Obama: Marijuana not high priority, 'bigger fish to fry'

President Obama says recreational users of marijuana in states that have legalized the substance should not be a "top priority" of federal law enforcement officials prosecuting the war on drugs.

"We've got bigger fish to fry," Obama said of pot users in Colorado and Washington during an exclusive interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters.

"It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it's legal," he said, invoking the same approach taken toward users of medicinal marijuana in 18 states where it's legal.

Obama's comments on marijuana are his first following Colorado and Washington voters' approval of Nov. 7 ballot measures that legalize the recreational use and sale of pot in defiance of federal law.

Marijuana, or cannabis, remains classified under the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I narcotic whose cultivation, distribution, possession and use are criminal acts. It's in the same category as heroin, LSD and "Ecstasy," all deemed to have high potential for abuse.

Obama told Walters he does not ? "at this point" ? support widespread legalization of marijuana. But he cited shifting public opinion and limited government resources as reasons to find a middle ground on punishing use of the drug.

"This is a tough problem, because Congress has not yet changed the law," Obama said. "I head up the executive branch; we're supposed to be carrying out laws. And so what we're going to need to have is a conversation about, How do you reconcile a federal law that still says marijuana is a federal offense and state laws that say that it's legal?"

The president said he has asked Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department to examine the legal questions surrounding conflicting state and federal laws on drugs.

"There are a number of issues that have to be considered, among them the impact that drug usage has on young people, [and] we have treaty obligations with nations outside the United States," Holder said Wednesday of the review underway.

As a politician, Obama has always opposed legalizing marijuana and downplayed his personal history with the substance.

Obama wrote in his 1995 memoir, "Dreams from My Father," that he would smoke pot regularly with his high school buddies who formed a "club of disaffection." The group was known as the "Choom Gang," says Obama biographer David Maraniss.

"There are a bunch of things I did that I regret when I was a kid," Obama told Walters. "My attitude is, substance abuse generally is not good for our kids, not good for our society.

"I want to discourage drug use," he added.

While the administration has not prioritized prosecutions of marijuana users and small-scale distributors in states where it's legal, it has not ceased prosecutions altogether. The Justice Department has continued raids on pot providers ? including in states where they are legal ? in an approach that experts say is more aggressive than Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush.

"I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana ? and the reason is, because it's against federal law," Obama told "Rolling Stone" in an interview earlier this year.

It "is a murky area," Obama told the magazine, "where you have large-scale, commercial operations that may supply medical marijuana users, but in some cases may also be supplying recreational users. In that situation, we put the Justice Department in a very difficult place if we're telling them, 'This is supposed to be against the law, but we want you to turn the other way.' That's not something we're going to do."

Obama and the Office of National Drug Control Policy say the negative impacts of widespread marijuana legalization loom large.

Legalization would lower the price of "weed," thereby fueling its use and triggering more widespread negative health effects and subsequent costs of care, the administration says in its official policy position. Officials also say legalization would do little to curb drug violence or eliminate cartels.

"When you're talking about drug kingpins, folks involved in violence, people who are peddling hard drugs to our kids and our neighborhoods that are devastated, there is no doubt we need to go after those folks hard," said Obama.

"It makes sense for us to look at how we can make sure that our kids are discouraged from using drugs and engaging in substance abuse generally," he said. "There's more work we can do on the public health side and the treatment side."

Colorado and Washington are the first states to legalize recreational use of marijuana, presenting a fresh challenge for the Obama Justice Department to navigate in a second term.

While public opinion has shifted toward legalization over the past few years, Americans remain divided about the personal use of pot.

Fifty percent of American adults oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, while 48 percent would support such a measure, according to a November ABC News/Washington Post poll. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 points.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who personally opposed legalization, on Monday formally approved the voter-backed amendment to the state constitution legalizing recreational use of marijuana.

The measure will allow individuals to possess one ounce of pot and up to six marijuana plants and licensed stores to sell marijuana starting next year.

Washington State last week officially became the first to allow recreational use of marijuana when a voter-approved ballot measure took effect.

In both states, pot use remains illegal in public. Eighteen states have approved the use of marijuana for medicinal use with a doctor's order. Federal law still prohibits all use and sale of marijuana.

