xxdr_zombiexx

[zombienote: I am not converting my article to bb code. I am posting an excerpt and a link to a couple other postings of it. The basic argument is that now - 2009 - is the time to really stomp on this issue.]

Crossposted @ Smirking Chimp & My Left Wing where it's on the recommended list.

- It went to the BUZZFLASH "Buzzbox" on their front page! Thanks!



It's a longer article and not everybody is going to like it or agree - business as usual, eh?

My argument, as initially stated, is that we now have a collection of new realities and we can exploit them for resolution of this issue, but like trying to pass a car on the highway, the window is sort of limited and we need to floor it. Hop on it with both feet.

LTE-writers - Reduce the focus on regurgitating the "facts" of cannabis and hone in on the ridiculousness of prohibition itself. Take some pride in knowing the facts are on "our side" (as the burden of proof lies with the advocate for change) and unleash attitude, not lectures.

Why?

Because the issue is actually emotional, not logical. It's just too emotionalized for a logical discussion to go anywhere (in the mainstream media where the topic is more or less blacked out) because people get side-tracked on "the kids" and "messages" and all manner of red herrings. These will be confronted best directly - telling people that they are wrong to believe this, not telling them what they need to know.

Same goes for writing to Democratic politicians old and new.

Now is a time that many of us are looking at an opportunity to exert some significant influence over the future development of the Democratic Party. New, upcoming Democratic politicians have to be persuaded - informed, educated - about which end is up regarding this isue and the crap of the past is not acceptable. We have to move forward.

Yes We Cannabis!

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Torture Good, Healthcare Bad, Marijuana Evil.

There's no money for your issue so long as we're squandering $50 billion a year on the DrugWar. Ben Masel

dirtbomb

Well said!
This new concern about legalization being a "bad message to our children".
What sort of message are they sending their kids, when they're caught spewing bald faced lies?

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GREENFOODGAMES

It sounds all fair and well, and trust me I would love nothing more then to smoke legal weed, however many of the people needed to support legalization have been brought up on the nonsense of reefer madness and are closed minded to the legalization movement even when being presented with facts they can not argue, very sad. We suffer for their ignorance, they violate the right we have to choose our prefered form of relaxation because it is not what they want, the alcoholic bastards. I unfortunatly think we are a ways away from the dream we all share because we do not have a very strong good method being put foward to make the change, we have several small groups making some progress but they do not get the support they need to make a real impact. We can type all we want and theorize but without taking the right steps foward and the right organization we will only stand still instead of progress on reversing this ignorant law.

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"Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes crimes out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." Lincoln

Buzzby

The most recent surveys show that only 34% of Americans want cannabis to be legal. With the majority against it, we don't have much political leverage. Not many pols are willing to risk losing their jobs over an issue that can't win.

Our efforts at this point should be directed more at changing public opinion, rather than pushing politicians for legalization. That takes money. Only 0.25% of the estimated number of cannabis consumers in this country have taken the time or spent the $25 to join one of the three major pro-legalization organizations. If we all did that, they'd have $600,000,000 to spend each year on educating the public and lobbying politicians. On the $18 million they have today (half of which comes from half a dozen people), they simply don't have the wherewithal to make the needed efforts.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)

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xxdr_zombiexx

Click this.

I am certain you have seen it. When we get issues on the ballots, people vote for them.

They just voted for a whole bunch of good things and voted down one bad thing.

Cannabis reforms kicked ass in 2004, too.

That doesn't seem like people are against it to me.

GREENFOODGAMES

I disagree with this, it may take time and effort but this issue can be flipped because there is no good reason for cannabis to have the negative reputation it has to begin with, it is undeserved. This is truly a miracle plant with all its uses but so many people associate it with hardcore drugs because they were lied to and they believe the lie. Like Buzzby said we need to educate the public as step #1 because they need be in support of the legalization, unfortunatly America has done such a good job battering the plant, people are very ignorant on marijuana fact VS marijuana fiction. We have a long way to go on this war of ignorance but we need to do a better job of letting people know the truth and understand the benefits that this miracle plant offers, not to mention it's nice to smoke some too

xxdr_zombiexx

read this sub-thread which is part of Good luck finding someone to pee in your cup. , which is a GREAT story to read. Somebody should frontpage that piece.

On the sub-thread I linked (first) my idea for how to push all this forward gets a a good example as somebody reacts to my use of the therm "stupid" to describe people who STILL repeat government propaganda in lieu of actual knowledge on this topic. The reaction is classic. Pay attention to the commenter "litlenomad" (but please, don't go harrass them too much...)

In 2009 I would admonish the letter-writers and bloggers to become much more pushy about challenging the resistance to cannabis reforms as being too out of date, "nobody believes this anymore" - themes like that. Draw out the angry people and force them to have to "defend" their ideas which, I am saying, they cannot do.

Making them angry is essential to force them to really question their acceptance of what we know to be demonstrable bullshit.

This issue won't be resolved politely: it will be a bitter fight.

It is very much time to push this.

Doc.

cyrus-the-virus

Convince everyone of your smoking buddys to donate... thats what I'm trying to do.

Buzzby

People have voted for medical marijuana and for decriminalization. They have not voted for legalization. There's a big difference.

With only 34% of voters surveyed in favor of legalization, there's little chance that politicians will favor your pro-legalization arguments.

toothfairy420

There is a difference, but not much of one in my opinion, I vote for medical marijuana and decriminalization because they are the first steps to legalization. I know that flat out legalization is an unreachable goal at this (and former) time(s). The future holds much promise, people are more educated than ever...the time will come.