White houses response to marijuana legalization petitions
39 replies, posted
[quote][B]What We Have to Say About Legalizing Marijuana[/B]
By: Gil Kerlikowske
When the President took office, he directed all of his policymakers to develop policies based on science and research, not ideology or politics. So our concern about marijuana is based on what the science tells us about the drug's effects.
According to scientists at the National Institutes of Health- the world's largest source of drug abuse research - marijuana use is associated with addiction, respiratory disease, and cognitive impairment. We know from an array of treatment admission information and Federal data that marijuana use is a significant source for voluntary drug treatment admissions and visits to emergency rooms. Studies also reveal that marijuana potency has almost tripled over the past 20 years, raising serious concerns about what this means for public health – especially among young people who use the drug because research shows their brains continue to develop well into their 20's. Simply put, it is not a benign drug.
Like many, we are interested in the potential marijuana may have in providing relief to individuals diagnosed with certain serious illnesses. That is why we ardently support ongoing research into determining what components of the marijuana plant can be used as medicine. To date, however, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition.
As a former police chief, I recognize we are not going to arrest our way out of the problem. We also recognize that legalizing marijuana would not provide the answer to any of the health, social, youth education, criminal justice, and community quality of life challenges associated with drug use.
That is why the President's National Drug Control Strategy is balanced and comprehensive, emphasizing prevention and treatment while at the same time supporting innovative law enforcement efforts that protect public safety and disrupt the supply of drugs entering our communities. Preventing drug use is the most cost-effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences in America. And, as we've seen in our work through community coalitions across the country, this approach works in making communities healthier and safer. We're also focused on expanding access to drug treatment for addicts. Treatment works. In fact, millions of Americans are in successful recovery for drug and alcoholism today. And through our work with innovative drug courts across the Nation, we are improving our criminal justice system to divert non-violent offenders into treatment.
Our commitment to a balanced approach to drug control is real. This last fiscal year alone, the Federal Government spent over $10 billion on drug education and treatment programs compared to just over $9 billion on drug related law enforcement in the U.S.
Thank you for making your voice heard. I encourage you to take a moment to read about the President's approach to drug control to learn more.
Resources:
National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Marijuana Facts (ONDCP)
Drug Abuse Warning Network (HHS)
Treatment Episode Data Set (HHS)
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS)
Monitoring the Future Survey, University of Michigan
Gil Kerlikowske is Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy[/quote]
[url]https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/response/what-we-have-say-about-legalizing-marijuana[/url]
While it would of been nice for this to work out I didn't really expect anything different
That is one of the most retarded things I have ever read.
Somebody on reddit made [url=https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/regulate-tobacco-and-alcohol-manner-similar-marijuana/0xLz2Wmr]this[/url] in response. :v:
The response says nothing in about alcohol and how marijuana should be regulated similarly. wtf
it's still a start, not too long back they weren't even interested in researching it
Yea but their research will be biased as fuck
[editline]29th October 2011[/editline]
That bit where they say potency has tripled over the last 20 years is just retarded.
And almost all of this could also be said about alcohol, theyre so fucking hypocritical.
to be honest, i didnt bother reading the response because i know i would rage while doing so.
nvm, i read it and this is the only promising thing i read.
"As a former police chief, I recognize we are not going to arrest our way out of the problem."
DD should invade this thread [url]http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1136309?p=33017650#post33017650[/url]
[QUOTE=Stormcharger;33017667]DD should invade this thread [url]http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1136309?p=33017650#post33017650[/url][/QUOTE]
sigh, its a chore educating government brainwashed kids about the truth about drugs.
But I just feel so compelled to argue in those threads for some reason :v:
Its even more annoying when you have actually been doing a university paper called drugs and society.
[QUOTE=Stormcharger;33017907]But I just feel so compelled to argue in those threads for some reason :v:
Its even more annoying when you have actually been doing a university paper called drugs and society.[/QUOTE]
im tired and sick from the flu vaccine, im just not in the mood to argue with people today.
[QUOTE=Stormcharger;33017314]That bit where they say potency has tripled over the last 20 years is just retarded.[/QUOTE]
If that's retarded, you're retarded. Not too long ago no one had information on how to grow readily available, nor would I bet any soil/lights/ventilation/nutrients would compare to what we have now. Street quality has gone up, I don't know why people deny this
I hate most of the talk about legalizing marijuana, too many people going around saying "pots good, no bad effects". I also hate when all the talk comes from kids, [B]do you think the fucking government will legalize a drug, when one of the only supporting groups is kids?[/B] They don't want you doing it, even if it was legal.
Leave it to the White House to answer American citizens with completely nonsensical fluff.
"We plan on doing all this shit but let's not specify how k"
And the "drug education" programs the gov't is spending oh-so much on are strongly prohibitionist, and this response was basically saying that there's only two people in this world, addicts and non-addicts. What the fuck.
Why don't they just acknowledge that their is most certainly a group of people who can use marijuana recreationally AND responsibly? They acknowledge "drinking responsibly" but if you toke weed for fun you're an abuser and an addict. Horseshit.
The response also looked half-assed on their part.
"Oh shit guys we have to respond to the weed petition."
"Shit."
