Why President Obama Should Consider Decriminalizing Pot

By: Tonyaa Weathersbee

Maybe he thought it was a trick question.
After all, when Barack Obama was running for president, his candor about smoking pot and snorting cocaine as a teenager induced all sorts of salivation in his opponents.

They thought that Obama had unwittingly handed them a stereotype that would work to their advantage; that the idea of a black man who might be a closet Muslim who might be a closet druggie occupying the White House would be too frightening for most voters.

They thought wrong.

So when online questioners recently peppered President Obama about the prospect of legalizing marijuana as a means of bolstering the economy, it didn’t shock me that he tried to laugh it off.
“I don’t know what this says about the online audience,” Obama said, as people who were gathered in the White House East Room for the online event laughed.

Then Obama got serious. He said no. He said that legalizing marijuana was not a good strategy for growing the economy.

He might want to rethink that.

Sure, legalizing marijuana won’t save General Motors. But legalizing (or at least decriminalizing) pot would be a first step toward salvaging black communities that have been ravaged by this failed experiment that is the War on Drugs.

True, marijuana hasn’t been as devastating to our communities as the crack cocaine that is sold on corners – and is oftentimes the drug behind the violence and savagery that has turned our comfort zones into war zones.

But the one overwhelming characteristic the drugs do share is one of economics.

Why President Obama Should Consider Decriminalizing Pot....

MICHAEL VICK TESTS POSITIVE FOR WEED

Things are getting worse by the day for Michael Vick. Some 24 hours after the state of Virginia charged him in the dogfighting case, a drug test has detected marijuana in his system.





Because of the dirty test result, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson placed special conditions on Vick's release, including restricting him to his home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. with electronic monitoring and ordering him to submit to random drug testing.



Hudson's order also requires Vick to participate in inpatient or outpatient substance therapy and mental health counseling, if the pretrial services officer or supervising officer deem it appropriate. Vick must pay for the treatment.

The urine sample was taken on Sept. 13, according to a document by a federal probation officer that was filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. Because he violated the conditions of his release, Hudson may take that into a count at sentencing.


"Every judge considers pretty seriously if they feel that the defendant has flaunted the conditions for release," criminal procedure expert Linda Malone explained to the Associated Press. "It's certainly not a smart thing to do."

Vick was on release after pleading guilty to financing a dogfighting enterprise on his Surry County, Va. property. He faces up to five years in prison at his scheduled sentencing Dec. 10.

The 27-year-old was placed under pretrial release supervision by U.S. Magistrate Dennis Dohnal in July. The restrictions included refraining from use or unlawful possession of narcotic drugs or other controlled substances.

The random drug testing ordered Wednesday could include urine testing, the wearing of a sweat patch, a remote alcohol testing system or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing.

On Tuesday, Vick also was indicted on state charges of beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.