Now that states have started legalizing recreational marijuana, will the president continue the government’s war on weed?
Obama, the former constitutional-law professor, has relied on the expansive powers of the chief executive when it serves him politically – providing amnesty to a generation of Dream Act immigrants, or refusing to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court. A one-time pothead who gave a shout-out to his dealer in his high school yearbook, Obama could single-handedly end the insanity of marijuana being treated like heroin under the Controlled Substances Act with nothing more than an executive order.
Regarding our absurd gun violence/death problem, both the president and the vice president have more or less demanded common sense and the will of the people prevail.
Why not the same approach to our equally absurd war on drugs– particularly marijuana? Opiod abuse alone in our nation now kills around 15,000 people per year. Think about that number for a minute. Does the use of marijuana cause even remotely similar harm?
President Obama starts his second term this weekend. The feeble “it’s not politically expedient for him to advocate legalization of marijuana” excuse no longer applies.
The new laws also compel Colorado and Washington to license private businesses to cultivate and sell pot, and to levy taxes on the proceeds. Together, the two states expect to reap some $600 million annually in marijuana revenues for schools, roads and other projects. The only losers, in fact, will be the Mexican drug lords, who currently supply as much as two-thirds of America’s pot.
The other economic boon which I think the RS article overlooks is legalization means fewer people in state prisons. that’s a savings of what? $30,000 per year per person not incarcerated?
We all know states need more revenue, infrastructure repair; the increased tax revenue from legalization provides the funding, and the concurrent new jobs which are also obviously needed.
It’s time for our President to act with some common sense on this issue.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/obamas-pot-problem-20121207
