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Anti-marijuna Republican ex-congressman becomes pro-marijuana

dyn.politico.com — Bob Barr, who as a Georgia congressman authored a successful amendment that blocked D.C. from implementing a medical marijuana initiative, has switched sides and become a lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy Project. But that doesn ’t mean he has become a bong-ripping hippie. He isn’t pro-drug, he said, just against government intrusion.

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  • alpanini, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15Pro marijuana in the sense of wanting to protect it against gov't intrusion. Maybe eating some of Borat's cheese changed his mind?
    • theblockster, on 10/12/2007, -9/+1IT'S ALL ***** CHEESE!!!!!!

      I feel better now..
    • LogicBomB, on 10/12/2007, -1/+67The problem is how pot is perceived. Cigarettes are proven to be worse than pot, with little to no medicinal properties yet when was the last time you heard "cigarettes" and "drugs" in the same sentence?

      Pot is always perceived by the uneducated as a halucinogen as well - all the Mothers Against Impaired Driving ads that show kids seeing things talk to them after smoking and all the misinformation about overdosing and loosing your mind.

      The BETTER approach would be to show a bunch of mid-teens smoking up at a party casually and when one of their friends grabs they keys they tell him he's a idiot and that if he stays they'll order another pizza. End it with "it doesn't take much to save a friends life". Now I know the studies that show pot increasing one's driving skill but I think we can all agree that I don't want anyone on the road under the influence of anything, be it alcohol, pot or entirely too much caffein in the morning.

      Education is the key, not propoganda, house busts and misnomers.
    • SavageBlackCat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Why am I not surprised that the GOP is now endorsing chronic.

      Coming in 2008 - Republican presidential candidate Woody Harellson
    • dielawn, on 10/12/2007, -17/+2the crazy dope heads lured him into their world of lonliness!!!!

      ...

      blaze it 420 never stop all day every day trainwreck purple all wrapped in a swisher!
    • vanadium77, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6Bob Barr is Libertarian, not Republican.
    • directive0, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5logicbomb you are dead on, well said my friend.
    • Four20, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4he finally got some of that ATL hydro

      being from GA, i can't help but think why could he not have done this when he had some influence. . .
    • JQP123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"... why could he not have done this when he had some influence. . ."

      Because he was either A) genuinely trying to express the views of his constituents or B) working to get elected.

      Now that the above no longer apply, you're finally seeing his true personal opinion.
    • williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@logicbomb

      Pot doesn't degrade your ability to perform much, if at all. An Australian study came to the embarrassing conclusion you are LESS likely to die if driving stoned.

      Benadryl, which is the same stuff as sleeping pills, is far more dangerous. Look up the stats on asleep-at-the-wheel deaths.
  • lnf69, on 10/12/2007, -17/+5More of this and I might change parties.
  • Antitheft, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9*****.
  • oddmanout, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Hell yea, i'm all about less gov't intrusion.
  • froman98, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2He might not be pro-drug but maybe he's pro-high?
  • SamsLembas, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Was it necessary to word it like that?
  • skiley22, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4hahahahha "Explore, not experiment"
  • bmatherlyjr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4

    Take a look at the radio show archives over @ FreeTalkLive.com; yesterday they did an entire segment on Bob Barr who is now part of the Libertarian Party.
    I was kind of amused when I heard about this from FTL.

  • Barnolde, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15Education should be neutral and unbiased. This is just one more step closer to ending a $14 billion waste of money.
  • OGTL, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21More and more politicians are waking up and realizing how essentially retarded it is that marijuana is illegal. It's only a matter of time before it becomes legal, hopefully sooner than later.
    • milomilomilo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Im very pro legalization myself, but be realistic, even if support for i were to improve greatly, It would be 20 years on the upswing before it had a chance of happening.

      there is a whole lot of misinformation to clean up before a bill to legalize comes up. otherwise it would make it harder to make any headway for legalization.
    • skinjester, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10by this weekend would be convenient. Busy schedule and really don't have time to go thru the ritual. Walgreens should have the trainwreck in stock by then I hope
    • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I don't think it's going to be overnight -- but you can't say it will be "at least 20 years". First off, the boomers are becoming the old folks now. Secondly, it might just take another Bush appointment or two to swing the court in the right direction (I'm serious -- look at how the current judges vote and not by what your favorite pundit says) and we could see them rule against drug prohibition altogether.

