The history of the war on drugs is not as most think. We engage in practices that were known to be bad before the war on drugs, and are known to be bad now (and we did/do so for bad reasons).
Other countries in the developed world are using more humane -- and more effective -- techniques to combat the real social problem of wide-spread drug use and addiction.
The author of this petition hopes to raise awareness of the dark, unseemly history of the war on drugs, as well as alternative options and the evidence for their viability.
Johann Hari his a journalist who has written extensively on the subject, and who can present a cogent account of the history and modern context for the subject. A televised event featuring the President could spread awareness in a unique and profound way.