It’s a Brave New World out there. Legalization debates have gone from the fringe of freak counterculture circles, to the front page of the most revered conservative economic magazine in Europe.
While it’s encouraging that the mainstream public (or at least the internet public) is starting to rationally discuss possible endings for the half-century debacle known as the War on Drugs, I don’t believe we’ll see any substantial changes from the Obama team.
Yes, he’s stopped the federal circumvention of state medical marijuana laws. But that can be done under the guise of preserving federalism.
I don’t think Obama would allow drug legalization to be part of his legacy. Though rational, lucrative, and having the potential to save thousands of lives, it simply cannot be listed on the resume of the first black President. It would make life too difficult on his successors, giving racist opponents an easy line to draw between minority leaders and the erosion of the rule of law.
Obama has to be untouchable. He has to remain the White Knight (irony intended) of the American public, and have a completely scandal-free term of office.
So, we’ll have to make due with the progressive policy shifts and the slow resuscitation of the economy. The battle for control of America’s top cash crop will be fought another day.
