Is Legalizing Weed Obama's Secret Weapon?

The Atlantic Wire ^ | June 13, 2012 | Elspeth Reeve

[2ndDivisionVet]

In 2004 George W. Bush's re-election campaign worked to put anti-gay marriage ballot initiatives up for vote in several swing states in order to turn out more hard-core conservatives to the polls. This year the question is whether marijuana legalization measures will turn out young voters for Obama.

Bush's plan to use gay marriage bans -- in states that did not actually allow gay marriage -- as a turnout booster led to signs featuring icky public restroom symbols proliferated and liberal panic that the Christian right had taken over. The press obsessed over "values voters." One of Bush's aides, Ken Mehlman, who later came out as gay himself, has apologized for the strategy, two others say it didn't work.

This year there's another incumbent president with modest approval ratings who could turn out his base with controversial ballot measures. But this time, the issue features no biblical or scatological imagery. In 2012, voters in swing states will decide whether they'll allow their fellow citizens to bear joints. Unlike the gay marriage votes, there's no indication that Obama's re-election team is behind any of the pot legalization initiatives, but there are Democrats who are hoping that it will boost turnout among weed's biggest fans: young people.

Getting more young people to vote has long been a Democratic fantasy, since they tend to vote so heavily Democratic. But past attempts to bong the vote have been disappointing, in part because stoners aren't the group anyone would most count on to bother filling out a ballot. Ahead of the 2010 midterms, The Wall Street Journal ran the story, "Democrats Look to Cultivate Pot Vote in 2012," noting that California's pot-legalizing Proposition 19 was being studied...

[2ndDivisionVet]

It ought to help him get a lot of the Paulestinians.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I don’t think he can do that by executive order.

[I Shall Endure]

Lots of conservatives oppose the War on (Some) Drugs. So it might backfire.

[Snickering Hound]

The fly in the ointment getting those dirty hippies motivated enough to stagger to the polls before they close on election day.

[andyk]

I don’t think he can do that by executive order.

Well, he could direct his DOJ to not prosecute the law, or to not defend it in court (like he did with DoMA)

But he couldn't affect an individual state's laws.

[the invisib1e hand]

the stoner vote?! i wouldn’t bet on it. loyalty is lost on them.

[cripplecreek]

I think Obammy probably has a considerable arsenal packed away for use at the right time.

[BCR #226]

Obama’s only real chance at all is if he repeals a bunch of MAJOR anti-gun laws along with passing or using EO’s to bring gun owners over to his side.

It’s a very slim chance but it’s the only one he has to have a chance of re-election. Unless that idiot Romney steps on his own crank like a lot of Republicans seem to like to do.

[donhunt]

If so all it does is pathetic how childish and desperate he is.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

It’ll make more Dems.

[boop]

I'm so tired of "medical marijuana". I've NEVER met a dying cancer patient that has come into my clinic.

All I've seen are 20 somethings that just happen, HAPPEN to "need" MJ to take care of their back pain. Even though they've never held a job more strenuous than lifting tortillas at Taco Bell.

Stop the charade. Legalize and tax it, or STFU.

[TBall]

Come on, even a stoner knows that liberty and justice for all is much more important than whether or not they can “legally” smoke pot.

[Woodsman27]

It should be legal. I’ve never smoked it in my entire life but I see no reason why we should continue to spend billions and lock up huge amounts of people in the furtherance of a failed war on drugs.

Prohibition failed on booze and it has failed here too for many of the same reasons. People should be left to make their own decisions and if they choose to do stupid things the nanny state shouldn’t be there to stop them.

Honestly I think booze causes more human misery and it certainly makes people more dangerous and aggressive.

[the invisib1e hand]

Come on, even a stoner knows that liberty and justice for all is much more important than whether or not they can “legally” smoke pot.

what's for dinner is much more important than whether getting stoned is legal or not. I don't know about the noble thoughts, though.

[MetaThought]

Well, the legality of pot is part of "liberty and justice for all".

[TBall]

I’m quite comfortable that my loyalties are both rational and good.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Well, he could direct his DOJ to not prosecute the law, or to not defend it in court (like he did with DoMA)

Only until the middle of January, or when Eric Holder is indicted.

[the invisib1e hand]

then you’re not a stoner.

[boop]

No question about booze. Prohibition sucked. But if I could go back 20 years, wish I'd never touched it. Booze ruined a lot of things for me. MJ will do the same for a lot of kiddos who think it's cool.

I'm torn on this issue for a lot of reasons. Making stoners mainstream will not lead to happiness for anyone.

[TBall]

Only the shadow knows, but my point is that a stoner is not necessarily a liberal zombie. As for being comfortable, I believe in my Lord, and The Constitution.