Obama's Fate in Colorado Could Be Decided By a Bunch of Dopers

Will he come out in favor of legalized pot the way he did with gay marriage?

Throughout his presidency, Barack Obama hasn't exactly been a friend to marijuana users.

Sure, he has acknowledged smoking pot as a young man, but he has disappointed marijuana advocates by opposing its legalization, regulation and taxation like alcohol.

And the Justice Department's occasional crackdown under his administration on medical marijuana dispensaries, which 17 states and the District of Columbia allow, has angered others.

So now, with Obama facing a stiff challenge from Republican Mitt Romney in the November 6 election, it's ironic that his chances of winning the key state of Colorado could hinge on marijuana legalization, supported by a growing number of Americans.

At issue is whether Obama will get a boost from young voters expected to be among the most enthusiastic backers of a Colorado ballot initiative that would legalize possession of up to an ounce of pot for recreational use - and give the state the most liberal marijuana law in the nation.

Anybody who is counting on the youth vote, especially a youth vote that wants legalized pot, it kidding themselves if they think that's going to put them over the top. The youth vote NEVER shows up in big numbers. Even rainbows and unicorns in 2008 didn't significantly increase the youth vote. A bunch of potheads aren't likely to suddenly discover enough responsibility to show up and vote.