The Voters Have Spoken — Again!
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November 3, 2009
Conventional wisdom dictates that if the people lead then our political leaders will follow. Of course, when it comes to marijuana law reform, conventional wisdom seldom applies.In a result that should come as a surprise to nobody — except for perhaps certain members of law enforcement and state lawmakers — Maine voters today overwhelmingly approved Question 5, the Maine Marijuana Medical Act. The measure amends existing state law by: establishing a confidential patient registry, expanding the list of qualifying conditions for which a physician may recommend medicinal cannabis, and by allowing for the creation of non-profit state-licensed nonprofit dispensaries to assist in the distribution of medical cannabis to qualified patients.
Of course for anyone following this issue, the result should not come as a surprise. Voters at the polls overwhelmingly approve marijuana law reform — virtually every time they have the opportunity to do so. Yet, over and over again voters have this opportunity because their cowardly elected officials continue to inexplicably punt on the issue.
In Maine, for instance, lawmakers voted unanimously in April to put this issue before the voters rather than legislating it themselves. They did so even though state voters had previously (and by more than 60 percent) approved patients’ rights to use medical marijuana, and despite the fact that the current proposal had virtually no organized opposition aside from law enforcement.
It was the same story in Colorado, where over 70 percent of Breckenridge voters elected today to amend the town code to remove all criminal and civil penalties, including fines, on the private possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. Should anyone have been surprised? Not really. Over 70 percent of local voters said ‘yes’ to a similar statewide (but unsuccessful) measure in 2005. Nonetheless, this past August the Breckenridge Town Council elected to dodge the issue when it came up for a vote — opting instead to send it before the voters.
Elsewhere in Colorado today, state police and politicians were conspiring to halt the proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries. Law enforcement and local politicians are engaging in similar efforts in southern California.
Yes, you read that right: cops and politicians are trying to undermine the very same reforms that the public today just embraced.
When will they ever learn?
131 Responses to “The Voters Have Spoken — Again!”
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Paul Armentano,
I could of swore I seen a yes vote on the same sex marriage. I’m having a problem pulling the election results up again,but if I’m wrong, I stand corrected .
[Paul Armentano responds: It was a "yes" vote. Voting "yes" was a vote to undo the law.]
While the politicos are still avoiding open support, they are doing less to squash the debate and letting it occur. This is a significant change really. Evidently that 40-60% margin of voters who do support, or the 70% in Colorado has been gaining ground on their agendas.
While I dont expect the old guard to openly support, I am glad to see less obstruction. Something to keep in mind at least when the comments form about “off with their heads.” Society does not change in an instant. We didn’t get here overnight and we’re not going to see it change overnight.
To be fair, how many people that comment here actually make an effort to protest? We need to get people out of their living rooms and into streets.
And no one has answered the amendment question.
What about New York. please help
They’ll NEVER learn because by keeping the most prolific plant on the planet (say that 3x fast) they keep their prisons full, to replace outlawed slave labor with prison labor! Read tinyurl.com/1mn :
Well, there it was, you didn’t have to look another foot as you went from state to state right on the floor of the state legislature. And so what was the genesis for the early state marijuana laws in the Rocky Mountain and southwestern areas of this country? It wasn’t hostility to the drug, it was hostility to the newly arrived Mexican community that used it.
Can someone please explain to me why alcohol prohibition required a constitutional amendment, while marijuana prohibition was a simple legislative matter?
Because it was first prohibitively taxed. You were required to have a ‘tax stamp’ if you were ever caught with cannabis, but no tax stamps were ever issued. They cost $1000, so no one in their right mind would apply for a $1000 cannabis tax stamp.
Read tinyurl.com/1mn and search on half.com for a book titled “The Marijuana Conviction” which is the book written by Profs Whitebread and Bonnie; the first 9 chapters of research can be read at tinyurl.com/potconviction
20oz Fuel
One Glass Bottle
One Rag
One Match
Is this what it will take for politicians and L.E. to realize that they are the PEOPLE’s servants, not the other way around?
We’ll just keep pushing through under they have no more laws to stand on. The people still have the right to make ballot initiatives in this country, and until they try to take THAT away from us (oh for their sake I pray they don’t) we can still keep marching forward.
Ashes to Ashes
Gas cans to Matches.
Two more things-
First- I think the NORML writers, which from all that I read seem to be Paul (sorry ’bout the slap you took- here’s some ice, buddy) are great. They bring the point passionately and with ACTUAL true research and study (something apparently lost in most journalists today).
