Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a liberal darling that many wish would have run for president and hope will be the vice-president on the 2016 Democratic ticket, has had one glaring flaw on her resume: she has previously opposed cannabis legalization. Disheartening to many cannabis law reform advocates, Warren opposed marijuana legalization in 2012, but it looks like she may have evolved on the issue. It is not only uplifting, but also a sign of the growing momentum growing for reform progressive icon Elizabeth Warren is now open to marijuana legalization.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she’s open to proposed ballot questions that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
The comments mark a shift for Warren, who supported the medical use of marijuana but opposed full legalization during her 2012 campaign.
Warren said the country has learned more about legalizing marijuana since then, noting a couple of states have already taken the step.
While many understandably feel that Warren, Bernie Sanders and other politicians should just endorse legalization, most mainstream politicians are going to be very cautious on the issue. These elected officials tend to be of an age group that is least likely to support legalization, they will have advisors urging them to be conservative and the conventional wisdom has been that politicians should be stay away from controversial issues. Fortunately, more and more politicians and political operatives are wising up to the fact that supporting marijuana legalization is not a political detriment nationally. Poll after poll and election after election, and the facts on the ground, demonstrate that marijuana legalization is both good policy and good politics.
My experience lobbying politicians is that that elected officials tend to be very “conservative” in most of their political actions as they are likely to keep their political seats so long as they don’t rock the boat. It is up to us, cannabis law reform advocates and citizens concerned about the detrimental impacts of the War on Drugs, to educate politicians and give them no choice, but to support marijuana legalization and greater Drug War reforms. It appears that we are accomplishing that feat, slowly but surely, step by step.
Anthony Johnson
Anthony, a longtime cannabis law reform advocate, was Chief Petitioner and co-author of Measure 91, Oregon's cannabis legalization effort. He served as director of both the New Approach Oregon and Vote Yes on 91 PACs, the political action committees responsible for the state's legalization campaign. As director of New Approach Oregon, Anthony continues to work towards effectively implementing the cannabis legalization system while protecting small business owners and the rights of patients. He sits on the Oregon Marijuana Rules Advisory Committee and fights for sensible rules at the legislature as well as city councils and county commissions across the state. Anthony helps cannabis business comply with Oregon's laws and advises advocates across the country. He also serves as content director of both the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference, helping share the vision of moving the cannabis industry forward in a way that maintains the focus on keeping people out of prison and protecting patients. He was a member of the Oregon Health Authority Rules Advisory Committee, assisting the drafting of the administrative rules governing Oregon’s state-licensed medical marijuana facilities. He first co-authored and helped pass successful marijuana law reform measures while a law student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He passed the Oregon Bar in 2005 and practiced criminal defense for two years before transitioning to working full-time in the political advocacy realm. His blogs on Marijuana Politics are personal in nature and don't speak for or reflect the opinions of any group or organization.
