Marijuana.com

SacredJellybean

I appreciate your idealism, I really do, but those of us who prefer to subscribe by the rules of the real world would choose a more practical path. You must understand that this is still a niche issue, something that, while a majority of the public (apparently) supports, they don't care enough to demand it from their candidates. It's also still obviously a controversial issue, due to being related to drug policy reform (itself even more controversial). You can scream as loud as you want, but it's simply not a key issue for most people. Right now we have a war going on, an economy that's slowing, worldwide hunger with increasing food prices, oil prices at a record high, a huge deficit... medical marijuana is obviously important, but the rest of these things reach farther and wider to trouble many more people.

Also, seeing as how you're powerless to force any of these candidates to commit to medical marijuana or decriminalization (an even more narrow issue among the people), I don't see how the most productive thing you found to do is rage against the one candidate that could actually HELP the MM camp. One of these candidates will get elected, no matter what, with or without your idealism. All you're really doing by slamming Obama is potentially alienating some supporters, which if done on a larger scale, would give him less votes and pontentially let someone with a worse position on MM step to the White House.

I understand your passion, but please, try to see some logic in it.

__________________
"Every age has its peculiar folly and if Charles Mackay, the author of the 19th century classic, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds were alive today he would surely see 'cannabinophobia' as a popular delusion along with the 'tulipmania' and 'witch hunts' of earlier ages. ... I also believe that future historians will look at this epoch and recognize it as another instance of the 'madness of crowds.'"
~Dr. Lester Grinspoon

 

Mike C

I am a logical person.

I do not believe my video is going to have any real sway on this election. But it sends a message. To Barack Obama and his supporters. To MPP, To people that are not happy with the current choices. To future candidates. If you do not see how this is helpful, I can't help you.

I am a citizen activist for marijuana reform not for the best of terrible candidates just in case we can get a crumb. Nothing changes that way. Can you imagine if MLK was told hey don't hold the protests the Kennedy's are going to take care of it all for you and he cancelled. Nothing would have changed. Having the protests forced those in power to react and some changed....

Elections come and go, movements grow over lifetimes. We are stronger now than 25 years ago it is because of people that were around when I was a wee kid doing the same things I do now. Not because of pols. Do it yourself. A President or candidate will not do it for you.

"It's Not What Your Country Can Do For You, It's What You Can Do For Your Country."

Or Better Yet "It's Not What A Meaningless Candidate Can Do For You, But What You Can Do To Force The Candidate To Respond and Support."

I'm doing my part, if 1/10th of the marijuana smokers that actually do care did the same, marijuana would be legalized tomorrow. Gay Marriage has less support and actual people that are effected by it, yet they have gone further recently. Why? Not because of any magic pols, but because they scream and yell and write letters and fight for it. We need to do the same.

No change ever comes from silently supporting a candidate who takes a ton of corporate money and winks at you that he might possibly consider at some point doing the right thing. That does not work.

And I don't much appreciate idealism that pretends be silent for Obama is the right thing for all of us to do. That's scary "idealism" talk.

SacredJellybean

Would you like to note to me the change you're bringing by posting on a messageboard that the most MM-friendly candidate is not good enough?

I'm sorry, but it's such a lazy and exaggerated analogy to compare smoking weed to racism that I don't take it seriously any more. Smoking marijuana is a choice and by no means a necessity (aside from those who need it medicinally, but given that the drug war is a failure, they can usually find it regardless). Marijuana smokers are not dealing with segregation and getting attacked by dogs and firehoses. As long as you aren't overt about it and pass drug tests, most people won't even know of your habit. So how exactly is this comparable to racism? This makes about as big of an impact as saying "omg bush is a nazi!" - it's exaggerated, tired, and histrionic.

I'm not saying "cease all activism", I'm saying be more practical about the battles you choose, and maybe you'll see more progress.

"The best I can do for MM users is trying to splinter the democratic vote by telling them not to support the most MM-friendly candidate because he is not outspoken enough about the issue." I gotta applaud you on that one!

We can't do anything to force the candidate to respond and support, because like I said, there are bigger issues now, and people don't feel strongly enough about medical marijuana. Get people to feel more strongly about MM before you take this course of action.

No. You're living in a dream world if you think 1/10th of marijuana smokers would be enough to counter the anti-drug people. Trust me, you need more allies than that, especially people who argue that the drug was is a waste of money and time, like LEAP.

Are you sure about this? Gay marriage may statistically have less support, but more people feel strongly about it. It tends to be a liberal vs. conservative issue, so of course it gets brought up more. Medical marijuana spans both democrats and republicans (but I have a feeling moreso democrats) and is not a big enough issue for bickering about it to take place on the forefront.

They've gone further recently by having gay marriage legalized in California, but what about the legalization of marijuana in Denver? What about getting so close to legalizing it in Nevada? What about the medical marijuana victories we HAVE had, such as New Mexico?

You're right, let's focus our attacks on the candidate who is least influenced by lobbyists instead! Good show!

Look, I'll say it again: one of these candidates will be elected, with or without you and the people foolish enough to listen to you. Instead of demanding more from the candidates when it's pretty obvious that this particular course of action won't do a god damn thing, why not just compile the facts about how friendly each candidate is towards our overall goals and let people decide for themselves? Oh, I know, because you expect change to occur in a overnight, if only for us god damn complacent stoners who keep electing people who put us in jail! God damn us for being so foolish as to not subscribing to a single-issue voting philosophy while demanding near-immediate gratification!

What idealism is this? I never brought up the concept that ideally, we would all be "silent for Obama". I have no idea where you got this from. I brought up the very practical point that what you're doing is a waste of time, and overall not very productive.

