Paul Ryan On Medical Marijuana Legalization: 'Let The States Decide' (VIDEO)

[Grassy Knoll]

Source: huffingtonpost.com

In an interview with Colorado station KRDO-TV, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan says he believes it's up to the states to decide whether to legalize medical marijuana.
<snip>
According to KRDO-TV, Ryan made clear that he "doesn't believe" in the effort, but he nevertheless feels the issue should be reconciled at the state level.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/07/paul-ryan-marijuana-legalization_n_1866180.html

[Richard D]

1. Trying to get the Paulites.

[JudyM]

5. ... or the youth vote, generally. because he is *so* hip. nt

[Mr.Bill]

2. My state, California, has decided.

But the feds are still out here busting marijuana grows.

This is, by the way, one of my major disappointments with the Obama administration.

[stuffmatters]

21. Doubt Obama understands how strong the Anti(Drug) war sentiment runs in Ca

Or how betrayed Obama supporters feel at his aggressive,destructive assault on medical marijuana.

I can only equate this Democratic anger with Obama to that of the Anti Vietnam War sentiment that grew against
Johnson and led to the election of Nixon ( even more popularly despised than Rmoney) over Humphrey.

Ryan is really smart to hit this Obama vulnerability of his own making. And, because Obama lied and has destroyed medical marijuana business in Ca rather than respect our state's referendum, as he'd promised. Obama has really made a mess for himself.

At this point, The Repubs really could corral a lot of the youth on an anti drug war vote. It's as disproportionately ageist/ racist, corporatist/Wall Street serving,cripplingly expensive and unjust/inhumane/myth driven as the Vietnam War ever was.

Obama would do well to consider his own power as President to reclassify marijuana to the same restrictions for alcohol and tobacco.

[Mnpaul]

3. "Let the states decide"

up until the point where the states want to pass laws demanding disclosure of political donors. Then it is a constitutional crisis and the federal government must step in.

[freshwest]

6. +1,000. And let the states decide who can vote, who can marry, and what rape is...

Yup, Little Dedo really cares about our freedom and liberty. That's a tiebreaker, that one is.

[tanyev]

24. Up until the time Republicans regain the White House.

Then they forget all about states' rights.

[RoccoR5955]

4. More like he needs the Ron Paulie Girls' votes

After all, that's the real reason they are for him.

[rocktivity]

7. You're going to have it medically legal in some states but not others?

That makes as much sense as doing that for same sex marriage!


rocktivity

[99th_Monkey]

16. Well, that's what we have now

I mean I agree with you it is stupid, but it IS what it is.

I want it flat out legalized, like this brave federal judge came out
today and said.
http://blog.norml.org/2012/09/07/federal-judge-criminalization-of-marijuana-is-absurd/

[winstars]

8. He's lying, he was probably a Narc in high school!!! LOL n/t

[Bonhomme Richard]

9. It doesn't matter what he says. What matters is what Mitt wants.

He knows he can say that because he will never be called on it. VP's don't make policy. He's looking to buy points with an empty wallet.

[TeamPooka]

10. yeah, as he calls it a gateway drug... idiot. nt

[Andy823]

11. Well...

Since we all know how "honest" he is, I guess we should just believe him, right? I don't think so!

[Odin2005]

12. Clever politics on his part, bad for us.

He's trying to steal young voters.

[Oldenuff]

13. Mitty feels differently

or another case of the right hand doesn't know what the other right hand is doing.Mitt says he will fight Medical Marijuana "Tooth and Nail",which is actually only a little harder stance than the Obama Administration has taken on California dispensaries.Surprisingly,the Obama administration has been harder on Marijuana than Bush...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&v=6lTbAI4sP0M


edited to include youtube of uncle Mitty showing his compassionate side.

[LibGranny]

15. Seems to me they (R&R) don't want to

decide anything or if they have "decided" anything they don't want to let the public in on their decisions! Or maybe they just haven't "run the numbers" yet!

[zbdent]

17. He's lyin ...

like he would support the states' decisions (on m.m.) any more than Bush43 (who?) did ...

[davidthegnome]

18. Hmm...

Paul Ryan is a colossal prick, so I don't really care what he thinks about it anyway.

I am concerned with the DOJ continuing to crack down on medical marijuana... for what purpose, I can't discover. This is something that I hope Obama will address in the years to come - after we re-elect him, of course. I haven't given up hope on him seeing the light, in regards to this particular issue. We may just need to hold his feet to the fire, as we have done with other issues.

