Legalize Marijuana - Ideas for Change in America

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Action Alert: Stop DEA Medical Cannabis Raids
http://www.denver420.com/news/action.alert.dea.raids.html

Is Obama a Fascist Liar or is the DEA a Rogue Agency?

The Obama administration has showed its true colors on the war on
cannabis patients by raiding yet another cannabis clinic in California.
On March 25, Emmalyn's California Cannabis Clinic in San Francisco, a
clinic known for dispensing free cannabis to indigent people one day a
week, fell as the latest victim of the administration's "new" policy on
medical cannabis.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/25/BA5B16N9LR.DTL
http://cbs5.com/local/medical.marijuana.raid.2.968019.html

Barack Obama repeatedly promised to stop federal raids on medicinal
cannabis clinics during his campaign for president. However, on January
22, two days after his inauguration, a clinic was raided in South Lake
Tahoe, CA, followed by several other raids in California in early February.

On February 25, newly-confirmed Attorney General Eric Holder promised
that the DEA would stop raiding California clinics, a hopeful signal
that the long war on cannabis patients might finally be over.
http://shadowcabinet.us/?p=82

On March 19, 2009, Holder clarified the administration's "new" policy,
saying the DEA would continue raids if the clinics were suspected of
violating state law in addition to federal law. Under this "new" policy,
the DEA would still investigate cannabis clinics for violations of state
law. If the DEA finds any state violations, that gives them the
authority to step in and enforce federal laws, which do not recognize
any medical use of cannabis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/us/20marijuana.html?ref=us

On March 23, U.S. District Judge George H. Wu, a federal judge in Los
Angeles, asked for written clarification of this policy. Judge Wu was
scheduled to sentence medical cannabis dispensary owner Charles Lynch of
Morro Bay, California. In a surprise move, the judge delayed the
sentencing, asking for written clarification from the Justice Department
on the Obama administration's newly revised position that federal agents
target marijuana distributors only if they violate state and federal
law. In 2007, Lynch's house and clinic were raided by the DEA. Lynch was
convicted of marijuana distribution by a jury who was not allowed to
hear any evidence of the fact Lynch was running a medical cannabis
dispensary completely in compliance with state law. Lynch has gained
national support, and Judge Wu is being pressured to give him a lenient
sentence.

On March 25, 2009, the public got to see Obama's "new" policy in action
for the first time when the DEA raided Emmalyn's California Cannabis
Clinic in San Francisco. According to the DEA, medicine and money were
confiscated, but no arrests were made. This is a continuation of DEA's
long-standing "smash and grab" policy of stealing cannabis and money
from cannabis therapists and patients, but not charging them with any
crime. The goal of the "smash and grab" policy is to terrorize and
financially cripple medicinal cannabis clinics without going through the
expense of a public trial.

The DEA refuses to state the specific reason for the raid on Emmalyn's
Clinic, saying it is under "court seal." The DEA would only say the
dispensary is suspected of violating federal and state law.

Judge Wu's wise decision to ask for written clarification will only help
to more quickly expose the Obama administration's lies and deception
regarding medical cannabis. It's business-as-usual at the Department of
Justice, and cannabis patients will continue to be the victims. Call the
White House and demand that they end this federally-sanction robbery of
sick and dying people. Stop the DEA medical marijuana raids!!!

Call the White House and your Senators and Representatives

Tell them to:

1) Stop the DEA medical marijuana raids.
2) Let the states enforce their own medical cannabis laws. The federal
government should not be interfering with states' rights.
2) Shame on Obama: Keep your campaign promises to support sick and dying
patients.

*Toll-Free Numbers*

1-800-833-6354
Press 1 for Capitol Switchboard
Press 2 for White House and ask for Comment Line

1-800-828-0498
Capitol Switchboard only

*White House Comment Line Direct*
(not toll free)
Phone: 202-456-1111
Fax: (open weekends): 202-456-2461

*Email*
president@whitehouse.gov

*Find your Congresspeople*
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

----

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Suggested by X otix on 03/26/2009 @ 01:07PM PT

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Questions to be posed to Pres. Obama

Please go here and vote!!!

http://www.communitycounts.com/forum/?id=obama&linked=xr4wf

Suggested by mikey johnson on 03/24/2009 @ 12:54PM PT

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URGENT! URGENT! URGENT!

MASSACHUSETTS just introduced a bill to LEGALIZE/REGULATE/TAX cannabis. House bill 2929/Senate bill 1801 will do just that… Looks like MA has joined California in the fight for sensible pot reform. Tell everyone you know in Massachusetts to e-mail their congressmen/senator. More information at http://www.norml.org!