ABC News' Jason Ryan contributed to this report.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/marijuana-users-not-high-priority-obama-210709158.html

howard johnson levon helm firelight world peace elbow kevin love think like a man world peace

Advertisement:

We were unable to forward you to the advertisement you clicked on.

The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.

  • If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
    • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
    • Click the Privacy tab
    • Adjust your privacy setting if necessary
      ?
  • If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
    • Open Internet Explorer
    • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
    • Click the 'Programs' tab and check the box for Internet Explorer to check if it is the default browser and save your change
    • Close your browser, re-open it, and when prompted, select Internet Explorer as your default
    • You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view

Source: http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=0cb1c27a5793507413fd978d70af22b8&p=4

Teen Choice Awards 2012 Aurora victims usher James Holmes Minka Kelly sex tape Colorado shooting Colorado shooting victims

The excellent Brain Food from Unboundary: An Appetite for 21st ...

Posted by Jonathan Martin under Uncategorized
1 Comment?

?

Just last week I was asked by a colleague for a readily accessible, engaging and stimulating short introduction and overview of 21st century learning he could provide his faculty, and, somewhat?embarrassingly, I found myself a bit stumped.

I know of plenty of great books, but what the best single short and free resource?

One option, and it is a pretty good option, is the pamphlet from NAIS, A Strategic Imperative: A Guide to Becoming a School of the Future, (which I was pleased to be a small contributor to). ? But it is written a bit more for school-leaders than for teachers, is a bit long, and is a little dry. ? ? It is still a great resource though; I?ve embedded it at the bottom of this post [after "more..."].

So it was with great satisfaction that I scanned the?above first publication of Brain Food for Education, which comes from the innovation firm Unboundary and was produced by my good friend and highly esteemed educational blogger and thinker, Bo Adams.

This is a great tool for the purpose I described, and as such, includes of course great links for those who want to dig deeper and learn more.

?

4 things I like especially:?

1. ?The visual look and graphic design is tremendous: bright, appealing, professional.

2. ?The Discussion prompts shared on page 19 are very helpful: they could be a great resource for schools working to generate more and better conversation among all their constituencies as they facilitate change. ? ?(for an additional resource, see the discussion prompts included in the guide to becoming a school of the future,page 36).

3. ? The schools selected as exemplars are inspiring? from the nation of Finland (and I was glad to learn of the RSA video about PISA here) to High Tech High and Nueva Schools in California. ? ?As Bo writes, ?just seeing even one example can help us raise our aspirations and trajectories.? ? Indeed? and I?d underscore, try to go and see them first-hand.

4. ?The guide grounds its ideation about the future of learning in that most important topic: what do we want for our students: what skills and capacities. ? ?I was appreciative for learning about the Top Skills for the Future report from the Institute for the Future; to quote:

Global connectivity, smart machines, and new media are just some of the drivers reshaping how we think about work, what constitutes work, and the skills we will need to be productive contributors in the future.?This report analyzes key drivers that will reshape the landscape of work and identifies key work skills needed in the next 10 years.

It does not consider what will be the jobs of the future. Many studies have tried to predict specific job categories and labor requirements. Consistently over the years, however, it has been shown that such predictions are difficult and many of the past predictions have been proven wrong. Rather than focusing on future jobs, this report looks at future work skills?proficiencies and abilities required across different jobs and work settings.

I hope to return to this Skills for the Future report for further examination in a future post.

?

What might I have added? ?This is a terrific guide, and I have no complaints. ?But, there are a few things I might have considered adding.

1. Connectivism: peer and networked learning. ?As regular readers here know, I have been a bit consumed this past year with the concept of connectivism, that we all learn better and more deeply when we are webbed into networks of learners who are exploring and sharing their thoughts as part of a collective or community. ? ? Unless I missed it, there is no reference in this fine guide to the vision of John Seely Brown that is articulated in what I think is among the most important books in the past decade, A New Culture of Learning. ? To quote:

Embracing change and seeing information as a resource can help us stop thinking of learning as an isolated process of information absorption and start thinking of it as a cultural and social?process of engaging with the constantly changing world around us.

The new culture of learning actually comprises two elements. The first is a massive information network that provides almost unlimited access and resources to learn about anything. The second is a bounded and structured environment that allows for unlimited agency to build and experiment with things within those boundaries.

