Obama: Decriminalize Pot
But as a candidate for the U.S. Senate four years ago, Mr. Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use or possession, according to a videotape of a little noticed debate that was obtained by The Washington Times.
"I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws," Mr. Obama told an audience during a debate at Northwestern University in 2004. "But I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana."
They have the Jan 2004 video
Obama, should he become the nominee, is going to have to endure lots of nasty attacks due to his candid comments about previous drug use. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out.
Criminal arrests for marijuana use skyrocketed under Clinton I, and I don't see any signs that would really change under Clinton II.