Let's get to work!

Suggested by Lance C on 03/24/2009 @ 01:42AM PT

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Donate to teh NORML ad campaign!... NORML is able to get 30 second cab;e TV commercials for 8 CENTS A PIECE! All they need is money to start making these commercials a reality. They have about 11,000 right now for commercials. If we all put down the Starbucks for just one day and send that money to NORML we can give them millions!

Here is the link to help NORMl with the commercials: https://secure.norml.org/donate/ad_donation.html

Keep up the energy, keep up the fight!

Peace, love, and color.

Suggested by X otix on 03/23/2009 @ 07:10AM PT

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$1.00 To Save America Campaign

Let's all seriously consider playing ball by their rules and pay lawmakers to do our bidding just like tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceutical, and the textile industries do.

(not to mention the Drug War Machine and all it's wonderful components)

1. Pay every United States Federal Lawmaker $100,000 dollars to their campaign fund to listen to us.

2. Then as oversight, the next year those who voted correctly get their payment doubled and those who voted against us only get half.

3. Make sure that the national add campaign makes it real clear what the money is for.... it's for Congressmen and Senators to do their jobs.

4. Repeat as necessary. I believe they will get the idea pretty fast.

Everyone who thinks Marijuana should be legalized, controlled, licensed and TAXED send $1.00 to this fund and we will make sure they listen.

<<< INSERT EVERY GOOD MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION ARGUMENT HERE >>>

It doesn't matter what country you are from.... the USA sets world policy - this could change everything for everybody.

The only thing they understand is money.

And - this is the ONLY answer to our current economic crisis.

1. start with grass roots + get the concept accepted as the "NEED ACTION RIGHT NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE"

2. invest donations into a national add campaign in conjunction with NORML, and the MPP + celebrities (Woody, Willie, Billy Bob, Gatewood, Jack Herrier, etc.)

3. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, MSNBC mass media hammering as the "ONLY ANSWER" + "MUST ACT NOW" until the country is brainwashed

4. implement plan above with proceeds

5. repeat if necessary

I know it needs refinement but the basic concept I believe to be sound.

Forget that fancy $4.00 coffee just once and send $1.00 to save the world.

Suggested by Kevin Sornson on 03/23/2009 @ 06:11AM PT

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Due To Major State Government Budget Problems, The Timing Is Right For Sending A Letter (Like The Example Below) To Your State Senators and Representatives. I was able to easily find the email addresses on-line for all 90 of my States Senators and Reps. I sent them each a personal email of the following, which has a link to the actual 41 page California Bill AB390 and a Cost Benefit Analysis showing up to 20 BILLION with spin-off benefits for Cali YEARLY. It took a couple of hours to send to everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE SOLUTION - HOW TO SAVE THE PLANET, FUND GOVERNMENT & FOSTER GREEN SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY FOR US

Dear State Senator - Representative,

I want to share with you THE SOLUTION, probably the only real solution capable of solving the majority of the problems plaguing the United States, the State of _______ and our Planet.

With one simple legislative proclamation, we could immediately begin to: (1) Curb C02 Emissions & Reverse The Greenhouse Effect (2) Solve Our Health Care Crisis (3) Totally Revitalize Our Economy (4) Become Energy Independent (5) Restore Our Constitutional Integrity and (6) End The Drug Wars - just to name some of the many benefits.

With one simple legislative proclamation:  the physical health of our people could be restored - the fiscal health of our state and nation could be restored - we could stop polluting and achieve carbon neutrality - we could launch NEW GREEN MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRIES .

There is a miracle plant which has seeds that are potentially the most abundant and nutritious source of vegetable protein on the planet, and also one of the most abundant sources of essential fatty acids (EFA's), which are absolutely critical to human health. Most modern diets are extremely deficient in EFA's, and this deficiency may account for the vast majority of degenerative diseases afflicting humankind today, and is likely a primary cause of our nations health care crisis.

Various medicines can be made from this plant that are a virtual PANACEA for practically every disease afflicting mankind. See Run FROM The Cure - http://www.youtube.com/chrychek

This miracle plant easily grows anywhere, without chemical fertilizers or toxic pesticides, and produces four times the amount of fiber per acre than cotton or trees, while restoring the soil.

Motor fuels can be locally produced virtually anywhere in the U.S. using the cellulosic ethanol process from this wonder plant. High quality oils for industry can also be easily be produced from this plant. Virtually EVERY MATERIAL OBJECT needed by humankind can be made from this plant.   Fuels, food, herbal therapeutics, building materials, paints, varnishes, cloth, paper, plastics, rope...the list of products that can be made from this plant has been estimated to be at least 50,000.

