Editor's Note: This is a fantastic look at the upcoming presidential elections and how HRC could swing either way, depending on what her advisers recommend as the safest political stance. But her openness to exploring and examining research will keep her in favor of many activists, as her position thus far doesn't indicate a possible shut-down of the legalized industry, and certainly doesn't indicate a threat to the medical marijuana industry. This CNN article also highlights the importance of the outcomes of the November votes in Oregon, Alaska and D.C. If these all pass marijuana legalization measures, this will help give the initiative a greater push and stand to demonstrate a more robust countrywide shift. If they fail, well … the initiative obviously weakens.
Washington (CNN) -- When Hillary Clinton graduated from Wellesley College in 1969 -- where the future first lady and Secretary of State says she did not try marijuana --only 12% of Americans wanted to legalize the drug.
In 45 years, however, the tide has changed for legalization: 58% of Americans now want to make consumption legal, two states (Colorado and Washington) already have and two more states (Oregon and Alaska) could join them by the end of the year.
Despite their growth in approval, many activists see 2014 as a smaller, but important, step to their end goal. It is 2016, when voters will also have to decide who they want in the White House, that marijuana activists feel could be the real tipping point for their movement.
