In a contentious interview Friday that has put him in hot water, Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, defended his opposition to marijuana legalization by saying he knows “a lot of weed smokers,” and said that black voters who aren’t sure whether to support him “ain’t black.”
Biden made the comments during an interview on “The Breakfast Club,” a syndicated radio program that is popular in the black community. The host of the program, Charlamagne Tha God, set the tone at the outset, acknowledging to Biden that he has been critical of him, and questioning why the former Delaware senator has seemingly been “M.I.A.” during the coronavirus crisis.
A little more than 11 minutes into the interview, it took a strange turn, after Biden had spent minutes aggressively defending his record, when a Biden aide—off camera—interjected and tried to cut it off.
“I’m so sorry,” the aide said. “That’s our time there.”
Biden suggested that his wife, Jill Biden, needed to use the makeshift studio that’s been set up in his Delaware home as he rides out the pandemic.
The Cannabis Question
But Charlamagne continued to press the former VP, particularly on his support for the controversial 1994 Crime Bill. The interview continued for another seven minutes after the aide’s interruption, allowing the host to ask Biden about his opposition to ending the prohibition on pot.
After Biden had said it “makes no sense for people to go to jail” for marijuana, Charlamagne asked him to explain the difference between decriminalization of weed—which Biden supports—and outright legalization, which he opposes.
“Because they’re trying to find out whether or not there is any impact on the use of marijuana, not in leading you to other drugs, but what it affects. Does it affect long term development of the brain and we should wait until the studies are done,” Biden said. “I think science matters.”
“I think we’ve got decades and decades of studies from actual weed smokers though,” Charlamagne replied.
“Yeah, I do,” Biden said in response, perhaps mishearing the host’s comment. “I know a lot of weed smokers.”
Several minutes later, the aide was back, again trying to cut off the interview.
“You can’t do that to black media,” Charlamagne protested.
“I can’t do that to white media and black media because my wife has to go on at six o’clock,” Biden said.
Charlamagne then invited Biden back on the program when he’s in New York, saying he had more questions for him.
“You got more questions but I tell ya, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” Biden said.
The comments have been widely criticized by many black Americans, and they were seized on by Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, which cut a video using the remarks within hours of Biden’s appearance.
LOL “stumbles”
Always vote third party but if trump said this there would be riots
And congrats on Peter Horveth hire, I
I heard GBB is fully bankrupt now and you guys have the audacity to hire standard White Male Exec for a historic counter culture magazine
What a fake f#ck, this Biden is. He can’t even act, OR tell the truth, much less be at all honest. Holy red flag. I hope the majority of the population sees right through this stupid douche when it comes time to vote. What a poser.
We’re so fucked as a nation. I’m glad shit got crazy to expose Biden & Trump being the problem & the symptom of a racist, unfettered capitalism system we have since Reagan was the one who started it. Also shame on people who think Biden is the lesser evil. Where the fuck were you during Obama’s two terms? Biden is responsible for the Crime Bill, police militarization, conservative judges, & caged children. The best thing you can do is vote third party. Voting for either is a permission from you to continue being corrupt while doing incrementalism. Also the writer can stop being so bias & carry water for Biden. We know Trump is garbage, but what are you offering us to be the solution to alleviate problems that were there before Trump? Offering Biden to be the Democratic nominee is playing with fire the second time. And if the Dems do lose, no one would want to be with a party with intentions of losing the second time so no one would stop the gravy train of Citizens United.
I guess Trump’s not a douche or a poser then?
Identity politics suck. Hire on basis of qualifications and experience, not skin color!
Once again biden shows that he’s living in the “reefer madness” era. This is at least the third time that he’s spouted disinformation about cannabis. How many more decades does he think we need to “research” this issue?!
He’ll try to walk these comments back just like his ‘you ain’t black’ idiocy. But, hopefully, most of us will remember.
It’s very clear that Biden is the lesser of two evils compared to Trump. I think people need to just bite the bullet and do anything to get rid of the monster incumbent. While his position on weed is somewhat vague, the cannabis industry needs to try and work with him, maybe try and influence him, as he may well be president by the end of the year. For example, hold him to his word when he says not enough research has been done on impacts on long term brain development or whatever (This would only be applicable to young people under 21 anyway as he is talking about brain development, and it is illegal for under 21s anyway!?). Pressure him very early on during his term to conduct a federally funded study to determine the exact risk posed and then he can no longer use that excuse. Through federal decriminalization, he may well move cannabis from a schedule 1 drug to a schedule 2 drug, allowing proper research to be undertaken. I cannot see him cracking down on pot outlets in states where it is already legal under state law.
https://420medicalhome.com/