The Obama administration's loosening up prosecutions for so-called "medical marijuana" is somehow not being defined by reporters as "socially liberal" (pushed by people Bill O'Reilly calls "secular progressives.") Dan Cook reports on what is currently the Most Popular story on Reuters:
PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - The United States' first marijuana cafe opened on Friday, posing an early test of the Obama administration's move to relax policing of medical use of the drug.
The Cannabis Cafe in Portland, Oregon, is the first to give certified medical marijuana users a place to get hold of the drug and smoke it -- as long as they are out of public view -- despite a federal ban.
"This club represents personal freedom, finally, for our members," said Madeline Martinez, Oregon's executive director of NORML, a group pushing for marijuana legalization.
"Our plans go beyond serving food and marijuana," said Martinez. "We hope to have classes, seminars, even a Cannabis Community College, based here to help people learn about growing and other uses for cannabis."
The cafe -- in a two-story building which formerly housed a speak-easy and adult erotic club Rumpspankers -- is technically a private club, but is open to any Oregon residents who are NORML members and hold an official medical marijuana card.
Members pay $25 per month to use the 100-person capacity cafe. They don't buy marijuana, but get it free over the counter from "budtenders". Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., it serves food but has no liquor license.
Perhaps the new nickname for the president should be Barack Budtender Obama.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.




















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7 Habits of Highly Defective Liberals!
November 14, 2009 - 12:16 ET by thedailyzingPro-marijuana, Anti-tobacco: Marijuana has 4 times the carcinogenic tar
as cigarettes but ‘Lib’s’ have outlawed flavored cigarettes and want to
outlaw smoking everywhere, even in your own home. Oh, now I follow the
logic, don’t you!?!? To read more click here http://thedailyzing.com/334/7-habits-of-highly-defective-liberals/
Hello? Shawn?
November 14, 2009 - 12:17 ET by RukusYou gonna jump out behind that cute girl t-shirt addy any moment now aren't ya. ; )
Gary
Old media species: Moonbat-a-saurus-rex. Getting more endangered by the day.
What are you talking about Gary?
November 14, 2009 - 12:49 ET by shawn228I resent what you said, for the record I am wearing a Raiders t-shirt ;-)
LOL!
November 14, 2009 - 13:51 ET by RukusOK buddy, I stand corrected. I'm wearin' a Crown Royal t-shirt, need to get my Tide gear on. : )
Gary
Old media species: Moonbat-a-saurus-rex. Getting more endangered by the day.
so?
November 14, 2009 - 12:22 ET by michiganruthhonestly, being against decriminalization of pot is a loser issue. it's hypocritical to allow--encourage, actually--drinking but keep pot illegal. this is a libertarian issue IMHO and goes along with keeping the government out of our personal lives.
I have no problem with this.
Cash in
November 14, 2009 - 12:23 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsPortland police can make a bundle from this, just watch who leaves and hops in a car and you've got yourself an intoxicated driver arrest.
D
Write your Congress and Senate and tell them what YOU think!
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Pot might explain this
November 14, 2009 - 12:25 ET by rbosquePot might explain this administration's state of mind.
You might be on to something
November 14, 2009 - 15:27 ET by SnappyYou might be on to something there, its the perfect explanation for most all of his promises, lack of accomplisments and present votes. "Dude, check this out...Free healthcare man, and Green jobs, get it? Green jobs hehehehehheheh pass that Capt Crunch."
Presidential accomplishments
November 14, 2009 - 12:25 ET by ThisnThatNow, obama doesn't have that blank resume anymore. When someone asks the question: "What has he done?", the answer will be: "legalized drug use".
Way to go obama. Just another stepping stone to the complete dismantling of moral values across the land.
__________
"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Øbama↓." - The liberals coolaid drinking song
Drug use isn't "freedom";
November 14, 2009 - 12:33 ET by robert108Drug use isn't "freedom"; it's slavery.
Well, finally a small
November 14, 2009 - 12:55 ET by NikaWell, finally a small business success story for this administration. You knew this was coming. What could be better than a stoned and unarmed populace?
I love the warning sign.
lol
November 14, 2009 - 13:38 ET by shawn228lol
Marijuana voters....
November 14, 2009 - 12:57 ET by shawn228...are a huge reason why Barack Obama won the election. They have the misconception that because Democrats are softer on issues like pot, that they are the party of freedom. Folks don't realize that democrats are the party that tell you what you can eat, what you are allowed to say, and decides who is a news organization and who is not.
I have been saying this for years, If the GOP nominates a person that is strong fiscal conservative whose conveys the message that, I am for real freedom, I will not tell you what kind of car you can drive, how much nicotine you can use, but at the same time, what you do behind closed doors as long as it does not affect anyone else, will be the next POTUS in 2012.
There are more independent marijuana voters out there than independent value voters, they all vote for the GOP regardless.
From the libertarian perspective
November 14, 2009 - 13:08 ET by ironchefofmunchies99% of marijuana voters don't vote.
Having said that, this is one of the issues that I will never agree with the Republican Party on. It's not anyone's business what another person does or does not do with their own body if it doesn't hurt someone else.
Anything else is just the right's verison of the liberal impulse to save people from themselves.
I disagree
November 14, 2009 - 13:25 ET by shawn228The fact that medical marijuana was voted in by California voters along with over 10 other states proves otherwise.
Wait till next year when California has legalizing weed on the ballot, you will see them come out in droves. Marijuana smokers feel very strongly about their right to smoke it and they make sure their opinions are heard.
Maybe they will..
November 14, 2009 - 13:32 ET by ironchefofmunchiesShawn,
Doesn't really matter if California legalizes it unless the federal laws are repealed now does it?
