President Obama who is on visit to the Kingston Jaimaica and had already visited Bob Marley's former home -- before he was asked
by a dreadlocked Rastafarian about legalizing marijuana. In a Kingston town hall event, participant Miguel Williams, asked Obama if he will be a champion for Ganja. Willian who made this request while introducing himself first by saying;
"Give thanks! Yes greetings Mr President," said Williams, "life and blessings on you and your family."
"My name is Miguel Williams but you can call I and I 'steppa'... That is quite sufficient, ya man." Not worried or care by giggles from the audience Williams set forth his case for legalization and decriminalization of the hemp industry and marijuana.
"How did I anticipate this question?" was Obama's joking response. "Well," he said adding a comic sigh.
"There
is the issue of legalization of marijuana and then there is the issue
of decriminalizing or dealing with the incarceration in some cases
devastation of communities as a consequence of non-violent drug
offenses," Obama said.
"I am a
very strong believer that the path that we have taken in the United
States in the so-called 'war on drugs' has been so heavy in emphasizing
incarceration that it has been counterproductive," he said to some
cheers.
But on the question
of whether the United States should, in the words of reggae musician
Peter Tosh "legalize it" Obama was more circumspect.
"I do not foresee, any time soon, Congress changing the law at a national basis."
No comments:
Post a Comment