2. There is an important reference in Brain Food on page 9 to the important truth that in the coming years, ?internet literacy will be among the most valued skills.? ?Excellent. ?I would have built more upon this concept, expanding it to include reference to the critical nature of developing Digital citizenship and what Rheingold calls, in his incredibly valuable 2012 book, Net Smart(s).

3. Page 12 discusses the exciting field of gamification. ?Indeed, gamification relates to my comment just above about networked learning, which may well be best exhibited in the past decade by online multiplayer games such as World of Warcraft and now Minecraft (which is the obsession of my two sons). ? But I would have taken just another sentence here or in a nearby box to reference the growing importance of Big Data and Learning Analytics, and especially how we need to work to find ways to bring LA to students and empower them to track, manage, and employ data to enhance their ownership of their learning journey.

4. ?In the discussion prompts, I might have added another question or two in predictions and solutions to tease out further people?s vision of the school of the future and ground it in practice, questions like : what would you observe in a school which has addressed most of these problems and implements most of these solutions? ? How would you know your school is succeeding, and what criteria would you use to measure that? ? ?How would you build a road-map to the future that would help you know how far along this journey you have progressed?

?-

I embedded below for quick access some of the recommended videos from this publication which most interested and excited me: Enjoy. ?Let me again in closing extend my compliments to Bo Adams and the Unboundary team for this excellent publication and resource, which I expect to use often in the coming months.

-

-

-

-

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://21k12blog.net/2012/12/13/the-excellent-brain-food-from-unboundary-an-appetite-for-21st-century-educational-change/

meteor shower tonight annie oakley edc paranormal activity 4 love and hip hop 2012 nfl mock draft iowa caucus

Car bomb kills two in Somali capital

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed two people in the centre of Somalia's capital Mogadishu capital on Friday in a blast that appeared to target an African Union peacekeepers' convoy, police and residents said.

Security in Mogadishu has improved greatly since Islamist rebels allied to al Qaeda fled the capital more than a year ago, but the coastal city remains dogged by bombings and assassinations blamed on the militants.

The bomber struck on the Maka al-Mukaram road, a thoroughfare lined by construction sites and tea-rooms that last year was a frontline in the battle for control of Mogadishu.

"An AMISOM armored convoy passed us and just after we heard a loud explosion. We looked back and saw thick smoke," Samira Hussein, who was travelling down the road in a minibus taxi, told Reuters at the blast site where the twisted wreckage of the car smoldered.

The blast killed the bomber and two civilians and wounded seven others, Abdifatah Sabriye, a senior police commander in Mogadishu's Waberi district, told Reuters.

The al Shabaab rebel group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was targeting the United States' head of counter terrorism in east Africa.

The group said on its Twitter feed (@HSMPress) that the official was injured as he was being driven to the presidential palace in a convoy of three armored vehicles.

American diplomats in Nairobi were not immediately available for comment.

Locals said the street, which links the commercial K4 district with parliament, was quieter than usual as the blast happened during Friday prayers.

In late September, al Shabaab withdrew from the southern port of Kismayu, their last major urban stronghold, a retreat that signaled their demise as a quasi-conventional military force. The rebels vowed to step up a campaign of suicide bombings and hit-and-run attacks.

(Reporting by Abdirahman Hussein, Abdi Sheikh and Duncan Miriri in Nairobi; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Angus Macswan and Jason Webb)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/car-bomb-kills-two-somali-capital-190311340.html

hocus pocus hocus pocus mta schedule PECO chris christie Hurricane Sandy update weather channel

Spanish botched fresco artist sells work on eBay

MADRID (AP) ? The 80-year-old Spanish artist who became famous because of her botched restoration of a Christ fresco in a small-town church is auctioning one of her works on eBay for charity.

Celia Gimenez's oil painting "Las Bodegas de Borja" ("Borja's Wine Cellar"), was fetching ?620 ($808) Thursday, doubling its starting price after 31 bids. The sale closes Monday.

Gimenez became a sensation in August when pictures spread on the Internet of an "Ecce Homo" ("Behold the Man") mural in a chapel in the town of Borja that she disfigured while trying to restore it. Twitter users redubbed it "Ecce Mono" ("Behold the Monkey").

The painting has since become a tourist attraction and the image has been used on T-shirts and wine labels.

A note on eBay says the auction's proceeds will go to the Catholic charity organization Caritas.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spanish-botched-fresco-artist-sells-ebay-120509803.html

Amy Weber Happy Halloween! Star Wars Episode 7 miranda lambert luke bryan NBA jfk airport

Did Land-Dwellers Emerge 65 Million Years Earlier Than Was Thought?

