President Bush’s Drug War Report Card (MPP-TV)

Comments (45)
December 25, 2008

As we say goodbye to the Bush Administration, we’d like to take this opportunity to give the outgoing president and his drug czar their final grades. Don’t forget to subscribe!

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!

45 Comments, Comment or Ping

Patrick D.

Absolutely wonderful!

Dec 26th, 2008
Chris

Your forgot to inform us how by halting funding to the DEA we could waste more money by bailing out the big 3, banking, and continuing to pay for the war in iraq. When we could be putting it to beneficial things like subsidies like those offered to the electric car companies, and changing legislation for electric cars to have a slice of the road as well as gas powered vehicles to allow for an open market structure (instead of offering subsidies for the hummer drivers). Yet we question why the big 3 need a bail out? As Obama said let them fall to the way side and make room for more efficient companies to come forward and replace them. Our markets have become stagnant.

Dec 26th, 2008
samuel

Good points wonderful presentation and i must say, ONE LOVE!

Dec 28th, 2008
Zerosum Inertia

People don’t realize how depressing this is, untill they owe the govt LOTS of money for taxes, self employment tax.
Yes we need to pay taxes, but when observing where this money goes……. well……

Dec 30th, 2008
Diego Lomein

Amazing!! Keep up the good work- hopefully this nazi police state will end… and SOON!

Dec 31st, 2008
Keith

The government has all this money but they are fighting Marijuana which is a not a drug but medicine for people that needs it. I never understood why George Bush has been so difficult in legalizing Marijuana.

Dec 31st, 2008
Robert Evans

Even my late mother, who was a nurse, couldn’t see why marijuana could not be legalized for medical purposes (she lived in Indianapolis). Taxing it would bring a great source of income for the government which is already facing huge deficits by spending so much on wars and weapons.

Jan 8th, 2009
Steve Elliott (alapoet)

Important information, well presented!

Let’s hope President-elect Obama will get a better grade at the end of his term.

Jan 8th, 2009
Jason

Again, you’re taking something sensitive (medical marijuana) and using it to argue in favor of and hopefully someday achieve your own agenda (recreational marijuana). Not that the DEA isn’t to blame for this medical marijuana mess, but this mess wouldn’t exist if people like you didn’t use medical marijuana for your own agenda.

And, teenage cigarette use has declined for several reasons. One, increased prevention efforts and anti-smoking ad campaigns has been a significant focus in previous years. Two, increased regulation, such as smoking bans, have resulted in fewer teen smokers. If cigarettes were illegal, then the teen smoking rates would go lower. Marijuana prevention is a little trickier than cigarette prevention but we’re working on it and making improvements. A lot of the problem is funding. If we could get even half of the funding for prevention that law enforcement gets for eradicating marijuana then we’re good. Someday, we’ll have it down, and then teens will have healthier environments in the schools.

Jan 8th, 2009
Mitch Earleywine

Great work gang! Superb data and outstanding graphics. Noah, if you could hold your head still, we’ll lose you to CNN. You’ve got a great voice with perfect inflection.

Jan 8th, 2009
David R

I’d like to point out to Jason that cigarettes are indeed illegal for people under 18. Further, wouldn’t outlawing tobacco just create another black market? Isn’t that the true reason that cannabis and other drugs are such a drain on our society. It seems to me the prohibition of drugs are ultimately worse than the drugs themselves.

Jan 8th, 2009
WTG4RLF

If ONLY the American Government would show HALF as much concern about tainted imported food as they do about valid relief of pain, only then could we move forward. Such a backward greedy money loving government who supports only those priviledged few. So very sad – existing policy could not even be considered civilized.

Jan 8th, 2009
Phil Hanson

What we need is not marijuana prevention but across-the-board cannabis legalization. Whether it be for medicine, religious sacrament, industrial feedstock, or recreation, it’s all good. Cannabis is not a panacea for the many problems facing modern societies, but it’s an important and essential part of a many-faceted solution. It’s time to leave fear and ignorance behind and begin moving in the direction of sanity and rationality.

Jan 8th, 2009
Dominick J.

