Obama Answers To Jamaicans About Federal Marijuana Policy

On an island famous for its Rastafarian culture, President Obama held a town hall discussion at which he fielded the inevitable question of whether or not he would support the legalization of marijuana. On Thursday in Kingston, Jamaica, the President responded to a question regarding cannabis legislation by saying "How did I anticipate this question?" with a laugh.Federal Legislation To Remain ToughThough the President reinforced his belief that the nation's ‘war on drugs', which carries a stiff sentence for non-violent offenders caught in possession of marijuana, was counterproductive; he also said he doesn't see the government decriminalizing the drug anytime soon. At the moment, several US congress members are working to pass a bill that would reclassify marijuana as less dangerous, but most expect that the change in legislation won't make it very far in Washington.An Issue In ProgressInstead, the President told the young leaders who gathered at the University of the West Indies that the states which have legalized marijuana will provide a framework for the rest of the nation to make an educated decision about how to handle drug policy. While he acknowledged that the current federal policy regarding marijuana has done little to decrease demand, he also said that legalizing the drug would make it difficult to draw the line and prohibit other drugs.Conflicting Laws Hinder Marijuana BusinessesObama's candid talk in Jamaica represents a growing national debate over how to move forward with marijuana legalization. While some states have legalized both medical and recreational use, the drug is still considered criminal in the eyes of the federal government, making it difficult for new businesses to operate freely.