In Case You Haven't Heard…

If you haven't heard about the astounding reversal by The New York Times editorial board on cannabis, the dust has finally settled. Once a strong supporter of legal recreational marijuana, the Times on February 9 wrote an editorial titled: “It's time for America to admit that it has a marijuana problem.” No opinions seem to have changed. Those in favor of legal recreational marijuana – except for the people at The Times – still are in favor of it. Those who are opposed still are opposed, and rely on the opinion of a newspaper editorial board as further proof of their position. Some gray areas seem to have emerged, with wag asking: Who at The Times had a child who got into trouble with marijuana? Some thought nothing else could have provoked such an about‐face. It may have been science writers at one of the few remaining great newspapers who presented the facts from medical paper after medical paper. Or it might have been a family member's anguish. That's the way this field works. When you know someone who gets in trouble with a substance, your mindset changes, one way or another. Coming out about it in the open is what takes courage. So thank you for not going along with groupthink, editorial board.