Obama reelection 2012

[Judge Jude]

What would be the political play there by Obama? Doesn't seem like it helps his base or grabs him independents, who I think don't tend to care that much either way on such issues.

I will say that there seems to be a lot of fraud involved in medical marijuana, especially in California from what I've read. It's not controversial for people going thru chemo to get pot or other help, but it's hardly limited to that these days.

[Judge Jude]

My question is why he would say one thing in 2008 on this, then do another, according to your article. Election-year decisions tend to be, well, strategic.

As for the fraud, I think for many the issue is more about having a law match the conduct, rather than which way the law decides.

It's kind of silly to have a law that is supposed to allow only serious medical conditions to qualify for marijuana relief, only to have that become a window for de facto legalization without official political or electorate approval. Kind of like where we're stuck on immigration issues.

It does government no good when reality doesn't come close to matching purported law.

[Lucky]

My question is why he would say one thing in 2008 on this, then do another, according to your article. Election-year decisions tend to be, well, strategic.

As for the fraud, I think for many the issue is more about having a law match the conduct, rather than which way the law decides.

It's kind of silly to have a law that is supposed to allow only serious medical conditions to qualify for marijuana relief, only to have that become a window for de facto legalization without official political or electorate approval. Kind of like where we're stuck on immigration issues.

It does government no good when reality doesn't come close to matching purported law.

I think you're right here. I don't think the concern is whether this or that person is sick enough to qualify, but having large amounts of medical marijuana winding up in the hands of people outside the system completely...an illegal enterprise operating under the guise of a legitimate medical marijuana business.

[onejayhawk]

Blast it. Legal weed is one thing I agree with.

J

[Wonderboy]

I think you're right here. I don't think the concern is whether this or that person is sick enough to qualify, but having large amounts of medical marijuana winding up in the hands of people outside the system completely...an illegal enterprise operating under the guise of a legitimate medical marijuana business.

Yeah, there was a comedian on Bob & Tom last week, and he was saying how much of a joke it is to get it. All you have to do is tell them you have trouble sleeping and you're hooked up.

Which is fine by me, but fraud is fraud. Just make it legal, already.

[bryanbutler]

i'm not that sure it's so different in NM, elD. there have been a number of cases brought for folks who seem to be abusing the system.

i agree with those above that said that while it should just be legalized anyway, as long as it's not people should not be allowed to abuse the system.

[GwynnInTheHall]

i'm not that sure it's so different in NM, elD. there have been a number of cases brought for folks who seem to be abusing the system.

i agree with those above that said that while it should just be legalized anyway, as long as it's not people should not be allowed to abuse the system.

An unjust law is no law at all............St Augustine.

[bryanbutler]

An unjust law is no law at all............St Augustine.

sure, but there you get to the heart of the matter - who defines "unjust"? government defines "law" and hopefully government represents people. the problem is that the people are fairly divided on the legalize pot issue. unfortunately. and hence "unjust" is left hanging.

[GwynnInTheHall]

sure, but there you get to the heart of the matter - who defines "unjust"? government defines "law" and hopefully government represents people. the problem is that the people are fairly divided on the legalize pot issue. unfortunately. and hence "unjust" is left hanging.

Let's start with "fairly divided" I don't smoke weed so i have no dog in this hunt, but almost every poll on the matter shows the vast majority of people in this country favor legalizing pot. As for the "representative Govt" Until the money is taken out of politics, there's no such thing for 90% of the people. So as long as the laws are being made by people who don't represent me, then I'll make the call on which laws I feel are just and which are not. I can guarantee you, my idea of what is just and moral is far more accurate than most in Washington right now.

[Fresno Bob]

I'd raise gas prices to lower the deficit and subsidize alt-Energy

[chancellor]

I'd raise gas prices to lower the deficit and subsidize alt-Energy

Why don't you just tax the poor on top of it?

[Fresno Bob]

Why don't you just tax the poor on top of it?

I'd rather tax the rich, they have more money and have benefited from the US Federal government more...again, I long for the marginal tax rates on upper-level income as set by that great socialist, Ronald Reagan.

[senorsheep]

It does government no good when reality doesn't come close to matching purported law.

Indeed... like classifying marijuana with meth, acid, and heroin in the first place. There's the jumping point to this insanity. To anyone wringing their hands over whether or not medical marijuana is a sham, I'll tell you straight up - of course it's a sham. A ridiculous sham created in response to the ridiculous shams of marijuana prohibition, the war on drugs, and government's patently fraudulent propaganda effort to demonize marijuana so politicians can puff out their chests and convince voters they're protecting their kids. You wanna question the science of medical marijuana? How about the questioning the science (and constitutionality, practicality, social justice aspect, etc., while we're at it) of restricting marijuana in the first place?

Colorado citizens will put marijuana legalization to a vote this Novemeber via the ballot initiative process (Amendment 64, for those of you interested in tracking it). We just got the signatures to get it on the ballot a couple of weeks ago, and have been met immediately with all sorts of huffing and puffing and threats of crackdowns from The Feds. Interestingly, but probably not surprisingly, the dispensaries are lining up against it - they just got their business model figured out, and have learned how to work this system for profit. Now they want to see that system protected.

You're supposed to be a smart and practical man, Mr, President, how about calling off your dogs and letting us decide for ourselves if we're adult enough to handle our own harmless recreational activities?

[onejayhawk]

I always thought that the federal prohibition on hemp was stupid.

J

[B-Fly]

Let's start with "fairly divided" I don't smoke weed so i have no dog in this hunt, but almost every poll on the matter shows the vast majority of people in this country favor legalizing pot. As for the "representative Govt" Until the money is taken out of politics, there's no such thing for 90% of the people. So as long as the laws are being made by people who don't represent me, then I'll make the call on which laws I feel are just and which are not. I can guarantee you, my idea of what is just and moral is far more accurate than most in Washington right now.

Really? I don't think I've seen polls suggesting that the vast majority of the country favors legalized pot for recreational use. In fact, I think that late last year were the first polls that hit around 50% in favor of full legalization. I think on doctor-prescribed medicinal use, the polling is much more in favor.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150149/record-high-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana.aspx