But the reality is that the Obama administration has turned the tides in favor of legalization and decriminalization in a much stronger and subtler way than open rhetorical endorsements.
Optimism for drug reform began when Obama ended federal raids on cannabis dispensaries in states which allow medical marijuana. What marijuana advocates fail to realize is that with this the Obama administration initiated a small but extremely important step towards legalization. More importantly, it has done so in a way to insulate itself from Republican attacks and attempts to distract the public.
The new administration has declared the federal government will only intervene in medical marijuana cases where both state and federal laws are being broken. This change may seem minor but Raffin views it as a logical stepping stone in the legalization process.
In the case of California, because medical marijuana is legal, federal intervention is no longer allowed in cases where California's medical marijuana laws are not broken. Thus, if California were to fully legalize marijuana, under current policy the federal government would not intervene.
Raffin continues to argue that marijuana reform in our country must be started with individual states, then only can it be a reality in America.
If Obama or the Democrats proposed legalization, all the Republicans have to do is have several governors or senators who refuse to implement the federal law. This would frame the argument as Obama trying to extend the government's power to regulate what some consider the moral fabric of society...
When Obama tells the country that marijuana legalization is not the path he chooses for America, he means to say that the path must first be drawn by us.
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