Ron Paul has as much chance of winning the Republican nomination as I do. (That's very low, particularly considering that I'm a Democrat.) This is an unfortunate reality. I respect and like what I've seen of him even though I'm still pretty far to his left.

Yeah, I think Obama is trying to separate his own history as a cannabis smoker from his political intentions. I guess I can understand that, as big a deal as was made of the fact that he said "Of course I inhaled. That was the point." Promises to try and end DEA raids are great, but he alone can't do that. He'll need the help of the House and Senate to change federal law and their approach to drug enforcement. I am not optimistic about federal legalization or further significant medical legalization over the next 8 years at all, no matter who gets nominated. I'm normally an optimist, but I think this country's mind is still largely closed on the topic of cannabis.