For clarification - the head of the DEA is responsible for scheduling and rescheduling drugs at the Federal level, not Congress.
Congress created the LAW - the CSA - and gave scheduling authority to the DEA and FDA.
Congress has nothing to do with MJ's current schedule I status.
President Obama is the head of the executive - i.e. head of the DEA.
FDA compliance with the DEA's recommendation to reschedule MJ most likely would not be strongly opposed.
He has the power, but chooses not to use it because he does not want ANY drugs legalized.
You got what you voted for...
More prohibition and stronger use of police activities to control drugs, but a focus externally and at the borders.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_latin_america_speech_in.html
His campaign speech in Miami on Latin America...
Because if we’ve learned anything in our history in the Americas, it’s that true security cannot come from force alone. Not as long as there are towns in Mexico where drug kingpins are more powerful than judges. Not as long as there are children who grow up afraid of the police. Not as long as drugs and gangs move north across our border, while guns and cash move south in return.
This nexus is a danger to every country in the region – including our own. Thousands of Central American gang members have been arrested across the United States, including here in south Florida. There are national emergencies facing Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Mexican drug cartels are terrorizing cities and towns. President Calderon was right to say that enough is enough. We must support Mexico’s effort to crack down. But we must stand for more than force – we must support the rule of law from the bottom up. That means more investments in prevention and prosecutors; in community policing and an independent judiciary.
And endorsement of Calderon's all out WAR on the citizenry wasn't going to lead to measurable reform.
The current "let's leave medical marijuana people alone" stance is mere pandering.
It isn't ACTUAL change, nor will it prove to be effective long term. This is "decriminalization" - non-enforcement of existing law.
New president - new policy regarding existing law, we're right back where we were BEFORE Obama, but after more of the drug using population has stopped hiding.
The "rule of law" nonsense is just that as well - nonsensical pandering.
The Rule of Law is the Constitution.
The "Rule of the Lawmakers" in violation of the Rule of Law (Governmental "control" over personal property taking all rights of ownership from the owner without due process and without just compensation is complete denial of any "rule of law" governing Government) is a just that - a violation.
It is CRIME.
And it is unacceptable in this country. At least - it was when this country was founded...