IS ONE TOKE OVER THE LINE?

Former Rep. Tancredo Backs Out of Promise to Smoke Marijuana

He told a documentary filmmaker he would light up if Colorado legalized pot

Jan 26, 2013 by PolitixLisa

Image: AP

Former Rep. Tom Tancredo had agreed to share a joint with a documentary filmmaker if Colorado legalized the recreational use of marijuana. But now that the law passed, it turns out he was just blowing smoke.

The Colorado Republican, an outspoken supporter of marijuana legalization, said he would have to "welch" on the bet because it would set a bad example for his grandchildren, the Associated Press reports.

"I am especially concerned that the publicity may cause my grandkids to have to justify my actions to their peers" Tancredo wrote in an email. "I would never want to do anything that puts them in a difficult situation."

Tancredo had written an op-ed in the Colorado Springs Gazette entitled, "Marijuana Prohibition Has Failed Us." "I am endorsing Amendment 64 not despite my conservative beliefs, but because of them," he wrote. "Our nation is spending tens of billions of dollars annually in an attempt to prohibit adults from using a substance objectively less harmful than alcohol."

There is a clip of Tancredo agreeing to smoke up in a trailer for comedian Adam Hartle's documentary called Grassroots - The Comeback of Cannabis, about the pro-legaization movement.

Via the Associated Press and Salon

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?	If Tancredo smoked marijuana after advocating for its legalization, would it set a bad example for young people?

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Comments (view in Forum)

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Jan '13

Raptor

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What do you expect from a republican, he lied.
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u
Jan '13

Hireman

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Only Republicans do this?
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Post @Hireman
Jan '13

mudzangandoro

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He is blowing a lot of smoke...
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Post @mudzangandoro
u
Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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Hold...Democrats lie too....dems are just better at it. Not as obvious as Republicans.
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Post @RobertJHarsh
Jan '13
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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I never defend conservatives, but on this he is right. He is putting the interest of his grand kids ahead of his own. I respect that.
- B6 • Vote Up r15 Replies
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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He can send me the joint.
- B3 • Vote Up
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o
Jan '13

woodtick57

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he didn't think of that when his mouth wrote acheck his brain couldn;t cash?
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Post @woodtick57
Jan '13

jessejaymes

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His grand kids should benefit from his forward thinking action had he of actually done it. By the time grandkids are adults pot will be legal everywhere except for the thumper idiot states.
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Post @jessejaymes
u
Jan '13

MaxPain

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@PoliticalSpice See you just cant believe anything the Republicans say...Dang it.
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Post @MaxPain
Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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How does he justify to his grandkids that he didn't keep his word?
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Post @Denizen_Kate
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o
Jan '13

NTBFW

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I say yes it would because if he doesn't want his grand kids to think its ok then he shouldn't. He isn't telling anyone else they shouldn't.
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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"Marijuana Prohibition Has Failed Us." "I am endorsing Amendment 64 not despite my conservative beliefs, but because of them," he wrote. "Our nation is spending tens of billions of dollars annually in an attempt to prohibit adults from using a substance objectively less harmful than alcohol."
He is? HMMM.....I guess I read English differently?
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Post @stepped_in_it
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Jan '13

NTBFW

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@stepped_in_it maybe I missed the point. I thought he agreed it should be legal but personally didn't want to promote it to his grand kids. I can understand that. I am not going to smoke with mine either.
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Post @NTBFW
Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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@NTBFW my bad....didn't see the n't in the isn't....opps...Jeez....you're right (read my statement below as i said basically the same)
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Post @stepped_in_it
Jan '13

martydotcom

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I guess it's best that they realize Grandpa was full of s..t. They'll think of him as a liar, a man who welches on his bets and his word?
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Post @martydotcom
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Jan '13

NTBFW

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@martydotcom you sure are wrought up today aren't you. Maybe he just doesn't want to smoke weed. Or have his grand kids see him smoke it. Do you get high with your kids?
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Post @NTBFW
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Jan '13

get_involved

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We all have the right to change our minds and he did changed his mind for a good reason.
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o
Jan '13

talkenhed

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being a bag of hot air and donkey dropping typical Tea Party hype followed by cave in cave
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u
Jan '13

Libertyiskey

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@talkenhed For some reason I feel that most of the "typical hot air donkey dropping Tea Party-er" are against drug legalization so if he is a Tea Party member it would make him atypical for his stance on pot.
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Post @Libertyiskey
Jan '13

Chanel

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The majority of youth do not pay attention to politicians, so how could he be setting a bad example? Either way todays media would have a more detrimental influence on their behavior. It seems like more and more celebrities are getting caught smoking weed everyday lol Live and Let Live. Who Cares..
- B1 • Vote Up r2 Replies
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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The 'youth" is his grandchildren....read the article?
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Post @stepped_in_it
Jan '13

Chanel

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@stepped_in_it the question posed by Politix was not asking about his grandchildren...it was asking if it would be setting a bad example for young people in general. Yes I did read the article...the real issue here is did you read the question...?
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Post @Chanel
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Jan '13

cleverusername

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"He cited the negative example it would set for his grandchildren"....... Yet he was......... " an outspoken supporter of marijuana legalization". Say what? Politician at the core!
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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The real point here is that it's a pretty short list of things you could do to set a worse example for your grandchildren than being a politician.
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Post @jessejaymes
Jan '13

FollowTheMoney

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I support the legalization of marijuana, but I don't use it. If someone wants to smoke pot, that's not my business or the governments. I fell the same way about alcohol and tobacco.
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Post @FollowTheMoney
u
Jan '13

KickBrass

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Advocating for legalizing of something does not constitute endorsing it. If I vote to legalize alcohol sales in my county, I am not saying that I believe that people *should* drink or that I *should* drink--merely that they should have the free will to do so.