Second- The American public has a horrible habit of picking names on a ballot who are associated with their political party, rather than actually doing the research to see where the candidate really stands.
Point being is that the tide is turning on the Democrats in Congress. People don’t like the way things are, so they vote for the other in a two-party system like ours. Which means that the Republicans have a very good chance of gaining majority in the House and Senate in 2010.
I feel that the dream of Legalization will be ripped out of our hands if we do not get things done in the next year.
(By the way, before I get attacked, I am both registered and at heart Libertarian, so I hate BOTH main party’s.)
And at 23 years old, I hope my peers are doing THEIR research as well
if the reason we never get anything passed concerning marijuana is because politicians brush away the issue like the cowards they are. shouldn’t they be.. i don’t know… FIRED for not doing their jobs?!
honestly, they need to grow some balls sooner or later. or it won’t end pretty for them…
does anyone know if it’ll ever be legal here in alabama?. i sooo wanna move to the state next door lol [mississippi]
Why won’t politicians get behind MJ reform. Let’s look at New Jersey. The Govenor who would “absolutely” sign a medical law IF it reached his desk is (sorry WAS ) the worst govenor ever, and the Gov-elect who is “completely against the idea” of any MJ reform is GREAT. Congradulations New Jersey, you were this close. Now that’s what I call snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Pretend you aspire to elected office, what lessions did you learn yestarday. Marijuana reform is all pain and no gain for any elected official.
I say when will the people learn that we have no representation in washington dc.
everyone who appears in front of a judge for pot, should just demand the maximum sentence like ghandi.
accepting probation means you accept you did something wrong.
Laws of God, are higher than the laws of man.
this would rest on the judges shoulders, their conscious, their morality.
I love the constitution and would defend it to my death. That being said the constitution is only a convenient piece of paper in dc and sometimes it’s just a god damned piece of paper to certain politicians and despots.Rights are not given they are Taken. Might makes Right. He who has the gold rules. So, is it the rule of law, or the law of rulers? By their deeds you shall know them.
I applaud the new initiatives. I’m happy for you if you live in these jurisdictions. I just wish the politicians in Texas would hurry up and retire. I think we are about ten years behind on Marijuana education here.
This past year, Debbie Riddle, Texas House of Representatives, introduced a bill that would effectively double the penalties for possession if you happen to be around anyone under 18, fortunately it died in committee after a filibuster from the democrats. I wonder, did someone in a privately run prison asked her to sponsor this bill? Texas is actually going the opposite direction as far as legalization is concerned, even though polls show a majority support reform here too.
I think it is all about money and power and the cops, DA’s, lawyers and others in the public eye are less concerned about fairness and a lot more concerned about their gravy train drying up.
This week I read about a judge in Lucern county, Pennsylvania who was accepting bribe money from the local, privately run, prison system to incarcerate juveniles, over 6,500 of them. Judge Mark Ciavarella was sentencing juveniles to detention for minor crimes like fighting with peers, possession of a small amount of marijuana or posting disparaging remarks about a school official on MySpace. He had accepted over 2.8 million dollars from a PRIVATELY RUN PRISON SYSTEM. He is under federal indictment now. How many judges have simply not been caught?
But Ciavarella’s public persona was powerful. The former judge proudly told community groups his zero tolerance was an effective, tough-love approach. Does this sound all to familiar?
Here is another one, State District Judge Manuel Barraza (El Paso)faces four counts, including mail fraud, wire fraud and lying to a federal agent. He was arrested in April and accused of taking cash bribes and asking for sex from defendants, including an undercover FBI agent.
And yet another one, Brazos County Justice of the Peace Ramiro Quintero was caught accepting bribes in Bryan Tx.
The list goes on and on. It just makes me ill.
Until we vote people into office that do what they say they are going to do we are always going to have promises that are not kept. It is “we” as the voters who put the lawmakers into office must stand up and demand the peolpe we vote to represent us must follow thru on the platforms they ran on and support the things that are important to us. Until the lawmakers are held responsible to do what we the people ask of them we are pretty much spitting in to the wind (up wind at that)
The politicians have too much of a stake in law enforcement, prisons (a huge industry), and big pharma. It MUST be the people who will speak up. Look what’s happening in CA with the federal raids – patients are getting guns pointed in their faces by these fucking bastards and there is outrage at the feds.
I heard about that in Maine – how gay couples have been stripped of their marital rights. That sucks big time. And yes – it’s the churches that get in there and vote against real change.
