Like The War On Some Drugs? Thank Demsâ?? VP Pick Senator Joe Biden!

OMG! were screwed we need new presidential canidates they all suck
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NORML Blog » Blog Archive » Like The War On Some Drugs? Thank Dems’ VP Pick Senator Joe Biden!

By Dominic Holden, Member, NORML Board of Directors
Obama selecting Biden is a punch to the gut. Like that sickening feeling you got as a high school freshman, walking up the steps to the big partyâ??and youâ??re telling yourself, if I fuck this up, my dreams are shot. But if things go well, this could be an excellent four years.

I am anything but a single-issue voter, but Iâ??m also a die-hard zealot against the drug war. Everything that could have gone wrong has been an unbridled catastrophe: Drug epidemics and cartel routes breeze across the continent, privacy laws are gutted for sport, kids try drugs younger and younger, our prisons are stuffed with young black menâ?¦

And itâ??s Joe Bidenâ??s fault.As former chairman for the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden is the person most responsible for passing a package of laws in the mid-80s that we think of as todayâ??s drug war. Biden presided over the mandatory-minimum sentencing guidelines that required judges to sentence dealersâ?? girlfriends and small-time peddlers to decades-long terms in state and federal prisons, where thousands are rotting to this day.

He used hearings â??to mislead his colleagues and the publicâ?¦ on drug policy where police, prosecutors and DEA officials got the opportunity [to speak] while opponents were kept out,â?� says Kevin Zeese, a former director of Common Sense for Drug Policy and a leading drug-law reformer in Washington, D.C. since the 1980s. â??Pick a drug law you donâ??t like from the last 25 years and thank Senator Biden.â?�

But, since this is Obamaâ??s campaign, Iâ??m trying to hopeâ??hope that Biden can change.

Read the rest of this blog originally posted to the Seattle Strangerâ??s Slog.

View Comments

Andrew Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I hate to feel like Iâ??m grasping at straws, but is it possible that Bidenâ??s stance as a â??drug-warriorâ?� will be downplayed during his vice-presidency what with Obama advocating major alterations to the current judiciary system in regards to drugs, or at least marijuana?

Mathew Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Man were screwed! McCain is no better on drug policy than the next Goverment Hippocrit. They say Marijuana is bad and then go pay for a Hand Job from some Hooker. What are our options? What do we do with a Goverment that is so ignorant? NORML you need to get your name out in the public so more people join your organization and make you stronger!!! PA citizens do not know you exist!

leaving florida soon Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
My God! Anakin Skywalker, I mean Barack Obama backed the wrong politician.Who could have predicted that?

Lolli Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
D: They are all ass holesâ?¦ We need better candidates. Though I have heard that Obama is pro-decriminalization of marijuana.

Dave Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
The way I see it is Obama could have been caught and would have been one of many of us that have been screwed by the system for a pinch of the herb. They are NO better than we are, they just was not caught is all.
Maybe if Joe has a kid he will end up behind the bars from Daddys great work.

Mick Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
But also this could help obama secure the white house as he picks up foreign policy. Also obama has said serval times that he dose not support the war on drugs and it has failed trmedisly. So picking biden may not be as bad as we think.

Just word from a fellow American and Stoner.

Bob Says:
September 7th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I mean on the off chance H.R. 5843 makes it to the POTUS desk, who is more likely to sign? Obama or McCain?

And yet a NORML director actively works to drive votes from the ticket based on the second seat.

Its like you guys donâ??t even WANT to win.

Phil E. Drifter Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 12:46 am
I donâ??t know how you can blame one person, author, but I stopped reading this article as soon as you tried to pin all the blame on Biden.

FF Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Bob Barr is a better choice. Heâ??s against the drug war, but sadly, heâ??ll never be a blip on the radar.

The inept 2 party system is one major problem. In addition to all the people who earn a living â??fightingâ?� the war. All of those DEA agents arenâ??t going away, nor will they transfer to Border Patrol.

I agree that NORML needs to be as active and vocal as possible in their efforts to inform the public, which is why I have donated money in the past, and will again in the future. Donâ??t simply expect them to do the job alone. They need our help.

Jim Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 3:49 am
Itâ??s true that Joe Biden has been harsh on decriminalization for marijuana in the past, but John McCain and Sarah Palin will never ever, ever even consider policy dealing with decriminalization. Theyâ??d rather busy themselves with more important things like telling the American people how they should live their lives, and dictating that point through vetos and policy that only helps their own adjendas.

Yes Biden has been tough on marijuana in the past, but at least he has some knowledge on the subject, and he is probably more willing to hear opposition to his own previous opinions than the other candidates. There is no way that McCain will ever listen to anyone elseâ??s opinion if he believes he is correct. That is the real problem with the Republicans, once their mind is made up there is nothing talk can do to change that, and any opposition is mocked as calloused stupidity. The result is change we are all sick of.

If you are voting republican this November and want marijuana reform, youâ??d have an easier time finding a car that can go to the moon.