And while this miracle plant grows, it pulls vast amounts of C02 from the atmosphere, more than any other species of plant, and can literally save the planet.   And that wonder plant is the Cannabis Hemp Plant, and the simple proclamation is: " the Cannabis Hemp Plant is no longer prohibited in the State of ______________ ".

  http://www.hempevolution.org/ecology/ecology.htm

This will stimulate our economy like nothing else can. Tens of thousands of SUSTAINABLE small farms and businesses utilizing the fibers, cellulose, seeds, oils and flowers of the Cannabis Hemp plant, will be immediately spawned. The very survival of the human species is at stake. There is no time left for a another study. We can no longer deny humanity the myriad benefits of this plant, because we are afraid someone will "get high" and feel elevated in their mood.  Is that so bad? Marijuana has never killed anyone in 5000 years of human use. Even the DEA's own administrative law judge found "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man".

http://www.mamas.org/fjudge.htm   .

Additionally, the studies on cannabis use and driving show no significant public safety threat.

  http://norml.org/pdf_files/NORML_Driving_and_Marijuana.pdf  .

  Any reasonable person can see that the threat to public health and safety from cannabis use is low, and that any problems related to marijuana use that our nation is experiencing are substantially caused by the prohibition itself. Cannabis prohibition statutes are as extinctionistic as any law can be. The predictable result of prohibition is that a lot of peaceful people, who recognize the true value of the Cannabis plant, are marginalized, fined, and imprisoned, providing human feedstock for the lucrative "economics of punishment".

The fundamental challenge of our time is to re-valuate the world's most useful and nutritious organic agricultural resource, and initiate a normal relationship with this plant, for food, for medicine, for biofuels and in the end, for world peace. The natural, god-given freedom to farm and use Cannabis is "self-evident," beyond the rightful jurisdiction of any court. If our children are to inherit natural rights, then we must claim them by limiting the rule of law to serve the common good. This means allowing for a truly free, organic agriculturally-based, market economy, operating in harmony with the Earth's Natural Order.

A recent analysis (pasted below) of California Assembly Bill 390 (link below) details how Marijuana Legalization Could Yield California Taxpayers Over $1.2 Billion Per Year with Additional Spinoff Benefits Up To $12 -$18 Billion Per Year .   I would greatly appreciate it if you would take a look at CA AB390 and the Cost Benefit analysis below. Something like this needs to be introduced and passed as soon as possible here in ____________, so the citizens can survive the looming global economic collapse, and State Government will have enough revenue to keep essential services funded.

Sincerely,       _____________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                                                                             California Assembly Bill 390     http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0351-0400/ab_390_bill_20090223_introduced.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marijuana Legalization Could Yield California Taxpayers Over $1.2 Billion Per Year

Additional Spinoff Benefits Up To $12 -$18 Billion Per Year

California NORML Report
by Dale Gieringer, Ph.D. - Updated Feb. 2009

While California struggles to address the state's swelling budget deficit, the legalization of marijuana looms as an attractive way of raising revenue for the state.

California NORML estimates that a legally regulated market for marijuana could yield the state at least $1.2 billion in tax revenues and reduced enforcement costs. A basic $50/ounce excise tax (roughly $1/joint) would yield about $770 - 900 million per year plus another $240-360 million in sales taxes. In addition, the state would save over $170 million in enforcement costs for arrests, prosecutions and prison. Additional benefits would accrue from increased employment and spinoff industries. Total retail sales of marijuana could be on the order of $3-$5 billion, with total economic impact of $12-$18 billion including spinoff industries such as coffeehouses, tourism, plus industrial hemp.

California NORML's analysis of the benefits of marijuana legalization are as follows:

* An excise tax of $50 per ounce of marijuana would raise about $770 - 900 million per year.

* Retail sales on the legal market would range from $3 - $4.5 billion, generating another $240 - 360 million in sales taxes.

* Legalization would save over $170 million in law enforcement costs for arrest, prosecution, trial and imprisonment of marijuana offenders. Need for CAMP helicopter surveillance would also be eliminated.

* Based on experience with the cigarette tax, total revenues of $1.5 - $2.5 billion might ultimately be realized.

* Based on experience with the wine industry, the total economic activity generated by legal marijuana could be nearly four times as great as retail sales, around $12 - $18 billion. Amsterdam-style coffeehouses would generate jobs and tourism. If the marijuana industry were just one-third the size of the wine industry, it would generate 50,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in wages, along with additional income and business tax revenues for the state.

