Do you think that President-Elect Barack Obama will ever consider legalizing marijuana?

I think he would definitely consider it, especially during a 2nd term. President-Elect Obama has said for a long time that we need to "rethink and decriminalize" our marijuana laws. Unfortunately, there are a lot more pertinent issues that will take priority over this matter.

However, once things are more settled, I think this issue could be brought up again. Even with his support, however, I don't have much hope that it would be decriminalized anytime soon. He doesn't have the power to do that on his own.

This videos shows Mr. Obama discussing his views on marijuana in 2004.

Of course he will. Everyone worth his salt has considered it, and he has a real problem with Afghanistan that could be mitigated by legalizing marijuana and a whole host of other drugs. The question is, can he really do it without Congress, which can't do it because they have a lot of constituents who would freak out if they did.

I think if it happens it will be late in his second term. Considering there are exponentially more deaths and such from alcohol than marijuana it's not a matter of morals, its all about money. If they can find a way to tax it, it might be viable, but not until then.

Since marijuana is easily grown and cheap, it would be extremely difficult to regulate and thus tax. Hypothetically, if the government were to develop some potent and new variety (that could not be grown privately) it is possible to regulate that and tax it. Kind of along the same lines as alcohol.

With the right tools and a lot of work, beer can be made at home, but running to the corner store to pick up a six pack is more convenient and often cheaper. If the government were to find a way to use that model with marijuana, legalization is not out of the question, but still many years away I think.

Many people say that maybe in the 2nd term that he will think about doing this. I personally think that his campaign for a change is going to encompass a lot more than just what he has already told, I think he has some new ideas that he is going to bring to the table for us. However the information that is provided in the Marijuana Law Reform site states: "And two weeks ago, when the Obama team asked the public to vote on the top problems facing America, this was the public’s No.1 question: “Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?�

But alas, the answer from Camp Obama was — as it has been for years — a flat one-liner: “President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana. €? And at least two of Obama’s top people are drug-war supporters: Rahm Emanuel has been a long-time enemy of reform, and Joe Biden is a drug-war mainstay who helped create the position of “drug czar.

It should be left to the states IMO, and no he'll never considerate it unless there is a large shift in public opinion. If people ever become enlightened en masse and realize that it's actually not as a bad as alcohol, then opinion could shift, and maybe he'll be forced to talk to Congress about it.

I think there are too many otehr things to worry about---it will only be addressed on the state level.

Probably not, there just doesn't seem to be much public interest in that, and it would most likely cost a tremendous amount of political capitol even to try to pass such a law. With the problems our country faces, I doubt that Obama will spend precious time, energy, and goodwill on that.

Marcand, The problem is not weather or not marajuana is ever legalized . The problem is law enforcement have a backdoor of sorts where they are able to instantly arrest a person if they have ANY narcotic drug in there possession. This needs to change, it gives all law enforcement in the united states omnipotent power.

This isn't like the patriot act where red flags go off everywhere and/if they slap the cuffs on you because they think you are a terrorist. Any cop anywhere can plant a narcotic of any amount in your home your car your pocket and say oooooooo oooo lookie what I found. If this is never changed then law enforcement everywhere will continue to have this power over its citizens.No bull.

Now back to your question. Do you think it should be legalized? Yes.It and every other drug on the planet.

It's worth more to America as just another taxed item.

Pretty sure hes gonna fight for it as hard as he can, because it will really help the economy and clear out the prison of petty criminals caught with drugs Here more on Obama; In July, Obama told Rolling Stone that he believed in "shifting the paradigm" to a public-health approach: "I would start with nonviolent, first-time drug offenders. The notion that we are imposing felonies on them or sending them to prison, where they are getting advanced degrees in criminality, instead of thinking about ways like drug courts that can get them back on track in their lives -- it's expensive, it's counterproductive, and it doesn't make sense. " Meanwhile, economists have been making the beer argument.In a paper titled "Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition," Dr. Jeffrey Miron of Harvard argues that legalized marijuana would generate between $10 and $14 billion in savings and taxes every year -- conclusions endorsed by 300 top economists, including Milton "Free Market" Friedman himself.

And two weeks ago, when the Obama team asked the public to vote on the top problems facing America, this was the public's No. 1 question: "Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?" But alas, the answer from Camp Obama was -- as it has been for years -- a flat one-liner: "President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana." And at least two of Obama's top people are drug-war supporters: Rahm Emanuel has been a long-time enemy of reform, and Joe Biden is a drug-war mainstay who helped create the position of "drug czar.

" Meanwhile, in 2007, the last year for which statistics are available, 782,000 Americans were arrested for marijuana-related crimes (90 percent of them for possession), with approximately 60,000 to 85,000 of them serving sentences in jail or prison. It's the continuation of an unnecessary stream of suffering that now has taught generations of Americans just how capricious their government can be. The irony is that the preference for "decriminalization" over legalization actually supports the continued existence of criminal drug mafias.

Nevertheless, the marijuana community is guardedly optimistic. "Reformers will probably be disappointed that Obama is not going to go as far as they want, but we're probably not going to continue this mindless path of prohibition," NORML executive director Allen St. Pierre tells me. Some of Obama's biggest financial donors are friends of the legalization movement, St.Pierre notes.

"Frankly, George Soros, Peter Lewis, and John Sperling -- this triumvirate of billionaires -- if those three men, who put up $50 to $60 million to get Democrats and Obama elected, can't pick up the phone and actually get a one-to-one meeting on where this drug policy is going, then maybe it's true that when you give money, you don't expect favors. " Another member of that moneyed group: Marsha Rosenbaum, the former head of the San Francisco office of the Drug Policy Alliance, who quit last year to become a fundraiser for Obama and "bundled" an impressive $204,000 for his campaign. She said that based on what she hears from inside the transition team, she expects Obama to play it very safe.

"He said at one point that he's not going to use any political capital with this -- that's a concern," Rosenbaum tells me. And the Path to Change will probably have to pass through the Valley of Studies and Reports."I'm hoping that what the administration will do," she says, "is something this country hasn't done since 1971, which is to undertake a presidential commission to look at drug policy, convene a group of blue-ribbon experts to look at the issue, and make recommendations. " But ultimately, Rosenbaum remains confident that those recommendations would call for an end to the drug war.

"Once everything settles down in the second term, we have a shot at seeing some real reform." Still, a certain paranoia prevails. Rumors about Obama's choice for drug czar have lingered on Republican Congressman Jim Ramstad.

"He's been a standard anti-drug warrior for the whole time he's been in Congress," says St.Pierre. Another possibility is Atlanta police chief Richard Pennington, who raises fears in the legalization community of more of the same law-enforcement model. Another prospect stirring the bong waters is Dr. Don Vereen, the chief drug policy thinker on the transition team.

"He's really a believer in prohibition and he can excite an audience," says Rosenbaum, who says a friend on the transition team refused to hint at final contenders for the drug czar pick."I'm joking with him, 'I'm going to have to open up the New York Times for this, aren't I? '" s answer: "We're going to send out smoke signals.

I hope he legalizes it, and invites diplomats from around the world, to partake in some full-on cheech & chong/harold & Kumar/Pineapple Express type cannabis-driven shenanigans. WOO!

It depends. You first have to look at a reason. If there is a market for it (which I am sure there is) it could possibly be considered.

If the negative aspects of legalization outweigh any positives it will definatly be put on hold. Plus, Marijuana is most likely one of the last things Obama is worrying about right now with the economy, war, and job losses.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.