MPP’s Rob Kampia on Fox Business News 07/13/2009

Comments (44)
July 14, 2009

MPP’s Rob Kampia refutes prohibitionist Calvina Fay’s arguments against the taxation and regulation of marijuana in California and her criticisms of the TV ad promoting that policy. 07/13/2009

The opinions expressed below by our viewers and posters do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Marijuana Policy Project. These views are those of the individual authors alone. MPP does not condone or support the illegal use of marijuana. We do encourage open and frank discussion, but if a comment has been posted that is in some way significantly inappropriate, please e-mail us at socialnetwork@mpp.org to report it. Thank you, and we're looking forward to what you think!

44 Comments, Comment or Ping

BuelahMan

I am flabbergasted that Fox News would have the best debate I have yet to see on TV (without the attached Bogeyman from the reporter). Of course the lady (Calvina) has her opinion, but as Rob pointed out, her argument is securley based upon grouping marijuana in with every drug and harmful substance available.

Calvina (surely her namesake isn’t John Calvin, altho that may explain a lot) mouths off truly bogus talking points, but Rob blew them all away.

I swear… one of the best televised “debates” I have seen.

EXCELLENT JOB, ROB!

Jul 14th, 2009
Keegan

GREAT DEBATE ROB!
It was the most fairly done debate I’ve seen

Jul 14th, 2009
Tom

I am so happy to see that Rob called her out on repeatedly calling it substance abuse and drug abuse instead of directly referring to marijuana. The entire time I was watching this, I was hoping he would call her out on it. I am also happy to see Fox news give equal time for each side. As usual you, debunk all of her points with rational solutions that are delivered in a calm and powerful manner. GREAT JOB ROB!

Jul 14th, 2009
Nick

God that woman upsets me. Where do these people get off? How do they sleep at night? It’s beyond me.

Jul 14th, 2009
Pooch

Getting the last word is important. Her arguements were debunked. Great job you sure shut her the fuck up.

Jul 14th, 2009
Medical Cannabis Institute

Great job Mr. Kampia.

Since 1976 the Federal Govt. has been successfully distributing and regulating medical marijuana. There is already a system in place that has been working for over 30+ years.

I’m sure most people are already aware of Federal Marijuana, but I don’t understand why this issue is not being used considering our Federal tax dollars have been paying for medical marijuana all this time, wether you use cannabis or not.

A billion dollars will not solve all of California’s problems, but it will help alleviate a lot of the financial burden it’s currently facing. If a billion dollars can pay for the salary of 20,000 teachers, that’s 20,000 less people in the unemployment line.

A little of something ($1B) is better than a whole lot of nothing!!

We must also consider the savings of which I assume are much higher than $1B such as cost associated with police enforcement, the judicial system, the penal system, CPS and many others agencies that have depended on prohibition to justify their ever increasing budgets. We need to stop feeding this monster to save our children from this failed system.

Wake up Californians!!!! Your State IOU’s are worthless and banks are turning them away!!! Your state spends more on Juvenile Correction Facilities than it does on Public Schools and Education……. something is definitely wrong with the picture………

Californians need to lead the way for the rest of the country and make a positive change to a failed system…….

Jul 14th, 2009
Nate D

Good interview overall. Keep calling her out on her BS when she uses vague words like drugs and substance. They have nothing on marijuana, and she knows that. They are all shady speakers on the subject. Just make her look bad and show she’s doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Which I think you did at the end.

The $1.3 billion is in revenue alone, and that is an estimate. Does she know what the word estimate means? Ask her how many Cali’s are currently smoking it. The cost is much higher when you add in law enforcement savings and cost taken away from the drug cartels.

Yeah people could grow it, people also brew their own alcohol. That doesn’t put alcohol out of business. It is the simple fact when something is mass produced it becomes cheaper. So yes, I could spend money to grow the plant and wait 90 days for my weed to grow, or I go the store anytime and choose from a huge selection. She fails to consider the cost of convenience in this matter.

Keep up the good work guys.

Jul 14th, 2009
Liam

Great job Rob!

