers me more than anything about President Obama’s attitude towards the marijuana legalization or decriminalization issue is that he admitted to using marijuana frequently as a young man and even admitted to cocaine use. So we have someone who is INTIMATELY aware of the issue, who has used it regularly himself, knows that nearly half of all Americans have done the same and he makes a joke out of it while we have arrested nearly 370,000 people so far this year JUST for cannabis possession.
(See the Drug Sense War Clock in the sidebar.)
We have 5% of the world’s population and incarcerate 25% of its prisoners. Do you really think we can still call ourselves “the land of the free” anymore? We have more people in prison than China and we say they are oppressive.
So to cut to the chase, here’s my question President Obama.
If you had been arrested for cannabis possession as a young man, or God forbid cocaine possession, Where would you be today?
You sure as hell wouldn’t be President. You probably would not even have been able to attend Law School. Your life would be COMPLETELY different, just like those who are in prison now who were scientists, lawyers, doctors, business owners, musicians, teachers, etc.
Think about that the next time you are considering the marijuana legalization issue and try to visualize how many young men and women with similar inteligence and abilities or even greater are in prison for JUST THAT.
How many Carl Sagans, Richard Bransons, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Bob Marleys, Michael Phelps, Ted Turner, Montel Williams, Stephen King, etc. I could go on and on. I would say ALL of those people have had a positive impact on society, yet where would our society be if they had been arrested before they acheived their greatness?
Stop holding your finger up to ascertain the wind of popularity and do the right thing, President Obama. Be a statesman instead of a politician, stop thinking about re-election and think of the people who are suffering, think of the over 10,000 killed in the Drug War in Mexico, think of the health of the planet from growing hemp.
Repeal Cannabis Prohibition and free ALL of the non violent prisoners of the failed Drug War. Allow the farming of Industrial Hemp like every other industrialized nation and allow the growth of a naturally occurring plant that has been used safely for thousands of years with NOT ONE DEATH from its use.
To ALL of my followers I ask you to PLEASE pass this on so that it is seen by as many eyes as possible. I want to be able to look President Obama in the eye and ask the question and if they will not let me I want to see someone else ask it.
I want to know his answer, does anyone else? Ask yourself the same question.
http://govaporize.com/barak-where-would-you-be-today-if-arrested-for-cannabis-possession
Teahupoo
http://Twitter.com/GoVaporize
http://Myspace.com/GoVaporize Less..
Added: Jun 2 2009 In: citizen_journalism
Recorded on: Jun 2 2009
By: Teahupoo 
- Views: 1461 |
- Votes: 1 |
- Recommendations: 0 |
- Comments: 20
Comments - sort by newest to oldest
If Cannabis was legal then the pharmaceutical companies couldn't make their billions by addicting people to far more harmful drugs and give kickbacks to politicians who keep things like pot illegal. Also, it would cut into funds used by the government for covert ops and the never ending "drug war". It's not about people's safety its all about greed.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "Master123" (R)
"Not cool and definitely does not reflect the intelligence and thoughtfulness that has put him in the White House."
I find it a never-ending source of entertainment when libs get upset that an anything-goes comrade doubles back on his own sense of ideology and screws the ones that supported him. Why be surprised? Its like a bad love affair. If the blessed messiah will do it WITH you, the effing messiah will do it TO you.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "copperdog2" (R)
LOL. I loved the 'stats' on incarceration and it's relationship to freedom. The argument presented above posits that because we have the highest incarceration rate in the world, we are not as "free" as many other nations with lower rates. HUH?
Well, I guess if you ask those behind bars if they feel free then the likely answer is a resounding no. Me on the other hand, I feel pretty free; at least as free as I can think I would likely be anywhere across the globe. Also, isn't it possible, just POSSIBLE, that lower incarceration rates around the world are attributed to less enforcement and more corruption, not greater freedom!!!
Everyone has an opinion these days I guess....and people seem to need validation. This "writer" is a great example.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "morpheus27" (R)
My dad's getting his medicinal card and so am i. How stupid it is to glorify alcohol while cannabis is still a felony ( some states). Any thinking person can see the hipocrisy and stupidity of this. Plus cut the legs out from the cartel and allow people to grow and posses, even if you do have to pay a tax for a permit to do so. What are the justifications for the means, can someone tell me?
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "rob_p83" (R)
Yup although I whole heatedly agree with this argument made. I don't even bother because its simply beating a dead horse.
We all know there is billions to be made if pot as legalized.
But here is how it goes (IMO).
Pot is statistically the most used "illegal" drug. Therefore its popularity is the main factor in relation to its legality.
