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Happy 4/20
As support for marijuana prohibition continues to hemorage and calls for legalization reverberate louder than ever before, the 4/20 marijuana holiday has become much more than the official day to get stoned. Recent years have brought frenzied media coverage and cable TV specials, in addition to the famed improptu pot parties that just seem to escalate each year. It's a phenomenon, the very existence of which perfectly humiliates the great drug war army. Today we celebrate the culture that thrives despite decades of persecution and renew our commitment to the fight for freedom. A few links:
*Norm Stamper wants all you 4/20 revelers to Put Down That Joint and Pick Up a Pen, although maybe I should have mentioned this to you earlier in the day. Do not, I repeat, do not send letters to the editor if you're stoned off your ass.
*D.C.'s medical marijuana law takes another big forward step. This was a bit of a 4/20 surprise from the D.C. Council. We actually would have preferred that they wait a couple more weeks, so we'd have more time to push for amendments. If the law ultimately takes effect under the current regulations, we'll have some annoying problems. Nevertheless, the inevitable emergence of medical marijuana in the Nation's Capital is something to celebrate.
*A new AP-CNBC poll completely pukes all over our pot party. I'd like to know how they phrased the legalization question to come up with only 33% support. Every other recent poll is in the 40's. I call bullshit on this. A new CBS poll says 44%. That's more like it.
*You can download the book Marijuana is Safer today only. Click here.
*Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley is doing his best to interfere with California's legalization initiative. Someone give him a hug.
*Finally, since marijuana isn't truly legal yet anywhere in America, please take a few minutes to educate yourself about dealing with police. Click the link, dude. You'll love it. I swear.
In The Trenches
Your input needed: D.C. Council expected to vote on medical marijuana today
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Marijuana Policy Project Alert | April 20, 2010 | |||||
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Your input needed: D.C. Council expected to vote on medical marijuana today Draft amendments to legislation answer some patient concerns, leave others unresolved. Dear friends: The D.C. Council may vote today on legislation to amend Initiative 59. The proposal would get a second vote in May. Please share your thoughts on implementation of medical marijuana with your councilmembers now. Those of you in attendance at Februaryâs hearing before the committees on Public Safety and the Judiciary as well as Health will be happy to know that this latest incarnation addresses many of the concerns you helped bring to the councilâs attention. For instance, the bill no longer requires patients to seek recommendations from "primary care physicians," ensuring access for those too poor to see the same doctor regularly or, like many veterans, whose doctors are federal employees. The amended bill also reduces the minimum distance from which dispensaries must be located from schools â down to 300 feet from 1,000 feet â easing zoning and location concerns. Still, several aspects of the bill now being considered raise concerns over the ability of patients to have safe, reliable access to medicine. For instance, the list of conditions for which medical marijuana could be utilized is needlessly restrictive. This would be only the second law in the country to completely exclude severe or chronic pain as a symptom or condition for which medical marijuana could be used as treatment. The bill would also mandate that patients use only marijuana or paraphernalia obtained from a District dispensary, and that they do so only in their own homes. A simple ban on smoking in public would be a much better and easier way to address legitimate concerns. Additionally, the bill limits the amount of marijuana that cultivation centers could grow to 95 plants, which would drive up costs and raise serious concerns about the ability of program supply to meet patient demand. Other concerns include:
If you havenât already, please do take just a minute or two to use our automated system to send your councilmembers a quick e-mail. When youâre done, go ahead and forward this on to a friend. Thanks for all your help in shaping this legislation. Weâll be sure to keep you posted as the process moves forward. Sincerely,
Dan Riffle |
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We are required by federal law to tell you that any donations you make to MPP may be used for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates for federal office. | Â | |||||
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In The Trenches
Free "Marijuana is Safer" download available now!
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The authors and publisher of Marijuana is Safer: So why are we driving people to drink? have made the entire book available for FREE for one day only -- April 20 (4/20). The book is now posted and ready for downloading. Just click on the following link to get started: |
In The Trenches
4/20 Marijuana Book Giveaway + Events
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As the title implies, Marijuana is Safer was written to educate the public about the relative harms of marijuana and alcohol. In the book, the authors encourage readers to talk to others about this issue. They even encourage readers to pass the book along to someone who needs it once they are finished reading it. Well, now it is going to be even easier to pass the book along. Tomorrow, April 20th (4/20), from 7 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. ET, the authors and publisher of Marijuana is Safer: So why are we driving people to drink? are making the book available for FREE. You will be able to download a PDF of the entire book via Scribd.com, which you will then be able to forward to as many people as you would like. If you'd like to get Marijuana is Safer for FREE tomorrow, just click the button below -- or visit http://www.marijuanabookbomb.com -- and enter your e-mail at the bottom of the form. We will then send you a reminder about the giveaway tomorrow morning. We also encourage you to spread the word about this great opportunity!
