Obama Is Asked To Defend His Administration’s Opposition To Medical Cannabis — He Can’t

[theaocp]

via NORML - http://networkedblogs.com/lLXrh

Regardless of one’s opinion of President Obama as a political figure, it is hard to deny his skill as an eloquent orator. So it is notable, even newsworthy, when the Commander and Chief is publicly at a loss for words.

Such was the case yesterday at a Presidential Town hall in Cannon Falls, Minnesota when a flustered, tongue-tied Obama attempted in vain to explain why his administration continues to oppose efforts to allow for the legal use of cannabis as a doctor-recommended medicine.

Confused? Perhaps this transcript will help to better articulate the President’s position:

Audience member: “If you can’t legalize marijuana, why can’t we just legalize medical marijuana, to help the people that need it?”

Obama: “Well, you know, a lot of states are making decisions about medical marijuana. As a controlled substance, the issue then is, you know, is it being prescribed by a doctor, as opposed to, you know — well — – I’ll — I’ll — I’ll — I’ll leave it at that.”

And leave it at that he did.

link to video (question is at the 49 minute mark) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZOZji2w-i30

I hope he and his never have something that could benefit from cannabis. That would be too much ironic poetry. Stay classy.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. HIs stand on this is unconscionable.

I believe that his mom would have benefited from medical cannabis when she was dying from breast cancer...

[vi5]

2. You know who else doesn't like medical marijuana?

President Perry! Or President Bachmann!!!

So how about that!?! Maybe you'll think of that next time before you post something critical of your president!!!




















:sarcasm:

[hootinholler]

9. !

:rofl:

-Hoot

[ZombieHorde]

3. He knows his opposition is fucked up, but he lacks the courage to say it.

How pathetic.

[theaocp]

4. It's interesting that I was just thinking about that.

His intelligence, morals, etc. all seem to be a matter of conjecture, but the closest thing I can see that he is/is not is ... courageous. Fight or flight is a one-sided battle for Obama and it is sickening to watch.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. He is a faith based guy, not a thinker. He just 'believes' and thus

that is correct, righteous, and true. God opposes his own creation, marijuana, gays, you name it, Obama stutters and stammers and claims he is correcting divine errors.
I reject his anti-intellectual faith based foolishness.

[frylock]

6. what a blithering idiot..

and, you know, i'll just leave it at that.

[demosincebirth]

7. There are a lot more important issues right now than that. Jeez!

[Maine_Nurse]

8. Tell that to a SC Lung cancer patient and their family as...

the patient is brought in to the hospital 2-3 times weekly for re-hydration and electrolyte balancing due to extreme vomiting from radiation and compound chemotherapy. Yeah you are right that it doesn't matter to the country or world as a whole, but it is the whole world to some individuals in dire need.

[demosincebirth]

11. I see your point , but there are still more important issues that trying to legalize

med marijuana. I think its a state issue anyway. Trying to pass a bill of this nature would be a waste of time. It would be an exercise in futility.

[RainDog]

14. no need to pass a bill. simply hold the rescheduling hearing

the one that the American Medical Asso. called for a few years ago.

reschedule cannabis as schedule V

Schedule V.—

(A) The drug or other substance a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.

(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV."<20>

No controlled substance in schedule V which is a drug may be distributed or dispensed other than for a medical purpose.<25>

Drugs in this schedule include:

Cough suppressants containing small amounts of codeine (e.g., promethazine+codeine);
Preparations containing small amounts of opium or diphenoxylate (used to treat diarrhea);
Pregabalin (Lyrica), an anticonvulsant and pain modulator.
Pyrovalerone
Some centrally-acting anti-diarrhoeals, such as diphenoxylate (Lomotil) when mixed with atropine to make it unpleasant for people to grind up, cook, and inject. Difenoxin with atropine (Motofen) has been moved to Schedule IV. Otherwise the drugs are in Schedule II.

And Obama can tell the DoJ to stop raiding mmj facilities in the states that have passed laws allowing medical use.

Congress should vote to decriminalize and let states handle this issue - but an asshole in Texas (that's not Perry) has vowed not to let this legislation out of committee.

But the truth is that our govt. is failing to uphold majority opinion on this issue - and, therefore, our govt is not representative on this issue. The reason for this most surely has to do with creating a protected class of corporate citizen, given the rescheduling of cannabis for pharma cos.

This IS a big issue for people who have MS, cancer, auto-immune diseases - Obama sounds like Reagan blowing off people with AIDS by refusing to acknowledge that current policy hurts people in this nation far more than it helps anyone... other than those who stand to make money off of continued prohibition.

[Hydra]

10. Tell that to all the people in jail because of this

And tell that to the Wall St bastards who are still walking- "we have more important issues right now" than fairness, justice and the law.

In fact, I think the most important issue on the table right now is how to starve seniors so we can give Wall St. more bailouts.

Awesome, huh?

[demosincebirth]

12. Duh, why are they in jail? that's one of the reasons I don't do illegal drugs..

they're illegal. Thats why I stick to my Bourbon.

[Hydra]

13. Medical THC isn't illegal in various states

And President Obama pledged to work with that. He also pledged to apply Eric Holder various real lawbreakers, which he hasn't.

Torture and Treason aren't priorities, but protecting THC for big pharma is? Or didn't you hear about that?

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/meet-your-new-pot-dealer-big-pharma/Content?oid=2665515

See, it's all ok if you have big money. Laws don't apply to you.

[RainDog]

15. your drug, bourbon, is more dangerous than cannabis

and has far more negative side effects.

but people who make your drug lobby to keep cannabis illegal. nice.

[saras]

16. As soon as Big Pharma has settled on a profitable plan, he'll have a policy

seems to me I've said this before... maybe it's standard operating procedure for his drug policy?