Acknowledging some of the unintended consequences of America's endless War on Drugs, President Obama pardoned or commuted the sentences of several non-violent offenders on Thursday. Five of the pardons were for drug-related offenses, but the commutations sent a much clearer message.

All eight commutations were for extremely harsh sentences for violations involving crack cocaine. The sentences had been handed down under out-of-date guidelines and, according to a statement from Mr. Obama, "In several cases, the sentencing judges expressed frustration that the law at the time did not allow them to issue punishments that more appropriately fit the crime."

Those sentencing guidelines, which have since been amended, mandated much longer jail time for violations involving crack than for those involving powder cocaine, and have been widely criticized for both their logical flaws and their disproportionate penalization of people of color.

The pardons and commutations come amidst a growing national refutation of America's drug war. For the first time ever, Gallup's national poll found that a majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana, and regulating and taxing it like alcohol or tobacco. A full 58 percent of respondents supported legalization, including a majority of every age group under 65 and a large majority of both registered Democratic and Independent voters.

President Obama's record on the drug war has been mixed. Perhaps, like his position on gay marriage, it might be better said to be "evolving" along with popular opinion. Under Obama's watch, several states have relaxed rules against marijuana use and sale. Most significantly, Colorado voters approved legalization of the substance and so far the federal government has allowed the state's legalization experiment to proceed.

Still, Obama has received criticism for rhetorically toning down the drug war while continuing to prosecute a full-on offensive against growers and distributors operating within the legal bounds of state law. Marijuana Majority's Tom Angell has complained that since "the Justice Department's 2009 announcement that it shouldn't be a priority to bust medical marijuana providers operating in accordance with state law, this administration went on to close down more state-legal marijuana businesses in one term than the Bush administration did in two terms."

Perhaps Obama's recent statements and commutations really do signal a turning point in his administration's drug policy. Such a turn has always made sense both ethically and pragmatically. Now, as public opinion and state referenda continue to support things like marijuana legalization and the treatment of drug addiction as a medical (rather than criminal) problem, it makes political sense as well.