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Speaking at an online Town Hall meeting yesterday, President Barack Obama pledged "to open up the White House to the American people."

Well, to some of the American people that is.

As for those tens of millions of you who believe that cannabis should be legally regulated like alcohol -- and the tens of thousands of you who voted to make this subject the most popular question in yesterday's online Presidential Town Hall -- well, your voice doesn't really matter.

Asked this morning whether he "would ... support the bill currently going through the California legislation to legalize and tax marijuana, boosting the economy and reducing drug cartel related violence," the President responded with derision.

"There was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high and that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation, and I don't know what this says about the online audience," he laughed.

"The answer is no, I don't think that [is] a good strategy." (You can watch a video clip of President Obama's response here.)

Obama's cynical rebuff was short-sighted and disrespectful to a large percentage of his supporters. After all, was it not this very same "online audience" that donated heavily to Obama's Presidential campaign and ultimately carried him to the White House?

The American public is ready and willing to engage in a serious and objective political debate regarding the merits of legalizing the use of cannabis by adults. The time for joking is over.

It is obvious that many of you feel similarly. Yesterday, NORML's website received more blog comments than in any other single day in our history!

Please take a moment to tell the President that marijuana law reform is no laughing matter, and that the millions of Americans who support this issue deserve to be treated respectfully. For your convenience, a pre-written letter will be e-mailed to President Obama when you enter you go here:

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13012496

You can also call the President during east coast business hours at:

Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 If you call, please be respectful and polite. Please leave your name and where you are from. Tell the President:

"I'm one of the tens of millions of Americans who believe that cannabis should be legally regulated like alcohol.

The American public is ready and willing to engage in a serious and objective political debate regarding the merits of legalizing the use of cannabis by adults. The time for joking is over.

Please consider apologizing for your dismissive tone, and please consider treating those of us who believe that there are viable alternatives to marijuana prohibition with the respect we deserve."

Help us send the White House a message it can't ignore.

Thank you for assisting NORML's federal law reform efforts.

Sincerely,
The NORML Team

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13012496    


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SUBJECT: Marijuana Law Reform Is No laughing Matter!  

You pledged "to open up the White House to the American people." I'm one of the tens of millions of Americans who believe that cannabis should be legally regulated like alcohol. I'm also one of the tens of thousands of Americans who voted to make this subject the most popular question in your online Presidential Town Hall. I'm disappointed to learn that you believe that my voice doesn't really matter.  

I understand that you may oppose this position, but that is no reason to deride this issue.  

Mr. President, please tell me: "What is it that you think is so funny about the subject of marijuana law reform?"  

Since 1965, police have arrested over 20 million Americans for violating marijuana laws, yet nearly 90 percent of teenagers say that pot is "very easy" or "fairly easy" to obtain. Do you find this funny?  

According to your administration, there is an unprecedented level of violence occurring at the Mexico/US border -- much of which is allegedly caused by the trafficking of marijuana to the United States by drug cartels. America's stringent enforcement of pot prohibition, which artificially inflates black market pot prices and ensures that only criminal enterprises will be involved in the production and sale of this commodity, is helping to fuel this violence. Do you still believe that this subject is humorous?  

Finally, two recent polls indicate that a strong majority of regional voters support ending marijuana prohibition and treating the drug's sale, use, and distribution like alcohol. A February 2009 Zogby telephone poll reported that nearly six out of ten of voters on the west coast think that cannabis should be "taxed and legally regulated like alcohol and cigarettes." A just-released California Field Poll reports similar results, finding that 58 percent of statewide votes believe that regulations for cannabis should be the same or less strict than those for alcohol.  

Why do you choose to laugh at these people? Why do you choose to laugh at me?  

The American public is ready and willing to engage in a serious and objective political debate regarding the merits of legalizing the use of cannabis by adults. The time for joking is over.  

Please consider apologizing for your dismissive tone, and please consider treating those of us who believe that there are viable alternatives to marijuana prohibition with the respect we deserve.

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From: "NORML"
Date: 27 марта 2009 г. 10:30