"Hey, you, writer! Find a way to stretch "NO" across half a page and then make it look legitimate by adding a bunch of government sources at the bottom"
"K dun"
[QUOTE=AbysalRush;33019613]If that's retarded, you're retarded. Not too long ago no one had information on how to grow readily available, nor would I bet any soil/lights/ventilation/nutrients would compare to what we have now. Street quality has gone up, I don't know why people deny this
I hate most of the talk about legalizing marijuana, too many people going around saying "pots good, no bad effects". I also hate when all the talk comes from kids, [B]do you think the fucking government will legalize a drug, when one of the only supporting groups is kids?[/B] They don't want you doing it, even if it was legal.[/QUOTE]
Its retarded because you can't really make a valid study on how much the potency has gone up.
[QUOTE=Biotic;33016376]Somebody on reddit made [url=https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/regulate-tobacco-and-alcohol-manner-similar-marijuana/0xLz2Wmr]this[/url] in response. :v:[/QUOTE] FOR LOVE OF GOD SIGN IT. I'd like to see what they have to say about that
I would really expect the US government to reply with a more 'educated' answer than that bullshit. Fucking pathetic.
[QUOTE=AbysalRush;33019613]If that's retarded, you're retarded. Not too long ago no one had information on how to grow readily available, nor would I bet any soil/lights/ventilation/nutrients would compare to what we have now. Street quality has gone up, I don't know why people deny this
I hate most of the talk about legalizing marijuana, too many people going around saying "pots good, no bad effects". I also hate when all the talk comes from kids, [B]do you think the fucking government will legalize a drug, when one of the only supporting groups is kids?[/B] They don't want you doing it, even if it was legal.[/QUOTE]
i also hate it when people assume its nothing but a bunch of pot smoking kids wanting it to be passed instead of the reality that some people want it legalized because it is a viable option as medication for diseases and that it still violates constitutional rights. If the US government's job was to ban any substance that can be unhealthy, they wouldve banned pretty much everything from alcohol, cigarettes, and even as extreme as fast food. We all know weed isnt good for you but to categorize it as bad as heroin is downright retarded and you know that. I still believe its a constitutional right that i can put what i want in by body and the fact that they are putting all of that money in "educational purposes" is disturbing because you know damn well its nothing but biased information that isnt even correct and can end up hurting people if they do try drugs. Kids that think weed is as bad as heroin will smoke weed then figure since they are categorized on the same level it shouldnt be any different. Yes, people are this retarded.
[editline]29th October 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Justtin;33022746]I would really expect the US government to reply with a more 'educated' answer than that bullshit. Fucking pathetic.[/QUOTE]
what did you expect? "oh we did some research and it looks like we are wrong about the whole thing, sry bout that, we'll fix it right up"
ha, its nothing but bureaucratic bullshit to avoid the issue entirely. Look at the first sentence, they dont even state a position on it, a perfect political ploy to keep voters on both sides of the debate. It didnt say they were for it or against it, only "research". My fucking ass.
[editline]29th October 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=TomW411;33021985]FOR LOVE OF GOD SIGN IT. I'd like to see what they have to say about that[/QUOTE]
it would be interesting to see this double standard at work. This gun b gud.
holy shit this makes me so fucking angry
[editline]29th October 2011[/editline]
mainly because they're just plain fucking wrong
what the hell man
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/CvP4V.png[/IMG]
As I stated in that shithole of a thread in the news section:
What really bothers me about this response is that it goes to show how little control over our government we have. That's what pisses me off, I pay the taxes which then can be used to fund my own arrest in the even I'm caught with the devil drug called marijuana.
[QUOTE=Mac2468;33027246][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/CvP4V.png[/IMG][/QUOTE]
i doubt this even came near his office. Its probably some committee that reviews these things that gives nothing but inconclusive answers to [I]any[/I] controversial issue.
Oh well, i'm gonna get high either way. It would just be a lot more convenient knowing who and what im buying my weed from. Tired of meeting dealers in shiesty places and getting iffy quality bud. Not giving up the fight but fuck man this is bullshit. There is literally no reason weed is illegal and alchohol is, if their reason is that its harmful.
funny, alcohol is one of the worst long-term recreational drugs and cannabis is the one of the safest
[QUOTE=Cpn Crunch21;33027479]i doubt this even came near his office. Its probably some committee that reviews these things that gives nothing but inconclusive answers to [I]any[/I] controversial issue.[/QUOTE]
it's just making a point.
it's not literally saying that obama just ignores the petitions and shit.
after reading through some of the other responses, I feel that the website doesn't provide "answers," but just what the white house thinks about the idea. Which is nothing different than what the status quo has always been.
When the President took office, he directed all of his policymakers to develop policies based on science and research, not ideology or politics. So our concern about marijuana is based on what the science tells us about the drug's effects.
Yep and that's why tobacco and alcohol are still legal.
[QUOTE=Stormcharger;33017314]Yea but their research will be biased as fuck
[editline]29th October 2011[/editline]
That bit where they say potency has tripled over the last 20 years is just retarded.
And almost all of this could also be said about alcohol, theyre so fucking hypocritical.[/QUOTE]
just to let you know it HAS increased, so don't say it's retarded because that is actually a fact.
just to let you know they don't give a shit about -you-, they give a shit about -us-. meaning our money. don't ever be fooled the government is never here to help us, it's to farm our money.
The government is made by the people for the people. Much like the police are around to serve and protect. Notice that both of these groups that have "power" are also owned by us. Never forget you influence the government, and when it gets too corrupt, the people need to take a stand. Together we are one, apart we are nothing.
Then why have we put up with the war on drugs for this long?
[editline]31st October 2011[/editline]
NORML's response: [url]http://blog.norml.org/2011/10/29/white-house-response-to-normls-we-the-people-marijuana-legalization-petition/[/url]
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