It looks like it time to go snow skiing in Breckenridge. I can’t help but wonder what areas of the country are going to capitalize on legal cannabis. Those places that have the good judgement to repeal prohibition are going to get the best business opportunities. They will get a head start on developing the best business models and will corner the largest part of the market. To the victor go the rewards.I wonder if Las Vegas has established a pool for this and came up with odds on who will legalize first. I’m betting on California!
Can we really afford a wasteful, damaging, and unproductive drug war. Even if we wanted one?
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, out national debt is getting really close to 12 trillion$$ now.
To all prohibitionists, It’s not the 1950′s anymore. Nobody believes that marijuana is the devil incarnate anymore. Nobody believes that marijuana causes cancer, kills brain cells, or is some crazy commie scheme to help the “degenerates” (some actually believed this back then). Please grow up, we’ll never live in a drug free world.
We need a safe and effective policy to deal with a harsh REALITY about drugs. Not a fairytale prohibitionist land where we’re NOT 12 TRILLION$$ IN DEBT.
Hopefully people start getting mad about the blatant disregard for the public.
Hello,
Please–I know this site is dedicated to giving responsible adults the right to use marijuana, and I am a major supporter, but let’s not forget the other major public policy issue, which is gay marriage, and which was yesterday outlawed by Maine.
If you believe that adults should have the right to choose how to lead their lives so long as they are not threatening the safety and property of others, and I know most of you do, please join the fight to allow same-sex couples to wed.
Just wish Texas would let us vote on the issue!
I hope everybody learned a valuable lesson yestarday. Medical Marijuana is now dead in New Jersey. I wonder how many pot smokers there pulled the lever for Chris Christie, you voice was heard. Sorry to rub it in but there’s just precious few times you have the chance to vote for a Pro Reform Candidate from either party. There were a lot of victories yesterday but New Jersey was a shipwreck. And don’t jump my ass for being a Democrat, I’d vote for Dana Rohraacher R Calf. in a heartbeat, and Marijuana is probably the only thing I’ll ever agree with him on. Point is if progress is ever going to be made a lot of us are going to have to grit our teath and vote against our usual preference, and let’s be realistic, Republicans are going to have a grit there teath harder. There arn’t many Democrats that are pro reform but in the Republican party…. well there IS Dana Rohrabacher and um… uh.. if you can name another one tell us so we can vote for him or her. Next election is in 12 months, lets hang together or we’ll surely hang apart.
O.T.
Go to you tube. Type in (7,000,000,000). Its the video that starts with an egg and sperm.Its 6:21 long. Its a very thought provoking vid. Cannabis community will appieciate the view.
Forgot the link to my post #75
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=7%2C000%2C000%2C000&search_type=&aq=f
Part of the problem is even liberal websites such as DailyKos were NOT reporting the victories. They focused instead on the defeat of gay marriage on the night of the election results and I didn’t see any comment/story/article/analysis of marijuana. If our “friends” can’t cover the issue correctly then how can we expect our enemies to give us fair treatment?
Don’t be shocked if police associations and those employed by the crimal justice systemt oppose more liberal laws regarding cannabis. This is how these individuals make their living, it’s like getting a layoff notice. Have compassion for these misguided individuals.
Congrats Maine on…. now if only we in MI can get our legislature to get off their asses and do something along the same lines here I would love to see dispensaries here in MI I would probably donate all of my spare time at the local dispensary (I’ve got my card just not a caregiver since i have a Bullshit felony from a gram of pot)
“What can us ordinary citizens do in our states that don’t have legal medical marijuara to get this issue on the ballot for 2010?
I am tired of writing letters and emails to my congress men and women to no avail. It seems as if they are simply going to ignore the issue.”
Abandon your state and move to a medical marijuana state!
Economics will be the driving force for reform from here on out, IMHO. Now that the Fed is allowing medical in states that have approved, these places can thrive. The next wave in this medical marijuana movement are potential patients migrating to free states en mass. This influx of people will bring a stabilization and even boost to local real estate markets, for example, as people seek asylum. Honestly, anybody on this board thinking about moving to Breckenridge Colorado now? I know I am, or at least relocating to Colorado. This means more business, more jobs, a better economy in these areas that become marijuana friendly.
I can see that in the not too distant future businesses popping up that offer a relocation service for potential patients from one state to another. In the mean time, my advice would be to reign in spending — pay down your debt and become less dependent on your job. If you are trapped in a mortgage in a ‘slave’ state, think about selling cheap, renting it, or even walking away. Have a plan finding a new job or even career, and just move to a free state. Just say no to anti-medical marijuana states. You can now do this with dollars! The people finally have the power now, not the politicians!
way to go Colorado now may be other states will make a stand and do the right thing like colorado did / is doing.
