That's an Op-Ed, not necessarily the position of the National Review's editors.
The NYT isn't just running a series of articles on legalization, they are taking a stand as a newspaper in favor of it.
The NYT isn't just running a series of articles on legalization, they are taking a stand as a newspaper in favor of it.
Edit: and the piece is by a sitting Republican congressman, who is a somewhat legendary figure in movement conservative circles.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/367618/sensible-weed-e...
Supporting marijuana legalization isn't solely a left-wing stance, and the NYT isn't particularly early to the position. William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of the National Review, was in favor of legalization as far back as the mid-1960s.