{"id":1094,"date":"2012-12-19T08:49:09","date_gmt":"2012-12-19T08:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/?p=20510"},"modified":"2012-12-19T08:49:09","modified_gmt":"2012-12-19T08:49:09","slug":"after-historic-president-obama-may-be-ready-to-examine-marijuana-reform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/after-historic-president-obama-may-be-ready-to-examine-marijuana-reform\/","title":{"rendered":"After Historic President Obama May Be Ready to Examine Marijuana Reform"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/after-historic-president-obama-may-be-ready-to-examine-marijuana-reform\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"211\" height=\"239\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/obama1.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"obama\" title=\"obama\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-20511\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/after-historic-president-obama-may-be-ready-to-examine-marijuana-reform\/attachment\/obama-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-20511\" title=\"obama\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/obama1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Often a politician\u2019s true feelings are not decipherable until <strong><em>after<\/em><\/strong> they no longer face the prospect of re-election.\u00a0 While President Obama\u2019s 2008 campaign included a progressive tone to the war on drugs and marijuana reform, his first term drifted away from those sentiments.\u00a0 Federal raids on dispensaries have been at an all time high under President Obama, more so than the Clinton and Bush years combined.<\/p>\n<p>While normally an elected official could risk paying a high price such misleading political statements, marijuana advocates were left with little choice as Republican challenger Mitt Romney stated that he would medical marijuana \u201ctooth and nail\u201d.\u00a0 One year ago, sensible marijuana reform and all the hard work for 15 years seemed to seriously be at jeopardy.\u00a0 Raids were underway in California and Newt Gingrich (who vowed to increase government efforts on the failed war on drugs) was the frontrunner for the GOP nomination.\u00a0 While the atmosphere was starting to appear toxic, activists remained undeterred.\u00a0 Groups such as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.regulatemarijuana.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol<\/a> (Colorado) and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.newapproachwa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">New Approach Washington <\/a>were able expand awareness and help collect enough signatures to get legalization to the ballots.\u00a0 The legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado seems to be a game changer<\/p>\n<p>Elections clearly have winners, losers, and consequences.\u00a0 The international community, especially our neighbors to the south have been calling on the United States to alter its approach to the War On Drugs.\u00a0 The Obama administration seemed unmoved by the international pressure.\u00a0 President Obama even sidestepped online forum questions on marijuana several times.\u00a0 Through all of this many kept their fingers crossed that President Obama would take on a softer tone as he likely will never be running for public office again.\u00a0 The second term is here and marijuana activists were thrown a bone recently.<\/p>\n<p>Even as the media coverage is narrowly focused on the so called \u201cfiscal cliff\u201d, the president must have taken notice of what happened in the two now legal marijuana states as he felt compelled to comment on the issue last week.\u00a0 He recently told Barbara Walters that &#8220;We&#8217;ve got bigger fish to fry,&#8221; Mr Obama said in a nationally televised interview. &#8220;It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it&#8217;s legal.&#8221;\u00a0 He also went on to say that the Justice Department is researching how they can reconcile the differences between federal and state law.\u00a0 The president does not even have to draft his own legislation as The Respect States\u2019 and Citizens\u2019 Rights Act of 2012 has already been introduced to congress.\u00a0 The bill, which is sponsored by <a href=\"http:\/\/degette.house.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\">Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette<\/a>, would amend the US Controlled Substances Act and prevent federal law from taking precedence over state law.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen what exactly President Obama will do in regards to marijuana reform.\u00a0 Unlike previous politicians, President Obama has previously professed his love for marijuana in print.\u00a0 In his 1995 memoir \u201cDreams from My Father,\u201d the president stated that he smoked marijuana like Dr. Suess wrote about Green Eggs and Ham.\u00a0 Here, there everywhere.\u00a0 Other reports suggest he was part of a pot smoking group named \u201cThe Chrom Gang\u201d. \u00a0\u00a0This is not to say that he must be forever tied to his actions as a teen and college student.\u00a0 However, for a president that had a personal love for marijuana, and now has first hand experience in the failings of the drug war, it <strong><em>should <\/em><\/strong>be expected that he try his very best to fix this mess.