      I don't think it will probably happen, but it could happen a lot sooner than you think...
    • proton, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@skinjester, no kidding. "Forcing" people to use the black market to get what they want is getting old...
  • NikoKun, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14woah... So its actually possible for someone to change sides in this arguement? someone working on the 'stop marijuana' side actually saw how stupid it is for once??? And I like that he's supporting the government getting out of the issue... thats a really smart stand on the topic. Score one for our side!
    The government should not be telling us what we can and can't put in our own bodies...
    • realperson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Yeah well the problem is he was exposed to the argument (or should have been) back when he was a Drug Warrior; it's only now that he's perceiving that Republican voters are not marijuana averse he backpedals.

      Backpedal away but it would be nice for him to go out and give testimony about his being completely head up his ass on this one before.
    • xenoc1de, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1word.
  • aphextwin, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5
    wtf wrong story sorry
    • kosmoX, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Clearly, you are pro-marijuana too.
    • stepnw1f, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Spark up and chill...... don't be so uptight.
    • kosmoX, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5@ stepnw1f

      I'm all for legalizing marijuana. Bob Barr isn't the only Republican that thinks the government is over-stepping its bounds here.
  • stepnw1f, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6I think if more Republicans smoked some pot and calmed down a bit we'd have a healthier Democracy. Hell they couldn't get an lazier.... could they?

    Bob Barr is also an ACLU member. A man who takes civil liberties seriously. Very interesting man....
    • NapaSales150, 1 hr 49 min ago, -0/+1If what you want is a healthy Democracy in the U.S., then I say you are not helping. This country was founded to be a Republic, not a Democracy.
  • OGTL, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@milomilomilo

    Heh, sorry. I'm in Canada. We're a little bit closer than the US in the legalizing battle. ;) For all intents and purposes, it is already legal here, not uncommon to see a few potheads walking down the street smoking a joint, or people plopping down dime bags in convenience stores while they look for change. Cops don't give you a hard time either, maybe a confiscation and a slap on the wrist.
  • dfdemar, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Bob Barr isn't a Republican. He's a libertarian.
    • dagnome1984, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Sure he is a libertarian, and Chris Rock is a white man. He is a LINO. Libertarian in name only.
    • williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Bob Barr is a Republican. Rob Barr, Dick Armey, and Ron Paul are the three best politicians in America. Too bad the rest of the Republicans are p0wned by AIPAC and led the nation into a disastrous war against our interests.
  • AstralSin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5woooo! republican, libertarian, whig, what does it matter when he's tokin the twig? :)
  • Marijuana, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16Pro-Marijuana news makes me happy. LEGALIZE/REGULATE
  • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Maybe he's seeing the writing on the wall...

    The Republicans cannot go on being the mouthpiece of the religious right. They've lost the west coast for good, and are on the verge of losing the mountain west. The idea of personal liberty and limited government may be more appealing to the masses than some may think..
    • sathias, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11It makes no sense that fundamentalist Christians are against marijuana. The bible clearly states that Adam and Eve were allowed to use any plant in the garden of eden however they wished, as long as they didn't eat from the tree of knowledge. So unless they believe that marijuana is the tree of knowledge, their literal translation of the bible should make marijuana (or any naturally growing drug) ok.
    • Aces, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0@sathias
      You're making some pretty huge leaps there. I suspect you know you're wrong and were joking but in case not: even the fundamentalists accept that some of the Bible is metaphorical. You don't see baptists walking around missing a hand because they cut it off since it offended them (Mark (ch. IX, v. 43-44)).

