This is the Cato Daily Podcast for Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014.

I'm Caleb Brown.

Conservatives should read the writing on the wall with respect to marijuana legalization.

Arresting the better part of a million people a year for the drug doesn't make sense.

With states like Colorado and Washington moving ahead anyway, it's a perfect time for

conservatives to celebrate these laboratories of democracy.

Mary Catherine Ham is an editor at Hot Air.

We spoke about marijuana prohibition last week.

Traditionally, Conservatives have been among the most ardent drug warriors, but that is changing.

Yes, judging from the response that I get on Twitter and Facebook from Conservatives and Tea Party folks when I talk about

marijuana legalization, there is great skepticism about the drug war in that sector.

And I think it's becoming more mainstream in general.

You've got some 70 plus percent of Texans polled recently thinking,

well, we need to find different strategies for nonviolent

drug offenders.

That may not mean that they want to legalize marijuana, but skepticism of the drug war I think

is very strong and among conservatives pretty strong.

You still get an emotional reaction

to the idea of legalization of marijuana

from some folks, but I think there's a discussion

to be had and common ground to sort of build on. So you speak directly to conservatives in various outlets.

Make your case.

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