As Americas view of cannabis continues to grow from stoners dozing off into a credible industry one suddenly carrying an army of allies on both sides of the board and the type on money to influence elections. In many ways, cannabis is no longer kept to the peripheries of the U.S. political landscape, something only the Ron Pauls of the universe could openly talk about. The amount of mainstream politicians becoming advocates or, at least not in opposition of the cannabis industry is ever expanding. They might not be lighting up spliffs, yet established lawmakers plainly are not as marijuana shy as they once were, and the 2016 presidential bracket is not an exception.
Sen Ted Cruz is among the Republicans vying for their party’s vote and one of the most traditional who state they are behind state’s rights to legalize cannabis. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry have also said that states should be able to choose their own cannabis laws.“If the citizens of Colorado decide they want to go down that road, that’s their prerogative,” Cruz stated. “I personally don’t agree with it, but that’s their right.”
When the question came up this past May whether annals should be legalized in the U.S., Democratic format runner Hillary Clinton said that “states are the laboratories of democracy.” She previously stated “there should be availability under appropriate circumstances.” Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is going against Clinton a Democrat, has long supported marijuana reform and not long gap alluded to his backing for nationwide legalization. “When I was growing up, it was political suicide for a candidate to talk about pot being legal,” Tim Cullen, who owns a chain of recreational medical marijuana shops in Colorado. Cullen stated that not long ago he heard Clinton talk at a fundraising event in New Mexico and “she’s not outwardly hostile to the idea [of legalization,] which is a big step forward.”
