In his youth, Obama was an avid pot smoker, and while campaigning back in 2007-8, he indicated that he’d lighten up on federal enforcement of laws against sale and possession, especially where state laws permitted marijuana use for medical purposes. But as columnist Clarence Page notes here, since assuming the presidency, Obama has been just as vigorous in enforcing the laws against pot as any of his predecessors.
Is that because the mature Barack really believes that people who use pot belong in prison? Or is it that he finds it politically expedient to keep up the war? Or that he just can’t say “no” to the huge federal drug war industry?
