John Oliver Slams America’s Inconsistent Cannabis Laws

John Oliver, well-known comedian and political commentator, is fed up with the illogical madness that we call cannabis law in America. Oliver pointed out the inconsistency and injustice of clashing federal and local cannabis laws on Last Week Tonight, which aired on Sunday evening. He pointed out how pointless and ineffectual the “war on drugs” has been since its inception in 1970. There are 44 states now have some type of medical cannabis law in place and that eight now allow recreational cannabis, yet federal law doesn’t align with any of them.

“If you have marijuana right now, even if you are acting completely legally according to your state, you may still be in serious jeopardy,” he said. “You could lose your home, job or possessions. This story is genuinely worth worrying about.”

Oliver played a decades-old recording of former president Richard Nixon blaming a Jewish conspiracy for attempting to legalize drugs in the ‘70s. “Naturally, it was Richard Nixon, the Mozart of racially motivated lawmaking, who targeted it in his war on drugs,” he said. Even though The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 was assumedly built upon racist ideals, it’s still in effect today.

The host also dove into cannabis’ other frustrating realities such as 1988’s Drug-Free Workplace Act and woes caused by banking institutions’ unwillingness to work with cannabis businesses. Things got a little serious for late night television when Oliver showed footage of a Kentucky-based Vietnam veteran who claimed cannabis saved him from nightmares and flashbacks.

Oliver even made a reference to the Cannabis Caucus. “If an 83-year-old Republican from Alaska has come around on this issue, then it’s probably time for our laws to catch up,” the host said.  Oliver is doing his part by using his late night talk show as a platform to advocate for cannabis in America.