DEVELOPMENTS STIR HOPE FOR DEBATE ON LEGAL MARIJUANA

NEW YORK -- The savage drug war in Mexico. Crumbling state budgets.
Weariness with current drug policy. The election of a president who
said, "Yes -- I inhaled."

These developments and others are kindling unprecedented optimism
among the many Americans who want to see marijuana legalized.

Doing so, they contend, could weaken the Mexican cartels profiting
from U.S. pot sales, save billions in law enforcement costs and
generate billions more in tax revenue.

A veteran of the movement, Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy
Alliance, said: "This is the first time I feel like the wind is at my
back and not in my face."

Legalization foes say that already-rampant pot use by adolescents
would worsen if adults could smoke at will.

Even the most hopeful marijuana activists doubt national
decriminalization is near, but they see the debate evolving
dramatically and expect fast-paced change on the state level.

"What we've seen in the past six months is an explosion of activity,
fresh thinking, bold statements and penetrating questions," said Norm
Stamper, a former Seattle police chief now active with Law
Enforcement Against Prohibition.

Some examples:

Numerous prominent political leaders, including California Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Mexican presidents, have suggested
it is time for open debate on legalization.

Lawmakers in at least three states are considering joining the 13
states that have legalized medical pot. Massachusetts voters last
fall decided to decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of pot;
a dozen states have taken such steps.

In Congress, several lawmakers contend that marijuana
decriminalization should be studied in re-examining what they deem to
be failed U.S. drug policy.

Polls indicate close to half of American adults are now open to legalizing pot.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency remains on record against
legalization and medical marijuana.