Change.gov: Citizen’s Briefing Book: Top All-Time
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 at 4:22 pm | By: Radical Russ
Third verse, same as the first:
Ending Marijuana Prohibition
I suggest that we step back and take a non-biased “Science Based” approach to decide what should be done about the “Utter Failure” that we call the War on (some) Drugs.
The fact is that Marijuana is much less harmful to our bodies than other Legal Drugs such as Tobacco and Alcohol. And for the Government to recognize Marijuana as having Medicinal Properties AND as a Schedule I drug (Has NO medicinal Properties) is an obvious flaw in the system.
We must stop imprisoning responsible adult citizens choosing to use a drug that has been mis-labeled for over 70 years.
President Obama’s Change.gov website once again asked citizens for their input and once again we made marijuana legalization the #1 issue.
If a million stoners click on a website, does it make a sound?
It’s put up or shut up time. The wisdom to be gained from these Change polls showing legalization to be a prime concern for many is not that our issue is more important than global warming, financial catastrophe, the Middle East, and so forth. It is that prohibition is such an obvious failure and legalization such an obvious windfall that Americans can’t believe it is still an issue. And the key to unlocking that wisdom is knowing you’re not alone in seeing the naked emperor, that what is obvious to you is obvious to others.
Name any other issue that the American people support by roughly 3-to-1 margins, but no politician dare support. Yet Americans support medical marijuana by that margin. Americans believe in fine-only punishments for social marijuana by that margin. Americans support farming industrial hemp by that margin. So why is marijuana illegal? Why would politicians run from something so obviously popular?
Because 3-to-1 support doesn’t translate into 3-to-1 action. In a perverse way, marijuana prohibition is too flawed for people to be active about. 25 million of us smoke annually, but only 872,000 had encounters with law enforcement. In raw terms, that’s only 3.5% of annual cannabis consumers who encounter “The Man”. Then you figure how many of the 3.5% are involved in larger amounts, more often, have bad luck, are stupid, are driving, or are real criminals, and your average pot smoker thinks he’s got what, a 1 in 10,000 chance of getting busted per year? Plus everyone who wants to smoke pot can get some and everyone’s lived under prohibition for so long that paying $45 for three grams of a weed seems perfectly reasonable. Then there are the dealers and growers who can accept a few people rotting in prison so long as they can continue a tax-free cash lifestyle.
So time to put up. If you clicked on Change.gov or Change.org and you’re feeling unheard, put your money where your mouse is. Donate some money to NORML and help us all be a bit louder. Start a local chapter. Organize for the marijuana march in May. Visit your state representative. Start an initiative if your city or state has them.
Topics: Change.gov, President Obama
MPP donations are mached by Some guy from Prgresive Ins.(I think) Up to 3.5 million.
Last year they fell short of that goal, they missed out on like $500,000. Seems like cooperation between ORG’s could have made the most of that matching deal??
Maybe someone’s time is more valuable than their money. Some clean cut billionaire fith nothing to lose. I am afraid we will miss this oppertunity for change. We need to make some noise as a comunity. Ask me about the Amtrac idea :)
SO is there some sort of conflict that prevents NORML from receiving those funds?
Thanks PatD, I wonder if Norml has had any conversations with him? I think we(As stashers)should organize something. Maybe a billboard, Dose anyone know what bill board cost? Norml could give us an idea of location. Lets do it!!
Oh, we’ve had plenty of conversations. Here’s the deal: the billionaires (George Soros, Peter Lewis, John Sperling, Robert Field, etc.) do give a ton of money to drug law reform organizations like MPP, DPA, ASA, etc.
Just not NORML. NORML is supported by lots of little dollar donations from the people, not one big dollar donation from a person. We are truly THE grassroots marijuana law reform organization. And that’s OK – MPP, DPA, ASA, etc. do wonderful work and compliment our mission nicely, which is to represent, educate, lobby, and generally be the voice of marijuana smokers nationwide.
Not that we wouldn’t turn down a couple million from a generous benefactor.
“The Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy spent $1.2 million on the law’s passage, including $400,000 from billionaire activist George Soros of New York City.”
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081230/NEWS/812300344
This guy rocks, and hopefully he continues his efforts.
Lets hear it Pat, Let us in on George Soros.
2 words: George Soros.
Pat D, You help reinforce my point.
We need to reach out to those who don’t curently support us but would given the truth. I know this idea is not new… How do other ORG’s reach the people? Busses, Billboards, news papers,TV, TV is expensive and its hard to get airtime for this topic. Public Signs, I think we could do more. News papers and Junk mail, This area has potential. I don’t have the answers… I know I would like to see more…
I think we should do large scale good deeds! When the press shows up, we pull off our jackets to reveal 100’s of NORML shirts, then we protest and hand out info. What do you other stashers think?
Got any ideas? We need to start talking about real shit. Let’s not waste this oppertunity it might be 30 more years!
A funny thing happened to me today…
I decided to discuss my pro-legalization opinions with fellow students and instructors in my class. This is a big step for me b/c I am the type of person that won’t open my mouth unless I have all the facts and can reasonably sell my argument.
I used an example of the misapplication of law by depicting an 80 year old woman relieving her pain caused by glaucoma through the use of marijuana. I asked if that woman is a criminal, and if she deserved to be treated as such.
IMMEDIATELY, I was cut off by several people who claimed that I wasn’t using a fair example because marijuana has “medicinal benefits” and that there was nothing wrong with that situation. These people understood the benefits of cannabis, despite being ignorant to the fact she was still breaking the law and could face federal prison time(no matter how unlikely).
Once I explained to them that the federal government refuses to allow scientists to even research the plant, a sense of disgust soon filled the room.
I think this is how we can win this battle. Educate your peers as to the bull shit they have been fed, then hand them the towel of truth to cleanse themselves.
I am a member Russ of that you can be sure!
We all love NORML and support NORML the best we can. I also know that the vast majority of the people who visit the NORML sites and the sites like it Already support the cause.
How do we get this info into the faces of the undecided and the people who belive the lies?
I check out the Stash site several times a day, I also try to visit the Norml Blog,MPP,DPA and other similar sites.
Frankly, I find that the info is not updated often and not inviting to those who disagree with us. Few of these sites have any open dialogue with visitors(the new guset book is awsome Russ)
I think we need to focus more on changing public opinion vs. DC.
I don’t intend to be disrespectfull, I am simply tring to start a discussion about how we can be more effective in our fight.