Barack Obama Comes Out in Favor of Marijuana Decriminalization [Updated]
For the first time since his presidential bid began, the Obama Campaign has clarified the Senator's position on marijuana: stop arresting people for it.
The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise after Obama recently raised his hand in opposition to marijuana decrim at a recent democratic debate. Seeking to paint him as a flip-flopper, The Washington Times dug up footage of a 2004 appearance in which Obama said this:
"I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws," Mr. Obama told an audience during a debate at Northwestern University in 2004.
Obama's campaign is now standing by this earlier statement, claiming that the Senator has "always" supported marijuana decriminalization. This actually makes sense, because Obama's apparent opposition to decrim during the debate was triggered by a badly worded question from Tim Russert. As I said at the time, this all goes to show how a cheap soundbite approach to the marijuana discussion trivializes the issue and obscures any real difference of opinion.
Fortunately, now that Obama's position has been made perfectly clear, we face the possibility of a full-on marijuana debate between front-running presidential candidates. It could begin as soon as this evening during Obama's long-anticipated one-on-one face off with Hillary Clinton. Absent that, an Obama nomination would guarantee republican attacks on the marijuana issue, inevitably sucking this discussion into the political mainstream where it belongs.
Jacob Sullum argues correctly that decrim is a remarkably soft position by drug reform standards, but that fact will surely be lost on the blood-thirsty political attack machine that will be directed at Obama if he receives the democratic nomination. And I for one welcome every last nasty morsel of it, lest the debate over recreational marijuana use in America should be excluded entirely from presidential politics yet again.
Weak as it may be, Obama's is the best position on the marijuana issue taken by a viable presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter.
Update: Tragically, the Obama campaign has now reversed its position on decrim. Most of the above can be disregarded entirely.
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redditObama is a drug warrior
Comment posted by aahpat on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 9:48amWhile I have no respect for the Washington Times they have accurately reported Obama cannabis flip flop. Typical of him.
I posted a piece today on the flip-flop with links for the other posts that I have written since last summer about Obama the drug war here at: Barack Obama....Getting Smaller
Obama promised New orleans that, if elected, he would send more DEA agents to the city to help reduce their post Katrina drug crime problem. His solution to poverty, incarcerate and disenfranchise more of the victims.
His support for the 2005 Combat Meth Act makes him look like a total idiot.
Barack Obama is a right-wing Jim Crow pandering drug warrior a-hole.
I hope the Greens, Libertarians or Independents give us an alternative to these single-minded authoritarian Democrats and Republicans.
I do not vote for drug warriors.
How about a national post card campaign
Comment posted by aahpat on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 7:07pmA post card campaign to tell candidates that you vote against drug warrior politicians.
Politicians view each hard copy post they get from voters to represent some thousands of voters views. Hard copy mail gets the highest rating. Telephone calls second and email has the lowest value to them. I got this from a political hack who was working congress a few years back.
So if we can get a lot of people to send post cards that say "I vote against the drug war" the candidates will find themselves being confronted by the issue in their own offices.
So go get some post cards from the Post Office. Send one to each candidate in all races that you are interested in on the federal level.
We can change their minds.
failed drug war and your vote
Comment posted by mlang52 on Sun, 02/03/2008 - 11:51amYou still continue to think that the drug war is helping with "pills and powders" or you would know that there could be an alternative. Yes drugs are bad for people, and society. But, no more, so, than alcohol! If the drug war is not working, there needs to be another approach. Regulation would take the drugs out of the hands of the dealers, anyway! But, too many time we forget, dealers don't card!! Regulation cannot be legal if the drugs remain illegal. It is a big jump.
But, at least we do "think of the children" (since drug dealers do too)! If the dealers were out of business, our children would be safer! Minors should not consume and brain altering drugs, in my line of thought, anyway!
flip flop?!
Comment posted by mlang52 on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 8:31amThis sounds like all the other lawyers invoved in politics. Just tell the people what it will take to get elected! He needs to be more decisive. Like my favorite candidate! If there was no drug war, many, of us "good" doctors, would still be working!