Senate may try to repeal Defense of Marriage Act

[sofa king]

17. Truth!

My guess that support for marijuana legalization is increasing, and may be increasing faster, is based only on my general observations, particularly the wildfire popularity of "legal weed" before it was banned last year, and the increasing number of states which have relaxed its marijuana laws in positive ways. Unlike the gay marriage issue above, I've seen no cogent analysis about that.

No matter what, I think you are absolutely right that if the President continues in this heavy-handed way he risks creating a counterbalance of negative opinion which will reverse the gains that this prescient endorsement of gay marriage creates.

The important thing to remember is that historically, Congress has been the ultimate source of authority over marijuana, and it asserts a tax and licensing authority over it. That means that the key to legalization is to create a majority in favor of it in both wings of Capitol Hill.

Which suggests that marijuana decriminalization in Congress could be a hot-button issue in the mid-term elections of 2014, at the very time when Democrats may find themselves within striking distance of a supermajority in the Senate.

So like I said, I don't expect to see any substantive change from the President this year, but next year and the year after that? Eh, it might have legs if the legalization lobby starts planning for it now.

But this President always manages to think the problems through a lot better than I do, so don't take my word for it!