A Marijuana Revolution in the Making on Election Day

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/marijuana-revolution-making-election-day



As we approach November, the leading Democrat and Republican presidential candidates remain conspicuously, though predictably, silent regarding the question of marijuana law reform. By contrast, much of the public and the mainstream media can’t stop talking about pot politics. That’s because voters in six states this November 6 will have their say on the subject. If present polls hold, federal officials on November 7 will have little choice but to acknowledge that they have a full fledged reefer rebellion on their hands.

Voters’ impending rejection of the drug war status quo shouldn’t come as a surprise, at least not to anyone who has been paying attention. Opinion polls over the past 12 months indicate record levels of public support for ending America’s multi-decade failed experiment with cannabis criminalization. Are a majority of Americans finally ready to voice their drug war dissent at the ballot box? In mere weeks, voters in six states will have the opportunity.

Arkansas

For the first time ever, voters in the southeastern United States will have the opportunity to strike a significant blow to decades of reefer madness. On November 6, Arkansas voters will take to the polls to decide on Issue 5: the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act.

[DrummerMan]

1. Thanks for posting!

I look forward to casting my ballot to support my state's MJ initiative!

It's time for common-sense law on cannabis and an end to the American drug war, which disproportionally arrests and criminalizes minorities and the poor over a harmless, medically useful plant.

[porphyrian]

2. That's "DemocratIC presidential candidates," Paul Armenta (...see...?). n/t

[judesedit]

3. The criminalization of pot was pushed by Randolph Hearst. He knew hemp made better paper than wood

and his forestry/logging businesses were suffering because of it. Hearst owned many newspapers and magazine conglomerates. He hated minorities, was pro-nazi and lied, cheated and stole like the typical right winger today. The media now is no different than the media of his day. Hemp was used to make many products, like rope, cloth, sails, and the first Levi's, just to name a few It also made better fuel. Check out Gulf Oil and DuPont Corporations, also, if you want to know who wanted hemp out of the way. I'm sure they are the same groups that are fighting legalization now. They're scared to death of hemp.

[socialist_n_TN]

4. Kick. Stupid and wasteful laws........

SHOULD be struck down. Not to mention the lives wasted because of this prohibition.

[phantom power]

5. Legalizing marijuana would be such a win, in every way...

For one thing, it's really pretty simple in concept: "Just stop arresting people for it." I guess I'm not sure about the complexity of issues surrounding "smoking and driving."

It would immediately take a huge load off of our over-worked court systems. Reduce prison crowding, etc.

Of course for the same reasons our privatized prison industrial complex (which must count as one of the *worst* trends ever) will throw all its considerable weight into fighting it.

[marlakay]

7. I saw a thing on tv about prison labor

And how things say made in America....they are made in prison for 23 cents a hour.

That makes me think all of this more and more private prisons is a scam to create American factory workers at cheap price!

[MindPilot]

15. I think the whole smoking & driving thing is kind of a red herring

I could be way wrong, but I really don't think that there is going to be a huge increase in pot use. There will be some of course, and probably an initial spike. But I think legalization will mostly allow those who already use weed to do so without fear of arrest.

There are currently enough social prohibitions of inappropriate intoxication--like at work--that I believe it won't be a problem. And the bottom line is, people who will drive stoned are already doing so, and the predicted apocalyptic carnage just ain't happening.

Disclaimer: That is my opinion. It is based on nothing but conjecture and personal experience, and as such is not subject to any verification, citation, or reference.

[TeamPooka]

6. Prohibition is a failed public policy

[Ganja Ninja]

8. If just one state would go full legal for recreational use most of the rest of the country ...

would follow in less than 5 years with very few holdouts. They would probably go legal without public referendums. The taxes and license fees would be too much to resist. States would not want to see their dollars going to another state as users bring home their stash across state lines.

[musiclawyer]

9. THIS!

Been saying for months. Funny how the drug war will be ended by the people, and it will go out with a wimper.

I crack up when someone says "but, but.... the Feds..."

The Feds have been cracking down because this is their last chance to confiscate property. Period. They know the jig is up. The have zero, I mean zero chance of winning in court if they tried to take on one of the States that passes legal weed/hemp. The face an avalanche of scientific evidence proving the medicinal and exonomic benefit of the the weed. POTUS won't die on that hill.

[Uncle Joe]

10. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, xchrom.

[DarleenMB]

11. I guess I'm going to be the

grammar police today.

"As we approach November, the leading Democrat and Republican presidential candidates"

That should read "DemocratIC ... presidential candidates"

I see stuff like that and I stop reading because it is just exactly how the rethugs dis the Democrats.

/rant

ETA "Democrat" is a NOUN and "Democratic" is an adjective.

[Luminous Animal]

12. K&R

[liberal_at_heart]

13. you bet we will

We will have our say. Washington didn't pay attention to gay rights until states passed laws legalizing gay marriage. They will not pay attention to medical marijuana patients until more states pass more medical marijuana laws, decriminalization laws, and full legalization laws. I will vote for Obama but I will not be silent when it comes to disagreeing with him on medical marijuana. That is awesome that Arkansas is voting on it. I always assumed the south was out of reach. I am delighted to find out I am wrong. Even if it doesn't pass the fact that they got enough signatures to get it on the ballot says something.

[Jamaal510]

14. I have asthma and don't do drugs,

but I'm 100% in favor of legalization. It would do the economy some good, and people would finally quit getting arrested over something that is less harmful to one's health than alcohol or tobacco (which are legal BTW).
The only reason why 420 isn't legal nationwide is because of special interest groups lobbying against it. There's really no logical reason for it to stay illegal; Canada legalized it nationwide, so let's follow in their footsteps.