To those of you confuse as to why Marijuana is still illegal (and will remain so unless we elect a critical mass of “real” independents!!!!): The drug war game makes lots of money for groups of people in power. It disenfranchises citizens who might vote you out of office, provides billions in untaxed, untracable sources of income, allows you to steal money and property from otherwise law abiding citizens, and keeps all your cops employed! What’s wrong with that?
No number of facts presented will really change anything. Just look at California. Despite a few counties having made it damn near 100% legal, cops still invade law-abiding medical grow-ops and dispensaries. That is because so much of law enforcement has become about fighting your choice to use something other than alcohol to get off. Stop circumventing your ability to choose for yourself, and they LOSE MONEY! We can’t do that! Especially in our broke economy (never mind that the drug war and all of it’s mis-guided adventures have greatly assisted us in getting to where we are economically).
Do you want to change this? Then you need to A) do nothing to get busted..ie don’t stop using, just become ultra-discrete! B) Find an Independent candidate who lives by their word, and who resonates with your “thinking” (not feeling). C) Vote only for true independents in 2010! If they do not specifically say while on-stage “I WILL LEGALIZE MARIJUANA”, DO NOT VOTE FOR THEM!
-Oz
maybe acorn can help out. LOL.
All of this stuff makes me sick. Sorry NJ. dont give up the fight. You have ran into another bump in the road. I just hate it for ya. But… your ahead of us all here in TN…..If I should lose my job by failing the pop drug test then I would have lots of time to open another NORMAL chapter in Tn.
I guarantee that If you get Informed Voter`s in the Privacy of a Polling Booth where nobody can know HOW they voted, Cannabis would be legal after the first election, Right Now due to the Stigma attached to Cannabis there are very Few people with the Guts to stand up and say it is time now!
Nick #73: Believe me, I find it astonishing that while voters took away the right for L&Gs to wed, they voted to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. While I certainly don’t view this as a good thing (don’t worry, I am fighting prejudice and discrimination against the LGBT community!), I definitely view it as remarkably good for the cannabis law reform movement. All those voters the churches got to show up to vote against gay marriage, and medical dispensaries still passed with 60% support! Astounding. I was hoping to get something going in my state (VA) but we just voted in a bunch of Replublicans (including a governor who thinks women who work are a “detriment to the family”) so odds of reform here are slim… but I’ll give it a shot and see what I can do. Congrats Maine and hopefully Breckenridge’s attitude spreads to the rest of Colorado and the whole state can decriminalize!
i wish mn. would legize it like the other states have. like a polition told me that he was in favor of the legilzeing marijuana but sine how the governor and police were againest it he would vote no, (jelly fish). it even better if the whole country would just legal it so the goverment could make money on it.
Thank you, NORML.. for everything you do.
Time to say it a little louder, Yes WE CAN defent this constructive fraud, yes we can regain our rights stolen from a wayward government of fools. YES we are going to take back what was our in the first place, our LIBERTY!
So I will say this again and again until I am blue in the face.
These Cannabis laws that removed our liberty are based on a constructive fraud, this act is illegal, congress and the branches of government have become wayward. The only thing these folks will take notice is if juries don’t convict in cannabis cases. Simply Jury Nullification will put these wayward employees back in line. Until then plant your seeds in the face of the enemy and get ready to bring this issue to them by Writ. It is time to end their constructive fraud against the people and we don’t need to vote on it, just act through our courts and practice jury nullification of that screwed up unlaw cannabis law.
*George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp. Ben Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper. Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper.
THE ONLY THING YOU CAN NOW COME TO A CONCLUSION IS THAT THERE IS TYRANNY IN WASHINGTON D.C. WE HAVE TO THINK AS ONE AND PLEASE TO ALL START THINKING POSITIVE. AS ONE IF YOU THINK IT IT WILL COME. THERE IS NO MORE TIME FOR REGRET OR FAILURE, WE HAVE THIS IN OUR GRASP.
IT IS TIME FOR EVERYONE TO WRITE/ CALL / VISIT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND POLITICIANS AND TELL THEM IF THEY DO NOT TAKE A PROACTIVE POSITION ON CANNABIS LEGALIZATION ,YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO GET THEM THROWN OUT OF THE JOB THAT YOUR TAXES PAY.
