Any ideas on how to get Marijuana legalized?

[I_like_chicken]

Ok, I think there is a concensus on this board that Marijuana should be legalized, but how do we get it to be legalized? Smoke-ins, protests, demonstrations, Grass-roots organizations, revolution? What can I do to help further the cause of legalization of Marijuana? I've been thinking about this for a while, and one thing I realized is that for Marijuana to be legalized, we need to change the public perception of Marijuana and the consequences of legalizing it. But how do we do that?

Give me your best ideas.

[Us vs Them]

1. HBO is making great strides.

In a majority of their shows they blatantly showcase mundane, recreational, trouble-free use and enjoyment of marijuana.

It think its this same kind of subtle hint of marijuana use as an everyday occurrence that will slowly bring it out of the closet.

[noamnety]

2. medical marijuana

That's the area that the public is most open to, so that's your foot in the door. Get that legalized first.

(Having said that, I feel obligated to add that inhaling smoke of any sort causes cancer and you'd be better off finding a different habit - I definitely am against all smoking, ugh.)

Hemp might be the next step, because it's such an environmentally sound alternative for so many uses.

[cheezus]

8. re: smoking dangers

1. Yep, inhaling IS bad... but when you compare the amount of material smoked/smoked produced it's hardly anything compared to the amount of tobacco that smokers use
2. You can eat it :)

[DrBloodmoney]

16. Vaporizing reduces the carcinogenic effects

of traditional cannabis use.


Study abstract

[java-fiend]

76. Even if I *had* to smoke it, I would

A few years ago I woke up and found myself afflicted with vertigo. Imagine the last really bad hangover you had; my vertigo was about ten times that bad. Terrible nausea, I couldn't at first even stand up. I reached for the glass of water I keep by the bed and drank some, and immediately puked it back up.

There was simply no way I could keep anything down - not even some a pill. Had I any hemp, I would have smoked it even though my lungs do not care for smoke.

Eventually I scraped up enough strength to crawl across the room to the phone, dial my brother's phone number, and whisper "please help me."

The trip to the emergency room cost nearly $3000, and I didn't even ride in am ambulance.

Every time that I see some red dress Repug woman (you know the kind) on TV denouncing medical marijuana, I find myself hoping that she comes down with cancer or some other horrendous disease where hemp would be indicated.

I know that that is mean, and I'm not proud to harbor such sentiments, but I do. I wish that every politician who advocates the continuation of the war on hemp - Repug and Democrat alike - has a son or daughter who is caught and subjected to zero-tolerance, and a parent who comes down with cancer.

[iconoclastNYC]

14. Maybe eating pot decreases the risk? N/T

[Union Thug]

64. Space Cakes...

As I recall, Space Cakes were once relatively common in Amsterdam coffee shops. Basically, you're eating marijuana. I heard many anecdotes as to the potency of these things, including something referencing a gov't crackdown because unsuspecting tourists were getting too baked to function. Bwahahaha..

[firefox]

68. You are absolutely wrong in your statement.

There has never been one lung cancer death attributed to cannabis use. It does not cause emphasema either. You do not know what you are talking about.

[tridim]

3. As long as there are pharmaceutical companies

making barrels of cash selling their chemicals, MJ will never be legal. It's impossible to patent a weed.

[SoutherLib]

48. We have a winner.

Dead on. Also the alcohol companies were big supporters of getting it made illegal back then. It is good business sense to get rid of competition.

[newyawker99]

60. Hi Southerlib!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[pretzel4gore]

4. point out marijuana cure seasickness

all sorts of nausea....and the police/prisons/judicial industries reap tens of billions $$$ every year from pot's illegality, and will kill to prevent any change or interruption of tax money flowing towards them..... another thing, because anyone can grow pot, the alchohol drug pushers also will spend vast sums to stop it from being free of law enforcement entanglement (which must put thousands of freeper kids through college every year(?)....
the pot laws cost US taxpayers many billion/year(?) w/out factoring in what the medical/health savings might be.....
is it true that over half the 'suspects' featured on the show 'cops' were for possession etc of marijuana?

[jayctravis]

42. My friend also insisted it was the only thing that would cure her migraine

It actually increases blood flow (hence the common "red eye" effect) and causes tension release in neck/scalp muscles that can bring relief.

I don't know why it's not legal for adults to use. The parties I've been to where everyone is stoned are so much more fun and friendly and *creative* than those where people are falling down drunk, getting emotional, and sometimes injuring themselves.

[ridgerunner]

5. The first step is education

Many people are misinformed about cannabis. They don't really know the truth.

I've thought about this myself a lot. It seems that the current strategy of holding protests, having parades, writing letters to the editors, putting up billboards is rather ineffective simply because such a large proportion of the public simply believes what they are told rather than seeking out the truth for themselves.

I think the best thing that legalization movements could do is educate the public about the benefits of cannabis. The best way to do this is to get them to read The Emperor Wears no Clothes by Jack Herer. The legalization movements should buy thousands of copies and mail them to legislators, libraries, preachers, people who write letters supporting the WOSD to their newspapers, etc.

This serves two purposes. First off, it puts information that those who oppose cannabis legalization need to see. Jack Herer presents a very strong argument and even offers people $100,000 to prove him wrong. Secondly, by buying large amounts of the Emperor, there is a possibility that it will make the best seller list, therefore the media may pick up on it or people may buy it themselves to see what all the fuss is about.

Education is key in the fight to end cannabis prohibition. People simply don't know why it was made illegal and remains illegal today. And it has been my experience that if you educate a person to the facts about anything, then give them time to sort out the information for themselves, they will arrive at the right conclusion: Cannabis prohibition is a scam. Of course there will always be people who walk through life with blinders on, but most people aren't stupid. Ignorant of things, yes, stupid, no.

[Fire]

9. I like Jack Herer

The marijuana legalization movement could really use an Alfred Kinsey; someone who is read widely outside of the audience who supports it and at the same time is very scholarly and credible.

[Asgaya Dihi]

38. Cancer?

Now that's someone who knows what they are talking about.

The key is information, and unfortunately even the reformers are all too often mistaken on the issues.

