7 ms·

That's nice dear. I'm assuming he has no concrete plans to do this? Just like Obama alluded to decriminalizing Marijuana for 9 years* along with Universal Hea

That's nice dear. I'm assuming he has no concrete plans to do this? Just like Obama alluded to decriminalizing Marijuana for 9 years* along with Universal Healthcare and/or single payer? There's a recent track record of making big promises in the Democratic Party, prior to selling out to corporate interests. Obama's great explanation was "It just wouldn't work in our system" So, if I'm skeptical and cynical, as I remember Obama also complaining about (not to make this all about him, it's just where it led as I finished writing this) it's because I just don't believe him. *(1 being the election year prior)

cam_l 8y ago
"prior to selling out" How are you going to convince your donors to bid for you without some radical threats on the table. This is just signaling that they are ready to seek donations on this issue, pro or against it doesn't matter.
- Bye_Felicia 8y ago
  the beehive has been disturbed, true, all flying around like crazy looking for someone to bite...
adventured 8y ago
I understand the cynicism. However... We're actually doing it. 29 states medicinal. Eight states legalized. In 2008 when Barney Frank and Ron Paul proposed the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, there were only 13 medicinal states. Wikipedia has this great gif showing the collapsing prohibition in action: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Cannabis-legalization.gif https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Cannabis... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_laws_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_laws_in_t... That was all unthinkable just as recently as 1992 when Clinton was elected on a tough on crime platform. Then we watched the prison population number go from 800,000 to 1.3 million just in his eight years; the greatest increase of any President or eight year period since the mass incarceration effort began in the mid 1970s. Now we've got the Republican President standing down (compare that to Nixon, Reagan or the Bushes), and the top Senate Democrat arguing in favor of Federal legalization. We've come a very long ways in a relatively short amount of time. What this signals, is that with continued pressure and legalization in more states, Federal legalization is a done deal. Whenever the next Democrat wave arrives that gives them enough votes, that will formally complete it. Otherwise, it's going to get legalized by most states regardless (which will realistically guarantee a Federal legalization).
- Bye_Felicia 8y ago
  You know, I think that's awesome, but gradualism has it's disadvantages, primarily, as you stated, all those millions of people, mostly black underprivileged people, who have had their ENTIRE LIVES DESTROYED. So excuse me, if I don't hold the same love affair with the liars in chief, both current and former.
pwinnski 8y ago
The President has the power to decide what gets prosecuted or not, and Obama directed his Attorney General to not prosecute minor drug cases. Only congress can change laws, though. Are you blaming Obama for failing to enact single-payer healthcare? After the years he spent just trying to get the AcA through Congress? Congress makes laws, not the President.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- Bye_Felicia 8y ago
  Wow talk about drinking the kool-aid. Dispensaries legalized in their respective states continued to be raided and robbed throughout the Obama administration, one has only to witness such a scene, where local police and sometimes even elected officials look on, as the federal government marches in and destroys a legal business. Marijuana law up in smoke as agents raid dispensaries https://mg.co.za/article/2008-08-11-marijuana-law-up-in-smoke-as-agents-raid-dispensaries https://mg.co.za/article/2008-08-11-marijuana-law-up-in-smok... there was no 'resistance' back then because Obama was the chosen one, who would lead us all into a golden age. Well, Obama's gone, and he didn't change shit in regards to drug laws, or at the very least neutering the DEA. However, aside from my arguments from very limited first hand experience, there is also, oh right, all those pesky facts. Poor, powerless Obama, he's a victim! Obama’s War on Pot | The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/obamas-war-pot/ https://www.thenation.com/article/obamas-war-pot/ (you can google search statistics yourself. i'm not going to list out links to someone who is clearly stuck on "talking points" from some publicist.) However, he loved using the DEA as tool when it suited him: The secret backstory of how Obama let Hezbollah off the hook https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/obama-hezbollah-drug-trafficking-investigation/ https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/obama-hezbollah-d...

cam_l 8y ago

"prior to selling out" How are you going to convince your donors to bid for you without some radical threats on the table. This is just signaling that they are ready to seek donations on this issue, pro or against it doesn't matter.

Bye_Felicia 8y ago
the beehive has been disturbed, true, all flying around like crazy looking for someone to bite...

adventured 8y ago

I understand the cynicism. However... We're actually doing it. 29 states medicinal. Eight states legalized. In 2008 when Barney Frank and Ron Paul proposed the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, there were only 13 medicinal states. Wikipedia has this great gif showing the collapsing prohibition in action: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Cannabis-legalization.gif https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Cannabis... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_laws_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_laws_in_t... That was all unthinkable just as recently as 1992 when Clinton was elected on a tough on crime platform. Then we watched the prison population number go from 800,000 to 1.3 million just in his eight years; the greatest increase of any President or eight year period since the mass incarceration effort began in the mid 1970s. Now we've got the Republican President standing down (compare that to Nixon, Reagan or the Bushes), and the top Senate Democrat arguing in favor of Federal legalization. We've come a very long ways in a relatively short amount of time. What this signals, is that with continued pressure and legalization in more states, Federal legalization is a done deal. Whenever the next Democrat wave arrives that gives them enough votes, that will formally complete it. Otherwise, it's going to get legalized by most states regardless (which will realistically guarantee a Federal legalization).

Bye_Felicia 8y ago
You know, I think that's awesome, but gradualism has it's disadvantages, primarily, as you stated, all those millions of people, mostly black underprivileged people, who have had their ENTIRE LIVES DESTROYED. So excuse me, if I don't hold the same love affair with the liars in chief, both current and former.

pwinnski 8y ago

The President has the power to decide what gets prosecuted or not, and Obama directed his Attorney General to not prosecute minor drug cases. Only congress can change laws, though. Are you blaming Obama for failing to enact single-payer healthcare? After the years he spent just trying to get the AcA through Congress? Congress makes laws, not the President.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
Bye_Felicia 8y ago
Wow talk about drinking the kool-aid. Dispensaries legalized in their respective states continued to be raided and robbed throughout the Obama administration, one has only to witness such a scene, where local police and sometimes even elected officials look on, as the federal government marches in and destroys a legal business. Marijuana law up in smoke as agents raid dispensaries https://mg.co.za/article/2008-08-11-marijuana-law-up-in-smoke-as-agents-raid-dispensaries https://mg.co.za/article/2008-08-11-marijuana-law-up-in-smok... there was no 'resistance' back then because Obama was the chosen one, who would lead us all into a golden age. Well, Obama's gone, and he didn't change shit in regards to drug laws, or at the very least neutering the DEA. However, aside from my arguments from very limited first hand experience, there is also, oh right, all those pesky facts. Poor, powerless Obama, he's a victim! Obama’s War on Pot | The Nation https://www.thenation.com/article/obamas-war-pot/ https://www.thenation.com/article/obamas-war-pot/ (you can google search statistics yourself. i'm not going to list out links to someone who is clearly stuck on "talking points" from some publicist.) However, he loved using the DEA as tool when it suited him: The secret backstory of how Obama let Hezbollah off the hook https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/obama-hezbollah-drug-trafficking-investigation/ https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/obama-hezbollah-d...