The United States is nearing a tipping point in drug laws, Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, tells CBS News as part of its series “Marijuana Nation: The New War Over Weed.” The story cites several developments, including Virginia Sen. Jim Webb’s call for an overhaul of the criminal justice system and moves by several states to liberalize marijuana laws. A Gallup Poll released last month showed that support for national marijuana legalization has climbed steadily since the early 1980s, recently hitting an all-time high of 44 percent.
“That is the most extraordinary poll result as I have seen in all my years working in this,” Nadelmann said. “We haven’t changed our position, but we are basically more and more part of the mainstream discussion.” He likens the situation to movements like gay rights and civil rights that made rapid strides in relatively short periods.