Will 2016 be the ‘Year of Cannabis Reform?’

^{In a startling breakthrough last month,
enough Republicans supported a federal bill effectively legalizing medical
cannabis, making it a mainstream issue for most Americans.}

^{Now, with national elections coming up in
2016, cannabis is predicted to be a major topic for every candidate. The taboo
of “getting high” seems to have diminished, with candidates no longer afraid of
admitting to “cannabis indiscretions.” Furthermore, a plethora of states are
moving forward with legalization–23 to be exact–and a recent study shows
that the majority of Americans favor cannabis legalization.}

^{As more states pass measures to legalize the
plant, cannabis will be a concern that no prospective president can ignore.
This was clear during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference
(CPAC) last month when candidates were besieged with questions about cannabis
legislation–a new subject for Republicans. Surprisingly, it was the moderators who
wanted to discuss the issue, not sassy journalists or hecklers.}

^{This shows that Republicans are taking
notice, but their viewpoints remain mixed. Some republicans, like Rand Paul,
have somewhat supported state legalization in an effort to appeal to younger,
libertarian voters; while others have been much more open to the idea. Yet
there are still opponents, like Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, who have taken a more
forceful “War on Drugs” approach to cannabis.}

^{There are many reasons why the GOP would
support legalization. Republicans consistently advocate for less federal
government control and more state discretion. Another major issue is
economics–medical cannabis is the fastest growing industry in
the U.S. and states like Colorado have seen a significant surplus from it.}

^{Criminal justice restructuring has its loyal
GOP supporters, especially among libertarian sects, and Rand Paul has taken the
reins within the party to connect with the public on the issue of cannabis.
Likewise, valueed voters still maintain a loud presence within the GOP–mainly
in the primary electorate–with some Republicans carving out a firm hostility
towards cannabis.}

^{For Democrats, the issue of cannabis is more
straight-forward. It offers slight risk for alienating a generally liberal base
that supports legalization; it attracts younger, pro-reform voters–particularly
millennials; and medical cannabis can benefit Democrat candidates when it comes
to discussing health care.}

^{It also affords Democrats the rare
opportunity to speak out against invasive federal government intrusion.
Essentially, supporting cannabis legalization is a no-brainer for Democrats.}

^{Watching the upcoming primaries should be
interesting for anyone concerned with drug policy in America. It’s apparent
that the tides are turning with regard to cannabis–both politically and
socially. As such, the day of politicians “not
inhaling,” are over.}