CHRISTIAN GENESISTS CONSIDER LUKE x:25-37 FOR CHRISTIAN PROHIBITIONISTS.
25. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26. He said unto him, what is written in the law? how readest thou?
27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thy self.
28. And he said unto him, thou has answered right: THIS DO, AND THOU SHALT LIVE.
29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
30. And Jesus answering said, a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among theives, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33. But a certain samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.
34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, “GO AND DO THOU LIKEWISE.”
There are many of those among us, who receive greater medical efficay from cannabis, than any other man made substance. To deny the patient that substance, that which brings relief, would it [then] be the same as passing by that person on the other side?
Manford Mantis
Yay, the bigots approved medical marijuana.
The whole state can go to hell for all I care.
That link to the article about Colorado went off in some weird tangents about property taxes I don’t see how those and pot are related, anyway. Looks like the Berlin wall falls brick by brick. That picture of that plant on the article is beautiful. What a beautiful girl.
has anyone heard anything about the canidates for the florida governors chair concerning legalization? i have written mr crist and, i dont have to tell yall how he feels…..dammit!
I am a conservative and I am pro cannabis. Not just medical, but full legalization. As a conservative, I believe that everyone has the right to personal freedom and responsibility. If you prefer to partake, go ahead, if not then don’t. Once again plain and simple. The conservatives of the past have really messed this up by trying to legislate morality. You can not legislate morality, it doesn’t work, as we all can see around us today. Even one of the biggest conservatives of the day, William F. Buckley, was pro legalization. They need to shape up in D.C. While they are gradually taking my small business away from me at least let me enjoy a little cannabis. Even here in Alabama most of the conservatives I know are for complete legalization. I think this will grow through the conservative movement actually thanks to the Obama admin. With more control being taken in our businesses and other areas of our lives we have grown weary of all government control over personal decisions. Once there is a majority of conservatives grouped with the already majority of liberals we should be able to get it done. I mean, what are they going to do when they have both sides yelling at them telling them the same thing. Whether on the left or the right it takes both sides to make it happen. At least we can unite on this “green initiative”.
Bryce my man i like you alot. I too am very pro violence. When i see public servants attemp to push personal opinion it makes my blood boil. Remember the telegram to Rockwell from Malcolm X? He said: ‘Maximum physical retaliation from those of us who are not hand-cuffed by the disarming philosophy of non-violence’. I love that. But nows not the time and NORMLS definatly not the place. Fear not soldier our gov and LEOs will do what WE the people want.. or we will euthanise them like the disobediant dogs they are.
But not yet. All they do is bark now. Wait till they bite and then we will put em down.
Also check out the news story today about Portland, Oregon opening the first legal cannabis cafe. More info, videos, and resources at CannabisTV.org
I am against the concept of the Homosexual lifestyle; however! To deny someone their equal rights is Un-American. And YES, it is sad to say that a lot of church’s do help in the haulting of change at the polls. AND since when does the BIBLE advise people to help vote in laws that impose double-standards fueled most times by prejudice……….as I remember; when it came to condemning others for their choices or lifestyle good Ol’ J.C. replied “let he who is without sin cast the first stone” or ” tend to the plank in thy own eye before trying to remove the speck in your brothers(eye)”……..
Mr Amiano,
Thank you. For all my life, I have been a Christian, and I am proud of it. However, I have learned from that. Yes, I believe being homosexual is wrong, but I am also wrong by saying it is a standard everyone should follow. Mr Rogers was devout also, but someone asked him how God thought of them due to their lifestyle. Fred told them that “God loves you just how you are.” You have been a positive example of how people should be treated equally. Do I get high? No. Am I gay? no. Is there a difference how people should be treated? No. I have learned from you, sir, that it matters not what drug you prefer, nor what gender you like. We are all people and deserve that same respect. I used to love gay jokes – but not anymore. You respecrt EVERYONE’S choice – why shouldn’t I have the same respect?
I am a little high (on booze), so I have rambled a lot – sorry ’bout that. I have always believed that cannabis hemp should be legal. I have always been confused as to why it wasn’t. But you, my friend, are a true American hero. I told my wife tonight, as we got shloshed together, that nobody has the right to tell me what I can or can not put inside my own body. If this were true, that black lady would still be sitting in the back seat of the bus. She was looked at as a disrespectful law breaker at the time, just like you are. Howevewr, I look at her as a real American hero, as I do you. I know that in aboutn 10 years, you will be in our schools’ history books as a hero as well. I solute you, sir. You are truly a great American hero.