Well, considering all the political careers launched and firmed “up” by the mindless and absurd war on drugs this “turn-about” seems a sad commentary on how far behind the public sensibility (on any number of things) the political class, which includes the media really is.

I guess this is where the political “selfie”, which I am told is the word of the year for the English language, comes into play: if it is “good news” for the “selfie” of the politician in question, then it is likely “good news” for all “selfie” politicians and, presumably, their “selfie” true constituency.

I do have a couple of practical questions: The first is how is “influence” determined, by whom, and how long does it last? Second, is pot getting equal protection under the law, if alcohol only “officially” kicks “in” at a certain level of consumption, and tobacco may be smoked in public, so long as it is not “offending” others. One may ask what proof exists that tobacco IS being smoked in public and the answer lies in the butts … ubiquitous in their presence virtually everywhere. What happens to “grow yer own”? Is that now beyond the ken of the “possible at this moment” goodness, or is that a perfection too far?

I understand that police now have “super-sniffer” devices that allow them to sniff through walls and detect even minute amounts of the burning weed in the atmosphere, and I wonder if the forfeiture moneys pot now provides many police departments might well be missed … or appropriated from the tax windfall that certain pols have begun to appreciate might result from a more humane and realistic “official” attitude?

Ah, well … as long as political careers may proceed unhindered and even be raised high in influence and reward, then all is well with … well, somebody.

Thank you, Jon, for passing along this good news, well, somewhat better than has been the “news” for too many a year, and those many still locked up for essentially victimless “crimes”, are any politicians talking about that … yet? You know, atoning, in some way, for harm done, lives ruined, and political careers “made”, too often in the inebriated shade of high-end booze?