Oops, sorry, my bad. That was from 2004.
The silence from the administration has been deafening. And other states and countries have been stepping into the void to make a case for legalization. The genie is definitely out of the bottle.
It’s interesting to watch the silence on Twitter. Rafael Lemaitre, the Communications Director or the ONDCP hasn’t tweeted since October 14, except to re-tweet some posts by others that had nothing to do with marijuana legalization. And the other ONDCP twitter account has joked about Director Kerlikowske secretly desiring to guest host NPR’s show “Wait, Wait,” and yet hasn’t commented on the Washington and Colorado votes. The ONDCP blog talked about drugged driving legislation in California, and a Veteran’s Day message, but nothing on the elections. Clearly, the ONDCP has been told in no uncertain terms to keep its collective mouth shut.
Maybe they’re waiting to see how our federal-court slap-down of “Schedule I Cannabis” turns out before they open their mouths and embarrass themselves… or perhaps they realized the 18th amendment WASN’T superfluous?
theres not much to be said for chooms reection from the the drug reform pov but at least the built in repub majority in the supreme might work in our favor. imagine if it were pres romney when scalia and co had to decide on schedule 1
Maybe Obama’s cunning plan is doing his best “Brer Rabbit” impersonation and making the Republicans throw him into the briar patch of cannabis legalization, “Oh Noes, anything but legalization”. One can dream…
Uruguay appears set to be the first country in the world to totally legalize production and sale of marijuana. On November 15, Uruguayan lawmakers introduced a bill in their legislature, and no mention is made of any impediments to its passage:
It must be an ominous distraction to watch the walls and columns of one’s own government bureaucracy collapse. I wonder how many other countries will legalize before the United States realizes their parasitic prohib party is over.
I think they have reached that corner,,the paint is still wet from their recent deluge of anti-pot efforts to split the vote in WA as they did in CA,,I wonder what that little political campaign cost the taxpayer?
Now 4 states have legislators making noises about passing legalization bills in their state legislatures and several countries around the world doing the same,,I would say the war is over at the federal level,,I don’t think even our bought congress can hide the billions of dollars it would take to even try and buy the opposition necessary to defeat the legalization movement.
We still have the local police arresting and busting people every 42 seconds so the war isn’t over completely and won’t be until the feds quit feeding the flames with grant money for marijuana busts,,waiting for that to be announced has me on pins and needles. And we probably won’t have any news release from the ONDCP about it,,it will be learned about the when the DOJ shuts off those funds.
When the federal govt. keeps it’s mouth shut, they are planning something.
I fear a violent backlash against all this dangerous “freedom” and choosing for ourselves what to put in our bodies.
Any “violent” backlash would remove the mask that keeps the world and America thinking we have freedom,,getting violent in a country that is supposed to be run by the people would wake too many sheeple up.
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Their mouth is shut on this issue because they know that they’re powerless to overturn these State laws. They’re simply happy to let people assume that they do have the power. If they admit to reality other States might get the idea to repeal their State level laws. The prohibasites know that the gravy train is nearly to the end of the line but want to keep it moving as far as they possibly can.
“wu-wei” – the ancient Chinese (?) concept of “doing by not doing.”
What if the upper echelons of the Obama administration just continue with the radio silence. Then the U.S. attorneys + DEA do what they want with raids, etc. If it’s unpopular, *then* Obama cracks down on “rogue officials.” If the raids ARE popular, Obama takes the credit.
/conspiracy.
Not all that far fetched an idea,
Two weeks is not long. And November is mighty close to the Holiday season. I’ve noticed a bit of silence, but it’s not been quite long enough….
Considering the implications of their response, I would expect them to be circumspect. And if they are going to try to stop it in the courts,I don’t expect we’ll see anything until the challenge to the law is presented.
I’m not sure the silence should be encouraging.
“The silence from the administration has been deafening.”
Well, it must be hard for them, considering legalization is not in their vocabulary. 🙂
Yeah, you’re right. I guess they’re still looking for that dictionary.
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This one is pulled from the “prohibasites really are brain dead in the extreme” category:
Police: 5-year-old used to hide marijuana in trunk
Oh sure, everybody knows that if the police search your trunk that most of them won’t notice what the 5 year old in the trunk is laying on. Good god in heaven help us!
I’m ready to increase my investment in the production of flip flops and loafers because people this stupid just aren’t likely able to master the task of tying shoe laces.
velcro tennis shoes for dress up!!!
WTF!? I mean seriously, WTF?!
