"Everybody must get stoned," said Senator Barack Obama in the not so distant past. Well, not quite. Barack is no Jeff Spiccoli or Dante from Grandma's Boy. But he has come out in favor of decriminilazation of marijuana. No one actually comes out and says "legalize it." In the current political climate, of course, any sane person couches their argument in the habliments of decriminalization. Anyone in favor may actually argue for government control if push came to shove (e.g., having the government sell and collect taxes on marijuana). It's not likely a candidate would support legalization--at least not because people have the inalienable right to get twisted.As a U.S. Senate candidate four years ago, Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use or possession. This is according to a videotape of a little noticed debate that was recently obtained by The Washington Times.
"We need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws," Mr. Obama told an audience during a debate at Northwestern University in 2004. "But I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana." (Jump here to see a video of that debate).
However. . .Last fall in a televised debate, Sen. Obama hesitantly raised his hand and joined with most of his Democratic rivals to declare that he opposed decriminalizing marijuana. (Jump here to watch the video). Has he changed his position or "flip-flopped?" Or was he baked at that very moment?
Asked about the different answers, Obama's campaign said he has "always" supported decriminalizing marijuana as he answered in 2004. And that upraised hand was a mistake. . .a momentary lapse on the campaign trail.
This leaves Senator Obama as the lone presidential candidate among the four real survivors who supports eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana. Mr. Obama's final Dem rival Hillary Clinton, opposes decriminalization, according to a Clinton campaign spokesman.
From Grandma's Boy:
Mr. Cheezle: "You know, I had a dream last night. I was a snake slithering through the grass until I came upon a dead elk. And I climbed... into his soul. And it's there I stayed until morning. Which meant that I will... underestimate someone very close to me."
Dante: "Wow! Where do you get your weed?"
Mr. Cheezle: "From you, Dante."
Dante: "Oh, yeah! What's up, Mr. Cheezle?"
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