4/20 + Upcoming Events in Colorado Tuesday, April 20th Denver 4/20 Rally 10am-7pm @ Civic Center Park, Denver (map) Free event featuring speakers, vendors and musical acts from across Colorado Join the "Green Team" -- Join volunteers from around medical marijuana community to clean up Civic Center Park during th 4/20 rally. For more details and to get involved, contact Denver Relief at 303-420-6337 4/20 Rally After-Party 6:30pm @ Casselman's Bar & Venue, 2620 Walnut St., Denver (map) $10 cover gets you in to see performances by Pato Banton, P-Nuckle, and more
What Are Your Legal Rights? 5:30pm-7pm @ Apothecary of Colorado, 1730 Blake St., Suite 420, Denver (map) Free legal and know-your-rights event presented by Sensible Colorado Saturday, May 8th SAFER 5th Anniversary Celebration 5pm-8pm @ The Grand Hyatt Denver, 1750 Welton St., DenverSuite 420 (map) Featuring former two-term New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson
Sponsorship opportunities available -- CLICK HERE for more information |
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Will the Economic Argument Help Legalize Marijuana? Yes.
It's been the most prominent talking point for marijuana reform in recent months, but can the promise of tax revenue really convince people to support legalization? A new poll attempted to find out:
As far as I'm concerned, if you can get 62% to approve of taxation, you're heading hard in the right direction. The AP headline pours cold water on the argument's viability, but the goal here was never to convince everyone that legalizing marijuana would end the damn recession. The point is to increase support for taxing marijuana.
Given the poor showing for the "create jobs" argument specifically, maybe we want to lean away from that and just emphasize tax revenue and savings. The whole idea of new marijuana-related jobs wouldn't impress our target demographic anyway. They are people who generally don't like marijuana and just want to hear less about it. Hopefully, we can sell them on supporting legalization in exchange for a little bit of tax revenue and a lifetime of not having to watch these massive initiatives come along every two years for the rest of their life.
Ultimately, the reality of marijuana reform messaging is that there's no silver bullet. Some arguments poll better than others, but when you actually talk to casual supporters, they're often oblivious to half the arguments anyway. There are dozens of distinct and sufficient reasons to legalize marijuana and our goal is simply to connect with swing voters one way if not another. The only arguments to really avoid are those that only make sense to people who already love the stuff.
AP-CNBC Poll: Legalizing pot won't boost economy
LOS ANGELES â Few people see legalized marijuana as a way to boost the economy and create jobs, according to an Associated Press-CNBC poll.
About a quarter of those polled said legalized pot would lead to more jobs in their communities; 57 percent said there would be no effect. About a third think the economy would improve, while 46 percent foresee no impact.
â¦
And while 62 percent approve of states taxing the drug, with people from the West most likely to back the idea, only a third felt the levies would make a significant contribution to state budgets.
As far as I'm concerned, if you can get 62% to approve of taxation, you're heading hard in the right direction. The AP headline pours cold water on the argument's viability, but the goal here was never to convince everyone that legalizing marijuana would end the damn recession. The point is to increase support for taxing marijuana.
Given the poor showing for the "create jobs" argument specifically, maybe we want to lean away from that and just emphasize tax revenue and savings. The whole idea of new marijuana-related jobs wouldn't impress our target demographic anyway. They are people who generally don't like marijuana and just want to hear less about it. Hopefully, we can sell them on supporting legalization in exchange for a little bit of tax revenue and a lifetime of not having to watch these massive initiatives come along every two years for the rest of their life.
Ultimately, the reality of marijuana reform messaging is that there's no silver bullet. Some arguments poll better than others, but when you actually talk to casual supporters, they're often oblivious to half the arguments anyway. There are dozens of distinct and sufficient reasons to legalize marijuana and our goal is simply to connect with swing voters one way if not another. The only arguments to really avoid are those that only make sense to people who already love the stuff.
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