* Industrial hemp could also become a major business, comparable to the $3.4 billion cotton industry in California.

Details of California NORML's analysis follow below.

Revenue from Taxation of Legal Marijuana:

(A) Consumption: More than 1.95 million Californians

According to the US Dept of Health & Human Services SAMHSA 2007 survey of drug use, 1.95 million Californians admit to having used marijuana in the past month. Insofar as these figures are based on self-reporting of illicit activity, they are probably on the low side.

According to a 2002-4 SAMHSA survey, daily users constitute 20% of this population, or about 400,000 Californians.

The bulk of consumption is accounted for by "regular" users, who consume marijuana at least several times per week. Included is a small minority of very heavy smokers (10 or more joints per day), who push the average consumption figures upwards. According to a British survey by the Independent Drug Monitoring Unit [1], "regular" users average 2 oz of cannabis per month or about 2 grams per day (a gram yields one or two joints). The population of regular users is somewhat larger than that of daily users. Assuming 500,000 - 600,000 "regular users" in California averaging 2 grams per day, consumption by this group accounts for 1.0 to 1.2 million grams per day. Assuming the remaining ~1.5 million monthly users average one joint every week, this adds another 200,000 grams per day. Total marijuana consumption by Californians may therefore be reasonably estimated at 1.2 to 1.4 million grams per day, or about 0.95 to 1.1 million pounds per year.

(B) Economic Revenues from Taxation: a $2.7 - $4.5 billion market

The total value of the domestic marijuana market can be estimated on the basis of its current retail price. Depending on quality, retail price of a single gram (one or two joints) ranges around $10 - $15 ($280 - $420/ounce) for domestic bud, or as low as $5-7 for Mexican grass. For comparison, the prevailing price on the quasi-legal Dutch market is $6/gram. At $10/ gram, the total value of California's domestic marijuana market comes to about $ 4.5 billion per year. In a legal market, prices could be expected to fall. If they fell to current Dutch prices, the retail value of the current market would be $2.7 billion. However, this decrease would be at least partly offset by an increase in consumption. In sum, the total domestic market might reasonably be estimated at $2.7 - $4.5 billion in California.

Excise tax of $1/joint would yield $800+ million per year

Excise taxes could be used to regulate the price of marijuana and generate revenues for the state. At current levels of consumption, an excise tax of $1 per gram of marijuana would yield $430 - $510 million per year. A higher tax of $50 per ounce (roughly $1 per half-gram joint) would yield around $ 770 - $900 million, about the same as California's current excise tax on cigarettes.

Other economic studies have attempted to evaluate the revenues from a marijuana excise tax. According to a study by Caputo and Ostrom [2], a nationwide excise tax would yield $3.44-$12.25 billion (inflation adjusted to current dollars). Adjusted for population, California's share would come to $400 million - $1.5 billion. Similar results were obtained by Gieringer [3], who estimated $3.2 - $6.4 billion based on a nationwide $1 per joint tax, or $400 - $800 million for California. Doubling the tax to $2 per joint could bring the total up to $1.5 billion in California.

Sales tax would boost total revenues over $1 billion

In addition to the excise taxes, sales taxes could generate another $240 - $360 million, depending on the size of the total domestic market ($3- $4.5 billion). Added to a $50/oz excise tax, total revenues would be $1 - $1.2 billion

Another way to estimate the total tax revenues from marijuana is by drawing a parallel with California's current tax on cigarettes. Fully one-half of the current price of cigarettes is accounted for by taxes and fees. On a $3.60 pack, consumers pay a $0.87 excise tax, $0.28 in sales tax, and another $0.74 for the tobacco settlement. A similar 50% level of taxation in a legal $3 - 5 billion marijuana market would yield $1.5 - $2.5 billion.

SPINOFF INDUSTRIES WITH TOTAL IMPACT OF $12 - $18 BILLION

A legal market would generate additional benefits in the form of tourism and spinoff industries, such as coffee shops, paraphernalia, and industrial hemp. A comparable example would be California's wine industry, which generates $51.8 billion in economic activity according to the Wine Institute [4]. With $12.3 billion in retail sales, the wine industry generates 309,000 jobs, $10.1 billion in wages, and $2 billion in tourist expenditures. Extrapolating these figures to a legal marijuana market with 25% - 35% as much retail sales, one might expect $12 -$18 billion in total economic activity, with 60,000 to 110,000 jobs, and $2.5 to $3.5 billion in legal wages, which would generate additional income and business taxes for the state. With California taking the lead in marijuana legalization, especially strong spinoff benefits could be expected. For instance, Amsterdam-style coffeehouses would create jobs and be a magnet for tourism.