USA = Prison Planet
You make pot legal, this eliminates MOST new inmates coming into the system. And that is NOT going to change. Whole towns that would otherwise not exist, are solely based around prison economies, for example.
You remove the 50% non-violent offenders, that means multi-million dollar establishments that employ entire towns, is no longer needed.
This isn't about what Obama or anyone else did in their past, this is about money and politics. And they don't care about what anyone has to say.
But there is more to it...
If Americans actually stood up to their "elected" officials this could change. But Americans are a sad, pathetic, lazy shadows of their former selves.
The only option to enable change in this regard would be the people voicing themselves in relation to this matter. Sadly, we all know nobody can take 30 seconds away from American Idol to actually take the time to do this (or anything else for that matter).
So this anger or frustration towards Obama and the Govt as a whole is misplaced.
The frustration should lie almost entirely on Americans themselves. As if enough people voiced their displeasure with current policy, representatives would change it, or risk their jobs.
So why don't I bother? Because contrary to whatever people may think, Americans do not want pot legalized (or more likely are too lazy and/or stupid to even try and change things).
So if its really that important of a matter to you, it may be time to find a new country to call home.
A country where its people actually still are able to find the time to voice themselves and be heard. Sadly that country does not seem to be the USA.
I mean seriously, if the federal government cant even take seriously and work with its own states who say pot should be legalized. What makes you think for one second, you a 9 digit PEON has any true voice.
And this is simply a reflection of how other, possibly more important matters will never get resolved either.
I would say fight to make the USA what it once was, but you'd be fighting that battle alone...
Its 8pm and American Idol is on.
LOL
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "MDMAchine" (R)
it's not a victimless crime. Pot is illegal, and millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars are spent combatting it. Those tax dollars come from tax payers, such as myself, and those dollars could be better spent elsewhere. But..... pot smokers and dealers refuse to obey the law, therefor they must be combatted. In doing so, my tax dollars are diverted to enforce laws that should be followed just as any other law should be. Those breaking the law are causing me harm in that they are taking money that I pay away from more important things, like finding cures for cancer. Therefore, I am being victimized because I must continue paying taxes to combat a crime that should not be happening, but because some people demand they have the right to get high, they consume our taxes along with their pot.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "Amusing" (R)
LOL that's a valid point, although there is no evidence that even 50% of money spent on the "war on drugs" actually is being spent on this matter.
Its the perfect front if you ask me. They can say they stopped XXX tons of product coming into the USA and say thats XX percent.
Like cartels fill out shipping logs to compare to... LOL
State wide, sure the tax money goes to police (who would just be doing something else) and prison. But I already touched upon prison ecomonies. Its not about wasting money on inmates living within, but about the economy around the establishment.
With a gov't who can throw away trillions of TAXPAYERS dollars it doesn't even have, do you think 30k a year on an inmate even matters?
I'm sure if your concerned about your tax dollars being wasted, you can simply look towards "insert state here" transportation budget and find considerably more money of yours being wasted.
Or better yet the bailouts. LOL
I love getting calls from a bank to pay them back, even though my tax dollars saved them from going out of business. Isn't that ironic?
MD
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "MDMAchine" (R)
I supported Ron Paul, I know I supported the right person. A person who wouldn't have dismissed the question or bailed out failed banks and auto dealers. He isn't a messiah, he is a politician.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "DroogInPhoenix" (R)
you nailed it. this is why Mj Will never be legal.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "kurgen" (R)
I did not vote for Moabama.
I voted constitution...
I voted American...
I voted Third party.
The supreme narcissist leader, hates your guts and wants to suck you dry.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "shacklord" (R)
Obama never got caught. got to give him credit for that.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "Moniker" (R)
got that shit right i quit smoking weed so the dr gave me xanax for the anxiety, holy shit i guess you know where i'm goin with this one
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "sinse" (R)
"does not reflect the intelligence and thoughtfulness that has put him in the White House."? the guy made it in like any other politician, on bs promises and a slick smile.
Posted Jun-2-2009 by "aureliusva" (R)
Good to see that some here do get it.
It is ALL about greed and corruption and my question is really rhetorical. I don't expect for one minute that Obama would address that question with anyone, much less an everyday citizen like me.
Thanks for all the comments
T
Posted Jun-3-2009 by "Teahupoo" (R)
YO.... PRES GOT ANY BALLS ?...ANSWER THE MANS QUESTION,TIS A VERY LEGITIMATE QUESTION AT THAT....I WONT HOLD MY BONG HIT...ERR BREATH ...YOU GOT NO BALLS...SO SAD
Posted Jun-3-2009 by "rentus"