We all buy the line that all smoking causes cancer, but what about the proof? They claim to have found " carcinogenic" substances, but they've yet to produce a case of cancer. Here's a quote from the online copy of The Emperor Wears No Clothes to consider. This is the same guy that DID the Governments lung research.

http://www.jackherer.com/chapter15.html

"While tens of millions of Americans smoke pot regularly, cannabis has never caused a known case of lung cancer as of December 1997, according to America's foremost lung expert, Dr. Donald Tashkin of UCLA. He considers the biggest health risk to the lungs would be a person smoking 16 or more "large" spliffs a day of leaf/bud because of the hypoxia of too much smoke and not enough oxygen."

And further on we read this.


We have interviewed Dr. Tashkin dozens of times. In 1986 I asked him about an article he was preparing for the New England Journal of Medicine, indicating that cannabis smoke caused as many or more pre-cancerous lesions as tobacco in "equal" amounts.

Most people do not realize, nor are the media told, that any tissue abnormality (abrasion, eruption, or even redness) is called a pre-cancerous lesion. Unlike lesions caused by tobacco, the THC-related lesions contain no radioactivity.

We asked Tashkin how many persons had gone on to get lung cancer in these or any other studies of long-term cannabis-only smokers (Rastas, Coptics, etc.)

Sitting in his UCLA laboratory, Dr. Tashkin looked at me and said, "That's the strange part. So far no one we've studied has gone on to get lung cancer."

"Was this reported to the press?"

"Well, it's in the article," Dr. Tashkin said. "But no one in the press even asked. They just assumed the worst." His answer to us was still that not one single case of lung cancer in someone who only smoked cannabis, has ever been reported. It should be remembered that he and other doctors had predicted 20 years ago, their certainty that hundreds of thousands of marijuana smokers would by now (1997) have developed lung cancer.

[Asgaya Dihi]

41. Useful links and info

Edit to clarify the third paragraph. I was going to start a new thread for this since it seems it's needed, but the system says I'm not allowed to yet... so maybe someone else can if they think it's worthwhile.

I've been doing the anti-prohibition argument for a few years now and have collected a useful list of links and arguments, I'll try to share some to help arm you guys before I go. I might drop in now and then after this, but I'm finding very little hope or concern for what's going on among the party so far so there's little sense wasting my time here.

I've worked on refining a short and sweet set of arguments that I believe helps to define the main problem in short and sweet terms, you guys are welcome to make use of them if you want. Just scan for the posts under my user name in the thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1824875&mesg_id=1824875

Ok, some research links.

The most complete history of how we got into the drug war that I've been able to find so far is this one, it was written by Charles Whitebread, Professor of Law, USC Law School and is the text of a speech he gave to the California Judges Association 1995 annual conference. For reference he's probably the nations foremost expert on the subject given that his article "The Forbidden Fruit and the Tree of Knowledge - The Legal History of Marihuana in the United States" attracted Government attention and he and a partner were then invited to run a team that was given full access to Governmental records to document the issue.

History of the Non-Medical Use of Drugs in the United States
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/whiteb1.htm

Maximizing Harm is an online copy of a book that does a good job of explaining how badly our current system actually manages the subject of drug control.

Maximizing Harm
http://maximizingharm.com/original_online_edition1.htm

There's two copies of Jack Herer's book The Emperor Wears No Clothes online, which is better depends on your taste and style. I like the old text one better, more info on a page without constant clicking, but whatever.

HEMP - Jack Herer
http://www.jackherer.com/
ElectricEmperor Friendly Warning!!!
http://www.electricemperor.com/

A great source for info from REAL scientific sources that have been peer reviewed is at the following link. Nothing like throwing science at them, with names they recognize.

Drug War Facts
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/

And this one to fight the lies.
Top Drug Warrior Distortions
http://www.drugwardistortions.org/

We aren't freaks, we're real people with real concerns. These guys will help get that message across.

LEAP: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition - Homepage
http://www.leap.cc/
Religious Leaders Against the Drug War
http://www.religiousleadersdrugpolicy.org/
VeryImportantPotheads
http://www.veryimportantpotheads.com/main2.htm
Judges Against The Drug War
http://www.judgesagainstthedrugwar.org/

There's a LOT more out there, I have dozens marked but that's a solid start and should arm you well. If there's any questions let me know, or any types of info or links that I missed and should have posted. I probably already have it bookmarked and just didn't think to include it :)

[ridgerunner]

6. One more thing

Use the term cannabis instead of "marijuana". Cannabis is more inclusive of what the fight is about. It's not about the right to get high, it's about protecting the environment, creating jobs, restoring the Bill of Rights, fighting the police state. Remember the term "marijuana" was used by prohibitionists to cloud the issue in the first place, it's their term, not ours.

[Viktor Runeberg]

7. What's religion?

What is religion but control of state of mind? If we have freedom of religion we have freedom to control our own state of mind. Control of Mary Jane is nothing but government control of religion - and more than that control of religion that works. Jesus would be very happy with the relative peacefulness and love of nature of smokers.

In the medical world, we've come to accept that drugs are often more effective than talk therapy. Yet in the religious world we have laws limiting approaches in effect to talk therapy. But could it be that a nation of smokers would actually be more spiritual, and more positive about life, and more ethical in their vocations, than a nation of Evangelicals? From the samplings of both types among my acquaintances, the smokers come out miles ahead. YMMV.

And is it the government's place to choose which religious paths are open to us? We're not talking about Aztec blood sacrifice.

[slackmaster]

10. Why do you care about having it legalized?

If you want to use it in private then go ahead and do so.

Seriously, what's the big deal? Maybe it's because I live in California where simple possession has been reduced to an infraction with a small fine i.e. not even a misdemeanor on your criminal record.

Do you live in a fascist state?

[catmandu57]

11. why yes, yes I do live in a facist state

and it going to get worse before it gets better. As far as i can see there isn't any reason at all to legalize cannibis, we have "legitimate" drugs on the market currently that are doing more harm to a greater number of people, and every argument made for criminalization has been shot full of holes.
I do enjoy using the herb, i just don't like having to look over my shoulder when I do.

[java-fiend]

78. you can't be serious!

Dude, you're worse than a Log Cabin Republican. "We disapprove of our own lifestyle..."

[I_like_chicken]

12. No I don't live in a Facist state

I live in NY where possesion of Marijuana is also decriminalized(we do have the Rockerfeller Drug Laws, which are bad, but don't apply to small poession of pot). And yes I do use it in private, so why do I want it legalized?

First of all I believe it is my right as an American to use this drug without fear of being arrested or given a ticket. I also believe its a way for the Government to control us through fear(beware the scourge of Marijuana) and an excuse to have more police. We also waste huge amounts of money trying to stop the use of marijuana, money that could be better used elsewhere, like education.

ok those are the altrusitic reasons

Now for my selfish reasons. I want to be able to find a job without the fear of drug testing. I want to be able to go to a coffee shop, go to the counter, look at the wide variety of marijuana, and pick out the one that looks the best. I want to be able to go to the park or somewhere outside and be able to smoke in peace.

[ernstbass]

18. The availablity issue

[ProgressiveConn]

23. So my kids won't be buying Raid (Bug Killer) laced weed. nt

[Poor Richard Lex]

29. in my state a possession conviction for MJ means

that you lose your license for a year. Regardless of whether the possession had anything to do with driving or an automobile.

[Heddi]

49. It's that way in South Carolina as well

a friend of mine, 22 at the time, was frisked one night walking home from a bar. He looked like a kid (who was later caught) who was implicated in starting fights with bar patrons.

My friend was frisked and the officer found a single JOINT on him.

He was walking.
He also had no license or driver's permit

HOWEVER---he lost his driving priveleges (even though he wasn't licensed) for a year. Couldn't get a permit or license in that time frame.

The prosecutor (yes, prosecutor) tried to get him charged with intent to distribute because the joint was being held in an empty cigarette wrapper. It was argued that the wrapper was 'packaging' and that it was 'packaged' to be sold.

He was charged with simple possession, had to pay a fine, and I don't think this was on his permanent record, although I'm not sure.....

buncha bullshit. UPstanding kid, in college, never ever ever got arrested before, but all over a single fucking joint. What an ABSOLUTE WASTE of taxpayer dollars to have him stopped, arrested, booked, photographed, fingerprinted, and kept in jail over the weekend before he could see a magistrate. How many THOUSANDS Of dollars did that cost, and how better could those monies have been spent on rehabilitation of TRUE drug addicts? How better could those monies have been spent on tracking down and apprehending REAL criminals?

[Gnostic]

52. Wisconsin

Had those laws a few yaers back when I lived there, specifically the one about the prosecutor charging for "distribution" when any amount of pot is found in a ciggie wrapper, or even a napkin. It was designed to maximize the total amount of charges involved so as to induce the defendant to "plea bargain", and as such many defendants tended to be younger and poorer they wound up with "public pretenders" who also cajoled them into accepting these plea bargains so they could move on to the next case in their overloaded workpile, and the defendant inevitably winds up with a fine and/or mandatory counseling (which works hand in hand with the drug-courts and counseling agency money wheel).

First time offenders usually get out on recognizance immediately, however there are cases where if they haul in someone say on a Friday night, and it's busy....

It's all a grand scheme to keep all the interested governmental agencies in the money wheel, to justify even their jobs, and to keep the revenues intact for the major pharmaceuticals and alcohol/tobacco industries.

[K-W]

43. Id rather go to the store and pay a reasonable price

than try to track down contraband and pay black market prices

[suneel112]

56. I'd rather grow my own

Plenty of uncultivated space in my back yard could be put to better use.

[Asgaya Dihi]

44. States don't help

Even if you live in a State where it's a lower penalty we're still pretty exposed as far as risk goes. The feds just don't agree, and neither do many employers.

I'm doing some research on the subject now so might post a real article before too long about it, I'm planning to write one for LEAP anyway. But a few details that I've found so far is that even if you live in a State where it's just a fine you can still lose federal student loans for anywhere between one year and life, and you and your whole family can be thrown out of public housing if any member of the household, or a guest, commits a drug crime. No matter if you have kids or not, have anywhere else to go, or even if you had no idea it was happening. You can also be denied housing if they even suspect a pattern of illegal drug use, that's just a matter of opinion between some and being homeless. That's been upheld the whole way to the US Supreme Court.

Some States have tried to soften the blow where they can, but the feds don't much care what the State says and will add damage as they can, and as I mentioned before neither do many employers. Source for details on much of what I just mentioned at the following, if I ever do post a more complete analysis of the harms of a marijuana arrest I'll source it as well and try to cover where States have tried to make a difference.

http://www.aclu.org/Files/OpenFile.cfm?id=11705

[Dark]

50. Because I am tired of having my taxes wasted on persecution.n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

61. I don't like Camp landing in copters to steal my stash. If that's

not facsist, I don't know what is.

Legalization (or true decriminalization) would stop the stupidity and it would help the environment.

[firefox]

69. We all do. It is a federal crime.

It is really a matter of freedom, but then maybe freedom isn't a big deal to you and 2000 arrest a day is just a small injustice that everyone should just live with.

[wildbilln864]

72. What's the big deal?

The big deal is simple. Why should I have to sneak and smoke a joint which is relatively harmless, because it's illegal when anyone can legally smoke cigarettes and do great damage to themselves or drink alcohol legally and risk harm?
Marijuana helped build this country! The Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria's sails were made of hemp/canabis/marijuana. the first pair of Levis too! George Washington grew hemp and so did Thomas Jefferson. Cannabis help us win WW2! MJ has been a part of world culture for 8000 years. And most don't realize that back in the nineteenth century we used it for textiles, paper, fuel oil for heat and light, and thousands of other uses. It's crazy to have it illegal now! If it had not been made illegal I doubt we'd be in a war over oil today! It can fuel cars and trucks and generators with the seed oil.
Not to mention the medical possibilities.
But it would cut so many corporations out of so much money they'll never allow it without a fight!

[creeker]

74. yep---Georgia

[java-fiend]

77. why do i care?

I'm a gun owner. If they catch me with any amount of a verboten dried vegetable product, they can enhance the punishment.

I live in Harris COunty, Texas - death penalty capital of the "free world"!

[Lenape85]

13. It's time we brought it to congress

Many people, including both Republicans and Democrats, believe that marijuana should be legalized.

[Pawel K]

15. I agree

I just had this debate with some hard headed conservatives and was amazed to see that they mostly agreed it should be legalized. So if the country believes it should be legalized why hasn't congress addressed this?

[DrBloodmoney]

17. Hopefully Raich v. Ashcroft

(*with a win for us) will further the arguments for legalizing cannabis on the federal level.

[ernstbass]

19. We need to demand that our elected leaders

address this issue. I don't see many dems in Washington taking on this debate.

[DrBloodmoney]

20. And I don't know why they won't

Most of them seem to support decriminalizing it, at the least. Most of the contentions lie between conservatives.

[ernstbass]

21. the fundies would be the major opposition

[TMA68]

30. Rank-and-file Dems must take charge on this issue

I don't see many dems in Washington taking on this debate.

I don't know any Dems in Washington talking on this debate, and that, I submit, is because they know they can rely on rank-and-file Dems not to hold them accountable for essentially siding with the Republicans on this issue.

We have to make them rethink their anti-choice/pro police state position on marijuana, otherwise they'll go right on voting to waste tax dollars and prison space waging war on a plant, and will continue to practically ignore this issue during the campaign season.

It's up to us.

Todd

[newyawker99]

37. Hi TMA68!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[nephalim]

22. One other plug.

I wrote a whole series of drug prohibition diaries over at the dailykos. If you are interested, check them out:

http://www.dailykos.com/user/nephalim

The first one is "Treatment for heroin/opiate addiction: a primer." The rest are in order from bottom to top as written. I am currently writing a history, and am up to Part II (post last night) of IV. I would greatly appreciate comments in the thread on part II, before it dies. It's currently on the recommended list, but has few comments - it's tough to comment on it.

Anyone who is a member there, please read my latest history diary, I am SURE you will enjoy it if you are an anti-prohibitionist at least, or if you are interested in the drug war and drug prohibition in any semi-serious way.

If anyone feels it is worthy to be cross-posted or linked here, feel free! I don't yet have topic-creation rights, alas.

[John Q. Citizen]

24. Courage of our convictions (literally)

We could make a serious dent in the current paradigm if we are willing to put our selves on the line.

If every recreational user were to sprout a seed in a dixie cup and line up at their local police station on the same day and turn them selves in for their "crime," then the current prohibition would fall under it's own weight.

The fact is there are millions of pot smokers in America. There are millions more who for whatever reason no longer smoke pot but who used to and are not opposed to personal recreational use. And there are a fair number of people who have never smoked pot but who think the current laws are stupid.

The population of current marijuana users includes doctors, lawyers, mental health professionals, business leaders, law enforcement personnel, and everyone on down to dishwashers, etc.


In Montana a very fed up and brave medical marijuana user went public with her use, got herself arrested, (the arresting officer apologized that he had no option but to arrest her) and then went on a hunger strike that lasted longer than Gandhi's to protest the laws that branded her a criminal because of her medical needs. The DA refused to prosecute and agreed to bar future prosecution of her personal use.

She was the main force behind the passage of MT's Medical Marijuana initiative (which passed 62% to 38%).

Recreational users will have to be willing to put themselves out in the short run if they want to effect change in the long run.

There are currently over 2 million Americans incarcerated for all crimes. If 10 million people showed up at the station with a sprouted seed in a dixie cup, there would be no money to prosecute, let alone incarcerate.

My vision of a best case scenario would be decriminalization of cultivation, possession, and use. If sales were kept illegal I could care less.

This is how home brewing of beer and wine making is handled in almost all states now. You can make, posses, and drink home brew/wine but it is still an offense to sell your home brew. It seems to work well.

If people could grow their own legally, the market price would crash because pot would have very little value, much like carrots. And who would run the risk of selling pot when it's value dropped to around a buck a pound? (seriously, you can produce many more pounds per acre of cannabis with less inputs than you can carrots. So the value per pound should be less than carrots. Which should sink a black market pretty fast.

As long as we hide in our spider holes and hope it's not us they are coming for nothing will change.

[I_like_chicken]

25. Those are very good ideas, but...

how do we get people do actually do these things? How do we get millions of people to germante a seed and plant in a dixie cup and line them up at police stations and turn themselves in?

I think once potheads are moblized, we'll be unstopable. The question is how do we get potheads to be moblized?

[sportndandy]

26. Pot will never be legal.

Don't be naive. The war on drugs binds our society together.

The only way is a destruction of our national economy vis a vis the Great Depression. Either the economics of the times will demand an end to the drug war (unlikely) or all the americans sympathetic to legalization will create a general strike until the laws simply must be changed (less than unlikely)

Stop trying to convince the other side. They maintain prohibition by saying "fuck you" to any evidence supporting a relaxation of drug laws. Its time to reply "fuck you" to anyone who is not for an end to prohibition. There thoughts, feelings, opinions don't matter anymore, if they ever did. Would you try to convince someone that slavery is wrong, or would punch them in the mouth? If they aren't convinced by now, they never will be. Its time to start punching in the mouth. Lets show that we mean business. (Oh, I keep forgetting that pot-heads don't fight. Sorry guys. We don't stand a chance)

[maxsolomon]

53. i agree completely

to legalize cannabis, an alternate boogeyman must be supplied to the populace, a la 1984, as was done with liberals & now muslims since the collapse of the USSR.

i nominate evangelical christians, as they already think they're being persecuted. why not make their day?

oh yeah: :sarcasm:

[ProgressAlwaysWins]

59. It will happen, the question is when

My feeling is, eventually, marijuana will be legalized. All progressive ideas eventually come to pass. It's basically a law of society. The only thing is, we don't know WHEN it will happen. It might not even be within our lifetimes. But, one way or another, it will happen. That's basically my outlook on politics. Progress happens. People didn't think slavery would be outlawed, and it was. People didn't think women would get equal rights, but they did. In the long run, society always becomes more progressive. Reactionaries and fascists can subvert things for short periods of time, as they have in the past five years in the US, but things always smooth out eventually. Bush and the radical right aren't going to be in power in the US forever either. It's painful to watch them wreck the country, but eventually, it's going to be over. That is a firm belief of mine, and the philosophy behind my username.

[John Q. Citizen]

62. Welcome! I like your username but

shouldn't it be ProgressEventuallyWins?

[SHRED]

27. Develop a law structure

I covered some basics, and others did too, right here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=218&topic_id=218&mesg_id=218

I DO NOT think the drug/medicinal use should be allowed for commercial distribution by the corporates. Barter and legal to grow only.

[Odysseus Poseidon]

28. Decriminalization not Legalization!

We need to use Rove tactics, employing semantics and word plays to contextualize the issue. Just like the estate tax became the death tax.

Don't talk about legalization. It wont "poll" well. Use decriminalization instead. Focus upon the detrimental effects of marijuana's illegality and downplay or refuse to address any counter arguments.

We all see through the tactics the Repugs use. We too must learn to Shepard the sheeple.

[TMA68]

31. Pro-choice vs. anti-choice

We need to use Rove tactics, employing semantics and word plays to contextualize the issue. Just like the estate tax became the death tax.

Don't talk about legalization. It wont "poll" well. Use decriminalization instead.

In that same spirit, we should employ two terms that are already part of everyone's vocabulary: pro-choice and anti-choice.

To be against decriminalization is to be anti-choice; to be for it is to be pro-choice.

It's not about encouraging or discouraging the use of marijuana. It's about letting consenting adults decide for themselves what to put and what not to put in their own bodies.

http://www.mcwilliams.com/books/aint/toc.htm

Todd

[I_like_chicken]

32. these are good ideas

but we need organization first. we need massive amounts of people to actually employ some of the tactics described on this thread before they can become effective. the current legalization groups aren't doing enough IMHO.

remember in war the fool studies tactics, the genius studies logistics.

[yellowdogmi]

66. I'm not a sheeple but...

Maybe we need to speak to them using something they might understand.
Here is a link that my be useful. I don't want to preach it too you because as is the case with most religions I know only rudiments about them.
http://www.google.com/search?q=deism&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

just trying to help. Good Luck.

[Pushed To The Left]

33. Destroy the right wing

and support civil liberties groups. Drug policy groups are very good too, but the all-around civil liberties groups like the ACLU and People For the American Way fight for civil liberties in general. A country that respects civil liberties will naturally lead to an end to ridiculous laws dictating what people can put in their own bodies.

Civil liberties groups:

www.aclu.org The ACLU
www.pfaw.org People For the American Way

Drug policy groups:

www.drcnet.org
www.mpp.org
www.drugpolicyalliance.com

[SoCalifer]

34. I Say Use History's Examples

Yes I have an idea that can be used to "Re-Legalize" marijuana. I am reposting a portion of an earlier post I made concerning the war on drugs in another thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=218x440#550

Of course education is a key component

Sportndandy, the method that may be used that I was referring to -- a method that's been used successfully all throughout our history. The method used by labor unions to fight corporations. The method used by people during the prohibition to bring about the dismantling of an even more powerful law than an act (a constitutional amendment). The method frequently used by early Americans to lay the smack-down on arbitrary government laws. The method used by Andrew Hamilton while defending a newspaper printer by the name of John Peter Zenger of seditious libel for printing critical but true news stories about the Governor of New York Colony. That method is: JURY NULLIFICATION!!

Jury nullification has a LONG standing history in our country, and even going all the way back to English common law and the Magna Carta. American colonial juries regularly thwarted bad law sent over from mother England. Britain then retaliated by restricting both trial by jury and other rights which juries had won or protected. Result? The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution!

Afterwards, to forever protect all the individual rights they'd fought for from future attacks by government, the Founders Fathers in three places included trial by jury meaning tough, fully informed juries in our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

I mentioned above about labor unions. This is where we see the government beginning its attack on a "fully informed jury". The Supreme Court, under pressure from large corporations, ruled in a bitter split decision that courts no longer had to inform juries they could veto an unjust law. The giant corporations had lost numerous trials pressed against labor leaders trying to organize unions. Striking was against the law at that time. "Juries also ruled against corporations in damage suits and other cases, prompting influential members of the American Bar Association to fear that jurors were becoming too hostile to their clients and too sympathetic to the poor.

"Bad law" special-interest legislation which tramples our rights is no longer sent here from Britain. But our own legislatures (as you are aware) keep us well supplied. That is why today, more than ever, we need juries to be "fully informed" and ready to protect us, our rights and our founding principles.

"If a juror accepts as the law that which the judge states then that juror has accepted the exercise of absolute authority of a government employee and has surrendered a power and right that once was the citizen's safeguard of liberty." --- (1788) (2 Elliots Debates, 94, Bancroft, History of the Constitution, 267)

Read: Jury Nullification: The Top Secrete Constitutional Right! http://www.constitution.org/2ll/2ndschol/131jur.pdf


:smoke:

[Wizard777]

35. Treason!

The treason aspects in Reagan's paramilitary war on drugs must be addressed. Yes Ronnie a paramilitary war is a real war. In fact it's the war of choice of fascist dictators. They always militarize Law Enforcement against the people. This happening right now here in Baltimore. We have a new Police Commissioner, Lenard Hamm. He's putting the emphasis on the military in paramilitary. In his press conferences he refers to his officers as "Troops." He's making DVDs as part of a "Psyops." Someone needs to sit down and explain Posse Comitatus to this gritty Hamm. Violations of Posse Comitatus are Treason against We The People. Treason can carry the death penalty.

This isn't the only atrocity being perpetrated upon Americans by the Conservative right in our government. If their goal in the War on Drugs is to eliminate pot heads and other cultures of drug users from existence. Then their goal is Genocide. We have a right to exist. We have a right to exist in freedom with liberty. We have a right to have our government serve our needs. They do not have a right to engage us in war for the purpose of genocide.

