--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The War on Drugs has been an utter…" description: "\"The War on Drugs has been an utter failure. We need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/barack-obama-17_cannabis_the-war-on-drugs-has-been-an-utter-failu_2796128.jpg" --- # The War on Drugs has been an utter failure. We need to… ![“The War on Drugs has been an utter failure. We need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/barack-obama-17_cannabis_the-war-on-drugs-has-been-an-utter-failu_2796128.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/barack-obama-17_cannabis_the-war-on-drugs-has-been-an-utter-failu_2796128.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/barack-obama-17_cannabis_the-war-on-drugs-has-been-an-utter-failu_2796128.jpg) > “The War on Drugs has been an utter failure. We need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The War on Drugs failed; legal reform and decriminalization are needed to reduce harm. **In simple terms:** Drug policy failed; change needed. Key Takeaway Support drug law reform. Themes policy justice public health Mood concern hopeful Type political activist When to use this quote - legislative debate - community education - advocacy Key Concepts criminal justice reform harm reduction Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports decriminalization? - How protect protect vulnerable groups? A Different Perspective Opposition argues it may increase use. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cannabis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannabis/) [Decriminalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decriminalize-1844091/) [Decriminalize Marijuana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decriminalize-marijuana-1844092/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Marijuana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marijuana/) [Marijuana Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marijuana-laws-665934/) [Marijuana legalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marijuana-legalization/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pot/) [Rethink Decriminalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rethink-decriminalize-3415554/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-drugs/) [War on drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-drugs/) [Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weed/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [I would decriminalize marijuana, but you step out of your house high and you bother somebody else in any way, shape or form, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-would-decriminalize-marijuana-but-you-step-out-of-your-house-high/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Latin America wants to decriminalize at least marijuana (maybe more or course;) the US wants to maintain it. An interesting story. There seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/latin-america-wants-to-decriminalize-at-least-marijuana-maybe-more-or/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Marijuana legalization's income may help fund education, prevention and treatment programs for harder drugs. What's clear is that the four-decade-old U.S.-backed war on drugs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-oppenheimer/marijuana-legalization-s-income-may-help-fund-education-prevention/) [Andres Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-oppenheimer/) > [So when people ask Galbraith, why is the change in marijuana laws important to the people of this country, because it returns to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gatewood-galbraith/so-when-people-ask-galbraith-why-is-the-change-in-marijuana-laws/) [Gatewood Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gatewood-galbraith/) > [I agree that marijuana laws are overdue for an overhaul. I also favor the medical use of marijuana -- if it's prescribed by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-van-buren/i-agree-that-marijuana-laws-are-overdue-for-an-overhaul-i-also-favor/) [Abigail Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-van-buren/) > [Now it is one thing to say I say it that people shouldn't consume psychoactive drugs. It is entirely something else to condone marijuana…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/now-it-is-one-thing-to-say-i-say-it-that-people-shouldn-t-consume/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [“WASHINGTON -As states liberalize their marijuana laws, public officials and safety advocates worry that more drivers high on pot will lead to a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/washington-as-states-liberalize-their-marijuana-laws-public-officials/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As far as I'm concerned, the reformation of marijuana laws is something that I take seriously. I think it's something that can stimulate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-roth/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-the-reformation-of-marijuana-laws-is/) [Asher Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-roth/) > [I'll give you a simple formula for straightening out the problems of the United States. First, you tax the churches. You take the tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/i-ll-give-you-a-simple-formula-for-straightening-out-the-problems-of/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [The prohibition of drugs causes crime. You don't have to legalize, just decriminalize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/the-prohibition-of-drugs-causes-crime-you-don-t-have-to-legalize-just/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [I won't decriminalize misdemeanors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zohran-mamdani/i-won-t-decriminalize-misdemeanors/) [Zohran Mamdani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zohran-mamdani/) > [Congress has broad powers to regulate and control commerce. Congress also cannot force a state to 'un-decriminalize' something; states' rights are routinely upheld by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gaetz/congress-has-broad-powers-to-regulate-and-control-commerce-congress/) [Matt Gaetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gaetz/) > [We should decriminalize all drugs. The assumptions on which our drug policies are based are flawed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/we-should-decriminalize-all-drugs-the-assumptions-on-which-our-drug/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [I think it's the snack food industry that's really pushing the marijuana legalization issue in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pappas/i-think-it-s-the-snack-food-industry-that-s-really-pushing-the/) [John Pappas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pappas/) > [I read that as marijuana legalization becomes more popular, it could affect the jobs of drug-sniffing dogs. Or as those dogs put it, 'Thanks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/i-read-that-as-marijuana-legalization-becomes-more-popular-it-could/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Cannabis quotes > [Freedom is that faculty that enlarges the usefulness of all other faculties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/freedom-is-that-faculty-that-enlarges-the-usefulness-of-all-other/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Many artists and writers have used cannabis for creative stimulation - from the writers of the world's religious masterpieces to our most irreverent satirists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-herer/many-artists-and-writers-have-used-cannabis-for-creative-stimulation/) [Jack Herer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-herer/) > [The trick is to use the drugs once to get there, and maybe spend the next ten years trying to get back there without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/the-trick-is-to-use-the-drugs-once-to-get-there-and-maybe-spend-the/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/a-prohibition-law-strikes-a-blow-at-the-very-principles-upon-which/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We didn't have a strong drug scene by any means. Originally, it was just purple hearts, amphetamines, speed or whatever you want to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-wooler/we-didn-t-have-a-strong-drug-scene-by-any-means-originally-it-was/) [Bob Wooler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-wooler/) > [“We must go to the laboratory at once. I have some cannabis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-ann/we-must-go-to-the-laboratory-at-once-i-have-some-cannabis/) [Brooklyn Ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-ann/) > [Every cannabis user is a medical patient whether they know it or not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-peron/every-cannabis-user-is-a-medical-patient-whether-they-know-it-or-not/) [Dennis Peron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-peron/) > [Cannabis always made me paranoid; I felt like people were watching me. And now I'm sober, and I've got this talk show in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/cannabis-always-made-me-paranoid-i-felt-like-people-were-watching-me/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Hemp is a part of the cannabis plant, and it is very useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/hemp-is-a-part-of-the-cannabis-plant-and-it-is-very-useful/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [I smoked this joint and then it hit me. I thought, what you gotta do is play your own simply blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-smoked-this-joint-and-then-it-hit-me-i-thought-what-you-gotta-do-is/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [“The grimoires were already illegal; authoring or possessing them was punishable by torture and death. In that case, listing belladonna as an ingredient in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-leitch/the-grimoires-were-already-illegal-authoring-or-possessing-them-was/) [Aaron Leitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-leitch/) > [Breaking down some stress, rolling up some regrets, add a light to the tip, let me enjoy this shit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/breaking-down-some-stress-rolling-up-some-regrets-add-a-light-to-the/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [I don’t know what life is like without cannabis, I hear there is such a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-don-t-know-what-life-is-like-without-cannabis-i-hear-there-is-such/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I have used cannabis all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/i-have-used-cannabis-all-over-the-world/) [Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/) > [It would be wryly interesting if in human history the cultivation of marijuana led generally to the invention of agriculture, and thereby to civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-would-be-wryly-interesting-if-in-human-history-the-cultivation-of/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) [Browse all 200 Cannabis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannabis/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The War on Drugs has been an utter failure. 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