Obama Says Legalizing Drugs is Worthy of Debate

Responding to a question from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), President Barack Obama says that legalizing and regulating marijuana and other drugs is "an entirely legitimate topic for debate" but that he remains opposed to legalization. The question is from MacKenzie Allen, a former deputy sheriff who did policing in Los Angeles, CA and King County (Seattle), WA.

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[john doe]

no parent raises their child to smoke pot. it happens because people are curious and most people that try it end up realizing it's not Satan's tool to ruin the world. It's a plant that grows out of the ground. America's economy used to be built on hemp. The fact that you have no idea where to find pot is you're just incredibly unresourceful or is probably because you rant about how terrible it is to everyone so potheads don't show it. I guarantee someone you know smokes pot under your nose

[Marcos Ruiz]

He looks high.

[CogniVision]

It hits blacks and mexicans the hardest, they can throw them in jail without much argument. Find a little bag of weed and you have one happy police officer. Of course they dont want to legalize it. The government is full of racist pricks trying to either incarcerate or kill minorities. They'd rather spend money throwing them in jail than spend money educating them.

[wazup123ism]

40 years and over a trillion dollars later our government is starting to realize they fucked up in the 70's.

[cannibas sativa]

We should start calling it what it really is. A war on minorities.

[DUBSTEPzMYzFRIEND]

His question applied to ALL drugs including heroine and meth and you do go to rehab for those

[DUBSTEPzMYzFRIEND]

Hels a fucking piece of shit

[mstott22lax]

People don't go to rehab to quit smokin weed.

[Cannibis Sativa]

How do you make people decide they don't want what they want? Hasn't worked even after devastating the lives of a large portion of the population. The enemy is the US citizen. A war fought against itself. A constant civil war of sorts?

[Cakardic]

part 2: also, look at history.. what good has illegal drugs brought to us? almost none.. in fact, it has gotten even worse.. you should realize the old formula doesnt seem to be working.. maybe we should try something new

[Cakardic]

soooo basically.. what you are saying is: the guy who smoked pot should be locked up and his life completely ruined because he decided to smoke a plant that makes him a little high even tho he could be a really great guy and smart too who could contribute to the better of our lives? do you know how much children would be saved if drugs were legalized and taken of the ghetto streets, the government would cut almost all the drug traffic from criminals because than they can control it