Marijuana: Obama’s legalization dilemma
Voters in Colorado and Washington have approved the recreational use of marijuana, but it remains illegal under federal law.
As a teenager, Barack Obama not only inhaled when he smoked marijuana—he was the leader of a group of heavy-duty stoners called “the Choom Gang.” But as president, said Charlie Savage in The New York Times, Obama is The Man, charged with enforcing federal law. That presents him with an interesting conundrum, now that voters in Colorado and Washington have approved the recreational use of marijuana in those states. Marijuana remains illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Rather than surrender its authority, Obama’s Justice Department is considering busting a few “low-level marijuana users” in Colorado and Washington so as to create a court challenge, knowing that “federal law trumps the state one.” For Obama, victory would be politically risky, said Patrik Jonsson in CSMonitor.com. Striking down those state laws would be seen as the height of hypocrisy and a betrayal of the millions of pro-weed Millennials who voted for him.
Voters have been sold a bill of goods on this issue, said Kevin Sabet in CNN.com. Supporters tell us they will regulate and control marijuana use, even among teens. But we face the prospect of a re-energized Big Tobacco moving into this lucrative market and “commercializing and promoting marijuana to kids.” New “vice taxes” on pot, we’re told, will offset society’s costs. But the $40 billion we get annually from cigarette and alcohol users is but a tenth of the losses in “productivity, premature illness, accidents, and death.” Legalizing pot would also do nothing to curb the Mexican drug cartels, said Keegan Hamilton in TheAtlantic.com. The cartels long ago “diversified their portfolios” to include cocaine, crystal meth, and heroin, so legalized weed in two states won’t hurt them one bit.
Mr. President, this is another occasion for you to “lead from behind”—and do nothing, said Andrew Sullivan in TheDailyBeast.com. As Obama’s successful life proves, all that weed he once smoked is “no more damaging to a human being than alcohol.” Locking up adults who enjoy a joint instead of a beer defies reason. The government’s continuing war on marijuana is “racist in its enforcement, ridiculous as a matter of science, outrageous in terms of personal liberty, and inimical to federalism.” Want to see if legalizing weed will cause dire social problems? Washington and Colorado can now serve as laboratories. “Let the states figure this out.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Magazine solutions - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
'In a normal country, their activities wouldn't even be crimes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published