New Jersey Cannabis

The only thing they're "pretending" about is the reason. They've never been opposed to weed for public health, moral, or historical reasons. They're aware that Marijuana is significantly more popular among minorities and liberals. By criminalizing it and and enforcing zero-tolerance laws they simultaneously create a source of cheap slave labor (which is still legal for prisoners under the thirteenth amendment) while simultaneously disenfranchising their opponents. That's the reason the right opposes weed reform, and they have clearly demonstrated those are still their priorities. Add to the fact that democrats are by any reasonable definition a center right party, and you understand why it's been illegal in America for so long

Also I find it cute you think the right cares about saving face. I've watched Ted Cruz phone bank for a man who openly insulted him and his wife. Basically every republican who "condemned" Trump (but wouldn't impeach him) is back to campaigning for him. They don't care how their actions represent them because they can tell their base anything and they believe it