White House drug czar: We’re having a 'serious conversation' about pot

[Newsjock]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

We are, according to the White House drug czar as of Tuesday afternoon, “in the midst of a serious national conversation about marijuana.”

Whoa. That’s huge coming from the White House.

Drug czar Gil Kerlikowske said that Tuesday in response to three online petitions asking the White House about marijuana legalization.

... Here’s what Kerlikowske, whose real title is “Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy,” wrote Tuesday in the form of an auto-response to the tens of thousands of folks who signed legalization petitions:

Thank you for participating in We the People and speaking out on the legalization of marijuana. Coming out of the recent election, it is clear that we’re in the midst of a serious national conversation about marijuana.
At President Obama’s request, the Justice Department is reviewing the legalization initiatives passed in Colorado and Washington, given differences between state and federal law. In the meantime, please see a recent interview with Barbara Walters in which President Obama addressed the legalization of marijuana:

Read more: http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2013/01/08/white-house-drug-czar-we’re-having-a-“serious-conversation”-about-pot/

[benld74]

1. Then stop bogarting the medicinal clinics!

[kooljerk666]

2. agree, guy in CA just got 10 federal years......................

for complying with CA law.

If I had not had a good amount of canibdinol & THC in my system when I had my brain injury I would be in a home in a coma, costing taxpayers $10,000 a month.

I have been taking copies of the Fed. MJ patent to every local elected official in PA & when even republican jerks read it, they begin to have an open mind. They have family & friends that they would not like to see suffer & die for no good reason.

Seriously, print these out & take'm to GOP & dems officials, when they read it & understand they begin to shift viewpoints & belief systems.

http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/06/worth_repeating_govt_holds_patent_for_cannabinoids.php

http://www.rm3.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/US6630507-Hampson-USDHHS-Antioxidants.pdf

In PA a state rep is bringing this legislation forward & I am signed up to testify in Harrisburg if it gets that far.

[Jumping John]

4. The DOJ does not care for MJ justice if you are a rich powerful HSBC CEO.

[triplepoint]

9. Just make sure the box of cash fits...

through the Teller's window....Know what I mean?

[Jeevus]

13. Thanks for doing it.

[olddad56]

14. 10 years. I feel better knowing that I will be safe from this dangerous person for 10 years.

maybe they had to let out a truly dangerous person to make room for this political prisoner.

[marlakay]

22. They closed our only medical place

Mid state in Washington state. And they are so paranoid and for good reason it's almost impossible to get set up in Seattle from here.

My husband has a card, but it's almost useless.

[WheelWalker]

3. The time for a thing is when it happens.

[forestpath]

5. Guess their "conversations" are about how to arrest more medical marijuana

dispensary owners.

[Dragonfli]

6. I am sure they are as serious as a woodchuck /nt

[Nanjing to Seoul]

7. They are seriously discussing how serious pot "addiction" is and how serious

the punishments will become with serious fines too. They are serious in their belief that serious measures need to be taken.

Seriously. This administration has been MORE draconian in this failed drug war.

[7wo7rees]

10. Gil is a fuck-knuckle.

Exhibit A: Saluted Nixon as he boarded the helicopter to resign the presidency in disgrace.
Exhibit B: As former Chief of Police of Seattle, arrested 140 protesters at the ANNIVERSARY of the WTO protests, garnering him a vote of no confidence from his own police officers
Exhibit C: Was a Janet Reno bootlicker, and an admirer of Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign.
Exhibit D: First said that the Obama administration would no longer refer to the term "War On Drugs" but then threatened to sue the state of California if they passed Prop 19.

FUCK THIS MOTHERFUCKER.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

23. The American Government loves its fuck-knucles, fuckwads, fucksticks, fucktards and fuckups

Always has, always will.

[triplepoint]

8. So, Gil, Is that the Pot Talking...AGAIN?

or should I just ask, "A sphincter says what?" Which do you prefer to answer while not under oath?

[Danascot]

11. A serious conversation about pot would start with

getting rid of Gil Kerlikowske.

[Jeevus]

12. So he deferred to Obama's statement at the end.

It was - Marijuana policy is not a high priority.

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. Ridicule him, yes, but this is a mark of progress.

Three years ago, he said legalization wasn't in the president's vocabulary or his.

What a difference an election makes.

[rhett o rick]

16. Can you spell rhetoric? The President said he wouldnt defend DOMA.

So what? That doesnt help a soul. DOMA is still in full effect. This is just rhetoric. Show me some results. Tell the DOJ to stop persecuting medical marijuana dispensers.

[Comrade Grumpy]

17. Yes, actions speaks louder than words, but still...

...the rhetorical shift suggests that the forces of pot prohibition are ceding ground.

Meanwhile, Aaron Sandusky, a California dispensary operator, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison yesterday. The struggle continues.

[Garion_55]

18. not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing

as many times as people in power have disappointed me im not holding my breath..... well i am but not because of that 8-)

[bbgrunt]

19. whole lotta words.......nt

[jkville]

20. In the meantime,

translation- we'll keep stalling until something happens that will shift public opinion away from legalization

[RainDog]

21. EVERYONE who follows this issue knows the DoJ let bankers off for drug laundering

If they continue to institute this "one law for the rich, another for everyone else" bullshit in regard to cannabis, this is one faction of the political left that can and does make noise - and VOTES.

Democrats better consider well where their votes come from (liberal, in states with liberal cannabis law, the younger generation of voters) and let the DEA down slowly on this one b/c it's time for that change we can believe in.

People from across disciplines, of all colors, are talking about the racial disparity in drug law enforcement, not just the laws themselves.

Sativex is also not going away. It is already prescribed in four or more countries. Again, no "one law for the rich, another for everyone else" b.s.

Enough.

[John2]

24. President Obama

needs to go back and read the History of how pot became illegal. From the research that I have done, I've learned the Nixon Administration did have a lot to do with influencing it. It would help if the journalists would have more knowledge as well, so they can ask these politicians better questions. I understand from the research, Nixon did have a national commission on the subject and didn't like the recommendations from that report. I suggest President Obama starts with that report which Nixon shoved under the table. Its conclusions were infact, marijuana be treated like alcohol and tobacco because the criminalization of it would most likely prove unConstitutional. President Nixon shoved it under the table for political reasons and because of Law Enforcement agencies. Can President Obama prove this is a hard drug which is the problem?

[jsr]

25. Gil is a serious person who works for serious people

This is serious, folks.

[Javaman]

26. In other words...

"we hear you but we won't respond with anything other than boiler plate platitudes".

[fredamae]

27. The entire country has Been having a

serious conversation about "pot" for Decades-We've repeatedly and loudly requested cessation of enforcing these laws because the people who pay for their enforcement said "NO".
But, thanks for catching up to the nation you govern--finally.

[Myrina]

28. With or without cheetos?

Nt

[lobodons]

29. Conversation starts at 4:20

smoke em if you got em.