One suggestion- she keeps pointing out that people will skirt the tax by growing it themselves. Counter with the fact that people could grow tobacco to smoke themselves but they don’t because it is readily available because it is taxed and regulated. 90% of cannabis consumers would buy as opposed to grow for convenience alone and prices would drop as it becomes abundantly available.

Jul 14th, 2009
massmang

If everyone will just grow it themselves like she says, then why are there so many dispensaries?

From what I understand California’s marijuana laws allow anyone with a marijuana card to grow up to 12 plants.

Most people can’t be bothered, and just buy it.

Jul 14th, 2009
Tennessee Activist

Dear Rob Kampia,

Good job again! The focus on Marijuana use is not getting a fare opportunity to present issues in the media with these opponents and their incorrect information that no one ever varifies or supports with references. Mr. Kampia you do well to keep your anger from showing to much, stay cool and just keep the resistance going. That’s the best anyone could ever do in your position.

All The Best,

Rick Seymour
Cookeville, TN

Jul 14th, 2009
Drew

Now that was a good debate. Nobody cut each other off, the host actually listened, it was long enough for both sides….

Fantastic Rob!! I’m always very proud to have you represent me.

Jul 14th, 2009
Tennessee Activist

Alchohol has one purpose, to get drunk.

Jul 14th, 2009
vladimir

this the best debate so far and rob man you really did it!

Jul 14th, 2009
Chris

FUCK YES ON THAT LAST SENTENCE ROB!!!

The viewers really saw her to be a deceiving liar when you pointed out that she kept wording it as “substance abuse”

Rock on Rob, that was excellent!

Jul 14th, 2009
Ben

I would guess that 90% of state/tax money spent on substance/drug/marijuana rehabilitation is court mandated when they penalize people for possesing marijuana.

Jul 15th, 2009
jibber420

Nice job Rob…one thing I’d like to see you use in future debates is that when they bring up the argument “Well how can you regulate marijuana? People just grow their own in their backyards how would we find them out and make them pay taxes?” Answer: How is it different than tomatoes, lettuce, etc.? I grow vegetables in a small garden in my backyard but I had to buy my seeds from a store where I payed taxes there! Also, just because some people grow their own marijuana and vegetables doesn’t mean that EVERYONE will do it!! There is still a tremendous market for vegetables at the grocery store/farmer markets! This will just be another crop that farmers can take advantage of, Hemp included!!!

Jul 15th, 2009
Will S.

Sorry for my language, but SHIT YEAH Rob! If we keep destroying these prohibitionists on Fox news of all places their gonna fall like dominoes. Hahaha, still making me laugh.

Jul 15th, 2009
R.O.E.

LOL yay Rob! Kudos Buddy!

Calvina was saying how the health costs of drug abuse(not just cannabis butall of it) would inpact society.LOL Well anyone that knows these costs are going to be there anyway legal or not. also ,lol this one gets me, lot of people drink to get drunk,if not at least a good buzz. Whats the point if you dont? Whats the point of inhaling if you dont get a buzz?

We have stripped these prohibs of every reason to keep it illegal. Seens to me the only thing keeping cannabis illegal is our leaders quest for money and power.

Keep up the the good work Rob. By the wayRob,I would have sever case of dry mouth going on T.V. too. Kind of hard to over come HUH?

Jul 15th, 2009
Spencer

Awesome debate Rob. You have become my favorite activist to watch in an interview, because you are a smooth talker and you give no nonsense. That last point absolutely destroyed her. I can’t overestimate the importance of having right wing viewers see stuff like this on Fox News, it’s a big reason (IMO) why the public opinion has been swinging our way so much recently. Keep up the great work!

As always, everyone needs to be e-mailing and calling their representatives. The more they hear about it, the better.

Jul 15th, 2009
Travis

“I am so happy to see that Rob called her out on repeatedly calling it substance abuse and drug abuse instead of directly referring to marijuana. The entire time I was watching this, I was hoping he would call her out on it.”

My thoughts verbatim. I feel the same way whenever prohibitionists state that X number of people in substance abuse programs are there because of marijuana. It’s no surprise they’re there if a court mandates it, regardless of necessity.

These guys need to be called out on their shenanigans.

