Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumBloomberg on Marijuana: Leagalizing..."Stupidest Thing Anybody Has Ever Done"
Sorry for truncating the title; it was too long. Here is the full title:
"We have a different kind of problem in America, for example. Last year, in 2017, 72,000 Americans [overdosed] on drugs. In 2018, more people than that are OD-ing on drugs, have OD'd on drugs. And today, incidentally, we are trying to legalize another addictive narcotic, which is perhaps the stupidest thing anybody has ever done. We've got to fight that, and that's another thing that Bloomberg Philanthropies will work on it in public health."
The position from the billionaire politician would seem to be out of step with Democratic leaders in his state and liberal voters nationwide. Newly re-elected New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, for instance, said he would make legalization a priority in a December speech outlining the goals for his first 100 days of his new term.
Recent polls meanwhile have shown a comfortable majority of Americans support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. A Gallup poll released in October found that 66 percent of Americans support legalizing the drug, including three-in-four Democrats.
"Like support for gay marriageand in prior years, interracial marriagesupport for marijuana legalization has generally only expanded, even if slowly, over the course of multiple decadesraising the question of where the ceiling in support might be," the Gallup poll noted. "As the percentage of Americans who favor legalizing pot has continued to grow, so has the number of states that have taken up legislation to allow residents to use the substance recreationally."
This clown needs to go away. We don't need Dems running for office that think marijuana is addictive.
Full article
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Devil Child
(2,728 posts)Bloomberg's stance on marijuana and many others leaves him my least preferred candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Amishman
(5,541 posts)This was one of those moments
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Beakybird
(3,329 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(11,095 posts)(on statements that were much more nuanced than this one) just a short while back?
(NOT suggesting anyone get a pass here. the point is that one guy is WAY more out of touch than the other. and everyone had an absolute tizzy about Biden.)
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
The Mouth
(3,123 posts)IIRC he tweeted a rather different viewpoint in days, maybe hours.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Faux pas
(14,583 posts)would be the stupidest thing anybody has ever done...next to voting for the hump, of course
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
marble falls
(56,359 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,762 posts)stand a chance of getting anywhere past that, and no one is interested in anything you have to say. But hey, drain those votes.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JudyM
(29,122 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TwilightZone
(25,342 posts)Conservatives like Murdoch and R media moguls didn't buy everything to turn around and sell it. The propaganda value is likely much higher than any sale value.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JudyM
(29,122 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Rider3
(919 posts)I've been around alcoholics and stoners. The alcoholics scare the hell out of me. The stoners make me laugh and are a delight. Bloomberg doesn't understand what he's talking about.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cuthbert Allgood
(4,867 posts)And I am shocked (well, not really) how much we just turn away from alcohol addiction problems.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
former9thward
(31,805 posts)And both can be handled without problems with many if not most people. Anyone who suggests marijuana can't be additive has never been around lifelong stoners.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
stopdiggin
(11,095 posts)(and probably misjudging that even with the midshipmen) -- while not really particularly caring about the issue one way or the other. Or -- he really IS as clueless as the statement makes him sound. With neither being very encouraging.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
CaptYossarian
(6,448 posts)He has to appeal to all kinds of people. He talks about overdoses. How many pot overdoses have there been? Don't consult Reefer Madness from the 30s. And consider pot replacing opioids that do cause overdoses and death.
He's totally out of touch. Being in his penthouse already has him high.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Fritz Walter
(4,281 posts)Especially if I can include an image of an actual, physical Panda ring (i.e. oh, look: (Bloomberg)s Panda Ring!)
Point well taken!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SWBTATTReg
(21,859 posts)federal law still exists on the books that M is a class 1 drug. There's a story coming out of Michigan that a guy was found innocent of state Mich. drug charges, but then found guilty of charges under federal law, and will go to prison. A shame! This needs to be changed ... perhaps some candidates out there are for this, legalizing this so basically the hard core drugs such as Heroin etc. are still Class 1 under federal law, and M is NOT.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cuthbert Allgood
(4,867 posts)Recreational weed is legal in Canada. It is also legal in Alaska. But you can't bring it across the border between Canada and Alaska because of federal law.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TeamPooka
(24,156 posts)legalizing cannabis turns a money pool controlled by cartels into a stream of jobs, taxes and revenue that benefit all citizens.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cuthbert Allgood
(4,867 posts)there will be a big push to get it legal at the federal level.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JudyM
(29,122 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Arkansas Granny
(31,483 posts)able to have legal access to marijuana, it would reduce the use of other, more dangerous drugs which are actually addictive. Who knows? He might have a point.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cuthbert Allgood
(4,867 posts)Also, we need to decriminalize all drugs so that people that are addicted can get help without fearing they are going to go to prison. I fully realize that puts me way far to the left of most people, but I think it's right.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JudyM
(29,122 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
denem
(11,045 posts)Thats really dumb. Dec 19, came out with the same (softly, softly) policy as Biden.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)Imprisoning people and fining them for a victimless crime is really brilliant. It has been so helpful for decades now. The scourge of high people with loosened morals and depraved behavior must be fought at all costs.
It is not, technically a narcotic, that classification came out of prejudice and hysteria, not science or medicine. If Bloomberg whats to portray himself as an old fart who doesn't really have much in-depth of a subject before he blurts one out, then great job! Or, to be a bit CT paranoid, does he have vested interest in the industries that are threatened by legalization of cannabis and hemp? That ranges from brewers and distillers to pharmaceutical companies and beyond those that you find out when you look into the practical uses and value of hemp. I would venture to say that he may be more concerned about his investments in this case.
