Obama on pot: decriminalize, don't legalize
His comments to Kansas City-based KMBC during a series of interviews Thursday afternoon with local television stations, the same day that Washington implemented a new law decriminalizing the use of small amounts of marijuana over the objections of some congressional Republicans.
READ: D.C. legalizes pot, ignoring House Republicans
"I think that we have to separate out legalization -- there's a lot of concern about drug abuse of any sort by our children and the general population -- versus the heavy criminalization of non-violent drug offenses," Obama said. "And I think that a lot of states are taking a look to see, do we have proportionality in terms of how we are penalizing the recreational user."
He said the United States has managed to discourage the use of other harmful products like tobacco without stiff jail sentences.
"I think that's what every state across the country, including some very conservative states that don't have a lot of tolerance for marijuana, are looking at," Obama said, "is do we want to be throwing people in jail for five, 10, 15 years if they're not major drug dealers but they're using a substance that's probably not good for them but is probably not hurting too many other people?"
Obama also repeated his previous stances on the Keystone XL pipeline, which he recently vetoed after Republicans sought to authorize it before the State Department completes a six-year-old review, and international trade.
He touted his administration's push for a 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership as a way to correct the labor and environmental lapses of past pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement. And he said the new deal is an opportunity to keep China from setting international rules with other Pacific Rim countries.
The rest is here:
Obama on pot: decriminalize, don't legalize
- Obama to headline fundraiser in response to GOP redistricting efforts - Politico - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Opinion | Obama Won Record Numbers of Nonwhite Voters. This Is How the Democrats Lost Them. - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Ted Cruz Admits Trumps Fever Dream of Obama Treason Charge Is BS - The Daily Beast - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Justice department forms strike force to investigate Obama over 2016 election - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Murkowski questions whether Trump admin is attacking Obama to distract from Epstein fallout - CNN - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Hear why Murkowski questions whether Gabbard releasing report on Obama is an effort to distract from Epstein fallout - CNN - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trump Posts Video of the Night Obama Humiliated Him as He Pushes for Prosecution - The Daily Beast - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Donald Trump accuses Barack Obama of treason over 2016 election claims - aljazeera.com - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trump accuses Obama of treason in escalating attacks over 2016 Russia probe - Reuters - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trump Threatens The View for Saying Hes Jealous of Obama - The Daily Beast - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trumps Accusations Against Obama Are Ridiculous and Weak, Spokesman Says - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- First Thing: Obama breaks silence on Trumps outrageous call to prosecute him - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Obama rebukes Trump's accusations in rare response - Axios - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- ICE on track for most deportations since Obama years, but still far short of 1 million target - CBS News - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Targeting Obama, Trumps Retribution Campaign Takes Another Turn - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trump accuses Obama of leading coup, urges authorities to 'go after' former president - Anadolu Ajans - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Commentary: 3 things that should scare us about Trump's fake video of Obama - Los Angeles Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trump Baselessly Accuses Obama of Treason, and Transgender Clinics Close - The New York Times - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- White House Accuses Fmr. President Obama of Conspiring to Subvert 2016 Election - C-SPAN - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Collins asks Gabbard if shes targeting Obama to be in good standing with Trump - CNN - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trump Lashes Out at Obama and Calls for Investigation - The Wall Street Journal - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Insecure Trump knows he'll never measure up to Obama. And it kills him. | Opinion - USA Today - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- White House trots out Tulsi Gabbard to push narrative Obama led Russian interference claims and coup against Trump - The Independent - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Trump blames Obama for what he calls 2016 attempt to tie him to Russia - Reuters - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Trump posts AI video of Obama being arrested after Gabbards coup claims: No one is above the law - The Independent - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Exclusive: House Speaker Johnson Willing to Subpoena Former President Obama over Russia Investigation - cbn.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Trump says Obama 'guilty' of 'treason' for ordering 2016 Russia investigation: 'They tried to steal the election' - New York Post - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Tulsi Gabbard openly accuses Obama of longstanding effort to overthrow Trump in coup - Yahoo Home - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama urges authenticity on social media: Dont be afraid to expose the messy or more complicated bits - The Hill - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Barack Obama Could Be Subpoenaed Over Declassified Docs: What to Know - Newsweek - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Trump Slammed Obama for Pushing NFL Team to 'Change Their Name' in Decade-Old Tweet. Now He's Doing the Same - Latin Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Jr. Shares Anti-Obama Meme That May Have Just Clowned JD Vance, Too - Yahoo Home - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Village People Reacts After President Trump Shares Offensive AI Video of Fake Obama Arrest Set to Y.M.C.A. - Billboard - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama on the Difficulties of Raising Malia and Sasha in the White House - Harper's BAZAAR - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Trump posts fake AI-video showing Obama being arrested with YMCA and meme turned hate symbol - USA Today - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Trump says DOJ should make Barack Obama top target over 2016 Russia investigation, This was treason - Hindustan Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Michael Steele Torches Trumps Spigot Of Lies In Painting Obama As Criminal - HuffPost - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump wants people targeted after report on Obama's alleged 2016 election plot - Washington Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- After Obama prison video, Trump says another top Democrat is in Big Trouble - The Independent - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Mike Johnson willing to subpoena Obama to face Congress grilling over Trump-Russia scheme - New York Post - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Trump blames Obama for what he calls 2016 attempt to tie him to Russia By Reuters - Investing.