[Wizard777]

36. FDA vs. DEA

Marijuana is a natural substance. The DEA has no right to regulate it. It cannot be owned or patented by any Pharm. Co. in America. The DEA does not seek to regulate other plants that are truly dangerous and have associated death rates that prove their danger. Like Poison Ivy. My God! Poison is part of the plants name. It can and has produced fatalities. The DEA has no plans to eradicate it.

Today's pharm industry has all but eliminated the Apothecary. But Marijuana is a natural substance and probably one of the most powerful remedies in the Apothecaries plant catalog. It's a plant and not a drug. So the DEA has no right to regulate it.

[sweetheart]

39. We need to explain the case for the millions of marijuana users

These millions are totally unrepresented by the washington circus, and
this has to change. I support Marijuana Policy Project and NORML, but
this is not enough. Rather, it is the obligation of every canniabis
smoker to explain, over and over and over and over, the situation of
smoking unknown drugs supplying money to the underworld, and how this
cheats people of safe supplies. As well, it wastes taxpayer funds
terribly on something that is completely cynical, a total waste of
money, criminalizing cannabis.

We all know the issues and the arguments, and these need to be explained
to the ignorant persons in congress and the executive, as much as they
want to criminalize and destroy lives.... those same persons need to
meet cannabis smokers face to face and feel the heat of fucking "us"
over face to face.... Rather they'd rather bugger us in the dark, and
not get emails from prison... but it's not goin' down like that.

[arthur_d]

40. the best way

the best way to legalize marijuana is to advocate for our government to return to its philosophical roots of protecting individual rights, and not to have laws based on the mythical 'greater good' such as drug laws.

[Sugarbleus]

45. Just returned from a MM march in my town...Was great!

The drug SHOULD be legalized/decriminalized for everyone. Until then, the least the feds can do is stay the hell out of the medical business where MM is used.

It was infuriating to see how many disabled and dying people were begging for their right to treat themselves with what they deem as helpful.

'Twas a GREAT day but more could be done. I likewise support NORML for the complete legalization of the herb.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

REVERSE PROPOGANDA MUST be issued to the public in WAVES. The racists and politicians and ignorant started the ANTI-Reefer crap at the turn of the last century. "Drugs" (Marijuana at the head) encourages "Liberals"<----that was the sentiment during the 60's.

I watched a documentary on HISTORY CHANNEL a week or so ago where they showed that a HUGE propoganda campaign began behind MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS coming to this country to work. People in the south west were upset by them coming in; so started making huge waves...they used the issue of Marijuana as a reason to keep the Mexicans out! Said the Mexicans were bringin this "weed" into the country so just keep the Mexicans out. :eyes:

The first "Drug Tzar" was Harry J. Anslinger. He stood on the Potomac and looked left and right; what he saw was acres of Weed growing. Says to himself: 'How do they expect me to outlaw a wild, freegrowing WEED?' It was an unprecedented concept up to that time.

Anslinger along with WR Hearst began their campaign of sensationalizing the effects of marijuana--even outright LIED about consequences of using it. News reels, magazines, TV ads, movies........all hyped up about the "negative" effects of a Weed.

That got everyone going/freaked out. The "Hype" never stopped. It is ingrained into the minds of most citizens to this day!
Mayor Laguardia of NYC was opposed to criminalizing Pot for a long time. He had pressure put on him to change his mind, and did so for political reasons. Most northern states didn't care all that much about criminalizing a weed..the trouble was with southwestern states..including Calif.

Some states (Arizona for one), via suggestions from congress, tried an option called "Stamps" or Tax Stamps on each ounce of Marijuana. The problem was that they didn't PRINT enough stamps (on purpose) AND you had to actually HAVE a stamp before possessing the weed...........BUT if you had the weed before the stamp, you went to jail. A complete clusterfuck idea, done on purpose.

Since those hectic times, they use terms like: "Gateway Drug" which is a complete lie.

In the 19th century, the herb WAS used as medicine; in tinctures and in other ways just as it is used for the sick and dying in MM clubs today. It was also smoked for fun and relaxation. Hell, cocaine was in the Coca Cola into this last century. The men drank their booze and the women sipped their laudum (opiate), everyone in between smoked weed... just about a century ago +/-.

The documentary at History Channel on this subject was called "Hooked"
I do not know the author but a book was recommended called: "Drug Crazy".

In the end, the real reason politicians, especially on the right--but many on the left,too. are too damned duped to see through the veil of ignorance about this herb and don't want to lose any possible conservative votes, don't want people to use ANY drugs and demonize the modest Herb, is to keep control of the people. They wouldn't want anyone relaxed enough to see through the dirty deeds of the Republic. The war on Marijuana has little to do with the drug comapanies..IT'S ALL POLITICAL, and hysteria based on years of indocrination via lying propoganda!

(check out the video if you can get a hold of it...)

We the people shall not be moved. SMOKE 'EM IF YA GOT 'EM...:smoke:

Peace~~SB

[Asgaya Dihi]

46. Interesting I thought

Keep in mind this as far as I know has NOT been peer reviewed yet so it's just preliminary results, but the guy who performed and reported on the study to the International Cannabinoid Research Society is the same guy who performed the bulk of the Governments lung research in the first place. You can read some comments on what they did with his past work in chapter 15 of Jack Herer's online book.

This stuff is new though, I thought it interesting and hadn't seen it mentioned here yet. I'd like to see it peer reviewed before taking it too serious, but the guy who did the study is about as reputable as they get in his field so it's a hopeful initial indication at least. Doesn't mean it doesn't cause any damage, but it does hurt the cancer accusation if it holds up.

Study: Smoking Marijuana Does Not Cause Lung Cancer
http://www.marijuana.com/420/showthread.php?t=39288

[Jutboy]

47. Get in contact with NORML

They've been trying for ages

[Dark]

51. I think we need to refocus the issue:

Give parents an add like this:

Your daughter, who has never smoked pot, needs a ride home from school.

A friend, borrowing her brother's car, offers her a ride.

