Obama: "I am not in favor of (drug) legalization" During YouTube Q&A

President Obama answered the most asked question by YouTubers during his Q&A session from January 27, 2011. The question, dealing with the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana, was asked by Mackenzie Allen--a former law enforcement official and current member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).

The President said he was against legalization, but gave a much more open-minded answer than his dismissive retort to a similar question on marijuana during an online town hall last year. He said the issue is worthy of debate and signaled that he's in favor of changing the attitude of approaching non-violent drug addiction from one of criminalization to one of treatment.

However, Obama seemed unwilling to consider that the cartels are being strengthened by prohibition--insisting that "we must continue to go after the cartels."

What do you think of the President's answer?


Here's the full transcript for this question:

Mackenzie Allen: "Good evening Mr. President. My name is Mackenzie Allen. I'm a retired law enforcement officer and member of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition). The so-called 'War on Drugs' has been waged for 40 years at a cost of a trillion dollars and thousands of lives with nothing to show for it, but increased supplies, cheaper drugs and a dramatic increase in violence associated with the underworld drug market. Sir, do you think there will or should come a time for us to discuss the possibility of legalization, regulation and control of all drugs--thereby doing away with the violent criminal market, as well as a major source of funding for international terrorism? Thank you so much for your time, Mr. President."

President Barack Obama: "Well, I think this is a entirely legitimate topic for debate. I am not in favor of legalization. I am a strong believer that we have to think more about drugs as a public health problem. When you think about other damaging activities in our society - smoking, drunk driving, making sure you're wearing seatbelts - typically we've made huge strides over the last 20, 30 years by changing people's attitudes. And on drugs I think that a lot of times we have been so focused on arrest, incarceration, interdiction that we don't spend as much time thinking about 'how do we shrink demand?' And this is something that within the White House we are looking at very carefully. As I said--"

Moderator: "Any ideas?"

The President: "Well, some of this requires shifting resources, being strategic--where does it make sense for us to really focus on interdiction? We have to go after drug cartels that not only are selling drugs, but are also creating havoc, for example, along the US-Mexican border. But, are there ways that we can also shrink demand. In some cities, for example, it may take six months for you to get into a drug treatment program. If you're trying to kick a habit and somebody says to you, 'come back in six months,' that's pretty discouraging. So we've gotta do more in figuring out how can we get some resources on that end of it. And make sure that--and also look at what we're doing when we have nonviolent first-time drug offenders. Are there ways that we can make sure that we're steering them into the straight and narrow without automatically resorting to incarceration--drug courts, mechanisms like that. These are all issues that are worth a serious debate."

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[48snowbird]

the politicians just want to fill their fat ass pockets and JAILS- how pathetic they take out the most ancient of textiles, fuel, and natural medicine given to mankind - Science has proven marijuana compounds cure cancer and one arce of HEMP produces over 500 gallons of FUEL in a season! They all suck! Peace! fuckers!

[48snowbird]

@RBAWilcox show people the truth and they still deny - check out "wikileaks - cancer gate" many scientific tests including the us governments 1975 tests which have resurfaced and various lab researches done at many sites here and abroad have proven this to be true- this knowledge is availiable to anyone now while there's still freedom to access it and guess what- mankind has not forsaken the herb and life giving tree - God's creations -you monsters who deny this life giving herb suck!

[gilligan80]

I like the way he tip toes around the answer.... its not something hes in favor of but its something worth looking into!!!!!!

[gilligan80]

You should see what obamas answer looks like through Vocal Stress Analysis..... wow... you can even tell from all his stuttering during most of his speeches he is lying almost 80% of the time he is talking.... its interesting....

[spacepatrolman]

@Tokerkels people wouldnt necesarily be in worse health without illegal addictive drugs and their withdrawl side effects and associated infections the musician al cohn lost an eye from an infected needle so when obama says it is a public health problem he is looking at the reality of the situation getting addicts in treatment programs

[DeathSideAngel]

its nice how he doesn't answer the question...

[geekymarianne]

@hupomone07, actually it's worse than that - he only mentions drunk *driving*.

[Tokerkels]

Obama just kinda blew this question off... He thinks as drugs as a public health problem, yet without drugs people would be in worse health..... He also thinks he can change our attitudes on drugs, and shrink demand.... HAHA like people are gonna stop using drugs. Drugs are a part of the planet, and a part of us, why do we act like children who need fathering when it comes to drugs? Obama what are you really afraid of?

[hupomone07]

Not to mention he mentions alcohol and smoking as an issue, yet it's legal and being taxed regularly for as long as anyone is currently alive. Instead of side-stepping the issue why don't you, Obama, actually be a leader once in your term and quit being a masquerade. Ridiculous.

[hupomone07]

So basically when asked why not legalize marijuana so we don't need to worry about cartels, and the very reason why all this illegal activity goes on (due to the fact it's not legal, it creates a market for illegal activity) his response is that we're concerned about cartels and everything else that goes on as a complete and direct result of it being illegal. Here's a beter topic: How about the NDAA, Mr. President?

[FaceyMacCool]

obama... seriously? not one part of that question was answered. you lost my vote sir, and im ashamed i supported you. you refuse the evidence provided and say its simply a bad habit that must be kicked by decreasing demand. why not acknowledge that marijuana is actually harmless and if the government took the effort to support it then it would decrease the demand from the cartels.

think before you speak mr. president, don't avoid scary questions.

[wdeuel]

@TelecasterLPGTop You've hit the nail on the head!!! For the ignorant ones who don't see the truth in this, you fail to notice the recent crash of a CIA plane in Mexico that was carrying 4 tons of cocaine into the U.S. Of course the mass media owned by the insane Zionist elites that run the country will not show this news coverage but its true. The drugs operated by the CIA fund the black ops projects to avoid congressional oversight...its a no brainer! But then again, its USA!