In 1999, John Boehner, former speaker of the house, said that he was "unalterably opposed to the legalization of weed." Now, he's revealed that he has softened up on the issue. He swears he's never tried it and never will, but who is he to say other people shouldn't? Since the beginning of the war on drugs, American opinion on marijuana has largely remained negative, but in the past decade things have changed drastically.
Over the years many people, specifically minorities, have been imprisoned for the possession/usage of marijuana, and it is widely believed (and quite supported) that the harsh stance on weed was designed to demonize and incarcerate black and hispanic people. So, why now, Mr. Boehner? Have you realized the racism behind policing of weed? Or have you decided to be less hypocritical about the importance individual liberties? He cites the potential weed has to help improve the quality of life of veterans; however it is certainly worth mentioning that about a year ago, he joined the board of Acreage Holdings, a cannabis company based in New York.
It seems that now that certain people have seen the value in weed, and by that I mean rich, white, college-educated people, it no longer is quite so dangerous or addictive as it was when thousands of black people were being locked up for it.
Other Sources: https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-new-politics-of-marijuana-legalization-why-opinion-is-changing/
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/03/cannabis-industry-legalization-who-is-making-money
The opinion of weed had changed drastically and rapidly as more people try it or see the benefits of it.
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