Rob, you do an excellent job each and every time I see you debate. Keep up the good work!

Jul 16th, 2009
Anthony

Why can’t I find this exact video on Fox Business News’ website? It just disappeared from their records or something…

Jul 16th, 2009
frank

wow that poor women just got owned I have yet to see their side win one of these debates. I just feel that we are never going to get our way. It seems that if it doesnt happen in the next couple of years we will never achieve our goal

Jul 16th, 2009
Bob

Im absolutely horrified at the fact that Calvina bundles cannabis into the same pidgeon hole as “other substance abuse” such as alcohol, cocaine etc.

Plus didnt ANYONE pick up on the fact that she seems to think that 60% of ALL substance abusers are child abusers? well thats how it came across to me. I find this highly offensive to a point where i think her misinformed “opinions” should be kept out of the media altogether. She lost all credibility with this statement for me, she should loose her position to speak on this topic at all with statements like that.

Also…

“Everyone who smokes a joint does it with the specific purpose of getting high”!!

OMG has her ignorance no boundaries? Tell that to the people with terminal cancer that Marijuana helps daily!!! Im absolutly amazed that the prohibitionists come out with totally outragous statements like that. How ignorant and uneducated are they? come to think of it how stupid are the people that swallow this garbage?

TOTALLY unacceptable a little desperate and VERY sad that she should make off the cuff remarks like that.

Great work MPP, lets hope the debate crosses over the water to the UK where i am. Unfortunatly i think the UK government is stuck so far up their own backsides that this will never come to fruition unless someone in power dares to get the ball rolling. I cant see it happening anytime soon though.

Jul 16th, 2009
Anthony

This Calvina woman makes me sick every time I watch this video.

Jul 16th, 2009
Rob Yeatts

Rob,

You’ve really got the momentum behind you man! You really seem like you’re truly comfortable up there on the camera and your speech is excellent. Keep up the good work!

Jul 16th, 2009
Fuzzfro007

4:36 – people toking!! …. final comment by Rob = OWNED to Calvina’s face. I like it. I like it a lot. It’s like the same four people kicking ass all over the news networks against all these chumps who are trying their damndest to keep prohibition in effect. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

Jul 17th, 2009
Billy

Great job Rob… This was a really good debate as well, and I’m surprised I would be saying that about something aired from Fox News. But I guess we are all biased in a way.

She says that revenue would be poor because of the ease of growing marijuana. I see it along the lines of anything else people can grow for themselves. I could grow parsley, mint, tomatoes in my yard… but i choose to go to the store and purchase them because it is a lot easier.

They don’t even touch upon the industrial aspect of legalizing the plant, which would so drastically reduce our dependence on deforestation. Sure jobs would be lost but also gained by cultivating hemp, which from what I’ve read can be used much more then trees for much more purposes, with far less environmental consequences. Meaning much more green jobs (no pun intended)

Jul 17th, 2009
Mark, Glenolden, PA

I could not believe my ears at 5:35. Did she actually imply that people don’t drink alcohol to get high???????????

NEWS FLASH Calvina!!!!! THE ONLY REASON people drink alcohol is to get high!!!!!!!!!!! And who are you to judge me for chosing a safer substance to get high with? You are a brainless twit. A parrot. You are a terrorist and a threat to American security. You should be removed from office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jul 17th, 2009
Mark, Glenolden, PA

My email to Calvina Fay:

Dear Ms. Fay,

I witnessed your debate with Rob Kampia on Fox news the other day and I could not believe my ears when I heard you say that 60% of people who drink alcohol don’t drink it to get drunk. Well, maybe not to get drunk, but they certainly drink it to get high.

Ms. Fay, the ONLY reason people drink is to get high. Nobody puts alcohol into ther bodies for any other reason. To say otherwise is not only naive, but suggests that you are completely unqualified to hold the job you have. You are nothing more than a parrot for parties like Big Pharma and the DEA who have a vested finacial interest in holding people back from exercising their rights to fight good, important fights like cannabis legalization and preventing parties like the ones you support from profitting from unjust laws founded on greed, racism and outright lies. Your support of these parties clearly demonstrates that you are a domestic terrorist.