Another big score for Mike, is his demonstration of something we could already expect from someone who lives in the lavish bubble of wealth, up there, above us unwashed masses: a lack of of empathy for the common people and their experiences, which relates back to my first point. What does he care if, for example, a kid's life is side-tracked and ruined due to simple possession. The bullshit used to be a moral argument that it was "for their own good" because it was supposed to be a horrible, corrupting influence. That no longer holds ground. You know what's bad? How about taking a young person who does no harm to anyone and steals nothing and sentencing them to prison for x years? That's a great benefit to everyone, right? The young person gets separated from their family, a record, maybe fines to pay and for what? We all benefit in what way?
I would rather that person be stoned at home and waste his life, (if that was actually the way he or she went) then be thrust into prison and be subjected to all the violence, cruelty, abuse, etc. and even training for crime. When a person gets out of that, what do we expect. When they get high, that's not a criminal issue and has subtitles and a context we should be able to deal with, like is it distracting them from a better life, learning, interaction with others, etc. Again, nothing criminal there.
Bloomberg does not seem to be in touch with what's been going on in that sense and it leads me to wonder if he is, basically, not just another dinosaur of the oligarchy looking for fame and power. How do move the country forward in that case? What kind of leadership is that, other than better than Trump, which, as we know, a groundhog would be better than at this point.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
jalan48
(13,798 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
theaocp
(4,223 posts)Fuck you, Mike.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
progressoid
(49,827 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
crickets
(25,896 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Mouth
(3,123 posts)realize it's a state's rights issue. The only reason the federal government should have anything to do with it is if there is an interstate commerce issue.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Tweedy
(628 posts)The former mayor is ignorant.
Our first president grew hemp as a cash crop. He grew male to sell and female for personal use. His wife, we are told, used the female in cooking. Her brownies were excellent, apparently.
Banning hemp was one of the dumber things we have done as a country. It makes stronger paper than wood. It is easier to grow than trees. It makes better rope. The list is endless.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)Biden isn't much for legalization either. Just sayin.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ellie
(6,928 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)Personally legal pot, although a dream to be legal, is easy to find and not more expensive than a dispensary. So its not even on my radar this election.
Babies in cages is my biggest issue. Beating trump my second issue.
Both Biden will take care of.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)I just virtually wafted him out of my choice bin...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
titanicdave
(429 posts)......always has been......and always will be......A....REPUBLICAN !!!!!......'Nuff Said.....
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
OverBurn
(935 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Roy Rolling
(6,856 posts)He said it, he employs people in his charity to fight marijuana. He has a financial interest in keeping those people employed, his views on the issue are nothing more than where his own interests lie.
He can say its a noble cause, but he has developed an opinion on a complex social and medical issue based on how it affects his personal charity.
Its an emoluments issue.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Roland99
(53,342 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
erlewyne
(1,115 posts)I drink beer. A 12 pack a day. At home, off the high way.
I smoked mary jane while serving my country in the infantry.
I met these men (kids like me) from New Yawk. They invited me
into their company and it was a choked filled room full of smoke.
They taught me how to smoke while not drinking beer.
After about an hour I left and told them they were nuts. I was
cruising and did not know it. Pure relaxation and walked to my room
just down the hall. I crashed, long hours and never a day off.
Because of tank dust I could not breathe and had to quit
smoking (pack-a-day) so mary jane was given up. When it becomes
legal I will be forlorn. Just drink my beer.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
maxsolomon
(32,992 posts)Stupid position, Mike.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
James48
(4,416 posts)What an idiot.
I cant wait to vote for BERNIE and end the nightmare of criminality of weed.
Free the Weed!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mountain grammy
(26,571 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)I was quietly observing him but have just as quickly dumped him for this one thing alone.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Evolve Dammit
(16,632 posts)And he will. Drumpf has green-lighted anyone to do whatever the hell you want to. From now on, there are no guardrails.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JohnnyRingo
(18,581 posts)Not Bloomberg, not Trump, not Pence, and not even Sheriff Joe if he were to somehow end up in the Oval Office. It'd be like saying Trump would bring back prohibition because he doesn't drink and hates people who do.
That Pandora's Box has had the lid permanently ripped off in this century. Candidates don't even deny using it for fear of being branded as "soft on drugs" anymore. Welcome to the 21st century.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Algernon Moncrieff
(5,780 posts)Regulating the size of soda, or making a prohibitionist argument against either Hemp or Cannabis, are out of step with reality.
I say figure out the social costs of having those items be legal and price those costs into the taxes.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DallasNE
(7,392 posts)They are too backwards looking. Yes, that applies to not just Bloomberg but also Biden, Sanders (all of which are my age, ugh) and to a lesser degree Warren - at least she is a Boomer. It all leaves me undecided.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Martin Eden
(12,803 posts)Or is Bloomberg showing his ignorance on this issue?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
apcalc
(4,461 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)I support total decriminalization, but I am cooler toward legalization.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Whatthe_Firetruck
(546 posts)Speaking as someone born on the trailing end on the baby boom ('63), all I can say is a resounding:
"Ok, Boomer."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
KatyBR
(183 posts)SEE HERE! ENLIGHTENED.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/michael-bloomberg-backs-decriminalization-as-marijuana-views-evolve-amid-presidential-run/
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
totodeinhere
(13,037 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden