Pot legalization advocates are undeterred by the defeat of Prop. 19

[Seedersandleechers]

Source: LATIMES

Despite Proposition 19's loss at the polls last week, marijuana legalization advocates in California are already working on their comeback plan for 2012 and are almost giddy about their prospects.

They see the election as a trial run that could lead to a campaign with a better message, a tighter measure and more money. Both the winning and losing sides say California's voters rejected this specific initiative, but remain open to legalizing the easily obtainable drug.

The proponents have a huge head start compared to where they were two years ago. At that time, regulating and taxing marijuana was the dream of a handful of Oakland activists. Now, the campaign has a broader base of supporters, including labor and civil rights leaders. Big-money donors have shown a keen interest. And the state's electorate and media have seriously debated the issue.

In addition, the presidential election is expected to draw far more young voters to the polls. If they had shown up Tuesday, supporters note, Proposition 19 might have come close to passing. Even so, they also point out with bemusement, legalization outpolled Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marijuana-prop19-20101108,0,1511919.story

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marijuana-prop19-20101108,0,1511919.story

[HopeHoops]

1. They need a more effective message next time: "Vote BEFORE You Toke".

[Seedersandleechers]

3. [phone]

:rofl:

[HopeHoops]

4. It might sound funny, but I'm serious. They should start putting that on billboards RIGHT NOW!

[Le Taz Hot]

5. Actually, it perpetuates a myth so, no,

those of us who are serious about legalization would probably nix the idea. IF YOU HAD READ THE ARTICLE, the largest pro-group that didn't show up to vote "yes" on 19 were the 18-25 year olds. Us old stoners voted, just as we've been voting for the last 35+ years. Now, if you have any proof that people were too stoned to show up at the polls, I'd be happy to review your citation.

[HopeHoops]

6. Well, it is just personal experience. I tried for YEARS to get some friends to vote.

Now to be fair, I was usually shitfaced back then too, but I still voted. It isn't just a myth. I've been way too stoned to want to go do anything as well, but voting was just in my blood I guess. Some of those people still don't vote and, again to be fair, some aren't wasted anymore - others are. I quit toking over 20 years ago and have no intention of returning to doing so but I would prefer that it were legal everywhere. It is far less of a problem than alcohol and that doesn't take a genius to figure out.

As to whether or not Prop 19 failed because of "don't want to get off the couch syndrome", nobody will ever know. But the point of the "Vote BEFORE you toke" idea was not to perpetuate that idea but to point out the rights that would be gained by voting. If enough people vote to legalize it ("vote before"), then we won't be sending non-violent people to jail for possession of a small amount of pot ("you toke"). It is a double meaning using a metaphor that most people are familiar with.

[dotymed]

7. Maybe?

"Toke Before You Vote." Perhaps people would not be so full of propaganda. Wow, voting for their own interests, instead of "pie in the sky" Crap! Who knows?

[Le Taz Hot]

2. From the article:

"Voters under 25 supported Proposition 19 by a 2-to-1 margin, but they did not turn out in big numbers." I was asked to be part of the campaign early on and was willing to be an enthusiastic activist -- right up until the time they informed me they were targeting young people (under 25) and ONLY young people. I had several arguments against that, of course, but my primary argument was that the youngins weren't going to be turning out in an off-election year without Obama on the ballot. Somehow they've got to understand that supporters represent ALL age groups and targeting only ONE demographic was about as successful as Kaine's regressive 2010 6-state strategy.

[mrdmk]

8. Was this proposition being used to legalize pot, or to get young people to vote in this

election? That is the question. Another words, another wedge issue...

[musiclawyer]

9. The pro side need to frame the debate first,......... like now

1. Educate people the real reasons cannabis was criminalized
2. Educate people that it being s schedule 1 drug is a joke, because its a fact that iot has medicinal value
3. Educate people of the revenue implications that benefit the state
4. Educate people who opposes it ( drug cartels and the Mexican Government)
5. Educate people about the incredible new industry and jobs that will a byproduct of legalization (hemp)
6. Educate People about the resources that will be freed up to fight real crime.

Imagine each bullet point above having its own 30 sec commercial-- running in rotation, early.

Prop 19 would have passed without the youth vote had another 15 million been put in the cmapaign. I think this time, proponents will be ready with money, framing, and with a better drafted law that will scare neither the illegal growers in the emerald triangle nor the medicinal users.

[EFerrari]

10. It seemed like the prop was doing fine untill Eric Holder opened his mouth. n/t

[JonLP24]

11. Those are all good points

I agree with you 100%.