Mike C

Ok how's this for as simple as I can be!

Number 1, the reason I do not even bother touching John McCain? Because there is no hope with him. Barack is at the forefront the more he hears from us on this, the more he will consider it. We do have the best chance possibly with him and I know he is owned by special interests from step 1. I dispute your view that he is not. But no matter, you are right we do have the best chance with him of the final 3. But nothing happens with him, unless he hears loudly and often from us.

Number 2, look at what has gone on in MA with Democrats almost the same as Obama!
Deval Patrick, we went after him during his election. We got more votes than him in non binding initiative. He is against us. The media ushers him in as a landslide mandate for change candidate. Nothing happens, he gets some bumps in the media. We go after him for quotes on his websites and on Youtube with videos similiar to this one on Obama. We post another video going after Obama, Patrick, and Clinton. Patrick retreats from his statements and goes from being firmly against to I don't want to talk about it or we might study it... Another Democrat lambasts us, we record his screed at the state house, the media sees it and it's printed everywhere, he gets lots of media attention, letters to editors, most of it not good for the "marijuana is evil" state rep. He's still against it a drug warrior but suddenly his talking points sound more like ours and much softer. SUddenly we have a record number of state reps/senators in MA supporting marijuana reform even some Republicans. Bills move out of committees favorably. Barney Frank and the MA Federal Delegation all start supporting more visibly but one...

When you ask and tell them in numbers and repeatedly. Use their dumb statements against them, guess what? It works. I'm making Obama and others, better candidates and elected officials. If they pay attention to media and their constituents demands. Many of them do.

Mike C

I assume this is the way you felt, because my videos are quite productive. They make candidates aware that on the issue of marijuana reform, many people do care and are aware of what they want and demand.

 

Mike C

The videos that I am talking about.

dedbr

I have been smoking herb for 33 years. Like a lot of others, I didn't start until I was older, but I saw the herb as a comfort and relief for chronic back pain and spinal disease. That's really when I started being a activist.

When I smoked my first joint, here in Ohio it was a felony to posses herb at all in any amount. In the last thirty years we have seen it go from a felony to a simple misdemeanor. A traffic ticket. We have made great strides, but these strides were baby steps, and we have suffered because of some people's in your face attitude with elected officials. If we were the only ones who voted, we would have what we want, but it's obvious we aren't. You can catch more flies with honey, as they say......

I have talked to some politicians in that time and I have been treated with mixed results. The first thing I always say to open the discussion is that I am a registered voter and I vote in every election. Then I try to mention that I support legalization of herb and could he spare a few minutes of his time. I have been ignored, laughed at and some, not many, actually listened and appeared to care. If you listen to politicians closely you begin to realize that they have a lot of people to please and the majority they talk to want to bitch about something. I try to be calm and not get upset when I am just ignored because I know an unpopular stance by any politician can cost them their job.

I really do appreciate your determination and spirit. I hope you can maintain that thru the thick and thin of this miasma we call legalization.

The candidates for president must be judged on more though than their stance on herb legalization. They must be a President that will try to improve the lot of the common man. Something as important as the leader of our country should be judged by their total aptitude for the job, not just one issue.

Obama has at least admitted his drug usage and tried to make it a non-issue. I could almost bet money that it will be an issue if he runs against McCain, and it will be one that is pushed because that's politics. Any way to win is the attitude. Obama certainly doesn't want anyone to think he's soft on drugs, and a stance in favor of total legalization would loose him votes. It's really that simple.

Herb smokers are a small minority of the voters and most aren't in their twenties, they are mature adults who realize that the choice of president is a little more important than whether he supports herb or not......

I have faith in Obama because he has used herb and admitted it to the public. Someone who has smoked herb would be better for us than someone who hasn't, or won't admit it.

Really Mike, I appreciate your fervor on this issue, but practicality dictates that we still take those little steps toward our goals. We will get there, but seventy years of lies and deception is hard to change.....


Some Where In Ded Land............

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Mike C

Awesome you talk to your reps. It's always interesting isn't it?
I do it quite a bit. Almost friends with a couple now. I'm always very respectful and not a grungy looking type. I'm actual a 30 something work class, polite, professional money guy that was an athlete. I'm doing the baby steps with you but the videos are for those that continue to not support "marijuana decrim."

But here's my serious question to you.
Some of you continue to say there are better ways, such as seemingly being friendly dropping rehetoric, we actually tried that for some time and it did not work. We've been pushing the videos and our attendance, draw, publicity, members, number of letters to editors, has grown. What activity that costs nothing could do better than that? You say it isn't or won't work, I attest it certainly is. What could bring more people in? What are you doing to bring more people in that you have found that works?

Mike C

Getting more people active and aware is the goal and the videos do a good job at it. Not to influence any election. It's about telling the truth and representing that truth to your supporters. That's what I do and I will continue to do so.

dedbr

Mike....

And that's just what an activist is supposed to do. But the truth sometimes is more powerful when presented in a calm, self assured manner. Someone who is articulate and can present their arguments for the abolition of prohibition in a calm and cool manner. I agree, a group of people gathered together should march and protest and maybe even scream, and I think that time will come, but my scream will be a smug grin of satisfaction of the great wrong in our society I helped in a small way to correct.

I had fire like you have but my fire has tempered to a fine bed of cherry red coals that has all the heat I need to sustain me. In thirty years we have come a long way with legalization and decrimilization. Yes, we still have a way to go, but instead of saying it's not enough, get a little more knowledge about the way things work in our system and then use that to beat them at their own game.....

Those of us who have been at this a while are really pretty good I think at what we do, and I like to think that going from a felony to a traffic ticket is pretty good for our side........


Some Where In Ded Land.............