January 27, 2011 2:01 PM

Marijuana Dominates Questions for Obama's YouTube Q&A

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
White House ,
Domestic Issues ,
Obama Administration

President Obama answers questions during his 2009 online town hall.

(Credit: AP)

President Obama today is conducting his now-annual YouTube question-and-answer session, and as always, the questions dominating YouTube today have to do with marijuana.

More than 193,000 people have submitted questions for the president via the video website or cast votes, rating the questions positively or negatively.

The Huffington Post reports that of the first 200 highest-rated questions, 198 have to do with drug policy. The top-rated question comes from a retired police officer with the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.

"The so-called war on drugs has been waged for 40 years at a cost of a trillion dollars and thousands of lives, with nothing to show for it but increased supplies of cheaper drugs and a dramatic increase in violence associated with the underworld drug market," the officer says in his video. "Do you think there will or should come a time to discuss the possibility of legalization, regulation and control of all drugs, thereby doing away with the violent criminal market as well as a major source of funding for international terrorism?"

When marijuana questions dominated his online "town hall" in 2009, Mr. Obama did take the time to answer one of the questions, stating that he opposes marijuana legalization, though he took a dismissive tone. "I don't know what this says about the online audience," he joked, referring to the popularity of the question. In 2010, he ignored the issue.

The Drug Policy Alliance, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, the Marijuana Policy Project, NORML and Students for Sensible Drug Policy issued a joint statement statement today about the Q&A session.

"We are encouraged by the grassroots response bubbling up around this issue and urge President Obama to address this issue seriously and thoroughly," the statement said. "The American people want to know why our country is continuing the failed, catastrophic policy of drug prohibition."

The president is scheduled to answer the questions at 2:30 ET. You can watch live here.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Marijuana Nation


Add a Comment See all 15 Comments
by BubbaLubba12 January 31, 2012 9:54 AM EST
oh...this is from 2011!!! lol dejavu. i guess it would seem redundant if you did a story on it again this year.
Reply to this comment
by BubbaLubba12 January 31, 2012 9:34 AM EST
lol...next story.."drug cartel member confesses to 75 murders" lets keep those numbers rising Obama!!
Reply to this comment
by tauleonardo February 5, 2011 8:37 AM EST
The US Government should overcome its own "denial" with respect to Medicinal Cannabis, which can serve as a safe alternativ­e to many pharmaceut­ical chemicals on the market. I believe it is very positive that the President acknowledg­­es the "validity" of this debate. Whenever the validity of the debate is recognized­­, such a "recogniti­­on" invariably implies that our side has a "valid argument"; this being so, it follows that our side (in favor of Cannabis/M­edicinal Cannabis Legalizati­on) has a very real possibilit­­y of winning this "perfectly legitimate debate", for otherwise it would not be a "debate". For example, to even suggest that Cannabis Plant has no medicinal properties is not even a "rational" thing to do; as a "recreatio­­nal" substance, Cannabis is incomparab­­ly safer than alcohol! Few people even know that one out of five people in Britain are expected to live to 100 years old, while Cannabis consumption in Britain is the highest in Europe. Look at Canada where the Cannabis "laws" are much more "liberal" than in the United States, yet the criminality, and especially violent crime, are much lower than in this country. And if all this were not enough, it is scientific­­ally proven that Cannabis use (as opposed to alcohol use) suppresses violent urges and behaviors. All this is true even if the President is "personall­­y opposed" to legalizati­­on (at least for now). But we cannot sit on our butts and passively expect positive developmen­­ts to occur. We must participat­­e actively, write comments at the news articles, write to politician­­s, sign petitions, register to vote, etc. Let's ask our politicians why, in this time of rising deficits, they would rather talk about taxing mother's milk than about slashing the so-called "marijuana enforcement" budget! I specifical­­ly urge all the young people to talk to their parents and grandparen­­ts and educate them about Cannabis vs. alcohol and hard drugs. As the logical evidence in our favor inexorably accumulate­­s, the "qualitati­­ve shift" will occur in our common consciousn­­ess, and we will win this "perfectly legitimate­­" debate!
Reply to this comment
by tallturtle January 28, 2011 8:53 AM EST
Do you want people driving down the road high on drugs endangering your life and your childrens life which are the future of this country and the future and all the birth defects and brain damage caused to fetuses ? The birth defects and treating the invalid babies and caring for them would destroy the medicare and medicaid programs and those of you who dont will not care until some person high on a substance crashes into you and kills you family.I really think that the government doesnt care if you get stoned or not. They are more concerned about the fall out of legalization of certain drugs. If the punishment for driving and killing someone in a wreck was death or life in prison . This exist now for certain crimes but they still are committed and the courts are holding the people responsible . absolute law and punishment should be thre rule of the times. You kill you work at hard labor for life and when you become to broken to work then we put you down with a bullet.
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by forgottencitizens January 28, 2011 12:29 PM EST
Oh, you mean like with ALCOHOL?
by gca2 January 30, 2012 9:09 PM EST
I think that driving and drinking is a much more deadly combination. I am not sure where your comments on birth defects come from-- that was debunked years ago. However, I am tired of the government telling people how to live their life-- when it harms no one.
by teufeldritch January 27, 2011 8:21 PM EST
Blah, blah, blah... same old tired response. I thought you were supposed to be for change Mr President.
Reply to this comment
by mordyo January 28, 2011 2:22 AM EST
Silly teufeldritch..change is for honest,relfective, meaningful ppl. Not morons who cant tell the diff. bet a commodity $ and a the FIAT crap we have now and orders more and more and more and more printing....then gets upset at China how they are screwing us....when in reality we ROYALLY F'd them over pretty good by saying here take these dollars ...theyre backed by gold... WOOOPS now they re NOT!!!! Sucks for you!

