Marijuana reform progressing

As I predicted in a Register article six months ago or more, the concept of marijuana legalization continues to gain ground. Today's Washington Post has a piece noting the AMA's recent reversal to support medical marijuana, various polls -- 44% in favor and gaining according to Gallup -- and the changed attitude of activists, who actually see light at the end of the tunnel. And here's a piece on Michael Patrick Carroll, so far the only Republican in the New Jersey legislature to support legalization of medical marijuana. Apparently his experience with sick relatives has had an impact on him. He also doesn't get apoplectic at the idea of legalization for adults. Would that there were more Republicans like him.

Will Arnold follow up on marijuana?

In researching this editorial for the Register, I discovered that several groups, including the Drug Policy Alliance, are working to get a meeting with Gov. Schwarzenegger, or at least his staff, to see ig he is interested in action to push forward the debate he says is desirable on the legalization of marijuana. I could see a commission that might hold hearings with people on various sides of the issue. Or how about televised debates? I nominate Judge James P. Gray to take the legalization side. The other side can have anybody they want. Jim will almost certainly be more persuasive.

Obama strikes out on marijuana

Here's a blog item I posted on the Register's Orange Punch blog on how disappointing it was to see Barack Obama acknowledge the great interest people who submitted questions online for his vaunted online "town hall" meeting and then dismiss it with a couple of lame laugh lines. I can understand that he has a lot onhis plate and this might not be his first priority, but the issue deserves serious consideration rather than reaching for a guffaw or two. More than 7,000 people have died in Mexico in the last 15 months or so, largely because of our counterproductive drug war. How many more will have to die before more than a handful of politicians and the so-called "mainstream" media catch up with the public on this issue?

I long ago gave up being upset at people reflexively dismissing the idea of marijuana legalization with cheap jokes, even though over the years I have spent a fair amount of time, energy and study on the subject and understand a fair amount about just how expensive, socially corrosive, counter-productive and downright cruel prohibition is. There’s something about pot that seems to demand cheap jokes. But I still reserve the right to be mildly exasperated.

In his online “town hall” meeting President Obama, who might be expected to know better, did what most conventional politicians do, noting the intense interest in the issue of marijuana legalization among those who submitted questions online and dismissing it with a couple of weak laugh lines. I suppose he thought it made him look properly middle-America, but it’s an example of serious unseriousness. The sad thing is that anyone who has given the issue more than a few moments’ thought knows legalzation would help the economy, not only by saving the money wasted on enforcement and imprisonment, but opening up huge markets that could be taxed, not only in marijuana but hemp.

I’m not quite alone in my assessment. Freddie DeBoer growls thoughtfully. Andrew Sullivan calls it pathetic. Radley Balko defends him from criticism. Pete Guither at DrugWarRant rounds up a host of responses. Steven Taylor at PoliBlog is also exasperated. And not surprisingly, the good folks at the Marijuana Policy Project are not pleased. I don’t know what it will take for the “mainstream” media to begin to take this issue seriously.

Hoping to talk to Loretta Sanchez

Santa Ana Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez will, of course, be in the arena for President Obama's visit to Costa Mesa tomorrow, and I hope to get a chance to talk with her about her recent CNN appearance where she suggested that California might do well to take the lead on legalizing marijuana. How did she arrive at this position? Has she trolled for support for the idea? Does she think it would help to reduce the current violence in Mexico that is spilling over into the U.S.? What kind of response has she gotten? Has she talked to key legislators in California (Ammiano for one)?
I hope to be able get answers to those and more questions if possible.