Medical Marijuana: Obama Says End Raids, All Democratic Presidential Candidates Now on Board
The Democratic Party presidential field is now in agreement on at least one issue: The DEA's raids on medical marijuana patients and providers in states where it is legal should be stopped. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who had been the last holdout, on Tuesday said he would end such raids.
Obama's pledge came as a response to a question from Nashua resident and Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana volunteer Scott Turner, who asked the senator what he would do to stop the federal government from putting seriously ill people like Turner in prison in states where medical marijuana is legal. Granite Staters is a project of the Marijuana Policy Project designed to advance the issue by taking advantage of New Hampshire's crucial role in presidential primaries.
"I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users," Obama said. "It's not a good use of our resources."
Obama now joins all seven other Democratic presidential contenders in opposing the raids, as well as Republican candidates Rep. Ron Paul (TX) and Rep. Tom Tancredo (CO).
"For the first time in history, the leaders of one of our nation's major parties have unanimously called for an end to the federal prosecution of medical marijuana patients," GSMM campaign manager Stuart Cooper, from Manchester, said. "New Hampshire voters and medical professionals effectively sent a clear message that we would not support a candidate who would arrest – rather than protect – our nation's most seriously ill citizens. Compassion and reason are finally overcoming politics and propaganda."
Last Friday, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson took it a step further by sending a letter to President Bush asking him to end the raids. "Respected physicians and government officials should not fear going to jail for acting compassionately and caring for our most vulnerable citizens," Richardson wrote. "Nor should those most vulnerable of citizens fear their government because they take the medicine they need."
Comments
End for Libertarians?
Oh crap, I guess this signals the end of the Libertarian Party. With the other two parties now co-opting the LP's long-held positions it won't be long.
Re
The Libertarian Party becoming even more marginalized…I didn’t think that was possible
In reply to Re by Anonymous (not verified)
Lights dawn...
With Libertarian concerns moving to the mainstream it hardly seems like marginalization, it seems more like lights are finally turning on in what has been the darkened minds of the masses.
In fact the LP can hardly keep up with new membership requests.
You might also want to check out a recent opinion poll on Slasdot -- the news sorce for all things technological. With around 36,000 response the largest plurality is for Libertarians.
Like Gandhi said:
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.â€
Looks like the Libertarians are getting close to winning.
They're talking about medical use.
Recreational use still has a long way to go.
In reply to They're talking about medical use. by Anonymous (not verified)
Our day is coming!
Our day is coming!
Another Republican Against The Drug War
Even though I will not vote for any of the current Dem crop for Pres (Lieberman would get my vote in a heart beat - just to keep the Rs honest) this is great news.
Kudos for the Dems with courage and the two Rs who have even more courage.
It is my contention that chronic (no not that kind of Chronic) users have PTSD so medicalising the drug war is a good first step. That might cover as many as 80% of current users. The other 20% are probably youngster going through temporary PTSD that is a common occurrence in the teen age years and tends to disappear around age 25. Which is why drug use among the youth tends to peak around the ages of 18 to 20.
PTSD and the Endocannabinoid System
End for Libertarians? Not yet.
The candidates talk the talk, but do they walk the walk? Hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vote for the democrats!!!!!
this is why we hould all get behind whoever is going to be in the lead on the democrat side! it is about time that a presidential candidate spoke out about this instead of them ignoring it. I have heard hillary quoted in support of ending the raids,and its great that obama is also taking this step! awesome courage! lets pray for a democrat victory!!!
In reply to Vote for the democrats!!!!! by Anonymous (not verified)
End the Drig War NOW Vote Libertarian!
if the Democrats show just half as much courage for ending the Drug War as they have for ending the war in Iraq it will be absolutely SHOCKING!
Repeating the same behaviour (Voting for Democrats) and expecting different results is the height of lunacy.
Isn't it time YOU voted Libertarian?
Isn't it time YOU voted Libertarian?
Great rhetorical question. As a disgusted democrat turned libertarian, I feel that the war on drugs and the war in Iraq are wrong and stupid. The republicrats still continue to rubber stamp Dubya's wishes in both areas, even thought most Americans are mad as hell at both Dubya and the congress.
??
What do you think of http://www.homegrown-hydroponics.com?
Vote for the Libertarian with a chance of winning
Ron Paul has a chance at winning this election if he can win the republican nomination. What is there to lose? Do you really think history will reverse itself and we will elect a candidate running under a third party? It does not seem likely to happen. So forget about the stupid party names and lines and listen to what each man and woman is saying. Go to youtube and type in 'ron paul interview' and see how many logical and comprehensive interviews of Dr Paul are available from the last two decades. This man knows what he is talking about and has been consistent through his life. It's worth a look.
legalizing marajuana
marajuana should be legal if you are going to have worse drugs that do more damge and kill more people then marajuana. alchol is 1 off the worst legal drugs out there along with cigerates. alchol kills more innocent people kids,women and men then pot every has not only does it kill but look at all the rest off the things alchol does. theres people in mn. that have 13 dwi's and they still are driving and hurting or kiilling innocent people. cigerates well we all know what that does. make marajuana legal so the poilce can bust the people who should be buted.
Marihuana doesnt kill
You are right. But I would add, that marihuana has not yet killed anyone. I dont care about the law at all on this point. It helps me on so many things so I use it as I like to. You can put me in prison for that, but it won't change my way of thinking about it. Having to hide your pot is like having jews hiding in your cellar during the Third Reich. Black dressed with guns come to your house, destroy your interior and you go to prison for saving life. I dont care for the WOD or some other single-minded campaigning.
In reply to Marihuana doesnt kill by Anonymous (not verified)
weird
I would hardly associate having to hide my pot with hiding jews in my cellar during the Third Reich. You could have said having to hide your pot is like when people had to hide their alcohol during prohibition.
ramble on
These are the kinds of times, historians will look back at and even may refer to as a prohibition. In this time of recession, why not give legalization of marijuana a try? If everyone in America who bought pot off of a civilian seller, started buying marijuana from stores, where it was taxed, the government would see huge revenues. However, this puts the ma and pa pot dealers out of business. Legalization means government intervention which is the antithesis of the Libertarian party. However, I think it would be the right time to try the experiment anyway. I always think about the rich drug dealers with nice houses and cars and wonder what would happen if no one kept tabs on them. There would be kingpins rising up in each neighborhood. The reality is that Americans enjoy the effects of injesting the thc from the flowers of pot weeds. THC is less harmful than alcohol, heroin, cocaine, etc. Would you rather get in the car with someone who had been smoking weed or drinking? It is just so silly what the government goes through erradicating the pot fields and flying helicopters over homes looking for hot spots or indoor growers. Advertising always shows some kid smoking pot and he either kills a little black girl, gets kicked by a donkey, or shaves his head and becomes anti. Where are the anti shooting up ads? Why doesn't anyone say, "snorting cocaine is probably going to hurt you more than that joint? All of this anti-pot shit is a waste of money. America is on the verge of a depression and every last dollar counts. It's not about parties, ideology, opinion. What is right and wrong and is anyone suffering?
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