It looks like Obama might be addressing the question of federal pot reform – FINALLY – after skirting the issue practically since his inauguration.
In a recent interview with VICE News, Obama answered the question about pot reform in the US with a surprising nod toward rescheduling. He predicted that Congress would soon be forced to let up on America’s ridiculous cannabis prohibition policies, likely due to the overwhelming evidence that medical marijuana is saving lives.
He told reporter, Shane Smith, that:
“. . .as the trend of statewide legalization continues to spread, and as bipartisan politics keep coming together in support of the issue, folks on Capitol Hill will have no choice but to make crucial adjustments to the law.”
The president suggests, however, that changes will first come in the form of criminal justice reform, not a complete prohibitionary repeal. That might not be too far off, though. Obama remarked:
“We may be able to make some progress on the decriminalization side . . .At a certain point, if enough states end up decriminalizing, then Congress may reschedule marijuana.”
The President’s comments in this interview follow just one week after Senators Rand Paul, Cory Booker and Kristen Gillibrand introduced legislation which would reclassify cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance, and legalize it for medical use on a national scale.
Read: Did Congress End the Federal Ban on Medical Marijuana
Previously, Obama has repeatedly said the federal government would use minimal resources to strike at dispensaries. The Obama Administration has unofficially made it part of their policy to neither indict nor raid medical marijuana dispensaries and growers.
“What you’re seeing now is Colorado, Washington through state referenda, they’re experimenting with legal marijuana,” the president said in response to a question from YouTube host Hank Green. “The position of my administration has been that we still have federal laws that classify marijuana as an illegal substance, but we’re not going to spend a lot of resources trying to turn back decisions that have been made at the state level on this issue. My suspicion is that you’re gonna see other states start looking at this.”
Now we seem to be even closer to what he hinted toward for years.
Legalization of marijuana could also promote state funds – as evidenced by Colorado’s substantially bolstered economy with over $53 million in state tax revenue gained just from pot sales. This doesn’t include the new jobs being created in the state, while others go bankrupt.
“It shouldn’t be young people’s biggest priority,” Obama chided. “Let’s put it in perspective. Young people, I understand this is important to you. But you should be thinking about climate change, the economy, jobs, war and peace. Maybe way at the bottom you should be thinking about marijuana.”
Mr. President – pot reform could transform the nation – giving us more jobs, fewer sick people, a better economy, and with the industrialization of hemp to boot – a cleaner, less pesticide-ridden environment. I think young people are smarter than Obama gives them credit for.
Let’s look forward to marijuana reclassification in the very near future.
Additional Sources:
Image courtesy of: LiveTradingNews
Absolutely love this picture!!
Sammy are you reading this?
Lets see what kind of government do we have and what part does he play johnny?
Bobo did you here about this. Whadda ya think.
No everyone would rather HEAR about it from you Johnny bisquick. So tell us what kind of government do we have.
The govt is just puppet to the NWO elite but that’s way over your head. Better just stick to your honey boo boo and crayons.
Lol you really must be scared of your own shadow with the conspiracy theories. Keep them coming they are very funny.
yes the thing that scares me are people like you working for evil. what else scares well not scares but makes me feel sad is most people have no clue and don’t care (sheep) until they find out they have been duped and it’s way to late.
You are the one that has been duped. I work for farmers helping them to feed the world.
No you work for evil and at most are the middle man for genicide eugenics whatever. How low
Well let’s see there are manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and farmers. So yes, Being a retailer I’m kinda in the middle. The middle of helping to feed the world that is. But you are right on the cutting edge of crazy with your crackpot conspiracy theories. You have read way to much Dan Brown. Good author but remember it’s fiction.
Join the healing effects of cannabis oil with the near free energy (LENR – low energy nuclear reaction) technology about to explode into reality. There is more than hope, despite business’s controlling paradigms. There’s expectation and sure knowledge of better times to come,
Why is Natural Society allowing this Monsantan Troll to keep posting on this site. I no longer read his posts, but he is taking up too much space with his Monsantan replies!
Please do not allow anymore posts from this jerk who must work for Monsanto!
How does GMO Roberts get to stay on here and continually post lies. I agree about debate but this is WAY over the line and super obvious he is working for Mon satan obozo or something like it. ban his arse. read the comments he’s replying………..that is what everyone wants.