      Thats one group that will pretty much always be against drug use in all forms (pot, excessive alcohol, hard drugs) because they see it as morally wrong to waste a life (or portions of it) being high/stoned/drunk/etc.
    • sathias, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4You could have fooled me. After all I am talking about the same book of the bible that has caused fundamentalists to call for Creationism to be taught in schools as Science.
    • flashingcurser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@ sathias

      Your absolutely right, genisis 1:29 In fact all plants that do not produce seed are to be considered unclean, not fit for human use. (Male plants?) I will remind hardcore Christians, during the time of christ opiates, hemp, and quat (an amphetamine) were reasonably common. He did not have one parable regarding this. In fact His first miracle was to keep the party going when wedding reception ran out of wine. He turned water into wine so the party could continue.

  • robato, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Now that we see that it *is* possible to come to sense regarding the legalization of cannabis hemp, let's utilize this burst of inspiration to contact your local, state and federal representatives with a well-reasoned letter to clarify the issue for them. You will likely receive a form letter in response with a vague rebuke of your stance, but don't stop there. Literally QUOTE their letter back to them and continue the dialogue. It's *work*, but it's righteous labor.

    US Representatives
    http://www.house.gov/writerep/

    US Senators
    http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

    In addition, do a google search for: contact state representatives (your state)


    Sure, it's all fun and games to "woohoo!" and hope things change...but the only way you can make the future a reality is if you actively shape it.

  • JayTee44, on 10/12/2007, -12/+1Bob Barr was a republican; he lost the last election he ran in. Now he's a libertarian. He's a very smart guy and a very interesting one.
    Watch him speak, watch him being interviewed, and then tell me he's not brilliant. You can keep the rest of the ACLU.
    To those who say cigarettes are worse than weed: wrong. Weed has much, much more carcinogens in a given quantity than cigarette smoke. I'm not completely against weed, I even occasionally smoke it. But it's wishful thinking to suppose it's not bad for you. It's very bad for you!
    • sulaco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Vaporizer.
    • VaporBro, on 10/26/2007, -1/+4I don't know wtf you're smokin, but my weed doesn't give me more carcinogens than cigarettes. Besides...I got a Vapor Brothers next to my bed. =]
    • MrESaulved, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Some fool wrote: "To those who say cigarettes are worse than weed: wrong"

      Nicotine is a deadly poison found as a naturally occurring compound in tobacco. Additional nicotine is added the cigarette manufacturing process to take advantage of its addictive properties. Nicotine produces dependence upon users, it is toxic and a carcinogen. It is specific to insects, by way of natural selection in the plants it is known to exist in, which includes eggplant and tomato.

      Cannabis contains a wide range of active compounds, some carcinogenic, most not, many therapeutic. THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana is specifically non-toxic, as toxic doses are so impossibly....high. There has never been a documented death of THC overdose. THC is also non physiologically addicting, however you might have a hard time convincing a pot user psychologically that they should stop using pot by attempting to compare it to cigarettes.

      As far as the products of combustion entering the lungs and subsequently the blood stream, unfiltered marijuana joints can contain as much, maybe even more carbon monoxide than a filtered cigarette, however do not trust the published numbers of tar and nicotine based on the "FTC" method, I suspect no human has ever smoked a cigarette in the "FTC" manner, and never will, so the numbers are generally inaccurate. CO is bad for humans and should be avoided. Luckily, there are as many ways to ingest THC as you can find uses for butter, or the smallish white crystalline form that accumulates can be used as a garnish for your vaporizer, avoiding the entire issue of combusting plant matter.

      Cigarettes are nails for your coffin.
    • dlbear, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I think following a diesel RTA bus down a city street damages my lungs WAY more than smoking anything, 1 whiff of those fumes and I feel like I'm having an asthma attack.

      Mark my words, if you keep telling gov't "take care of this situation for me" you'll suddenly find them "taking care of" situations they have no business being involved with (eg. prohibition). And the longer we wait to rein them in the harder it'll be.
    • Phrag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4If you think smoking marijuana is worse than smoking cigarettes, please refer to the study done by doctor Tashkin at UCLA. It showed that people who only smoked tobacco were many times more likely to develop cancer in the mouth, respitory tract and especially in the lungs. People who smoked only marijuana were actually as likely or less likely to develop these types of cancer than people who smoke nothing at all.