Bush and his adminstration has Failed and have ruined everything they came in contact with!
They are going, thank goodness, and with them there horrible methods and ideas of governing, which amounts more to controlling our nation and bankrupting it! Marijuanna needs to be legitmized in the same way Poppy Seeds are.

Jan 8th, 2009
mollie mcgee

The video asks why the war on drugs is continuing, but cannot state what many of us know- that keeping pot illegal is more lucrative for the gangsters who run our government.

Jan 8th, 2009
shane

weed need weed. Seriously though, if HEMP were legal, it would creat millions of jobs to build the infrastructure to process hemp, pay farmers, and get off DUPONTS / Cotton/ Timber/oil addiction, indoctrination.

Jan 8th, 2009
shane

12 days left.

Jan 8th, 2009
ANGELO SILVESTRI

safer than ciggs.

Jan 8th, 2009
Tom

I support MPP and efforts to legalize marijuana, but I think this video very conveniently glosses over the serious problem of mariuana grow operations in our national forests and park lands. These mostly mexican grow operations have no respect for the land and utilize pesticides in copious amounts that are harmful to native plant species and animal life. Rivers and streams are being contaminated, posing a serious health risk not only to animals and plants but also to humans, not to mention the danger of a criminal element protecting their investment.

Jan 8th, 2009
Tara

Tom and others: If pot was legal people wouldn’t have to resort to growing in remote areas on public lands. There’s absolutely no valid reason for keeping cannabis illegal. It’s significantly safer than the current legal drugs: tobacco and alcohol. Pot was made illegal for political reasons (as was cocaine), not on any perceived harmfulness. It was a way for the white-controlled government to get back at fun-loving, pot-smoking Mexican immigrants in the 20s and 30s. The reefer madness BS was generated after pot was criminalized. Drug prohibition is a tiger chasing its own tail. By forcing the production and distribution of cannabis underground the US government has created a black market with the attendant crime and violence. Thereby creating the effects it’s trying to fight. Alcohol prohibition was repealed because it didn’t work. Have we forgotten alcohol prohibition’s failure lesson?

Jan 8th, 2009
Smokey

Father Leo Booth authored the book, When God Becomes a Drug. Alcoholics and others chemically addicted frequently trade one addiction for another. President Bush collected a couple of DUI’s and that is a no-no if you want to become President. However, we have had a few that got in somehow. Perhaps the stress of being President of the United States is simply more then the weak genes can handle and alcohol becomes a medication. When counting the $$$, the entire criminal justice system, attorneys to turnkey and all of the drug cartels are hauling in a bunch. Making marijuana legal would bankrupt a lot of folks, from the grower to the DEA goon squad with the drug dealing gangs in between. Something to think about when one sees the reality in it.

Jan 8th, 2009
Dominick J.

The only “reality” that needs immediate attention here is this product needs to be Legalized Federally and they (FEDS and local Police) need to stop wasting tax payers money harresing LEGAL places and people in states that have it legalized to be used for medicinal purposes and to stop filling our jails/prisons with these folks!

Jan 8th, 2009
SCOTT

I CAN’T BELIEVE WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS! I KNOW WAY MORE PEOPLE IN FAVOR THAN NOT, AND I KNOW WAY MORE PEOPLE WHO USE THAN DON’T. THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL, HONEST, RESPONSIBLE ADULTS. BUSINESS OWNERS, TRAIN ENGINEERS, CARPENTERS, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, FIREFIGHTERS, PHARMACISTS, PHARMACY TECHNICIANS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPLES, MILITARY, COLLEGE STUDENTS, MOMS, DADS, GRANDPARENTS, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE MAKE UP THIS COUNTRY!

Jan 8th, 2009
Arthur Torsone

I am the author of the new book. South of the Thunder by A.R. Torsone .that exposes the crimes that the war on drugs have produced. Pay offs to third world countries for law enforcement education through “foreign aid” that end up in private hands. National security is threatened because of the actions law enforcement takes over seas, and domestically. I expose the truth, through first hand involvement.The act of arresting people for violating marijuana laws often creates a situation where greater crimes are created in the process.
South of the Thunder will be available on line and in stores in March 2009. MPP will be mentioned on my radio talk shows for its important work.
Thank you MPP for existing. A.R.Torsone..

