kcbennie

One of the things that pisses me off about mj prohibition is how one sided it is. Advocates for reform can barrage the opposition with mountains of fact and statistics, not only proving the pros and benefits of legalization, but also denounde every argument and myth that the oposition uses to keep prohibition going. I can't remember that last time I saw a poll showing that the majority was against marijuana. It seems like most people asked are all for legal mj and understand that it is ridiculous to keep it illegal. The reason that I say it's one sided is because the pro-legalization side fights 24-7 to prove their point and disprove the opposition's arguments, and the opposition just sits back and say "We don't believe your arguments (which are based in fact and science) and we're sticking to failed drug policy (which is based on lies, propoganda, racism, and hate). So f*&@ off!"

I wish that someone could turn the tables and force the government to defend their position on this.

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"My friend 'This is a picture of me when I was younger.' Every picture is of you when you where younger. Show me a picture of you when you were older."

- Mitch Hedburg

Buzzby

All the advocacy in the world doesn't do any good if people don't hear what you have to say. Knowing the truth is one thing. Getting it out is something else altogether. The prohibitionists spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually, spreading their propaganda. The total budgets of the three major pro-legalization organizations combined is between $16 and $18 million a year. It is estimated that there are 24,000,000 marijuana users in this country. Fewer than 60,000 have bothered to join any NORML, MPP, or the DPA. That's 0.25%. With that kind of apathy, it's no wonder it's taking so long to get marijuana legalized. If marijuana users contributed 1% of what they spend on weed and paraphernalia, the movement would have $400,000,000 a year to spend on getting the message out.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)

I don't know where you're getting your information. 78% of people surveyed are in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. Only 33% are in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes.

It's not a matter of who has the truth on their side. It's who spends the most on getting their message before the public. Just as winning elections these days is largely dependent on who spends the most on their campaign, convincing people that marijuana should be legalized depends on what we are willing to spend to get the word out.

They do defend their position. Look at the DEA and NIDA websites and all of their cited studies. They don't have to answer their opposition. All they have to do is ignore it. As long as the pro-legalization people are effectively silent, why should they bother? Whoever shouts the loudest will be heard the most.

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sterbo

Remember our proverbial "snowball" -
Those of us who, in the 60's, became active in lobbing at every venue we could find know all too well how incredibly far the march toward legalization has come. It may not seem like it to those of you who are a lot younger but man, the stories I could tell would make your head swim.
I read a lot of the posts, especially by young folks, here and over at 420L and am amazed at the complaining about how bad things are. Much of the time though I have to laugh 'cause the way they use pot in the public access is all to often asking for trouble. In this era, it's not hard at all to go about one's business being a 'smoker' with little concern re: getting hasled, let alone busted.
Factor out the severe crackdown on methods of travel like flying - due to the (so called) war on terror, moving about as a smoker and minding one's business is really no big deal.
It really is just simple common sense.
I know that what you are after - as we all are - is complete freedom in this regard and to that I have to say once again: the progress has been tremendous.
Just follow the news each day. It's astounding really how big and how fast our 'ball' is moving. In politics the old guard is dying (metaphorically and otherwise) at a rapid rate and much of the new blood is and will be much more predisposed towards more lenient laws, if not outright legalization of marihuana.
So talk to all you know. Engage in dialog. Lobby the grass roots. Gather your friends to do the same. Actively support organizations with huge firepower like NORML. So many of the young people I see are wrapped up in their own little worlds. They complain but they don't step up to the plate and really do anything to make a difference.
I see this from a perspective of decades. Have faith.
Like so many daunting tasks it's really just a matter of "one step at a time"
Legalization is truly on the horizon...

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