Frankly I think it should be legalized on the federal level, especially for medical purposes, but for recreational purposes as well. From my understanding of marijuana, it causes less damage than either smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol and is also, generally speaking, less destructive than alcohol.

Let's see... tax revenue, a great weakening of organized crime overall - regulation and control of something that a whole lot of people are damn well going to use whether it's legal or not.

[Incitatus]

19. Paul Ryan swam from California to Hawaii in 3 days. nt

[hatrack]

20. "Oh, shit! The Libertarians! What can I say that . . . wait a minute! I've GOT it!"

Nice try, Congressman Laser-Eyes-Of-Fiscal-Death.

[Comrade Grumpy]

22. It's a close race in Colorado, and marijuana is an issue.

1. The Obama Justice Department has forced dozens of state-law abiding dispensaries out of business by threatening asset forfeiture or criminal charges.

2. A marijuana legalization initiative is on the ballot, and it's got a nine point lead in recent polls.

3. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is running hard in the state and playing to the pot issue.

Ryan is probably just pandering; Bush Jr. made similar remarks when he was running, then sicced the DEA on California dispensaries. And I don't know if Johnon would siphon more votes from Romney or Obama there. But pot is in the mix in Colorado.

Okay, I just looked at a Public Policy Polling poll. Without Johnson, Obama leads 49-46. With Johnson, Obama leads 46-44-5. For every two votes Johnson costs Romney, he costs Obama three.

[Comrade Grumpy]

33. Hmmm, yes, kind of rings a bell, don't it?

[oldsarge54]

23. Who Made the Wicked Weed Illegal?

This may be apocryphal, but I've always heard that the push to make weed illegal came from the Federal level, specifically the Treasury department when booze was being legalized needed a job. Note the first federal laws against marijuana were based on untaxed weed.

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[davidthegnome]

28. Added to bookmarks, will read when I have more time

Thanks for the link.

[bluecoat_fan]

31. Today, because most have never seen chemo or severe pain up close.

Last edited Sat Sep 8, 2012, 04:50 PM - Edit history (1)

My father-in-law and my brother-in-law both died from chemo, before the cancer could killed them. Both had tumors growing on their spine. If you have ever had back pain, that is pressure applied to your nerves. Now imagine that pain not going away, regardless of how you try to position yourself. Also imagine that pain multiplied by 10 or 100 or 1000, you pick. Now imagine your ONLY option is to use hardcore narcotics to stop that pain, which makes you really messed up, sleep the day away on your sofa, as your family watches you die.

I myself have had the jelly goo in my neck come out and press up against nerves(some like to call a herniated C6 spinal injury), so I don't have to imagine. I got it "fixed", so that stabbing knife pain is now a random pinching pain, probably due to stuff rubbing against that metal cage, plates, and screws in my neck. My throat is ALWAYS hurting, due to the surgeon entering the front of my neck and gently SHOVING my throat out of the way so he can remove the jelly goo.

I do not care what ANYONE says, medical marijuana DOES stop the pain. But for me, that is no longer an option. I must now decide to destroy my liver with a lot of rum, live with pain, or move to another state.

[tabasco]

25. He would support the police-prison industry to the max.

He's a lying, cowardly piece of shit.

[QUALITYCONTRoll]

29. It's about 4:20

Its time these Politicians put up or shut up....Lying ryan says "This is something that is not a HIGH priority of ours." What is MR Lier?
it is obvious that "many" profit from keeping "it" illegal like the legal system, alcohol producers, law enforcement big farm....and so on.
.............its sad a 1st World country with 3rd world Politicians...

[Z_California]

30. Playing with fire

Being "soft on drugs" doesn't play well with the Romney/Ryan base. The Obama campaign should pounce on this and see if Mitt agrees that we should be "soft on drugs". Will hurt in Colorado, but not in other swing states.

By the way, the DOJ's war on medical cannabis has infuriated me personally, but it's election time so I'm just thinking politics.

[elbloggoZY27]

34. Just a Campaign Blip

The fact is but not acted upon is the War on Drugs has been a grand failure. It's time to decriminalize. It's the Money & more Money.

Prostitution should be decriminalize also.


I am no Ryan fan but he at least in words has the right idea especially Medical Marijuana.


It will take guts to do the correct thing and very hard but the present approach is a failure.


On both these subjects their are a zillion victims. It's a World Wide problem.