A particular spinoff industry of note would be industrial hemp, which California used to grow in the Delta and Imperial Valley. The hemp industry in California could rival the size of the cotton industry, which now generates $3.4 billion in revenues per year according to the National Cotton Council.

COST OF MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT IN CALIFORNIA IS OVER $170 MILLION PER YEAR

The cost of marijuana enforcement in California currently can be estimated at over $170 million per year, as follows.

State prison

(1500 prisoners @ $36 K per year - 2008 est.) $54 million

Jail costs (est. 40% of prison population) $21 million

Felony prosecution, court & probation

(est. 8000 felony prosecutions (2007), SF DA's office est. $9250 per case) $74 million

Felony arrests 16,000 arrests (2007) @ $732/arrest* $11.7 million

Misdemeanor court costs

$100 court time/case, 58,000 cases) $5.8 million

Misdemeanor arrests ($300/arrest,* offset by fines) ----- $0

California Marijuana Suppression Program(OCJP) $3.8 million

Total $170.3 million

Not counted above are costs of non-helicopter surveillance and investigation by local sheriffs and police. Also not counted are the substantial costs of criminal penalties to prisoners and their families.

* Arrest costs based on report by State Office of Narcotics and Drug Abuse to the Cal. legislature "A First Report of the Impact of California's New Marijuana Law" (1977), adjusted for inflation.

Sources:

[1] M. Atha and S. Blanchard, "Self-reported drug consumption patterns and attitudes towards drugs among 1333 regular cannabis users," Published by the Independent Drug Monitoring Unit 1997. Cited in Leslie Iversen, The Science of Marijuana, Oxford Press. 2000, pp. 217-9.

[2] Caputo and Ostrom, "Potential Tax Revenue from a Regulated Marijuana Market", American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Oct 1994.

[3] D. Gieringer, "Economics of Cannabis Legalization," in Ed Rosenthal, ed. Hemp Today, Quick Publishing, Oakland 1994.

[4] California Wine Institute, California Wine Industry Statistical Highlights, 2008. http://www.wineinstitute.org/files/EIR%20Flyer%202008.pdf

http://www.canorml.org/background/CA_legalization2

Suggested by Mike Senger on 03/18/2009 @ 04:43PM PT

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How can we be a free nation when they can tell us what to do with our own bodies. Not anyone else's, not your moms,sister,boyfriend,girlfriend. That doesn't seem too free to me Mr. President. These drugs should be taken off of the streets because being on the streets they are more readily available. As a student I know that i would have to plan out my day to try to get me some alcohol but if i want some nug. All it takes is a phone call and a ten minute drive. If you want us to be save take these things out of the hands of the REAL criminals who don't ask for an I.D. and don't ask you age. All they care about is the money, and if you won't make this plant legal because you are being bribed or something like that then all you do is put the americans you love and want to protect so badly in harms way. YES WE CAN! But will we stop being so content with our lives so we WIll? That is my question to you.

Suggested by Glen Priest on 03/17/2009 @ 09:35PM PT

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No one will probably read this, let alone act on it.... BUT, I would LOVE to see not only an END to this NEGATIVE promotion of marijuana use but I would like to see a START to the Negative Promotion of Underage Drinking... Stop making me look like a "dope" and lets shine some light on what happens when underaged people consume alchohal! PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPIN! Thank you for your time and consideration... -B of B1P

Suggested by Braxton Koch on 03/17/2009 @ 08:53PM PT

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there has been significant things going on in the news, yet nothing seems ot be getting updated here.

A couplle things of note:

The ONDCP (office of national Drug Control Policy) will no longer be a cabinet level position. The ONDCP will now fall under the department of justice where it belongs. interestingly, Biden the man chiefly responsible for making it a cabinet position, is the one who had the task of announcing its removal.

The new Drug czar is the former Seattle Chief of police, who is noted for obeying his states medical laws regardless of his opinion on the matter... Imagine that!!?!

Suggested by X otix on 03/17/2009 @ 03:57PM PT

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I am not educated well, but what I would like to ask in lite of the drug war going on in Mexico is ,: has everybody forgoten that Cosco Drugs, and Wallgreen Drugs compete verry agressivly for market share ,but they don't use guns, or kill the competation, plus they pay taxes. Why do we want a system that supplies a substandard product, where all the money spent on the product goes outside the US(no taxes are collected or paid by dealers) the suppliers are heavly armed criminals, and may rip you off if they don't kill you, and the worse thing of all makes me a criminal when I have pot.

Suggested by Arthur C. Moore on 03/17/2009 @ 03:34PM PT