Kerry Supports Effective Marijuana Decriminilization

[liberalpragmatist]

This is from the same new RS interview that contains his now infamous 'Bush "fucked up"' quote. I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more attention

http://www.rollingstone.com/features/nationalaffairs/featuregen.asp?pid=2454

"RS: You have talked in the past of smoking pot when you returned from Vietnam. What do you think of the way the pot laws are prosecuted today?

JFK: We have never had a legitimate War on Drugs in the United States, ever, and we won't until we have treatment on demand for addiction and until you have full drug education in our schools. The mandatory-minimum-sentencing structure of our country is funneling people into jail who have no business being there.

RS: And every year, the number of people arrested for marijuana offenses goes up.

JFK: I've met plenty of people in my lifetime who've used marijuana and who I would not qualify as serious addicts -- who use about the same amount as some people drink beer or wine or have a cocktail. I don't get too excited by any of that.

RS: Would you favor decriminalization?

JFK: No, not quite. What we did in the prosecutor's office was have a sort of unspoken approach to marijuana that was almost effectively decriminalization. We just didn't bother with small-time use. It doesn't rise to the level of nuisance, even. And what we were after was people dealing with heroin and destroying lives, and people who were killing people. That's where you need to focus."

[mitchtv]

1. Not quite?

f---k that . What a sell out position. I read it thinking that I made up my mind. Now i see that he's afraid to take a stand.I like him, but that is not effective decriminalization.

[sandnsea]

2. Who supports decriminalization?

Except Kucinich? What other candidate is willing to even say they wouldn't prosecute small time users? He's also taken the boldest stand on medical marijuana, saying he would put in a moratorium on arrests and move the process through the right channels and as long as everything goes through okay, he's for the legalization of medical marijuana. He has the most progressive position on marijuana that I've heard anyone speak up about, except Kucinich.

[OhioStateProgressive]

3. then vote Kucinich(nt)

[JohnKleeb]

4. I think she might

[OhioStateProgressive]

5. i should have put a smilie there:)

:)

[JohnKleeb]

6. Not postive but Ive said Sandsnea say she'd consider it

Which is good. The K man has a good view on it honestly, I am glad Kerry has a pretty decent one on it too.

[sandnsea]

12. Probably will

By May we'll probably have a winner, so I can vote however I want most likely. Or, if I don't care too much about the frontrunners we end up with, I'm voting Kucinch. I'm planning a late primary vote your heart campaign around March!

[babzilla]

7. "Almost"

JFK: No, not quite. What we did in the prosecutor's office was have a sort of unspoken approach to marijuana that was almost effectively decriminalization.

nuance-alicious!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. "Sort of"...."almost"

Now there's conviction!

[babzilla]

10. you left out

"not quite" and "unspoken"

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. Yep.

I hang my head in shame.


Edit: To sum up.

"Not quite," "unspoken," "almost," and "sort of." Truly nuance-alicious!

[DrFunkenstein]

8. That Is Essentially Holland's Postion - Non-Enforcement

I can count the times I have smoked on one hand, but I still think a Holland-type situation would be pretty f'n cool.

Civil unions, pot tolerance, nearly universal health care, a focus on clean renewables, non-military service exchanged for tuition - I'd say America was about to get alot cooler under Kerry.