I do not think smoking is a good idea, but I do not advocate banning it. In the same way, I believe that marijuana should be legalized because it is not a harmful substance for the most part--however it is not something I would do. I simply value free will over nanny statism.
- B2 • Vote Up
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Post @KickBrass
Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@KickBrass That's all well and good and quite on the money. However it has nothing to do with the facts. The man publicly said he would do one thing then backed out. He's two faced. Period.
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Post @jessejaymes
u
Feb '13

KickBrass

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@jessejaymes Perhaps his opinion on smoking marijuana "evolved" when he thought about the situation and his children/grandchildren. Goodness knows it was acceptable for our current commander-in-chief.
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Post @KickBrass
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Jan '13

Zazziness

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I don't know if it would be bad for his grandkids but it definitely would be bad for his political career. His opponent would run a picture of him with a joint about twice per commercial break and that would be it.
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Jan '13

Vance1

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too bad they didnt do the fair thing with Mr. Obama hey?
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Post @Vance1
Jan '13

DARSB

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I like Tanc. He has some dramatically weird ideas on immigration but overall he's a pretty sly politician and did work hard for his Colorado constituents. His run for governor on the Constitution Party ticket very nearly destroyed the state GOP but that was only after the Republicans nominated the weakest possible candidate. Sort of a precursor to the last Presidential race.
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u
Jan '13

Righton

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OH THE CHILDREN!!!!
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Jan '13

PNWest

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I can't think of another thing I agree with Tancredo on but setting a good example for his grandkids is more important than a stupid promise to smoke a joint. I ain't gonna criticize him for this one. In fact I commend him on the decision.
- B2 • Vote Up
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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"Marijuana Prohibition Has Failed Us." "I am endorsing Amendment 64 not despite my conservative beliefs, but because of them," he wrote. "Our nation is spending tens of billions of dollars annually in an attempt to prohibit adults from using a substance objectively less harmful than alcohol."
His points for legalizing marijuana are very valid and his reasons for not smoking it are also valid. Hard to tell your children/grandchildren not to do any bad habit (yes....MJ is a bad habit) when you do it yourself! Evidence: alcoholics have greater chance of alcoholic children.....smokers have children who smoke.....conservatives have conservative children (ok, that was just mean....LOL)
- B2 • Vote Up r1 Reply
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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LOLOLOLOL
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Post @jessejaymes
u
Jan '13

BelinKS

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He already stated his reason. Given time after the interview he would have been able to figure out the concequences that action could cause. I would not want my daughter knowing if I used marijuana if it finally became legal in our state. The only reason I would use it is for medical reasons, but never tell her and never when she could see.
- B1 • Vote Up r1 Reply
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u
Jan '13

Vaulter

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I agree. I wouldn't do that where my 7 year old sister could find out.
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Post @Vaulter
Jan '13

zeke

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The lesson here, think before you speak. Typical politician, and this applies to both Republicans and Democrats!
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Jan '13

SignifiedNBlue

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He made a mistake he rectified that mistake ..how many politicians do that?..
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Jan '13

SignifiedNBlue

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I dont care if liberal loons get it passed in my state.. Claim its not.a gateway drug but it most certainly is. Im not smoking it because I dont want my grandkids seeing it done within their family unit.. So maybe they never will
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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Alcohol and cigarettes are gateways too.
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Post @Fishbone345
Jan '13

SignifiedNBlue

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@Fishbone345 alcohol most definiately...15000 lives lost per year
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Post @SignifiedNBlue
Jan '13

Fishbone345

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@SignifiedNBlue Cigarettes as much as a gateway as marijuana is too. 160,340 deaths in 2012 due to lung cancer by the way.
I suppose by your reasoning we should make them illegal as well?
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Post @Fishbone345
Jan '13

SignifiedNBlue

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@Fishbone345 my reasoning is simple... I dont care what other people do.. Just as drugs stay away from me and my grandkids but unfortnately that doesnt happen. Somehow they manage to effect others
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Post @SignifiedNBlue
Jan '13

Keyjo

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He changed his mind, big deal. I can believe his reasoning.
It's cool to smoke weed. It's NOT cool to twist someone's arm to toke against his will. I'll give him a pass on this!
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Jan '13

Souljah

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How dare people judge him..He is a true politician, he's lying about the Marijuana..just look at how BLOODSHOT his eyes are.. haha he already fullfilled his promise!
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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I drink alcohol and I think others should be able to imbibe as well as long as they don't drive, that doesn't mean I advocate its use to my children. When they grow up and are able to buy their own alcohol, that is their prerogative, but while in my house and underage they won't be doing that.
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u
Jan '13

Righton

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100%, Adults can make the choice for themselves.
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Post @Righton
Jan '13

Thunderchicken

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Hypocrisy is a parent's right. (And sometimes their responsibility.)
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Jan '13

Dan_Tien

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Is it just me or do his eyes look red in the posted photo?
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Politix

If Tancredo smoked marijuana after advocating for its legalization, would it set a bad example for young people?

If Tancredo smoked marijuana after advocating for its legalization, would it set a bad example for young people?