\u00a0 While the future is unclear, it is encouraging that marijuana would even get any airtime as fiscal cliff coverage, the aftermath of the Newtown shooting, and a re-energized conversation on gun control is dominating the airwaves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"211\" height=\"239\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/obama1.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"obama\" title=\"obama\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-20511\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/after-historic-president-obama-may-be-ready-to-examine-marijuana-reform\/attachment\/obama-2\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-20511\" title=\"obama\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/obama1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Often a politician\u2019s true feelings are not decipherable until <strong><em>after<\/em><\/strong> they no longer face the prospect of re-election.\u00a0 While President Obama\u2019s 2008 campaign included a progressive tone to the war on drugs and marijuana reform, his first term drifted away from those sentiments.\u00a0 Federal raids on dispensaries have been at an all time high under President Obama, more so than the Clinton and Bush years combined.<\/p>\n<p>While normally an elected official could risk paying a high price such misleading political statements, marijuana advocates were left with little choice as Republican challenger Mitt Romney stated that he would medical marijuana \u201ctooth and nail\u201d.\u00a0 One year ago, sensible marijuana reform and all the hard work for 15 years seemed to seriously be at jeopardy.\u00a0 Raids were underway in California and Newt Gingrich (who vowed to increase government efforts on the failed war on drugs) was the frontrunner for the GOP nomination.\u00a0 While the atmosphere was starting to appear toxic, activists remained undeterred.\u00a0 Groups such as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.regulatemarijuana.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol<\/a> (Colorado) and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.newapproachwa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">New Approach Washington <\/a>were able expand awareness and help collect enough signatures to get legalization to the ballots.\u00a0 The legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado seems to be a game changer<\/p>\n<p>Elections clearly have winners, losers, and consequences.\u00a0 The international community, especially our neighbors to the south have been calling on the United States to alter its approach to the War On Drugs.\u00a0 The Obama administration seemed unmoved by the international pressure.\u00a0 President Obama even sidestepped online forum questions on marijuana several times.\u00a0 Through all of this many kept their fingers crossed that President Obama would take on a softer tone as he likely will never be running for public office again.\u00a0 The second term is here and marijuana activists were thrown a bone recently.<\/p>\n<p>Even as the media coverage is narrowly focused on the so called \u201cfiscal cliff\u201d, the president must have taken notice of what happened in the two now legal marijuana states as he felt compelled to comment on the issue last week.\u00a0 He recently told Barbara Walters that &#8220;We&#8217;ve got bigger fish to fry,&#8221; Mr Obama said in a nationally televised interview. &#8220;It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it&#8217;s legal.&#8221;\u00a0 He also went on to say that the Justice Department is researching how they can reconcile the differences between federal and state law.\u00a0 The president does not even have to draft his own legislation as The Respect States\u2019 and Citizens\u2019 Rights Act of 2012 has already been introduced to congress.\u00a0 The bill, which is sponsored by <a href=\"http:\/\/degette.house.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\">Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette<\/a>, would amend the US Controlled Substances Act and prevent federal law from taking precedence over state law.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen what exactly President Obama will do in regards to marijuana reform.\u00a0 Unlike previous politicians, President Obama has previously professed his love for marijuana in print.\u00a0 In his 1995 memoir \u201cDreams from My Father,\u201d the president stated that he smoked marijuana like Dr. Suess wrote about Green Eggs and Ham.\u00a0 Here, there everywhere.\u00a0 Other reports suggest he was part of a pot smoking group named \u201cThe Chrom Gang\u201d. \u00a0\u00a0This is not to say that he must be forever tied to his actions as a teen and college student.\u00a0 However, for a president that had a personal love for marijuana, and now has first hand experience in the failings of the drug war, it <strong><em>should <\/em><\/strong>be expected that he try his very best to fix this mess.\u00a0 While the future is unclear, it is encouraging that marijuana would even get any airtime as fiscal cliff coverage, the aftermath of the Newtown shooting, and a re-energized conversation on gun control is dominating the airwaves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[52,166,1062,100,101,56,9,185,51,70,281,328,1,3,1063,173,61,162],"tags":[2632,2744,3632,2678,2679,2636,2763,2631,5,2859,2906,3633,2751,6,2740],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}