I agree that voters passing a referendum would be significant. I just don't expect the fed government to really give a damn what the "people" think.
It certainly does matter iron
November 14, 2009 - 13:38 ET by shawn228Obama and Eric Holder said the feds would no longer raid Pot Clubs as long as they abiding by state law.
Would it not make sense to you that pot smokers are scared to death that a conservative like Mitt Romney or Sarah Palin would reverse the decision if they became POTUS?. That is why a South Park conservative would be so great for the White House.
Again, you miss the point
November 14, 2009 - 13:42 ET by ironchefofmunchiesUnless Congress repeals the classification of marijuana as a Category 1 illegal substance, then whatever the executive branch says doesn't really matter. Whether it's Obama/Romney/or Santa Claus.
Anything else is just a distraction to make you THINK things have changed.
Again I disagree
November 14, 2009 - 13:45 ET by shawn228If we still had President Bush as th POTUS. Pot Shops in states that voters voted for medical marijuana would be terrified of feds, they know they don't have to worry about it for another 3 years.
Sorry Iron, I really don't understand why don't get the difference between getting busted for pot and not getting busted for pot as a reason for voting.
If Obama woke up tomorrow
November 14, 2009 - 13:54 ET by ironchefofmunchiesIf Obama woke up tomorrow and had an epiphany that pot was evil and reversed his policy then the feds would be right back to busting those pot shops. Because the LAW is still on the books.
Voting for a legislator on the other hand might have a significant impact on getting the law changed. Voting for the executive based on their stated position re pot legalization is just window dressing-because you are subject to the president's whim on whether or not the law will be enforced.
I guess in theory your right
November 14, 2009 - 14:08 ET by shawn228....however if Obama did that, pot voters would be furious and there would be political backlash and the Obama cannot afford to lose the pot voters at this time.
As we speak The AMA is at least reconsidering if pot should be a top tier controlled substance. If pot is legal in Cali and few states in early 2012, Whoever the GOP nominee is, better tread very carefully on this one.
Somehow a "pot voters
November 14, 2009 - 14:21 ET by ironchefofmunchiesSomehow a "pot voters backlash" strikes me as funny. I mean-what exactly do stoners on a rampage do? Twinkee raids on 7-11?
Lol Iron
November 14, 2009 - 14:31 ET by shawn228Yeah, or go on a 48 hr Star Wars watching marathon. I would say there would be many protest talking about the President breaking his promise.
Seriously though Iron, your example of President Obama waking up tomorrow is hearsay, its almost like saying Sarah Palin wakes up and thinks its okay to abort children with down symdrome, both have not happened and both are highly unlikely.
Pot smokers are very protective of their right to smoke pot and they do come out to vote when it helps their cause.
lol!
November 14, 2009 - 15:47 ET by Alanalol!
I happen to agree with you
November 14, 2009 - 15:40 ET by SnappyI happen to agree with you on this one. What you do on your own time in the privacy of your own home with no harm to others is your business. Having said that, I also have no problem with drug testing for employment.
Free to choose, but take resonsibility for your choice.
and I agree with you right back :-)
November 14, 2009 - 15:46 ET by shawn228If you own a business, you should have the right to know what your employees are doing. I might not like it, but i would sure sound like a hypocrite if I disagreed with it.
That is why the Republican party is losing, not because of the perception of making the rich man richer, but for the perception of enforcing their version of standards and morals on everyone else.
Unconstitutional Law
November 14, 2009 - 15:03 ET by ScottyDogAt least with prohibition, Congress followed the Constitution and amended it to make alcohol illegal. They never amended our Constitution to make Drugs illegal and have been violating Americans rights ever since.
The DEA and ATF are both unconstitutional agencies that have been ripping off the taxpayers ever since they were founded without any mandate in our Constitution.
It is none of the Federal Governments business what people smoke or take in their own bodies.If they get jacked up,drive or fly a plane that is another issue altogether.
Drugs were legal in this country until the 1930's and we were fine without any laws against drugs what so ever.
Scotty Dog... I
November 14, 2009 - 15:09 ET by bigtimerScotty Dog...
I agree.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
This Administration getting
November 14, 2009 - 15:29 ET by countmein5050This Administration getting behind a drug that emotionally stunts the user and washes them of all desire to actually get off their rears and DO something useful or DO for themselves explains everything. Liberals all remind me of people who think and act like 14 years old and wish and hope for a government that provides all they need so all they have to do is lay around and get high. Makes perfect sense now. What 14 year old isn't lazy, by nature, unmotivated to pick up for themselves, by nature, and oppositionally defiant, by nature? Liberals will soon want their drug of choice to be free to them, of course.
Who is getting behind the drug?
November 14, 2009 - 15:39 ET by shawn228I don't see anyone getting behind it, just merely telling government to mind their own business about it.
Marijuana paradox
November 15, 2009 - 04:57 ET by JimmeConservatives believe in smaller government and less regulations yet are against any Marijuana legalization movements. I understand its the Christian morals that come into play but you can't be for less government intervention, then turn around and restrict other peoples freedom from doing something you don't aprove of that doesn't affect you.
The health hazard argument is nonsense since most recent studies have failed to show any link between pot smoking and cancer, despite all the mumbo jumbo about "carcinogens and tar" if thats the case why arent marijuana brownies legal?
Now don't get me wrong i haven't been a pot head for over a decade. It still bothers me though that law enforcement spends time and money enforcing pot laws when those resorces could be much beter spent elsewhere.
And no i don't believe an employer should have the right to drug test. I believe its a health issue and no ones business other then you and your doctor. If it takes a drug test to tell you some one is getting high then it probably means its NOT affecting their work so why should you care? If it is affecting their work then fire them for that.