First, I’ll just say, the trunk does not qualify as an appropriate child restraint. The guy should be locked up just for that. But do they seriously expect us to make the leap that the five year old was placed there in an effort to CONCEAL the pot?
I speculate it must have gone something like this: “I know how we’ll hide it, Jimmy-Joe-Bob. Let’s just put it in the trunk, and hide it under that there five year old.” “Yeah, Lester, that’s a great idea. They’ll never find it under a kindergartner.”
Yet another argument for legalization. We deserve a smarter class of supplier.
Yet another argument for avoiding Alabama, IMHO.
I think that the idiocy above is rock solid proof that there is no such thing as “too stupid to live”
Do we have any CO residents on the couch,,an update on progress towards an opening date for a marijuana outlet would be appreciated.
I will visit a dispensary while there,but I doubt I will purchase any medical marijuana,,the regular stuff works for my medication,,it reduces the arthritis binding and keeps ptsd mostly as a distant memory.
Don’t expect any pot shops to open before 2014. Also forget about even entering a dispensary without a red card. Even the one ounce legal doesn’t take effect until 30 days after the alcohol pushing governor certifies the election results. That should be by Dec. 6. Of course that hasn’t stopped anyone from lighting up. Sorry for the bad news, Clay.
no hurry Curmudgeon,,but I must go to CO and smoke a legal joint when it becomes available,,just something I have to do for friends that can’t anymore.
Clay,
You and I have the same Bucket List.
I think it is time for LEAP,ASA,DPA,NORML,etc,etc ask President Obama for that debate he said would be reasonable about now,,,in the same format the drug warriors
asked him and the DOJ to denounce legalization,,you know,,hinting like he could actually win the debate with all his scientific information from NIDA,plus his own personal experiences with marijuana that destroys so many youths lives as it could have his.
They should run it in a half page ad in DC papers.
“I think it is time for LEAP,ASA,DPA,NORML,etc,etc ask President Obama for that debate he said would be reasonable about now,,,in the same format the drug warriors”
If not, at least question the influence over such organizations:
http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2010/07/peter-lewis-ira-glasser-is-waste-of.html
http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2011/10/bottleneck-or-facilitator.html
http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2011/09/dpa-under-sells-harm-reduction.html
http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/2011/09/covington-burlings-continuing.html
Perhaps they could small print in the ad that they would have used a written request but they wanted to make sure he read the request and not an aide.
” … they’re popping up all over the place!”
http://tinyurl.com/bt42blv
Not sure why everyone in a grow house doesn’t just hook up a vent fan into their sewer line,,,then the whole town would smell like good shit.
I think Pete’s conclusion is correct. ONDCP has likely been told to stfu in light of a number of factors.
1) Cabinet reshuffling – Until today the assumption was that Holder would leave DOJ and they’d need to find a replacement who has his/her own new priorities. He said today that he’s staying at least a year so that issue seems settled.
2) The fiscal cliff – It’s all DC is talking about and its all Big Business and the states care about right now. Until a solution is reached don’t expect other issues to get any attention.
3) The administration can read election results – These victories weren’t nailbiters. A 10 pt win in both races is pretty emphatic and it gives the past national polling results on legalization a lot more legitimacy. As many national commentators have noted since election day, the support for legalization is growing just as fast if not faster than the support for marriage equality and includes many of the same supporters.
4) The DC rescheduling lawsuit – Depending on how that decision goes it gives the administration political will in one direction or another. Should they rule to lower marijuana on the schedule (or remove it altogether), the administration can decide to appeal the ruling or (as they did with DOMA) decline to defend the law. If the court rules in favor of the DEA, then I predict you’ll see more raids.
Overall the silence has been encouraging from my point of view. I think the administration has finally realized the growing and increasingly broad support amongst its base for a change and realizes that something dramatic (like a preemption lawsuit) would alienate them significantly when it needs all the support it can get. This silence could theoretically go on for quite a while. Colorado and Washington have until the end of next year to create regulations for these programs and start issuing licenses. Until then it can probably get away with not issuing any statements.
Here are links to a generic form letter replies from 2007 and 2008
http://www.illinoisnorml.org/content/view/730/29/
and another regarding no knock raids
http://www.illinoisnorml.org/content/view/810/29/
forgot to add this one with a stellar quote
“Human health cannot be considered “collateral damage†in the war on drugs, and I can assure you that I will not support any measure that takes such a position.” Barack Obama
http://www.illinoisnorml.org/content/view/728/29/