Federal Lawmaker Says Marijuana ‘Determines National Elections’: ‘A Hard Stance Against Cannabis Was Self Defeating’
“When we started this, decriminalization was controversial, and a minority position. Legalization was maybe supported by between a third and 40% of the general population, depending on the survey. As years rolled on, it became clearer to many that the hard stance against cannabis was self-defeating, unnecessary and inhumane,” began Rep. Earl Blumenauer, as he delved into his lengthy journey advocating for cannabis reform.
From the very outset of his career as a young legislator in Oregon, Blumenauer found himself deeply immersed in the world of policy change. During those early days, Oregon was a pioneer, being the first state to decriminalize cannabis. Simultaneously, the state was grappling with archaic practices, like incarcerating late-stage alcoholics.
However, as the winds of change blew, Oregon transitioned, moving to de-institutionalize people with mental illnesses. For Blumenauer, this evolution was more than necessary.
Similarly, the lawmaker believed that decriminalizing cannabis was yet another pivotal step towards adopting a “more sophisticated and humane” approach to societal concerns. “I am still very involved with this issue… Legalization made a lot of sense to me at the time and still does,” he emphasized.
Evolving Views
As most readers know, the public perception of cannabis has undergone a radical transformation over the years. “I’ve watched this take shape since the ‘70s,” Blumenauer observed, recalling the regrettable times when the notorious “War on Drugs” disproportionately and unjustly zeroed in on communities of color, “especially young Black men.” In stark contrast, their white counterparts encountered less severe repercussions. This glaring racial disparity was no accident. In a revealing exposition, Blumenauer explained how the Nixon administration had strategically exploited the cannabis issue for political mileage.
In his critique, Blumenauer was unreserved: “Richard Nixon’s War on Drugs became deeply entrenched within the federal bureaucracy… They negotiated international treaties that criminalized drugs and made it hard to move forward… Well, hard, but not impossible. And we are seeing now other states in the northern hemisphere who’ve moved forward on legalization.”
On the topic of more contemporary political shifts, he also touched upon President Joe Biden’s journey with the issue. “Joe Biden, in his earlier years, was connected to some of the stricter measures like the 1973 …