While libertarian types, like Sen. Rand Paul, want to end the war on drugs, the right wing opposes any attempt to liberalize drug laws which are chock full of racial (and racist) disparities in arrests and convictions. And it's because, in part, of that inequity that NY City has decriminalized small amounts of pot, a change that seems to be an issue for the leggy ladies on "Outnumbered" who scored yet another propaganda fail with their attempt to articulate anti-pot (and anti-Obama) talking points with Tommy Chong who was able to counter their obvious propaganda with reality - a concept quite alien to those on Outnumbered who were clearly quite pouty about being bested.
As video of NY City Mayor Bill de Blasio with the NY City Police Commissioner was shown, Susan Smith reported on the progress of marijuana legalization with a stress on the negative aspects, identified on the chyron as "legalized pot problems." She seemed shocked that Bob Marley's family promoted a new pot brand, "on the Today Show, no less." She asked Tommy Chong to opine on the matter as the chyron framed the Fox message as a "Cavuto Marked" question: "Is the United States Moving Too Quickly in Legalizing Recreational Marijuana?"
Chong joked about how pot enabled him to be the oldest person on "Dancing With the Stars." Andrea Tantaros, somewhat acidly, said "you thank pot for that?" Chong said that all pot is medical if you consider recreation as a medical therapy. Faulkner, somewhat acidly said, "you've been working that for a long time." When Chong spoke of how the internet has dispelled lies about marijuana, Tantaros promoted an anti-pot talking point with her question of whether pot has changed and now is stronger. She looked a bit peeved when Chong said that "it's the same plant." Tantaros insisted that different types of pot are "far more potent."
Kennedy noted that marijuana is becoming a big business and asked Chong if he has "a stake in marijuana. He replied that he "has a stake in all sorts of things," including some movies. In an effort to get Chong to bash the president, Kennedy mentioned that Obama "has been awful" because his administration is still raiding farms where marijuana is grown. Chong deftly parried with "this president has been hypocritical but what president hasn't."
Faulkner moved the conversation back to the dangers of marijuana. Chong retorted with the fact that drunk driving is far more dangerous. When he asked Faulkner how many people have been killed with marijuana use, Faulkner wondered if it will happen with more legalization. There was dead silence after Chong said that policemen were getting high on marijuana. There was nervous laughter when Chong said that pot is cheaper and healthier than booze.
Susan Smith was, again, seemingly shocked as she noted that "in NY City, you can be caught with up to 25 grams which is, as I understand it, Andrea, can make about 60 joints, that's a lot of dope...merely a ticket in NY City if you're caught with that now." Chong added "merely, a ticket is still a ticket is still wrong and still a racist law." Looking very uncomfortable, Smith said "allright, you heard it from Tommy himself." As she tried to talk over him, he interjected "if you're a black guy, whether you arrest him or give him a ticket, it's still a racist law" Smith, not so jokingly, asked "why do you have so many thoughts on this subject." Unfortunately, the show ended, along with any discussion about the racist inequities of drug laws.
I don't think Susan Smith realized it, but she was describing Outnumbered with her comment "that's a lot of dope."
Anyway, Tommy Chong is awesome!