Time for Change: Get Marijuana Law Reform on the Agenda!
After all the victories we’ve seen in the realm of marijuana law reform and the recent election, it is now time to act! According to the NORML blog, “The election of Barack Obama, coupled with Democrat control of both the House and the Senate, presents a unique and critical opportunity for federal marijuana law reform.” A vast majority of you voted to change the laws regarding marijuana arrests; now is the time to make sure your vote doesn’t go unnoticed.
Obama’s transition team has established a website recently with an agenda of things to be addressed once Obama is in office. Looking at the current list, I was upset to see that Marijuana Law Reform is not even mentioned. Thankfully, the website has a page asking for OUR ideas to help solve challenges facing our country.
That means it’s up to us to get Marijuana Law Reform on the list! All you have to do is go to the page linked above to contact Obama and his transition team, and demand change of the current marijuana policy. Thanks to the wonderful people at NORML, you can even include the three suggestions below:
1. President Obama must uphold his campaign promise to cease the federal arrest and prosecution of (state) law-abiding medical cannabis patients and dispensaries by appointing leaders at the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Department of Justice, and the US Attorney General’s office who will respect the will of the voters in the thirteen states that have legalized the physician-supervised use of medicinal marijuana.
2. President Obama should use the power of the bully pulpit to reframe the drug policy debate from one of criminal policy to one of public health. Obama can stimulate this change by appointing directors to the Office of National Drug Control Policy who possess professional backgrounds in public health, addiction, and treatment rather than in law enforcement.
3. President Obama should follow up on statements he made earlier in his career in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana by adults by calling for the creation of a bi-partisan Presidential Commission to review the budgetary, social, and health costs associated with federal marijuana prohibition, and to make progressive recommendations for future policy changes.
As if this hasn’t been said enough – This is the time for change! I cannot urge you enough to write this letter to the President Elect and get Marijuana Law Reform on the agenda. You already showed that it’s what you want by voting for it in the election – Now is time to make your voice heard and tell them why and how!
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Ally is a girl from New York who writes Sweet Leaf Tribune, an informational blog about marijuana law reform and cannabis culture, as well as medical marijuana, recipes for ‘baked’ goods, stoner how-to’s, and a lot more.
WWE & WWF Divas List on Thu, 13th Nov 2008 1:38 pm
Well said! I think more states need to adopt the medical marijuana policies as well.
Sjsinfo on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 4:43 am
I too think the medical marijuana policies should be adapted by others as well.I went to the page, but there was a problem submitting my entry.I would re try.
Aida Jolie on Thu, 27th Nov 2008 4:32 am
When they are able to come up with the best way to tax or make money off of MJ they will change their policy.
Rundbecken on Wed, 3rd Dec 2008 4:54 am
Hello,
Obama will change the world, only makes it more fun to read here.Yes We Can:)
Greetings!
Jens
Ernie Small on Fri, 5th Dec 2008 12:01 am
i don’t know….it almost seems like “TOO much” hope to hope for changes in the federal marijuana laws at this point in our history…
still, thanks for the article; perhaps in this new political climate we should try to get as much change accomplished as we can and not limit ourselves based on the cynicism a lot of us have aquired over the last 8 years of bush and crew. i’ll definitely be heading over to that page mentioned above even if it seems a little too much to “hope” for.
Josh on Fri, 5th Dec 2008 4:57 pm
I think you all need to start a new religion “Obamism” since it seems he has all the answers to your problems.
avtorentacar on Sun, 7th Dec 2008 7:28 am
@Josh Well said !
Everybody is talking about Obama like he is God and he’ll change the world….
gadgalia on Wed, 10th Dec 2008 1:50 am
Good to know about new strategic plan to get rid of problems.Its good that success came to the feet of Obama……..I think he is the right person that has been elected for…Thanks for updating the blog…
buy grow lights on Sat, 3rd Jan 2009 5:41 am
Keep up the fight everyone, a norml nation is around the corner.
JasonD on Sun, 18th Jan 2009 11:27 pm
Don’t let any talk about, “Not making it legal”, discourage your participation. Legality is not the first step in making it legal.
The first step is, “Making it positive”. (That is not hard to do, since every study, except the deceptive ones with false info, have 90% positive or neutral facts in them.)
The second step is, “Confirm, Reconfirm, and Confirm again”. (The truth alone is not enough. Fact, ability, reality, perception, chemical, and psychological evaluations need to have the same repeatable and positive-majority over any prior false info.)
The third step is, “Test-marketing, under strict scrutiny and study”. (One state/city, with no hope of permanence, with the existing “Test-marketing”, laws and acceptance.)
The fourth step is, “Silent acceptance, and voluntary participation of state/city”. (Allowing those places which are interested, and willing, to allow or deny use, for any reason. Only enforcing non-criminal punishment, where it is not allowed, like a dry-county.)
The fifth step is, “Release of non-violent offenders from the past, related to crimes of marijuana-only offences”. (Still on a mild probation, since there is a chance that they might have learned a few things in prison/jail, and may not be able to get a job right away. With supplementary funding for living, provided from any direct taxes and holding-funds that would have been used to keep the prisoners in captivity.)
The sixth step is, “Full government acceptance of provisional legalization, under the provision of non-abuse, non-tampering, non-excessive taxes, non-processed delivery, and non-violent operation”. (This allows the ability to remove certain legal rights, where use/growth/sale may inherit or maintain criminal elements or methods, while protecting those obeying the peaceful operations. In an extreme situation, it allows less monetary damage for civilians, in the event of re-illegalization, where control is the only majority-option.)
