answered question
0
Votes
Votes
3
Answers
Answers
M$1.00
What is Barack Obama's position on marijuana legalization/decriminalization?
|
Report
answers (3)
It's not completely clear what his position is at the moment. In the past, he expressed his support for decriminalization of marijuana. In 2008, during his presidential campaign, he briefly tried to distance himself from those remarks.
Here is what we do know about his position:
He told an audience during a 2004 debate: "I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws, but I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana."
His campaign says, "Senator Obama does not believe in legalization of marijuana, but agrees with President Bush that long minimum sentences for first-time drug users may not be the best way to occupy jail space or heal people from their disease."
When asked if he would curtail DEA raids of medical marijuana growers he said "I would because I think our federal agents have better things to do, like catching criminals and preventing terrorism. The way I want to approach the issue of medical marijuana is to base it on science, and if there is sound science that supports the use of medical marijuana and if it is controlled and prescribed in a way that other medicine is prescribed, then it's something that I think we should consider."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQr9ezr8UeA
Here is what we do know about his position:
He told an audience during a 2004 debate: "I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws, but I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana."
His campaign says, "Senator Obama does not believe in legalization of marijuana, but agrees with President Bush that long minimum sentences for first-time drug users may not be the best way to occupy jail space or heal people from their disease."
When asked if he would curtail DEA raids of medical marijuana growers he said "I would because I think our federal agents have better things to do, like catching criminals and preventing terrorism. The way I want to approach the issue of medical marijuana is to base it on science, and if there is sound science that supports the use of medical marijuana and if it is controlled and prescribed in a way that other medicine is prescribed, then it's something that I think we should consider."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQr9ezr8UeA
source(s):
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jan/31/obama-decriminalize-pot/
http://wweek.com/editorial/3427/10974/
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/jan/31/barack_obama_comes_out...
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/feb/01/nevermind_barack_obama...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jan/31/obama-decriminalize-pot/
http://wweek.com/editorial/3427/10974/
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/jan/31/barack_obama_comes_out...
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/feb/01/nevermind_barack_obama...
No it is not. He thinks the laws are fine as they are.
His position has been variable, but as with all politicians we'll just assume his most recent answer is the one he holds today. From the unusually succinct answer on his website change.gov:
Q: "Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?"
A: President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana.
Q: "Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?"
A: President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana.
Related questions
140 characters left
ask any question