The friend is pulled over.

The cop decides to search the car. He finds a joint.

He arrests them both. Your kid tries to tell them it's not hers.

The police don't believe her.

But it isn't over. She was close to a school. That makes the punishment even worse.

Your daughter, the apple of your eye, is now in jail. She is fined $3,500.

She is sentenced to two years in jail for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Don't think it could happen to you?

Are you willing to risk your kids future on it?

------------

[Marijuanifornia]

54. America Legalized Marijuana To Support Our Troops In World War 2

The dreaded Devil Weed, "Marihuana," was outlawed as a vicious, soul-destroying, addictive narcotic in 1937 with the help of sensationalized propaganda such as "Reefer Madness."
The day the Marihuana Tax Act was passed in 1937, Federal agents raided a hotel room and arrested Samuel Caldwell and another man for possession of 2 Marihuana cigarettes. Caldwell became the first American convicted under the new Federal cannabis prohibition laws and was sentenced to 4 years of hard labour at Leavenworth Penitentiary.
Samuel Caldwell died a year after being released.

In 1937, Samuel Caldwell went to prison for possession and distribution of "Marihuana." He was in prison for 4 years. He died in 1942, 1 year after being released; the same year America legalized "Marihuana" again to support our troops and keep our nation safe from the tyranny of Adolf Hitler.

A small point of our nation's history that everyone seems to have overlooked in this debate is the fact that "Marihuana" was one of the main reasons why the United States won World War 2.

In 1937, the US Federal government outlawed "Marihuana."
In 1942, the US Federal government legalized "Marihuana."

The US Department of Agriculture produced a 14-minute instructional film for patriotic American farmers in 1942 on how to grow and harvest cannabis hemp to supply our military and industries with the necessary equipment needed to sustain a 2-front World War.

The film is titled, "HEMP FOR VICTORY."
http://www.globalhemp.com/Archives/Government_Research/USDA/hemp_for_victory.shtml

The film states that, in 1943 alone, the US Federal government authorized at least 350,000 acres of "Marihuana" to be grown for the war effort.

High School 4-H clubs in Kentucky were urged to grow from a half-acre to 2 acres per student. American farmers who agreed to grow "HEMP FOR VICTORY" were waived from the draft, as were their sons. "Marihuana" was THAT important!

To grow hemp legally, farmers paid our government 1 dollar and were given a Special Tax Stamp that read, "PRODUCER OF MARIHUANA."
One of these stamps is prominently shown in the 1942 US Federal government propaganda film, "HEMP FOR VICTORY." This stamp, above all other things, proves beyond the shadow of any doubt that the US Federal government is lying to us about "Marihuana."

If "Marihuana" was such a dangerous and evil narcotic that caused rape, murder, and incurable insanity (REEFER MADNESS, 1937), then why would the US Federal government legalize the same dangerous and evil narcotic only 5 years later to support our troops?

The debate now is how to legalize marijuana. We should probably look at why we legalized "Marihuana" the last time. We legalized marijuana to protect our rights and freedom from an Axis of Evil.

After 9-11, George W. Bush said, "Iran, Iraq, and North Korea form an Axis of Evil." George W. Bush also wrote in his diary the night of 9-11, "The Pearl Harbour of the 21st century happened today."

If America legalizes "Marihuana" to support our troops in this "endless, global war on terror," hemp will replace fossil fuels for our gasoline and electricity, and this war for oil will end.

In 1942, the life of a young pilot named George Herbert Walker Bush was saved when he used a 100% LEGAL homegrown American "Marihuana" parachute after his bomber was shot down in a battle over the Pacific. George W. Bush was not born until 1946. Therefore, legal "Marihuana" has saved the lives of 2 US Presidents.

Perhaps one of our soldiers that is saved by "Marihuana" now will come home to become President of the United States, as well.

http://www.jackherer.com
http://www.forarnoldssake.com
http://www.benbagdikian.com
http://www.chomsky.info
http://www.acia.uaf.edu

[creeker]

75. My Dad found a plot of about 500 plants across the creek from the farm

he was leasing--- As he led the Sheriff down to the crop the cop educated him about the economics of cannabis.My Dad realized that the 500 plants would make more money than the 20 acres of soybeans he had.After that he was a fierce proponent of Legalization.License farmers to grow a quota,sell to the FEDS, let them sell thru federally owned stores.
Billions of DOLLARS will stay in the USA. Billions will be filtered thru our economy.Peace

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DrBloodmoney]

57. And social use is so unacceptable.

Think of all of those occupations and practitioners using alcohol while performing those duties. Do you support banning all mind-altering substances because there are jobs where people must be sober to peform them.

I am a physician. I also use alcohol and marijuana recreationally. I don't practice medicine while under the influence of anything. Thanks for using a shitty example.

[K-W]

58. If we banned every method of altering ones mind,

people would have to live in small black boxes.

[John Q. Citizen]

63. Phil Dick rules! N/T

[yellowdogmi]

65. I say we sue the US Dept of Ag

I think that since there are open markets in other places on the planet for the crop. If we sued the us department of ag and the us in general under the WTO that would go a long way to forcing their hands.
:evilgrin:

[yellowdogmi]

67. Advertise a legalization pac on Zig/zag

or other rolling papers. Get your message to the ones it affects.

[firefox]

70. This is how I answered the question at HempCity

http://hempcity.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3802#3802

[Odin2005]

71. When I was in High School, I tried to do a project on legalizing MJ...

I was forced to pick another topic because it was too "contraversial" and I was encouraging a criminal activity. :crazy:

[creeker]

73. Taxation is the road to Legalization

in 1975 My Dad found a plot of weed across the creek from some land we had. About 500 plants.(mine).He took the Sheriff in and they pulled the plants and threw them in the creek.On the walk back to the truck(after the pulling), the Sheriff talked about the economics of the crop they had just destroyed.My Dad realized that the small plot destroyed was worth more than the 30 acres of soybeans he had planted across the creek.
He became an ardent proponent of legalization.He proposed that an "allotment"(like tobacco has enjoyed)be issued for farmers who qualified. The government would buy your crop and sell it thru State owned stores. Let them tax it--some folks would grow KILLER smoke since the Gestapo would concentrate on Meth and other shit dope.
So--- Contact your state and Federal reps and push this as a new revenue stream--- That has more appeal than tobacco and liquor money
MY RANT-----

[sweetheart]

79. Do you wonder?

If it *were* legallized, would it displace alcohol as
the primary social intoxicant of choice? And if so,
would it also displace cociane, heroin and tobacco?