      I would also suggest doing research into how tobacco contains the radioactive isotopes polonium-210 and lead-210. Here are some 'fun facts' on polonium-210:
      It emits alpha radiation which is highly toxic if ingested, injected or inhaled.
      It is around 5 million times more toxic that hydrogen cyanide.
      Its has an average lethal dose of 50 nanograms.
  • jcm267, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3wrong forum
    • socokoolaid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2He was looking for 'The Problem With Porn These Days'

      seems to be a lot of them posting on the wrong forum ;P
  • Ayrapetov1, on 10/12/2007, -18/+1Who cares? I mean weed is such a stupid drug. Most people I know like weed because they like being labeled a pothead. Weed gives you such a silly high. You overthink everything. Act stupid.Your eyes get red. Your mouth is dry. You're hungry. And it's illegal. AND it costs too much money. Complete *****. Most people who smoke weed are poverty stricken morons. Take your pick people. Get high with this ***** or drink a 6-pack of beer and have the time of your life.
    • socokoolaid, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18Beer costs more, gives you a crappy high, requires vasts amount of time. Different strokes for different folks. (I currently do neither, drink nor smoke)
    • sulaco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13@Ayrapetov1

      I think you have been watching too many of those anti-pot commercials. Most of my pot smoking friends are college educated, intelligent, and have cool jobs. They do interesting things with their free time like writing music, photography, and going to art museums. Most of my beer drinking friends just yell at the TV about some game they have no control over all weekend. You do the math.
    • wounded625, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5crappy high? how can high be crappy? being high feels amazing.
  • socokoolaid, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Bob, just do the bong rip.... we won't tell
  • djpyro, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Weed should be Legal all ready.. the government isn't going to win... they haven't for 20-30years?...

    i mean alcohol was illegal wayyy before marijuana... and i know this by fact... marijuana helps so much... people who use it to say there "potheads" are stupid...

    it helps with pain, depression, balemic(sp) people ETC.

    alcohol and cigarettes cause DEATH... marijuana hasn't killed anyone...

    its all about POPULATION CONTROL... you take away the things that kills humans the population would triple...

    and @Ayrapetov1

    not all the people who smoke pot are "poverty stricken"... i make a fair bit of money... just because you smoke weed doesn't mean your poor... your an idiot...

    and i hate alcohol so i smoke weed because really "you might as well smoke something that will benefit you, then kill you"... unlike cigarettes...
    • jjed824, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10If you're going to call somebody an idiot, (or say "your an idiot," which technically doesn't make sense), at least do so in a coherent post. You'll give the rest of us potheads a better image.
    • dlbear, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I'd prefer it if you weren't my advocate
  • arcangelgabriel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+32As a law enforcement officer of 17 years let me just say this:

    Legalize this ***** already! 95% of all complaints I respond to are alcohol driven. 0 complaints are because someone is stoned.

    We're not even making a dent in the marijuana trade in this country. Personally I've got more important things to chase down than some guy with a dried weed. Prescription drug abuse is by FAR more dangerous and pervasive.

    Alcohol, Prescription drugs, Heroin... in that order. At least in my neck of the woods.

    Statistics vary, consult your local dealer.

    My 2 cents.
    • caponumen, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Thank you.
      The legal drug pushers are the true villains........
    • owlinfoxhole, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4yes, thank you arcangel....
      i actually had some friends who were busted for pot but the cop let them go saying " he was glad they were smoking pot, cuz if they were drinking they might have attacked him" it's nice to hear law officials come out for legalization...

      ps. also, according to a UNICEF report, the best devoloped country for children to grow up in is........the netherlands, do you know what goes on there?
      of the 21 nations, usa came in at 20th, not surprised...
    • williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Good for you. Trouble is, too many of your brethren are on the Drug War gravy train. So many prisons. SWAT teams militarizing policing. Dynamic entry raids on old folks.

