Tweet Me !
Earlier we tweeted this and wanted to share it here on our blog to explain why.
the Marijuana Initiative is working to legalize Marijuana for Medicinal uses in all fifty states. the anti drug lobby has attacked Marijuana; as a drug, which it is not.
those who understand the real nature of this attack have rallied together to use the power of Twitter and the Social Networking skills of activists like us, to get the real message out in one minute in a free phone message, which ends with you endorsing the proposal by pressing the Pound # key on your keyboard.
Take a Moment and Endorse the Freedom of Marijuana for those who need it,
won’t you show a lil compassion for 30 seconds today,
just take a moment and retweet this message; and dial that number. you’ll be helping alot of very needy people to finally get the help they truly need.
Peace and Blessings,
5 Tips for Calling Congress on Marijuana Policy Reform
Marijuana Legalization Legislation
Notable Legislative Action
- US House of Representatives: H.R. 5843 (“To eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use”) is a bi-partisan measure introduced by Rep. Barney Frank [D-MA] and Rep. Ronald Paul [R-TX] on April 17, 2008. This resolution would remove Federal penalties for personal possession, or non-profit transfer, of up to 100 grams of marijuana. This measure is a good first step toward legalization, but would not solve all of the problems with marijuana prohibition (state and local penalties would still exist, and this resolution would not change the fact that it is illegal to grow or import marijuana, so there would still be no legal way to obtain marijuana). H.R. 5843 will be considered by the Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. If your representative is on either of those committees; please write to your House representative to show your support for this bill.
- US House of Representatives: H.R. 1009 (Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007) would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana, so that farmers could legally grow hemp in America. H.R. 1009 was introduced by Rep. Ron Paul [R-TX] on February 13, 2007. This measure will be considered by the Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. If your representative is on either of those committees; please write to your House representative to show your support for this bill.
- US House of Representatives: H.R. 5842 (“To provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States”) was introduced in the House by Rep. Barney Frank [D-MA] on April 17, 2008 and is cosponsored by Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA], Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY], Rep. Ronald Paul [R-TX], Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [R-CA]. This bi-partisan measure would move marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule II, so that each state could decide whether to allow marijuana to be used as medicine. H.R. 5842 was referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee. If your representative is on that committee; please write to your House representative to show your support for this bill.
- US House of Representatives: House vote 733. On July 25, 2007 the House voted on an amendment to H.R. 3093 to prevent the Justice Department from spending money to raid cannabis clubs in states that allow medicinal use of marjuana. The amendment failed by a vote of 165-262. Still, the support for the amendment was higher than the year before and shows that a significant number of federal legislators are coming to their senses on the issue of medicinal marijuana. The amendment was sponsored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY] who has been pushing for this measure for several years.
- U.S. Senate: S. 1082 (Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act) was passed by the Senate in May 2007. This act includes a provision (“Section 252. Medical Marijuana”) that would make state-sanctioned medicinal marijuana subject to regulation under the Food and Drug Administration. It is unclear what the effects would be if Section 252 became law. This provision does not appear in the proposed House version of the bill (H.R. 2273), which is being considered by the Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health.
- US House of Representatives: H.R. 4272 (Steve McWilliams Truth in Trials Act) proposed to amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow an affirmative defense for the medicinal use of marijuana. H.R. 4272 was introduced by Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA] during the 109th Congress and was referred to the Subcommittee on Health, but was never passed by the committee. There is no similar legislation currently under consideration.
Obama Administration Hazy on Marijuana Policy
Posted by CN Staff on April 23, 2009 at 09:38:24 PT
By Taimur Gibson
Source: The Lamron
New York — In response to a question taken at a town hall meeting regarding marijuana legalization, President Barack Obama was quick to say, “No, I don’t think that [legalization] is a good strategy to grow our economy.”
Barack Obama on Marijuana Decriminalization (2004)
Many people were disappointed by his reaction, as Obama did not offer any counter-arguments and completely ignored the potential medical and social benefits of ending the prohibition on marijuana.
Barack Obama and Medical Marijuana (interview Q&A)
Yes, some who wish to see marijuana legalized use it for recreational purposes, but the other benefits cannot be ignored. Cannabis is known to ease pain disorders, including the side-effects cancer patients experience throughout treatment.
In addition to this, legalization would strike an enormous blow to organized crime, free up the overflowing prison system and reduce violence along the Mexican-American border.
Our president is a very smart man; it is hard to believe that he has not seen these potential benefits. Why, then, did Obama not acknowledge any of these arguments for legalization? Why did he dismiss the question so quickly?
The answers to these questions may lie in the actions of his predecessors. Particularly, let’s take a look at Abraham Lincoln, whom Obama has been compared to at great length.
Lincoln, the great emancipator, had to employ the political tactic of misdirection: the process of obscuring one’s true beliefs through rhetoric. At the time, his progressive views on race were not acceptable to the majority of America, and it would have been political suicide to publically announce his opposition to slavery.
In the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates, Lincoln was quoted as saying, “I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races.”
At first, this may seem unbelievable, but think about it: If Lincoln had outright established his commitment to social equality he would not have been politically viable and would never have been elected. He had to hide his true beliefs in order to save the Union from the impending disaster of the Civil War.
So when Obama was confronted with a question as controversial as one regarding drug laws, what other acceptable response could he have given? The Republicans are recalcitrant enough as it is. If Obama had seemed at all sympathetic to the drug-law reform, the Republicans would probably be even less cooperative toward any of his future plans.
Furthermore, the subject is controversial enough with the American people that seeming sympathetic to legalization would seriously jeopardize Obama’s chances of reelection. Finally, the president has much more important issues to worry about at the present moment.
Obama Marijuana Policy (MPP-TV)
Notice his wording: Obama speaks only of the economy. He says nothing of medical or social benefits. Were he unilaterally opposed to legalization, he definitely would have addressed those areas. By answering the question the way he did, Obama left himself open to future reform without having to go back on his word.
So what was the only possible response? Reduce the question to ridiculousness. Make it a joke. Laugh at it. Which is exactly what he did.
Note: The president has displayed remarkable political acuity in his dismissal of the legalization of marijuana as ridiculous, while leaving the issue open for later debate.
Taimur Gibson is a freshman IR major who sees through the purple haze of politicking.
Source: The Lamron (NY)
Author: Taimur Gibson
Published: April 23, 2009
Copyright: 2009 The Lamron
Contact: lamron@geneseo.edu
Website: http://www.thelamron.com/
URL: http://drugsense.org/url/JWh0LkTi
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Hello my name is Anthony Craft, I am 17 and in high school. I use to smoke weed but I quit. then I became a huge fan of bob marley but It became more.
people ask why do you wanna legalize weed when you don't do it.
I say its our god given right and our founding fathers Indended for the goverment to stay out of our personal business as long as it dosn't effect others. life, liberty and persuit of happyness.
Marley just got me started He said it was our god given right and it cannot be taken from us. so we have the right to fight if they try.
And thats what I wanna do. this is a movement towards freedom and i would like to help more than just passing a number around.
Is there anything else I can do I really believe in this and am ready for any sacrifices.
email me at anthonyc91@gmail.com if you like or have anything you need done.
You Go Ant,
lots of people only hear the music and not the message.
keep the truth rolling, that’s the best thing you can do. comment on blogs and spread the word.
“we have to make a difference, to be the difference“