Maybe the real threat is to the other "illegal" drugs,
ironically, as pot, given the various breeds, can offer
a high that ranges from "shroomy", "couchlock",
or drunk if that's what you want... a replacement-product
that is cheaper per-high than any drug in the market.
Legal cannabis is the people's weapon in the drugs war,
a way to take back the common.

Then, we can get back to criminlizing bad behaviour
instead of how people take their intox.

[kenichol]

88. That's why Anhouser Busch (sp?) supports drugfree.org nt

[rd_kent]

80. Sure fire method!!!!

Get the tobacco lobby onboard. Convince those guys and youre home free. Once they unleash the power of influence they hold over politicians, its game on.

[True_Blue]

81. Cannabis has many other uses that most people don't even know about

You can produce protein, oil, fiber from Cannabis and "hempseed oil is the most perfectly balanced source of plant nutrition available"....

"The cannabis sativa plant produces more protein, oil and fiber than any other plant on earth. Hempseed, for example, was an essential part of our ancestors' diet and is the source of "gruel," the porridge that is referred to in countless stories and books written before this century. However, when new technology in the 1900's made mass processing of hemp possible, certain petrochemical, wood-based paper, and cotton-fiber industries protected themselves from competition by recasting hemp as "marijuana."

Carl Sagan, famed Cornell University astronomer and producer of the television series Cosmos, speculated in his book "The Dragons of Eden" that marijuana might be the very first crop grown . . . the root of the agricultural revolution and civilization as we know it today.

Hempseed oil

Dr. Udo Erasmus' recently-revised doctoral thesis, Fats and Oils, (which has been used as a college text book at many univesities) states that "hempseed oil is the most perfectly balanced source of plant nutrition available".

Rudolph Diesel invented the diesel engine to run on hempseed oil because any diesel engine can run without modification on unrefined hempseed oil, and hempseed could be among the most productive seed-oil crops by a ratio of perhaps three-to-one in comparison to the most productive alternatives, according to reports from Notre Dame University."
http://www.crrh.org/cannabis/industrial.html

"Until this last century, our pioneers and ordinary American farmers used Cannabis/Hemp/Marijuana to clear fields for planting, as a fallow year crop, and after forest fires to prevent mud slides and loss of watershed.

Cannabis/Hemp/Marijuana seeds put down a 10 to 12-inch root in only 30 days, compared to the one-inch root put down by the rye or barley grass presently used by the U.S. Government.

Southern California, Utah and other states used Cannabis/Hemp/Marijuana routinely in this manner until about 1915. It also breaks up compacted, overworked soil.

If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction, were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the greenhouse effect and stop deforestation; then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world's paper and textiles; meet all of the world's transportation, industrial and home energy needs, while simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time... and that substance is the same one that has done it before . . . CANNABIS/HEMP/MARIJUANA!"
http://www.jackherer.com/

[cometogether]

82. Portugal

Did lowered dreug use, lowered deaths and fiscal responcibility change in Portugal? If not then truth and justice are not the American way anymore. Principle and reason demand that we use our voices more, until we make things right.

[BlueDog22]

83. Legal Weed

Yeah, lobby, vote, petition, rally and use every freedom you can under the first amendment to let the government know what you want and force change.

[lovefreedomfairness]

84. pass laws like . . .

- make it illegal to make it illegal.
- start an initiative refer-endum in your state
- show that it may, if used right in some cases make you smarter and the government doesnt want a smart public

Life is short here, do we really need this BS - is this really the reality we live?, where a plant
that perhaps partly spurred our evolution as a society is made illegal? It kinda feels like
being at work 24/7. Theres actually people with guns going around putting others
in cells for smoking a plant?!? And everyone is a hypocrite for not reacting about that
the same way they would if their best friend went to prison for having weed because if the
statistics are correct almost half this country has broken the law yet they tolerate
others suffering for doing the same thing that they have done or a loved one they know has.

Its costing us billions - so not only do we tolerate it we pay for it also

And what about the plant hemp that can be used for energy, paper, bio-degradeable plastics,
building material, clothes, food and doesnt even get anyone high. grows like a weed
without much fertilzation or pestisides needed. The hemp we get at the store
has to be imported BTW if someone knew not that because it is also presently illegal.
That would be a huge industry for the US as it has been in the past (to replace corn as ethanol
and reduce gas & food prices and be used to make paper instead of using trees and more).
Why is hemp illegal and maybe that's actually the reason why marijuana is.

Most, I think, would agree that you shouldn't go to jail for it, but are not yet feeling
everyone is going to jump off that cliff with them yet, or want to feel responsible for
what the mainstream portrays - drunken acting delinquents.

Maybe if we legalize hemp first marijuana would soon follow, and hemp has an even stronger arguement.

Its kinda like we are all in this together or not, when one group is oppressed does it not oppress us all
in the long run. The issue principle is freedom, the question is not when marijuana will be legal
although that is a sub-question, the question is when will we be legally free.

[Shagbark Hickory]

85. Get Altria to bribe the publicans.

Lets face it, tobacco is trending downward.
MJ could be huge for them.

[3lyford]

86. Its called the pursuit of happiness

You could tell people freedom doesn't mean you can choose what they want. It means you can choose for yourself. More practically though what about civil disobedience. I mean large groups of people gathering together to smoke openly. Has to be enough people to overwhelm the courts/police. They can't arrest all of us.

[kenichol]

87. We had a LEAP speaker & Drug Policy Alliance info @ County Fair

We said we wanted to open a conversation about the 'war on drugs' including mj/medical mj. We subtly bring up the topic at local health councils, community service organizations, county Democratic Party...tried to get it on the state party platform.