The insanity continues under Democratic and Republican presidents alike. During the Clinton era, more people were arrested for nonviolent drug offenses than in all the previous years of the war combined. And despite his past, Bush has shown no mercy, not even for high-school kids caught smoking pot behind the bleachers. One of the silliest spectacles of his administration was federal agents raiding the backyards of cancer patients growing medical marijuana, as permitted by California law.

At least Clinton, when he met with bloggers in 2006, acknowledged his regret for having so many mandatory minimum laws enacted during his Presidency and criticized America's over-incarcerating ways. As I wrote then,

We also talked about America's criminal justice system, how politicians are too afraid to do what's right, about the over-jailing of offenders, particularly those with minor drug offenses, about mandatory minimum sentences and how they haven't worked or promoted fairness. He said former offenders should regain the right to vote.

The primary blame for mandatory minimums goes to Ronald Reagan, although it was Richard Nixon who officially initiated the War on Drugs:

1971- US president Richard Nixon initiates the full-blown policy of War On Drugs, declaring drug use to be 'Public Enemy Number One'. The stance adopted by the Nixon regime takes US drug policy to an even more aggressive level, and fully committing the country for the foreseeable future to a law-enforcement solution to the problems associated with drugs. US policy has yet to emerge from this project, and continues to deploy its influence, economic, diplomatic and military in discouraging other UN countries from adopting any alternative approaches.

One more stat from Harrop: Cocaine was 40% cheaper in 1970.

Some good news is:

Revulsion against the War on Drugs is starting to gain momentum. The National Conference of Mayors recently voted to end the conflict, as has the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Cole wants to embolden politicians to say what everyone knows -- that the war has been a dismal $1 trillion failure. If they do that, he said, "they're not going to lose one more vote than they gain."

I agree with Harrop, there's a way for Hillary or Obama to distinguish themselves here: "Promise a pullback from the War on Drugs."

But, don't hold your breath. I doubt either one is likely to do more than promise to study the problem. Here's what they said at a recent debate about mandatory minimums. If they can't even come out for medical marijuana, they aren't likely to go the distance.