Thursday, during President Obama's online Town Hall, cannabis activists once again sent him an email tsunami regarding cannabis legalization and its potential positive impact on the economy. His response to a cannabis question with a joke and a dismissal of the plant as an option for aiding the nation's economic woes was both a missed opportunity and a sign of how deeply ingrained the "War on Drugs" really is - at least in Washington.
More on the flip.
It may very well be the ghost of Ronald Reagen, but go inside the DC beltway and more often than not politicians are pulled into the vortex of the failed "War on Drugs" policy. Obama doesn't appear to be immune.
Despite cannabis legalization being the top question to almost all of the question categories during Obama's online Town Hall Thursday, White House aides refused to present this subject matter to the President for discussion. He did voluntarily chime in though:
online voters wanted to know "whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation," and joked that "I don't know what this says about the online audience."
But the president--whose administration has indicated that it would effectively end raids on distributors of medical marijuana in California--said he would not support changing federal drug law that makes even possession of pot a crime. "No, I don't think this is a good strategy to grow our economy," Obama said, to applause from the audience.
Unfortunately, he didn't elaborate as he has in the past.
Going back to 2004, Obama has consistently asserted a decriminalization, not legalization position. And, regarding drug use in general, last July:
In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, then-candidate Obama mentions a pattern change when it comes to combating drug use. He determines that moving the issue into the public health arena - much like smoking tobacco or using a seat belt - rather than letting the legal system deal with it is bound to have the best results.
As Obama failed to expound upon the cannabis issue Thursday, he did the same in December:
With his groundbreaking use of the Internet to connect with voters, the Obama campaign took a question posted on their website. It dealt with the legalization of marijuana for the sake of taxing and properly regulating it. The unequivocal response was that then president-elect Barack Obama was against legalizing marijuana.
With all due respect Mr. President, you're dropping the ball. Could it be the water in the White House?
While now is the time to use your bully pulpit to shift US policy away from the failed "War on Drugs" as you clearly agree needs to be done, since being elected, and, when given the opportunity to articulate your vision of treating drug use as a public health and not a criminal issue as well as decriminalization, you have failed to step up.
Sure, AG Eric Holder has articulated your position on medical cannabis, but as Wednesday's DEA raid in San Francisco indicates, further direction is needed - and from you.
Mr. President, next time the issue is presented, kindly step out of any fear you may have to honestly present to the nation your vision. We're ready and eager to bury the "War on Drugs" once and for all.