Legalized Marijuana? We May Already Be on the Way

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2009— -- With the Obama administration's decision not to prosecute medicinal marijuana dealers and users, even though they violate federal law, the country is "probably in the process now of legalizing marijuana," conservative columnist George F. Will said today.

Speaking on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Will compared what has been happening with marijuana with the gradual changes in laws regarding alcohol, gambling and even prostitution.

"We have legalized gambling in this country over two generations. It used to be considered a sin and a crime. With no national debate, and no decision moment, we just did it," Will said. "We legalized prostitution as anyone who opens a telephone book and looks under 'escort' can tell you. And we may be doing, probably in the process now of legalizing marijuana."

It is not just the new Obama administration policy on marijuana, but the expanding definitions of medical applications for the drug in the growing number of states that allow pot to be grown, sold and used as a treatment for various conditions.

"Now medical use can be marijuana to cure anxiety, to cure insomnia, all the rest," Will said.

The new policy -- a striking shift from the hard line taken by the Bush administration -- sparked a wide-ranging discussion today on "This Week."

"Woody Harrelson is really happy about it," joked Fox News contributor and radio show host Laura Ingraham, who appeared on "This Week" as a guest commentator. She called it the "Cheech and Chong initiative" of all the Obama adminstration's initiatives.

Last week the Obama administration announced it would not seek to federally prosecute individuals who use or dispensaries that provide medicinal marijuana, as long as they complied with state law.

Instead, a Justice Department memo said state prosecutors should pursue "significant traffickers" of illegal drugs, including marijuana.

"We will not use our limited resources in the fight against the marijuana trade against those people who are using it consistent with state law and to fight serious illnesses, such as cancer or other diseases," Attorney General Eric Holder said last week.

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration's, which called for enforcing federal anti-marijuana laws, regardless of state laws.

Using and providing medicinal marijuana is legal in 14 states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.