If you want to make a difference in American society, why doncha call up NBC TV and ask them why their Friday 10 AM version of the “Today Show” always starts off with Hoda and Kathy Lee getting drunk on the air?

Your lack of action on that would seal the deal for your removal from office even for the average idiot.

Sincerely,

Mark
Glenolden, PA

“Two of my favorite things are sitting on my front porch smoking a pipe of sweet hemp, and playing my Hohner harmonica.” – Abraham Lincoln

Jul 17th, 2009
Dan

It sounds to me like this woman has accepted lobbyist funding in the past … Alcohol, Tobacco, Vicodin, Ambien ….. The 40 billion has been spent to put a lot of innocent pot smokers in jail and keep them there. The Dinosaurs will eventually die and go back into the ground, it is time for her to retire. My 16 year old daughter has more brains than this genius. Today’s kids choose not to abuse their bodies, they are educated by forward thinking parents

Jul 17th, 2009
Rhayader

Good work Rob, you’re great at calmly addressing these ridiculous claims, no matter how many time’s you’ve gone over the same territory in the past.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Jul 17th, 2009
Brent In KY

Great, finaly, put them down about the cost to society, that cost is already here, the smokers are here, the pot is here, so why are they acting like it would just explode with new users, these people have been and will be using no matter what! Great job!

They are losing this battle every time they open their mouths, she looked so upset you called her out, she knew that she was l;umping all drugs together and mad at you for catching it. They are crapping themselves and they know dam well they are losing this fight. She looked like someone took her candy away at the end!

Jul 18th, 2009
Dan

Fox actually didn’t go all Reefer Madness on this one and let the good guys finish last and make the best point.

Jul 20th, 2009
mark

That lady has no idea what she is talking about. now i am a child abuser!! Kids in foster care are due to Pot!! What is she talking about?

keep up the great work MPP. I love watching you tear them up. I also really enjoy the hosts intros. they all make a joke about this topic. This topic affects more people than the swine flu.

Jul 21st, 2009
Lincoln

Doesn’t that woman listen to herself? What rubbish she spews!

Jul 22nd, 2009
Ben M.

Wow I can’t believe Fox gave him the last word. Nice plug in there to draw some distinction too. That’s what always kills the argument with ignorant people. This whole joke is starting to fall apart in front of the prohibitionists eyes.

There’s no way to stop legalization but I guess the pendulum needs a reference point on the other side to eventually come to a nice medium. I’m sure there will be an initial increase in use once legalized but studies done on every substance shows a significant decrease thereafter, usually to levels lower than when illegal.

Jul 23rd, 2009
Angus McSpuds

PWNed!! Great job, ROB.

i am happy that our Rob called her out on her lumping cannabis in with all other substances, even though the topic was about marijuana.

her strategy is not too dissimilar to lumping football injuries in with injuries received while playing chess.

as always, Rob kept his cool, and countered her myths and opinions with facts and truths.

great job MPP.

Jul 26th, 2009
Eric

Great job Rob keep up the good work. Calvina what an dumb lady she should have her facts straight before going on tv. Thanks again Mpp.

Jul 29th, 2009
Mert Erel

I trust no one but FOX because they are always fair and balanced. You always get both sides of the story. This is why THEY STOMP the competition!

Aug 6th, 2009
Vince

They report… You decide! They toss it ALL on the table, good and the bad (depending on your politics). I’m an independent and watch Fox when ever I want the truth…..

Oct 19th, 2009
justin

it seems like her only big thing is cant tax people growing it at home wouldn’t you tax the license to grow it

Oct 24th, 2009
Lloyd

It is not that the number has went down it is that we have gotten smarter to not get cought.

Nov 3rd, 2009
Pat'L

Good job Rob!
One missed opportunity might have been when she said people won’t pay taxes because it is so easy to grow. Then she came back and said powerful drug cartels won’t give up. Well, if it’s so easy to grow, why are they paying black market prices to the cartels? And if it is regulated, prices would come down making it even less desirable to grow your own. PL

Dec 25th, 2009
Voytek

Grow your own.

Jan 5th, 2010

MPP’s Rob Kampia on Fox Business News 07/13/2009

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