Or perhaps change is for the peaceful folk, not the war mongers!

But really teufeldritch youre wrong this putz is for change..

He changed my healthcare plan for bad to TERRIBLE (actually nonexistent since no one will buy ins. until they get sick)

He changed the debt my kids will have to pay from $100000000000000000000 to $10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

he changed the value of the dollar from near nothing to ZILCH

heck any more change and my brain is going to explode
by hopetrumps January 27, 2011 5:59 PM EST
Of course, dangerous drugs, along with alcohol (an extremely dangerous drug itself) should all be legalized and taken out of the hands of criminals (of course Tea Partiers and Republicans trust criminals more than government)----which begs the questions--if they're so anti-government why do they run for office? But aren't many young people interested in other, at least equally important, issues that affect all of our lives, besides the right to obtain drugs legally?
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by dumpthetea January 27, 2011 4:28 PM EST
Thats why I voted Independent in the primaries because he wont legalize it federally, even though alcohol is more harmful in every way. Come on democrates use that weed ticket to gain popularity it will work.
Reply to this comment
by IamYawl January 27, 2011 3:29 PM EST
The issue of "Medical weed" and legalization will NOT just go away. Most Americans are compassionate enough to understand that it is needed BADLY by MANY people, myself included. I suffer daily from horrifying debilitating pain that can be eased somewhat by simply partaking of this wonderous plant. To keep it illegal and thereby make the sick and infirm break laws to be in less pain is inhumane.
Reply to this comment
by pjdoke February 3, 2012 12:18 AM EST
Inhumane is right! Witholding a desperately needed medication from a seriously, chronically, and/or terminally ill patient SHOULD be considered a violation not only of our Civil Rights, but our HUMAN RIGHTS as well! Witholding cannabis from patients who NEED it should ITSELF be considered a crime against humanity, and those who block such access (or, arrest, convict, and incarcerate) for such desperately ill people for growing or possessing cannabis should be "caged" for LIFE w/o parole!
by bramletabercrombie January 27, 2011 2:59 PM EST
Legalize it or we will vote for somebody who will.
Reply to this comment
by Cattzen January 27, 2011 4:15 PM EST
Interesting what the future my hold....man.
by infantryman1968 January 27, 2011 2:46 PM EST
Marijuana Dominates Questions for Obama's YouTube Q&A


LOL!

No Suprise Here
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