On the seventh day, we rejoiced… LOL. (Burn bra now.)
JasonD on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 12:01 am
I forgot to add…
NOTE: “Non-Criminal Operation”, is like… Mafia, Gangs, Union-Bullies, and selling “Illegal substances”, along with the marijuana. (Eg, Keeping the criminals away from the substance. Since there is a chance for tampering, abuse of power, or competition bashing/locking related to unregulated and harmful operation practices. Such as growing with non-food-safe plant accelerators or pesticides. Such as adding chemically addictive substances like coke, crack, heroin. Such as threatening your life, if you continue to sell or sell at a price lower than an unregulated entity or group. Those “Criminals”, would still be criminals, and have existing penalties of marijuana possession applied, since they would be participating in the sale of tainted goods or services.)
Jack Smith on Sun, 1st Feb 2009 9:36 pm
I don’t really see the point of criminalising the users of any drug, I think the use of any drug should be a health issue rather than a criminal one.
Grow Weed Faster on Sat, 7th Mar 2009 1:23 pm
Amen. Let it be. I think the negative connotations assoicated with pot stem from its underground nature forced by the ‘war of drugs.’ Along with its method of ingestion, smoking.
drew from tn on Mon, 23rd Mar 2009 1:22 am
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA,WEED,POT,CANNIBAS,MARY JANE,MIDS,DRO, REG,OR ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF NAMES IT IS CALLED BY EVERY DAY IF THE GOVERNMENT TAXED MARIJUANA OUR ECONOMY CRISIS WOULD PRETTY MUCH BE OVER IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO SMOKE WEED ILEGALY AND PAY 20-35 $ FOR 7 GRAMS OF MARIJUANA WHICH GOES UNTAXED JUST THINK THE PRICE OF MARIJUANA WOULD DROP THEY WOULD ADD TAXES YOU COULD BUY THEM IN BOXES LIKE CIGERETTS (WHICH ARE MORE DAMAGING TO YOUR BODY THAN ANY AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA) YOU WOULD PAY APPX 7$-10$ FOR 20 PREROLLED MARIJUANA CIGARETTS WITH TAX INCLUDED.MORE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD SMOKE WEED THAN THEY DO CIGARETTES OR DRINK ALCHOHOL WHICH IS A VERY LARGE # AND A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF TAXES(ONLY IF OUR GOVERNMENT DOES THE RIGHT THING).
oprinat on Wed, 8th Apr 2009 10:29 am
I do not know what many of you think but the subject of marijuana/cannabis legalization is a thorny one indeed. Although pot is widely used, almost as much as cofee/alcohol/tabacco. . An interesting site I have found on this subject is http://LegalPot.com. If you wanna know more about this topic visit this link (i liked the section on growing your own pot a LOT).
Legal Marijuana on Mon, 13th Apr 2009 3:04 pm
In my opinion, legalizing marijuana is a step that had to be made. Only for medical purpose, of course. The positive effects that this drug has on patients is recognized and this is the reason why the society and political class have reached an agreement: to legalize it.
vaporizer heat gun on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 7:15 pm
Thanks for posting this, everyone needs to take some time and let their voices truly be heard. I just hope this confusing mess is cleared up soon and when it is, I hope that medical marijuana patients will no longer have anything to worry about and can just live their lives.
Jerry Mcguire on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 3:27 am
Thank goodness Obama has a different opinion. Hopefully this will change some more minds.
Charles Buxton on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 10:43 pm
They need to legalize weed. Look, if we magically discovered weed and alcohol for the first time today, weed would be legal and alcohol would be a Schedule I. Seriously, we need to quit framing the discussion in terms of medical marihuana and frame it in terms of the fact that weed is not any more harmful than a glass of good scotch.
California Bill on Tue, 15th Dec 2009 9:28 pm
Do you think we will ever move towards something we can actually call Marijuana law reform?
Mercedes B on Sun, 24th Jan 2010 8:21 pm
Marijuana definitely needs to be legalized….alcohol is legalized and that kills more than enough people So how stooped can the goverment get. They should open goverment ran agency such as ABC that sells alcohol cigarettes and tobacco. If they have not realized ABC never sees the recession and you know why? Because people are putting a ease to their minds in this reckless economy. Locking us up is not a way to solve anything. and they will not being getting money that way. “If im locked up how will they recieve any taxes….if nobody puts money on my books how will they get housing fees? the goverment is fucked dee fuck up I stay in Virginia and I WANT TO START A PETITION BOYCOTT OR SOMETHING users are definetly no criminals..and for all we care the govt can open up a store and run in…THEY MUST DONT WANT NO MONEY
mary joint on Wed, 24th Mar 2010 2:44 pm
overcoming the cigarette smoking addiction…?
Glass Bongs on Wed, 19th May 2010 7:30 am
It really should be a priority. Legalizing marijuana would help the economy as well as stop stupid unnecessary spending on jail and prison time for “weed smokers”
I’m confident that we’ll all be smoking our bongs and pipes soon enough. They have to legalize it eventually, it’s for the country’s own good.
Tooth Abscess Treatment on Tue, 15th Jun 2010 11:36 am
thanks for sharing this information… If the marijuana will be legal is good or bad? For me it’s bad..