Laura Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 7:48 am
At least Obama promised to end Federal raids on medical marijuana patients.

McCain has pledged to arrest the sick and dying. Palin is pro-oil and those people donâ??t want marijuana legal. It will cut into their record earnings.

andy Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Biden is just part of the â??centristâ?� move by Obama. He wasnâ??t going to help the war on â??some drugsâ?� one bit anyway so donâ??t hold yourâ?¦ cough, cough. Sure, he said it should de-crimed but that was years ago. Now he has to appeal to more than just a college crowd.
Obama is now just the lesser of two evilsâ?¦ sad.

MrBudWyzer Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Remember!!! All politicians will say anything to get elected to the office that they aspire to gainâ?¦and Obama is no different!!!â?¦Please do not let a little smoke cloud your judgement come this Novemberâ?¦

Ray Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Biden was anti-drug in the 70s when the war started and it was the popular thing to do. I think Biden is someone that would change his mind given the facts. I donâ??t think McPalin would EVER change their stance. They think they are right no matter what the facts are.

Not a Fan of Obama/Biden Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 9:29 am
YouTube - Barack Obama Doesn't Support Marijuana ( Cannabis ) Decrim / Legalization : Message to MPP
Obama doesnâ??t support decrim video.

Austin Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am
If we actually want to make a change with cannabis we must do it through the colleges in this country. Every single college must have an incredibly active club. i.e. (Students for a Sensible Drug Policy) So that smoking isnâ??t just the only thing that brings us together, but we have a group and we are focused on certain issues at the same time all year. Then if we want that to carry over into mainstream and actually take the chance of it penetrating into the 5 inch thick skulls of the older generations, it can only be done first through medicine. We CANNOT let the american people and mine and your deceased family members be lied to anymore. We mush flush our senators and news stations of people wanting marijuana to be used as a medical prevention for alzheimerâ??s and as a direct treatment for almost ALL cancers. As weâ??ve known since 1974. I can garantee if Biden got cancer and the synthetic cures didnâ??t work he would use what everyone knows and that Rick Simpson discovered/made Mainstream. and that is hemp oil. We can change this in twenty years for sure if we can get my generation to bind together. And we can change this NOW if we get everyone in this country who has cancer to say they want this in their medicine. Meanwhile I WILL and I repeat WILL be making this medicine and giving it away for free just like Rick Simpson and I hope that everyone who grows would do it too. Once it starts to work it will spread like fire. All we need is to speak truth to power. And it all begins with us, the people. Letâ??s make this country a popular sovereignty again instead of this fat big mac eating lazy bureaucratic system we have and the generations before us asked for. Donâ??t just think of your life this election, think of your grandchildren. They are the ones who will feel the repercussions.

(VOTE RON PAUL. ON PRINCIPLE ALONE>

Tim Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I think Obama is secretly in favor of decriminalization but doesnâ??t think itâ??s politically safe to say so. Of course, when H.R. 5843 crosses his desk, he may falter and listen to Biden. I very much doubt this was an issue he had in mind when he selected Biden.

At any rate, marijuana will not be decriminalized at the federal level until itâ??s been decriminalized at the state level by a majority of states; probably a two-thirds majority. Only then will the president at that time feel it is safe so admit that marijuana isnâ??t the great bane of society. We need to get this issue on the ballots in every state. Theyâ??d be hard-pressed to find a way to overturn a voter-approved initiative.

Asemili Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Itâ??s true that Bidenâ??s been behind much of the drug war, but what stronger ally to have to help end the drug war, than the man himself who created it? So long as he is working FOR someone who is for ending it, he must, at the end of the day, support his superiorâ??s policies.

Demâ??s might at least consider eventually backing off a tad. Repâ??s would be more apt to try to fund some multi-billion dollar project to make the Marijuana plant permanently extict from the entire planet if they had their way.

Sam Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Let us not forget that during the campaign they have to downplay issues like this, even when they feel strongly about it, because if people were to see Obama saying things like THE DRUG WAR SHALL END! it might send the wrong message and lose him votes. Itâ??s all about votes my friends.. Even though itâ??s really not. Lol electoral College.

Mathew Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I would have to agree that Democrat is our only choice this year. Atlest there is a a little hope with Obama.

Yes Biden's credentials on drugs are kinda as bad as you expect from the other side... but well, we got Obama as headman not biden, and we have bills in house of reps which will come to light after the election. All i can do, is to hope for the best, otherwise i will be depressed! there is enough messed up news out there on daily basis

I certainly dont expect this path of decriminalization to be an easy one, but I would make an educational guess that with Obama as president and with a democratic majority this time around in congress we might, just might have some chance of making our voices heard regarding the issue. Biden will have to go with the flow if those bills find enough support, he is no Cheney to control things in weird ways;)

That's hysterical!

NO no it can't be he's a democrat! LOL
Don't worry, he isn't going to be in charge of anything anytime soon, niether will Obama.:D

Decriminilization ain't going to happen in the next 4 years. Obama won't have the guts to do it.