There is a significant difference between an article that leaves the basis premise alone but changes some of the details compared to an article that attacks the core of the theory.

Even in the recent case where someone suggested that the speed of light was slightly exceeded by neutrinos the results were broadly assumed to be experimental error because the theory of special relativity is widely considered proven fact. Perhaps a small refinement to SR would accommodate FTL neutrinos -- this would not necessarily destroy the basic theory. Einstein did not destroy Newton, he improved the model.

If I invented a time machine and go back in time to interview Adam & Eve it would be very difficult for a science journal to accept this evidence as scientific because it violates the very concept of scientific study -- natural causes are always assumed as anything else is not science (this assumption is reasonable). Short of time travel, I would say it is impossible for any theory to replace modern evolutionary theory unless it also has a naturalistic explanation. If I found a complete set of mammal fossils in pre-Cambrian rock it would be publishable in Nature, etc. but this does not mean that most evolutionists would suddenly embrace special creation. Evolutionists would simply modify their their to accommodate new data -- they have modified it a number of times in the past to accommodate new data.

In the case of global warming the full-blown time-to-panic theory is not well established as a scientific fact, so it is relatively easy to publish against that oppose this -- if you attempt to say that there is no anthropogenic global warning due to industrial greenhouse gases you will find it much more difficult to get it published -- this is how science works.

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/iygclkn3hDg/story01.htm

grok cirque du freak eric cantor eric cantor pope joan pope joan paul pierce

Your Business Will Boom With These Internet Marketing Tips

For everyone starting a brand new business or seeking to expand their current business, Internet marketing may very well be the ideal tool to pursue your goals. Many internet marketing tips and ideas are scattered in various places on the internet, making it difficult to begin. This article should help you sort through this confusion with some succinct tips.

You should always remember that headlines sell when writing, so always use them in your promotional materials. The title should catch the reader?s attention and highlight your offering from your site. You can even skip a headline and put a photo there. Adding graphics can be a lot more beneficial than a headline or almost anything else.

Offer a FAQ section on your website to improve visitors? satisfaction. A quick answer to their question will make them feel that your website is helpful and friendly. This will increase the likelihood that they will make a purchase from you.

When writing content, use simple and plain language to make your points or describe your products. Actually using the word ?easy? in your content will get you some added attention. Most people prefer products that are simple, so by using these keywords you can entice visitors to try your product. People will not order a product if they are confused or feel like they will not be able to use it right away.

If you are good at creating an Ezine, it can be an on-going effective marketing technique where you can build a following with the people who subscribe to it. Add personality through photos of yourself, family, and staff. Think about adding amusing morsel of your work environment and also your life at home. Use of captivating words in your subject line, such as examples of easy, fast ways to attain their goals, will peak your customers interest.

Allow your customers to control the content that they get from you. Do not spam your readers with information they do not want or need. But if they feel that they?re dictating the search and that they?re not being coerced into anything, they?re more likely to trust your site.

When you are creating your website, you need to make it very content related and comprehensive. Your goal is to provide valuable information to your customers in a limited amount of time, so that they can make an informed decision about their purchase. Crowding your page or making it complicated to use will turn customers away.

Now you have seen ways in which internet marketing can be a cost-effective, simple and efficient way to market your online business, as long as you use it properly. Internet marketing can really be a huge asset to the growth and success of your business.

Lizardwebs Computer Services Computer Repair Knightdale NC

Looking for places in Knightdale to clean your pc? Contact Lizardwebs Onsite Computer Repair for immediate pc repair or to get more info now!

Same day onsite PC Repair Raleigh Triangle Area - 919.404.9327

Lizardwebs Computer Services Clean your Raleigh PC

Need a place in Raleigh to clean your pc? Contact Lizardwebs Onsite Computer Repair for immediate pc repair or to get more info now!

Same day onsite PC Repair Raleigh Triangle Area - 919.404.9327 -->

Source: http://blogs.lizardwebs.net/2012/12/your-business-will-boom-with-these-internet-marketing-tips/

peyton manning broncos mexico city earthquake stand your ground law dancing with the stars season 14 david garrard bethenny frankel michael bay ninja turtles

Learn These Tips Before You Make Your Travel Plans

Only pack the clothes you will need. In some instances, it does not pay to be over-prepared. Many people pack far too many clothes when they travel. This is a problem. It is especially a problem when they inadvertently lose the bags that contained them. Try packing multipurpose clothes that you can re-wear.

