Marijuana Is Not Just a Political Liability Anymore
January 15th, 2009 by PerryFor the 2nd round of voting on Change.gov, marijuana law reform is again near the top of the list at number two the number one issue of concern.
A question regarding incarcerating marijuana users came in sixth, with the most important issues still pertaining to our dreadful economic conditions.
Under the category of national security questions, reducing the violence of drug traffickers by our neighbors to the South, wound up being the number one question.
As The Hill’s congressional blog notes, the times when the issue of marijuana reform led to a candidate being demonized or ostracized by his party may be behind us.
Either way, it should be completely apparent to Barack Obama and his incoming administration that legitimate marijuana reform is a high priority for a large number of people in America.
The Time is Right for Marijuana Law Reform
November 13th, 2008 by Perry
According to recent blog posts by NORML, never before has there been a more perfect time to push for marijuana law reform.
The election of Barack Obama, coupled with Democrat control of both the House and the Senate, presents a unique and critical opportunity for federal marijuana law reform.
A good point, and remember… electing a good politician is only half the battle. You still have to stay on top of them in hopes they don’t get too politician-y on you. Don’t forget, people liked Bush at one time too and now his approval rating is in the low 30s range.
Being the helpful and forward-thinking organization they are, NORML created three prepared statements you can send here, directly to the new administration… Something we touched on earlier in another recent post.
The statements prepared by NORML:
Statement #1: President Obama must uphold his campaign promise to cease the federal arrest and prosecution of (state) law-abiding medical cannabis patients and dispensaries by appointing leaders at the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Department of Justice, and the US Attorney General’s office who will respect the will of the voters in the thirteen states that have legalized the physician-supervised use of medicinal marijuana.
Statement #2: President Obama should use the power of the bully pulpit to reframe the drug policy debate from one of criminal policy to one of public health. Obama can stimulate this change by appointing directors to the Office of National Drug Control Policy who possess professional backgrounds in public health, addiction, and treatment rather than in law enforcement.
Statement #3: President Obama should follow up on statements he made earlier in his career in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana by adults by calling for the creation of a bi-partisan Presidential Commission to review the budgetary, social, and health costs associated with federal marijuana prohibition, and to make progressive recommendations for future policy changes.
[img via Flickr/Vincent Brown]