Jan 8th, 2009
Dominick J.

Yes Scott and it’s unbelievable all those you mention if caught or put in a position where they eed to take a drug test, especially a hair follicle test and they prove positve can be arrested and put in jail!

Jan 8th, 2009
Brinna Nanda

Another great video. You guys are wonderful. I do want to point out that the second round of “open for questions’ is going on at the Obama Website. At the moment there is still a cannabis question in the top 10 (at about #7). We can bring it back up to the top. Once you get to the site, put in a search for marijuana, (cannabis, hemp) and vote them up. This link: http://change.gov/page/content/openforquestions20081229/ will take you there, or just go to Change.gov, open for questions.

Jan 9th, 2009
Harvey Lapp

Hoo-rah for the truth! I can’t believe how long that it has taken to end the prohibition of marijuana in the U.S. I thought it was nearly over during the Carter administration. Unfortunately, we have to get those who don’t care either way to vote with those who feel the urgency we do. Great video to persuade the masses, but please get the man a real tie!

Jan 9th, 2009
Arthur Torsone

A.R.Torsone
Manufacturing hemp products can create jobs. Take the billions wasted on the war on drugs and use the money for education. Think of the education system we could have. Many inmates that populate the prisons do not need prison guards, they need doctors.
Leave the jails for violent inmates and predators that rip us off at every turn. The white house is a criminal enterprise. It is my opinion that the U.S.G is the biggest organized crime organization in the world, maybe tie with Russia.
It is unbelievable how myopic smart people are. The media, which is controlled by the gov, is constantly brainwashing the unsuspecting. Last, take away the black market and we’ll get rid of the gangs and a lot of crime.

Jan 9th, 2009
Dave

Congress patted itself on the back upon the anniversary of the repeal of prohibition, stating so clearly the reasons why prohibition is bad, yet a majority of them failed to see that those same reasons apply very clearly to marijuana prohibition.
The Republican party is allowing a handful of cooks such as Mark Souder from Indiana to run this show. His greatest fear seems to be the advent of some sort of cultural change in the US. The Salem Witch Trials were also based in a similar fear and now mark a very black spot in this nation’s history as will marijuana prohibition.

Jan 9th, 2009
DOREAN GIBBS

I am a Governmennt Analyst i not call me that THEY Call Me That….
i was learning to much trying to start a business & couldnt stop learning how can you stop learnng when you got PIG LATIN LAWS you cant understand & why would anyone want too???? now I am deep in whitewater & all the scandals i proved i was their in my 21 days stay at state hospital in worst unit with wackoes one asked me for a smoke & then i see him on TV just killed for 2 dollars GF’s mom i said here take 2 or 3 what i am getting at is Hillarys crew were bad enough but when you fight so hard to stop a medicine i know helps me i proved helps me & i proved it has nothing to do with my problems BUT I SAY BULCRAP MR BUSH I AM LOOSEN ALL MY PROPERTY TO MY CROOKED LITTLE CITY & STATE JUST FOR TAXES I CANT PAY CAUSE I NOT WANT TO HURT I PAY FOR MEDICAL DRUGS COVERAGE & I SPENT SO MUCH GETTING MY MEDICINE IN MY PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS I AM LOOSING EVERYTHING MR BUSH BUT I WANT MY MONEY BACK SO I CAN PAY MY BILLS & THATS NOT ASKING MUCH I AM A NICE GUY BUT THIS IS SICK TO DO SUPPORT MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR YOUR SUPPORTING CRACK NO OTHER OBTION

Jan 9th, 2009
matthew davis

Excellent video and info. Will be posting this on my 10K + friends myspace

Jan 9th, 2009
Sandra Vitamanti

It’s that vicious circle that is controlled by our government. Instead of really dealing with what’s right, they will always control and shut down the truth. The truth here is that the money that could be spent on exploring alternatives to medicine such as marijuana, would put “Big Medicine” out of business and less money in “their” pockets. It’s obvious that the Bush administration was never for “We the People” Our government has always neglected proper medical and psychological treatment for our soldiers, along with the other hundreds of thousands of terminally ill citizens of the United States. The research for medicinal uses of marijuana have been halted because the government knows the many values of this wonderful plant.

Jan 12th, 2009
Loucinda

Weed should be legall in all states it’s safer than drinking. I have MS and I live in Michigan where it just passed and YES i voted YES for it. I am a strong believer in it that it helps with pain and many other things. I have alot of pain daily sometimes where I can barely walk but if I smoke it helps ease the pain and it does help with my muscle spasms that I have all the time.
So for you people that are agains tweed one day you might need it for some God awful reason like me and just remember don’t smoke it because you were one of those people that said you were once against it.

Jan 13th, 2009
Deborah

***Note to Tara: Just to point out, even though alcohol is now “legal”, there are still bootleggers who produce their hooch illegally, and try to keep their operations hidden from the “revenuers”. So even if marijuana is legalized, which will mean “taxed”, there are still unfortunately going to be those people who will be growing and polluting in sensitive lands to avoid taxation. ***
On the broader note, I am all for marijuana legalization. It’s vastly safer than alcohol. It’s non-addictive. And to deny any patient the right to use a medication that relieves their suffering is just inhumane and cruel. But aside from medical use, if a person has the right to use alcohol purely for enjoyment, why not also marijuana? As with alcohol use, marijuana users must use common sense in NOT driving, etc., after use. It is not a gateway drug and is not associated with crime or violent behavior, as other drugs are. (Those drugs SHOULD remain illegal.)
Final note: I do not smoke marijuana myself. But I fully believe it should be legalized.

Jan 14th, 2009
Gary

God bless, good fortune and may you find Nirvana, that’s what I have to say to everybody here. I have a challange for those looking for more esoteric reasoning, check out KENEH BOSM, it is quite illuminating.

Jan 14th, 2009
Gary

I am thinking about posing the pound for pound challenge; I say to some one opposed to Cannibas (Marijuana is a small desert flower from Mexico), so you go home bring every drug you have in your medicine cabinate,m sit down and eat every bit of that, I will match you by eating the same amount of Cannibas. I’ll sit across from the Drug Czar and eat two pounds of pot, if he’ll match me with eating two pounds of Asperin, I’ll eat a pound of the best skunk if Rush Limbaugh will match me with his drug and eat a pound of Oxy. If we get enuff of the corrupt and uneducated to take this challenge, well problem solved.

Jan 14th, 2009
Gary

Hell I’ll go pound for pound vs. the Vodka from thier liquor cabinets, again I end up fat and happy they in thier folly end up dead, c’mon weed haters put your money where your mouth is, ha.

Jan 14th, 2009
frenth

There should be no such thing as “ILLEGAL USE OF MARAJUANA”. How can this government tell me what to do with a harmless plant and my body.

Jan 28th, 2009
Ken

I believe that the “A” given to our former president in the ” Supression of the Science” is well deserved. The former president’s drug czar has spent millions of taxpayer’s dollars in an obvious attempt to hide and debunk the scientific evidence regarding the effects of marijuana on our bodies and overall health!
I hope that President Obama’s aids will display more intelligence and overall COMMON SENSE!

Feb 5th, 2009
Christian Conservative

It’s time to realize marijuana will only be legalized after state and federal government identifies a way to make money from it. If we’re serious about securing our borders, protecting our children from drug-dealing murderers, and pumping some much-needed revenue into the public treasury, we’ll implement a Personal Use and Cultivation Permit, similar to a fishing permit, allowing ordinary Americans to grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
Sold by the States and splitting the revenue 50-50 with the Federal treasury, if the permit cost $100 per year, and if even one-third of the estimated 30Million Americans who use marijuana each year were to obtain such a permit, it would pump a Billion dollars into the public pocketbook AND rip the guts out of the criminal drug gangs’ cash flow.
Right now, we put our own children in prison with violent criminals for doing something that both our current Democratic President and the recent Republican Vice Presidential candidate acknowledge having done themselves.
Let’s get behind the movement for a Personal Use and Cultivation Permit. It’s time to put the drug dealing criminals out of business and let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.

