Obama Still Bogarting Nation's Joints, Man.
David Maraniss' forthcoming biography of Barack Obama tells tales of a young dope-smoking president-to-be who was always quick to bogart that joint:
Barry also had a knack for interceptions. When a joint was making the rounds, he often elbowed his way in, out of turn, shouted "Intercepted!," and took an extra hit. No one seemed to mind.
As Mediaite's Andrew Kirell notes, the president is still "intercepting" the nation's drug supply.
Stories like these about a young adult are actually kind of funny, even humanizing — like something straight out of a stoner comedy. But when you realize it's about President Obama, it becomes a little less humurous.
Less humorous because President Obama has repeatedly laughed off and dismissed serious discussion about drug policy, like in that 2009 virtual town hall where the president mocked online voters for picking a question about marijuana legalization.
Less humorous because the president shuts down medical marijuana dispensaries with a frequency that would make Richard Nixon stand up and cheer. He presides over a DOJ, IRS, and DEA that have threatened, audited, and shut down legal pot sellers in California, Colorado, Montana, and Washington. All this despite once promising to respect state laws regarding medical marijuana.
The good news is that an increasing majority of Americans are starting to push back. Rasmussen polls show that a healthy 56 percent of likely voters think pot should be treated like booze rather than a Schedule I drug.
Sing along, America:
