Stop Treating Pot Like Heroin

[phantom power]

It would be nice if the administration of a second-term Democratic president could find the balls to at least reclassify cannabis as a Schedule 3 or 4 drug. It is not as dangerous as LSD or as addictive as heroin, and it does have some medicinal purposes. Some examples of Schedule 3 drugs: Vicodin, Special K, anabolic steroids. Some examples of Schedule 4 drugs: Xanax, Valium, Halcion.

A Schedule 1 drug is supposed to have no medical use and be so dangerous that it cannot even be taken safely with medical supervision. It's also supposed to have a high potential for abuse. I think heroin belongs in that category but it is impossible to see how marijuana can belong in it.

A reclassification of cannabis doesn't require an act of Congress. The administration can do it unilaterally if they feel the drug is currently misclassified.

It's kind of like refusing to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court because you've come to believe that the law is unconstitutional. Only you have even more justification for changing how you treat the law because Congress has already ceded the power to classify drugs to the Executive Branch.

Get it done, Obama.

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/11/25/193740/15

[Romulox]

1. We got to stop pretending that stepping up prosecutions under Obama aren't his fault.

A reclassification of cannabis doesn't require an act of Congress. The administration can do it unilaterally if they feel the drug is currently misclassified.

It's kind of like refusing to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court because you've come to believe that the law is unconstitutional. Only you have even more justification for changing how you treat the law because Congress has already ceded the power to classify drugs to the Executive Branch.

Unfortunately, the Obama administration has greatly stepped up prosecution of marijuana users compared to his predecessors. This after being completely silent on drug policy during the 2012 campaign, following his famous broken campaign pledges of 2008.

It's not likely that he'll have a change of heart, now, imo.

[phantom power]

2. I have some optimism that he's open to responding to pressure from his left

One of the things I think the GOP has, that we could usefully emulate, is that they've got large body of leadership that responds to its base from the right.

One lesson I hope the Dems learned from the election is that it's farther-left base is not some kind of 3rd rail that they need to ignore at all costs. The general public is open to progressive policies -- you just need to make the case, and stop running in fear from the first ideological challenge from the GOP. I guess we'll see.