Feb 5th, 2009
Michael

MPP needs another spokesperson.

Feb 8th, 2009
rob

Being a police officer, its hard to agree with this issue, that was until my mother became a user for medical reasons about two years ago now im firm on the positive it brings to her daily activities. I guess some would say im crooked or dirty really does not matter to me how you feel as long as my mother is no longer suffering! The only way to get it legally would be have a vote on a national scale!!! I’d rather deal with other crimnals not a hippie keeping my mother happy who i might add has cancer and was to pass over a year ago…

Feb 24th, 2009
JasonD

Great video, great resources!

Perception is 100% of vision. Reality is simply back-drop to perception. You have to close your eyes to see the truth. Open them, and you create lies.

One day, we will have control over our country once again. We are tired of the country controlling us, in the best interest of giving them more control over us.

I like that they gave us back some of our tax money, as a loan… Here you go, here is half the money we took from you, and here is the bill for the interest on your money we gave back to you!

Thank-you sir, may I have another!

Uncle-sam is more like “Sam I am”… The cat in the hat, with green eggs and ham.

Mar 2nd, 2009
Bryan Brady

Why isn’t this on TV

How are we as a country going to get up to date in the medical field if the Government continues with its “War on Drugs” targeting the marijuana issues. The disease we are fighting is CANCER. It was found by research that it battles cancers.

The war is a peaceful one by the people, we are trying to peacfully resolve the war with the People of God versus the United States Government and local state, county, and city governments.

Why do they continue to ignore the response of the American People?

It is the duty of every free American to end this violation of Gods law and the law of this nation.

Specifically, the law that govern the use and aquisition of cannabis sativa, and herb declared by scientist, that bears seed. Now I would refer you to the scriptures reguarding the origins and uses by man; Genesis chapter 1 verses 29 and 30:

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you everyherb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yeilding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

This is God’s LAW and man has violated that law by incarcerating and killing people for using an herb that God made and placed in the Garden of Eden to help mankind get along and live long lives.
Cannabis sativa was developed by God.

Who is so blind that they cannot see the results of taking an intricate part of our DNA. There are THC receptors built into our systems, and when you take that natural process out you shorten the life.

Look at what you learn from scientists.

Now is the time to make reparation to these people that have been violated by the Law.

Repentance proceedures, as set forth in the Bible are expected by the People of God, to the U.S. Government for this clear violation.

The Laws governing cannabis sativa were done so by perjurious information, citing specifically the lies made popular by the movie “Reefer Madness” produced and developed the U.S. Government. The Leguardia report stated the real scientific results and yet the information being sent to mainstream America were complete lies.

And now we see the results of the U.S. Government trying to keep the one thing that supresses violent tendancies of mankind.

The results are a scourge upon the earth that we know as CANCER. What will stop it is simple. My words are simple.

Legalize Marijuana NOW or the scourge will be tenfold, Thus Saith The Lord.

Now is our time to make the reparations necessary for humanity to enjoy the real freedom that one has in life if their diet is in direct relation to what we learn in the Scriptures from God.

Those who oppose on this issue oppose also God, I’m merely a messenger.

Forward to 3 friends and President Obama

Mar 4th, 2009
Dro Buddy

Isn’t it funny how both prohibitionists and legalization activists have their own forms of propaganda?

I’m 100% for Legalization… But, this was a tad too much scripting and it simply glazed over some of the facts.

Plus, why just medical marijuana? The whole drug policy should have been graded; including their horrible loss in 2007 when the UDV (and, just recently, another church) were granted a Federal exemption by the Supreme Court.

To avoid being long-winded, I just wanted to say that I would have appreciated a bit more detail and a lil’ less fluff — After all, if you want to appear as a credible media source, I’d suggest you take a more hardball, fact-oriented approach…

However, that’s just my opinion… For what it’s worth.

Mar 21st, 2009

President Bush’s Drug War Report Card (MPP-TV)

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