Kucinich, Webb and others want decriminalization on the table

[G_j]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/20/MNQO187GBL.DTL

Bad times may be good for pot legalization push
David Crary, Associated Press
Sunday, June 21, 2009

The savage drug war in Mexico. Crumbling state budgets. Weariness with current drug policy. The election of a president who said, "Yes - I inhaled."

These developments and others are kindling unprecedented optimism among the many Americans who want to see marijuana legalized.
.

<snip>

"For the most part, what we've seen over the past 20 years has been incremental," said Norm Stamper, a former Seattle police chief now active with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. "What we've seen in the past six months is an explosion of activity, fresh thinking, bold statements and penetrating questions."

Some examples:

-- Numerous prominent political leaders, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Mexican presidents, have suggested it is time for open debate on legalization.

-- Lawmakers in at least three states are considering joining the 13 states that have legalized pot for medical purposes. Massachusetts voters last fall decided to decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of pot; there are now a dozen states that have taken such steps.

-- In Congress, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., are among several lawmakers contending that marijuana decriminalization should be studied in re-examining what they deem to be failed U.S. drug policy. "Nothing should be off the table," Webb said.

-- National polls show close to half of American adults are now open to legalizing pot - a constituency encompassing today's college students and the Baby Boomers who popularized the drug in their own youth. In California last month, a statewide Field Poll for the first time found 56 percent of voters supporting legalization.

[FLAprogressive]

1. it's not going to happen. Obama laughed off the idea....apparently it was too "change-y".

[G_j]

2. ==

[Oldenuff]

3. "Change" that from decrim to legalization.

In spite of what the Prez said,I appreciate that there are still some people in Congress who believe that the individual should still have some rights.

[dreamnightwind]

4. yes the planets are aligned for this

drug cartel violence, massive deficits, an insane number of pot "criminals" in jail, the growing acceptance of medical mj and a decline of the evil weed meme, many many factors all pointing to finally de-criminalizing millions of otherwise law abiding americans.

somebody should tell barack.