Yes, it’s a bit of a fluff question, but let’s think about that for a minute. He’s admitted to past drug use in his book that goes far beyond “I tried it, I didn’t like it, and I didn’t inhale” to the kind of admission that frankly millions of Americans can also admit. The war on drugs has, IMHO, become rather passe and that funding could be easily justified on countless other government endevors, and nobody likes an unpopular budget drain. Oh, and we could use a nice new tax base in light of our insane war debt and current financial downturn while we’re at it as well. There’s plenty of other arguments that could, and have been made regarding marijuana, including further acceptance of medical marijuana and the like, so does anyone think that there’s any chance that Obama could pick up where Carter left off and finally pull that trigger?
Not likely. It’d have to pass both houses of Congress, and they haven’t changed enough for there to be any realistic chance.
There’s an old saying that says “Only Nixon could go to China.” That is, Nixon had spent years honing his reputation as a staunch anti-communist crusader, so he could go to a communist country without appearing soft on communism.
I suspect the same situation will apply to drug laws. The only president who could get away with relaxing the (asinine, draconian, ridiculous) drug war in this country is someone who has a proven track record of being tough on drugs. That person could make a rational argument that the drug war is unwinnable, a waste of money, and is wreaking more havoc on families then the drugs themselves.
Somebody like Obama, however, who is already thought of as liberal, and who has admitted to his own daliances with drugs, doesn’t have such credibility. Coming from him, any sensible drug policy is likely to be derided as “soft on crime”.
As much as I would like to see it happen, I don’t think Obama will ever have the political capital to make this happen.
Hush you fools! Maybe if we all pretend we expect him to do it, he will! Remember back in 2004 when several people right here in the SDMB expected him to become president?
Let’s all expect Obama will do it. Woo Obama! Go you Weed-smoking, Coke-snorting fiend!!!
Unless a few dozen Dopers get elected to Congress, no, it’s not happening. He’d have no incentive to propose it or throw his weight behind it, and Congress would have no incentive to discuss or pass it. It makes sense to legalize it in my opinion, but there’s nothing in it for politicians. Especially since they would leave themselves vulnerable to all sorts of criticism by supporting it.
There’s a similar old saying that says “The first black president will be a Republican.”
But there is money, lots of it too. Legalize the weed and use the tax revenue as a subsidy to offset rising gas prices for one example. I think people would get behind that idea pretty quickly honestly.
Colin Powell had his chance.
Meh. Not this term. Maybe next term. Maybe late this term. Depends on how much we can save disassembling the drug war.
Just no chance whatsoever. There’s no way Congress would vote for it.
(And the idea of subsidizing gas is just horrible. I’d rather have expensive gas than the government pump billions into the hands of oil companies, only to find later that the lowered price increases demand and results in shortages. Terrible idea.)
I occasionally smoke with my wife, and I would have to say no way. I rather enjoy the paranoia of air fresheners and peering under the windowshades to ensure that no, this time the black helicopters loaded with jack-booted Nazis are in fact not there…at least this time.
It would take all the fun of the cat and mouse out of it for me.
Legalization? Probably not.
But a new Administration could instruct the Justice Department and the DEA to stop going after Medical Marijuana in states where it is legal.
To concentrate on the “interstate commerce” part of the law and not distribution by and within single states.
To give lower priority to marijuana related offenses.
It could instruct the State Department to stop threatening other governments over issues of legalization (like Jamaica, for one).
It could possibly even move for a change in the drug classification of marijuana.
It could remove the paranoia about industrial hemp as an agricultural crop. No one but a couple of stupid bored highschoolers from Bumfuck, South Dakota are going to try to smoke the stuff, and they’re NOT going to get high off of it.
That would be perfect. It’s funny how the reverence for our forefathers rarely includes their ingenious use of hemp for ship’s riggings, for example.
And the fact that marijuana has been so demonized (thanks, Reefer Madness!) in the public eye that it’s other uses in forms that *do not get you high * are ignored.
Furthermore, more states should adopt the Ohio model (which may have been rescinded by now) that made simple pot possession a payable ticket at the clerk of courts. No trial, nothing (unless you were obviously stoned at the time of the arrest AND driving a car) just a simple fine. That’s the way it should be.
Why should there be a fine for possessing marijuana? I’m not saying you’re right or wrong, or challenging you, I’m just interested in your reasoning. I don’t smoke the stuff so I don’t really have a dog in this fight, but my personal opinion is that all drugs should be illegal to sell and drive under the influence of, but legal to possess. In other words, if you want to grow your own pot, or cook your own whatever, have a field day.
You can’t expect people to know when they are high on crack or smack or marijuana that they are too impaired to drive. They are bound to drive anyways, killing everyone in their path, even little children. Look at the ravages drunk driving causes to-day! The only way to ensure the safety of the children is to throw junkies in jail, keep drugs illegal and prohibit alcohol completely.
I just don’t understand the hypocrisy behind this alcohol. It is clearly very dangerous and unhealthy. How many tens of thousands of children have been killed by drunk drivers? More than the 9/11 death toll! How many more thousands of children do we want to die in the next decade?
WILL NOBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN? BRING BACK THE PROHIBITION!
Some drugs that one could “cook” shuold not ever be allowed to be made by anyone…but stuff one can grow seems alright I guess.
I meant that as long as it remains illegal that it should just be a ticket and not an arrest if it’s under a certain amount for personal use.
I should have fleshed that out a bit better. What if the tax increses granted by legalization were used to offset the federal and state taxes on fuel, thereby allowing a more natural price on fuel and no loss of income for the taxing bodies?
Well my fellow Bass Fisherman - I can’t add much that hasn’t already been said, but I can share a story you may find amusing: I was probably 20 years old (15+ years ago) - I was fishing on opening day here in CT, I waited patiently in line at 4:30am to launch our boat, had it fully packed with all the food and drinks we would need for a morning and afternoon spent on the lake. Including a celebratory smoke for the first fish - a tradition since I was a boy. So 11:30 a.m. rolls around and I have yet to catch a fish. So I did something against tradition, I lit up before catching the first fish. That was bad mojo. CUZ i no sooner lit up than got a huge hit on my line. The combination of hit and puff threw me off balance and WHOOOSH! Right into the cold April Lake! backwards…problem was I was in a bass boat with my brother-in-law so the boat swung down when I went off the back, then swung backwards throwing him off balance - dumping us both in the drink. 
That taught me a proper lesson in fishing, (1) don’t buck the system it is there for as reason, (2) never light up a victory smoke before catching the firstfish, and (3) always make your carolina rig weedless, or you’ll lose it in the pads!
As for your OP, I don’t think Obama will be the president to see legalization, however, he might be plow the way for other liberal senators and congressman to do it after him.
That’s an outstanding story, I’m laughing my ass off over here.