      The Drug War is the #1 reason the population distrusts cops, and many outright despise cops. Not just pot smokers - people in suits and nice cars who don't touch pot because they don't want their Porsche seized by a bent narc.

      Good luck. It is the struggle of our time.
  • spyd3rweb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9I want to see a anti-drug TV ad that depicts actual people ripped out of their minds
  • copaceticZ, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Legalize it i'm sick of being scared/hating the police because i make the right choice and smoke a little pot. I personally believe law enforcement would reap so many benefits from the legalization of marijuana that it is insane that the police themselves are not forcing the legalization of the stuff. The ban on Marijuana is what makes the vast majority of people in the US hate the police by legalizing it they would go from having 20% of the people on their side all the time to having 80% of the people on their side. I wouldn't be surprised if marijuana being illegal is of a greater threat on the roads due to the fact that people with it in their cars freak the ***** out when they see a cop behind them or even think they see a cop behind them.
    • williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If the Drug War were ended we would need half as many prisons, and half as many cops. Too many cops would rather be hated.
  • weister42, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I was gonna ban smoking pot, but then I got high...
  • MrESaulved, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6If simple possession were de-criminalized, one of the more unexpected benefits would be the complete re-working of the social dynamic between police officers and the majority of the people they deal with for the better.

    For one, a whole class of people would revert back to citizens, rather than suspects. It would be like a great plague or curse has been lifted, especially from young folk and minorities. The police force would be able to focus, with money and manpower on matters that actually harm the public and the public in turn would reaffirm their support for the work of law enforcement and seek to co-operate with them, rather than ignore them or write them off as tools of failed social policy.

    Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come!
  • slimnickyy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2He isn’t pro-drug, he said, just against government intrusion. Plus the money they pay him doesn't hurt either. Politicians switch sides very quickly on anything when they get checks.
  • pyite, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Holy hand grenades, Batman.

    I have been a Barr-hater for at least a decade - he always seemed to be the sponsor of the most anti-marijuana legislation in the house. This is as big a change as the biblical transformation of Saul -> Paul.

    Now if only the same would happen while people were still in Congress and could do something about it.

  • Protoss, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2So if it was legalized, wouldn't Weeds have the most boring season 3 ever?
  • step2themusic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Just Say No to the war on drugs. Its just another way to take money from your pocket and give it to the corporations that build/run prisons and protect the pharmeceutical giants.
    Law Enforcement knows this to be true
    http://leap.cc/
  • SomeLlama, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i was going to post about leap.cc but i see Step did already, right on!

    Please end the abuse of government in our personal lives, end prohibiton!
  • deepfog, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Make sure to check out this digg too:

    http://digg.com/world_news/Random_Drug_Testing_For_Clubbers_While_In_Line
  • Daole, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's good to see that he has realized the actual benefits medical marijuana brings to the table, but sadly it's almost too little too late. However, this could draw enough attention so that other republicans with familiar sentiment will no longer be afraid to take this step in the right direction.
  • sharly2007, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Maybe he's seeing the writing on the wall... The Republicans cannot go on being the mouthpiece of the religious right. They've lost the west coast for good, and are on the verge of losing the mountain west. The idea of personal liberty and limited government may be more appealing to the masses than some may think.. http://www.gwafi.com/home.html http://www.gwafi.com/links.html
  • west7049, on 04/02/2008, -0/+2And now Barr is a Libertarian, welcome home Bob!
  • libr3volution, on 06/11/2008, -0/+2Bob Barr has made mistakes. Who hasn't? He's apologized for his votes in the House that went in opposition to his current Libertarian stance. It's enough for me as west7049 has said welcome home Bob!! Get government out of our lives!
  • pissedoffvoter, on 06/28/2008, -0/+2It is refreshing to see a politician that can realize he made a horrible, evil mistake in his support for the failed "War on Marijuana Users" & is trying to fix the damage he caused to our Constitution.

    He has my vote in November. Let's defeat both the Socialist's running for the Republicrats & Demecans! Yes we CAN!
  • andy2245, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1http://www.BobBarr2008.com
  •  

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