More than a year ago, Proposition 19 failed at the polls. If passed, it would have decriminalized marijuana and allowed the government to regulate and penalize marijuana use and distribution in an effort to generate additional revenue for the state government.
With a general election period approaching this November, it seems reasonable that California lobbyists will look to the federal government for support in order to decriminalize marijuana nationwide and raise internal revenue.
Small groups have also sprung up throughout the United States, primarily in California, advocating for marijuana legalization. One of the most prominent groups and the state’s largest medical group, the California Medical Association, has also endorsed the legalization of marijuana.
But if a proposition like this is drawn up, once thing is certain: President Barack Obama will not support it.
In a press conference in Colombia on Saturday, Obama said he would engage in a debate regarding legalizing drugs, but elaborated that his administration will not support any bill to legalize them.
Obama’s recent comments mark a significant shift from his 2008 stance when he said steps should be taken to reform and legalize drugs. However, after four years in office and with re-elections approaching, his stance has been altered.
California lobbyists endorsing the legalization of marijuana or other drugs can try to create a new proposition to be voted on once again this November, but it will most likely suffer the same fate as Proposition 19.
The biggest ally for legalizing drugs would be Washington itself, and with Obama’s anti-marijuana legalization stance firm, California voters may see this as a reason to reconsider their support for Obama in the upcoming election.
Obama’s firm denouncement of legalizing drugs and his departure from his original stance has highlighted an area of complication for his campaign during this election year.
If voters feel Obama’s changing stance on drug legalization is any indication of his stances on other issues, he may face opposition once his re-election campaign commences.
Potential third party candidates such as Ron Paul and Gary Johnson have voiced their support concerning the legalization of marijuana, and have clearly made it known that if they are elected, they will take measures to legalize the drug nationwide. The support for these third party candidates may possibly take away necessary votes from Obama.
Though Obama may continue his agenda of anti-drug efforts in order to lower the trafficking rates, he may soon run out of time if these lobbyists garner the support of another presidential hopeful.
This may be the time for candidates to carefully structure their campaigns and evaluate every issue, the least of which will be the lingering question of marijuana legalization.
Email Viswanathan at rviswanathan@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to opinion@media.ucla.edu or tweet us @DBOpinion.