Inspect your hotel room for those nasty little bed bugs. As soon as you check in, turn down the covers and check the seams of the mattress for traces of bed bugs. Traces include bloodstains or the actual bugs themselves. This will prevent you from bringing the bugs home with you.

Of course you would like to take a bunch of gifts back to the people you love. This takes up much time from your trip and much baggage space on the way home. Just a tip: Enjoy your trip, and don't spend all your time shopping for people that aren't on the trip with you.

Before undergoing any major traveling, make sure you get plenty of rest the night before you leave. A lack of sleep can cause you to make poor decisions and causes forgetfulness. The consequences of bad choices when traveling are far more severe, than normal, so make sure you're well rested.

If you have a medical condition requiring prescription drugs, take the time to ensure a trouble-free journey by planning ahead. Purchase an extra supply of medications and pack them in separate places. Always carry one supply with you in your handbag and pack another in your suitcase. Consider mailing another supply to your destination, if feasible. Carry an extra copy of your prescription, as well as the name and telephone number of your doctor and pharmacist.

Bring along a "sleep pack" for long plane, train, or bus rides. Having a few comfortable accessories, such as a night mask, earplugs, and a small pillow, can make it much easier to sleep in a travel situation. This way, you'll arrive at your destination well-rested and ready to go.

When traveling by plane you should bring a light jacket with you if you get chilly easily. Airplanes are typically somewhat cool and often have fans blowing air for greater circulation which can make them feel even cooler. Light blankets are often handed out but they typically do not keep much warmth.

If you plan on taking an extended trip, you should look for ways to save money around the house during your prolonged absence. Some cable and utility providers will allow you to place temporary holds on your account for a brief period of time, during which you will not be charged monthly fees.

Trust locals over the concierge. Unfortunately, many hotels and their concierge services have agreements with certain businesses to steer guests to them, regardless of whether or not it is in your best interest. Instead, scope out a place that looks like your style and ask other customers for additional recommendations.

When traveling with small children, try to bring some food, drinks, and snacks that they enjoy. Most children do not like the food and drinks that the airline offers. Also, make sure to bring toys, games, and activities that they will enjoy for the whole flight so they will be entertained.

As was stated in the beginning of this article, stress is always a major factor in travel, for various reasons. You don't have to let it ruin you, instead conquer it by arming yourself with successful travel tips that are sure to make your journey worry-free and safe.

About the Author

For more articles check out internet site and online website.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Jonsailaned-Fryeesziksky/256365


Additional Articles From - Home | Travel & leisure | Travel tips

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Do not copy content from the page unless you comply with our terms of service.
Plagiarism will be detected by Copyscape.

Source: http://www.articlerich.com/Article/Learn-These-Tips-Before-You-Make-Your-Travel-Plans/2480000

mt rainier national park rose parade mount rainier national park drop dead gorgeous ticket city bowl 2011 nfl playoff schedule cowboys vs giants

EE's 4G network to be available in 35 locations by the end of March 2013

EE's 4G network to be available in 35 locations by the end of March 2013

Potential 4G adopters in the UK not only need to consider the price of EE's plans, but also the thin coverage currently available. This is slowly being fattened up, however, and today the company has announced that by March 2013, it plans to extend its high-speed network to an additional 17 areas (to make a grand total of 35). Those 17 towns and cities don't include last week's stealthy activations in Derby, Newcastle and Nottingham, or the planned switch-flipping in Belfast, Hull, Maidenhead and Slough before the end of the year. As well as gracing new locations with 4G and bolstering network density, EE is also upgrading its 3G network to support dual-channel HSPA+ (DC-HSPA+ for short). This is expected to be available across 40 percent of EE's network by year's end, and will also be enjoyed by customers signed up with Orange or T-Mobile. So, enough of the suspense -- head past the break for the full list of locales getting 4G early next year.

Continue reading EE's 4G network to be available in 35 locations by the end of March 2013

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/13/ee-4g-network-expansion/

bill clinton andy roddick Costa Rica Earthquake sandra fluke kellie pickler costa rica kevin hart