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Can Trump really prosecute Obama over the 2016 Russia probe? - Firstpost - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Tulsi Gabbard's Claims of 'Treasonous Conspiracy' by Obama Admin Conflict With Republican-Led Investigation in 2020: Report - Latin Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Tulsi Gabbard calls for Obama to be prosecuted over 2016 election claims - The Guardian - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Gabbard Claims Obama Administration Tried to Undermine Trump in 2016 - The New York Times - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Gabbard Dangles More Obama Claims as MAGA Rages Over Epstein - The Daily Beast - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Tulsi Gabbard openly accuses Obama of longstanding effort to overthrow Trump in coup - The Independent - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Obama admin aimed to usurp Trump: DNI Tulsi Gabbard reopens 2016 election probe; vows to hand over all - Times of India - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 'Obama can't be jailed as that might cause civil unrest': Major outrage Tulsi Gabbard's claim amid Epstei - Times of India - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Barack Obama Urges Young Men To Befriend Gay People Who Can Help Teach Them 'Empathy And Kindness' - Yahoo Home - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 2016 election probe: Donald Trump backs Tulsi Gabbard; slams Barack Obama and 'thugs' - Times of India - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Obama should be out there more countering Trump in 'moment of crisis,' MSNBC panelist says - Fox News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Gabbard claims Obama officials manufactured intelligence of 2016 Russian election interference - The Hill - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Barack Obama Says Young Boys Need Gay Men In Their Lives and Black Men Are on Fire About It - The Root - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | Trump is deporting fewer people than Obama. Hes just louder and meaner. - The Washington Post - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Barack Obama explains why he thinks all men need queer people in their lives - Out Magazine - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- GOP lawmaker says 'new information' led to DNI Gabbard's bombshell claim against Obama admin - Fox News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Congressman says Obama needs to answer for this after documents seemingly show Obama admin manufactured Trump-Russia hoax - Yahoo Home - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Trump Backs Gabbards Call To Prosecute Obama; Slams Thugs For Alleged Election Fraud - Times Now - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Michelle and Barack Obama get candid as they address divorce rumors and more - Times of India - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- We have evidence to prosecute Obama for 2016 election narrative, Gabbard says - Washington Examiner - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Barack Obama-Michelle finally address divorce rumours: 'There hasnt been one moment in our marriage...' - The Economic Times - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Top Dem Deflates Gabbards Obama Coup Claims in Two Words - The Daily Beast - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Tulsi Gabbard calls for Barack Obama to be prosecuted over 2016 election claims: Treasonous conspiracy' - Mint - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Like Mark Cuban and Barack Obama, this founder says worklife balance doesnt exist for the successful: Even if I am on vacation, you're on 24 hours a... - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Ex-Obama staffer breaks into laughter over Trumps latest theory: Its so f---ing stupid! - NJ.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Obama should be out there more countering Trump in 'moment of crisis,' MSNBC panelist says - FOX 8 TV - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Barack Obama tells Democrats to toughen up as they look at the future - Yahoo Home - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Cuban-Americans reflect on 10 years since Obama thaw, current chill with Cuba - Spectrum News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Where Is Obama? Im Out Here! He Told Me. Watch the Interview. - Mother Jones - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Obama Continues to Lecture His Fellow Democrats Instead of Battling the Trump Agenda - Esquire - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Barack and Michelle Obama address divorce rumors - WUSA9 - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- George W. Bush Was 'Kind of Mad' at Daughter for Asking Him About Obama Divorce Rumors: 'I Know Them and It Isn't True' - People.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- 'She took me back': Barack, Michelle Obama address and joke about divorce rumors - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Michelle and Barack Obama Reveal Whos the Grumpiest, the Messiest and the Most Romantic - MSN - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Barack Obama gets candid about why he would have had difficulty raising a son - TheGrio - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Jesse Watters: Boring Barack Obama is trying to save the Democratic Partys appeal to male voters - Fox News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Barack Obama's first statement on divorce rumors: 'She took me back!' - Times of India - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Barack, Michelle Obama laugh off divorce rumors: See their relationship through the years - USA Today - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Barack Obama Believes It Wouldve Been Difficult To Raise A Son - VIBE.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]