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From a Washington Post blog:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/romneys-opportunity-on-pot-policy/2012/03/19/gIQAR3tFNS_blog.html
Romneys opportunity on pot policy
By Emily Heil
Efforts to legalize marijuana for recreational use are gaining momentum in Washington state and Colorado. (Cliff DesPeaux - Reuters) Heres a radical proposal for Mitt Romney: If he wants to pick up the much-coveted support of Ron Pauls energized and organized army, the best way to their hearts might be through marijuana.
We dont expect the teetotaling former Massachusetts governor, who has said he supports the federal ban, to take the leafy bait but there are a few reasons it might not be such a wacky idea, once the GOP field has shaken out and hes the last man standing.
First, Pauls supporters could be quite valuable to the eventual GOP nominee. While theyve been dismissed as the partys fringe element, theyre young and enthusiastic two characteristics the GOP badly needs in a general election. (After all, Romneys managed to tick off Hispanics, so hes in need of any constituency he can get his hands on.)
And then theres Colorado. With medical marijuana shops on nearly every corner and a libertarian-leaning electorate not to mention its status as a swing state the Centennial State could tempt Romney to take a seemingly radical turn on drugs. Pot legalizers note that he could couch his support in terms of a 10th amendment argument essentially saying it should simply be up to states to decide for themselves. That would allow him to maintain his own opposition to legalization while also giving a shout-out to social conservatives, who love a good nod to states rights.
Theres evidence that the idea of pot-legalization is going mainstream even among Republicans. After all, Pat Robertson endorsed the idea, and approval among voters in recent polls is surprisingly ... well, high.
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The medical marijuana crackdown could hurt Obama in Colorado. And legalization is on the ballot there this year.
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)Though if pot growers really think the GOP can be useful to them, they have a rude awakening. Half the reason most of them have any buisness is because corporations cannot devote time and capital to investing in pot; does anyone think that Philip Morris and RJ Renoylds do not have plans already to go, to say nothing of European and Asian companies? If Pot Growers side up with Ron Paul, they will have noone but themselves to blame when the corporations pave, buy and steal them right out of existence.
DLine
(397 posts)I think Obama would be doing even better in the polls if he would at least pretend to be open to the possibility of legalizing cannabis in some way.
denverbill
(11,489 posts)Believe it or not, even freepers are suddenly anti-war.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2860992/posts#comment
Of course, the ignorant shitheads cheerleaded the war from the start. And as with Vietnam, if we pull out, they'll blame liberals for not having the courage to finish the job and say we could have won if we stayed. Must be nice not to have any morals or memory.
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)That Repukes do what they say when they get elected? LOL Wisconsin anyone? Rmoney will screw this up.