Legalize Marijuana - Ideas for Change in America

What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

Approach this from the standpoint that people reading this forum already agree with you on the importance of the issue, and are asking "What can we do to help make this a reality?"

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Here's my suggestion: Run a national ad campaign regarding the positive benefits legalization would have to our country.It would take money away from the drug cartels, provide billions upon billions of dollars in tax revenue, and reduce access to minors. If it were legalized and regulated, people would be carded just as if they were purchasing alcohol. If cannabis were legalized and regulated, millions of jobs and an entire new industry would be created. It would completely revitalize our economy.

Suggested by matt smith on 01/24/2009 @ 09:31AM PT
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I gave to Obama's campaign 3 times. If he does not ATLEAST stop the DEA from arresting Medical Marijuana patients and medical producers in ALL states with Medical Marijuana laws, I will help fund a campaign for his replacement in 4 years to which ever politician promises positive change on Marijuana laws.

We need to all grow up as a Nation and understand that the past 3 Presidents have ALL been Marijuana users in the past. One possession charge would have kept them out of politics and even out of a job at McDonalds. Aspirin causes more deaths in America each year than Marijuana. When are we going to turn Marijuana from a plant that COMSUMES Government resources to a plant that GENERATES Government resources? When the Government defaults on Treasuries? By then we can just grow it without concern since there will be no money to pay for Police, the Military, prisons, or the Healthcare system. So who out there thinks it makes more sense in today’s global economic crisis to jail a person that grows a plant at a cost to tax payers of around $24k a year, than to have that same person pay $24k a year in taxes by regulating and taxing his crop?

Suggested by Mike Mayo on 01/21/2009 @ 07:45PM PT
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My Suggestion:
1. A national ad campaign that combats the ONDCP, Partnership for a Drug Free America, and other prohibitionist organizations. Use scientific data and facts against oppionated idealogy. Dig up dirt on some of the important people who play a key role in these organizations (present and past). Exploit their corruptedness. Exploit their sources of funding. Exploit how cannabis and other drugs became illegal in the first place (racism and greed). As way to get people involved, freebies are always a good idea (pocket constitutional books, pamphlets, key chains, other items).

2. Lawsuits, Petitions, Lobbying, Well organized protests - a lot more of them, and a lot stronger. Lets make this a force that is to be reckoned with. We have to start holding those who we put in public service accountable for their actions. Get involved with NORML, MPP, LEAP, and other organizations that is a start. We also have to find a way to get the mainstream media interested. We are no longer a silent majority.

I myself plan on setting up a survey and submitting it to my local and state officials as well. I also would urge anyone who is in public service to answer these three simple questions:

Q1. Would you support outlawing the consumption, sale, and posession of alcohol and alcoholic beverages?

Q2. Based on your knowledge of American history, Did the prohibition of alcohol work?

Q3. How is the prohibition of Cannabis (Marijuana) any different from the prohibition of alcohol?

Suggested by Chris Cornwell on 01/21/2009 @ 12:08PM PT
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Plan for legalization of cannabis:

1.   Start an aggressive ad campaign that points out the many flaws of prohibition and the many benefits of legalization and regulation.

2.   Start another ad campaign to discourage the use of cannabis by minors. These ads should be realistic and educational, not like the "Drug Free America" ads that only confuse and misinform the public.

3.   Rally our supporting politicians to introduce legislation that would legalize/regulate/tax cannabis at a federal level and allow states to create their own laws to regulate cannabis by doing the following:

     a. Creating laws against selling to minors, driving under the influence, using in public places that are within 500 feet (for example) of an establishment that sells cannabis, growing without a permit/licence/taxed stamp, or growing too many.

     b. Allow state licenced and trained farmers to produce and distribute cannabis to sell to licensed retailers and THC free hemp to make clothing, textiles, plastics, bio-fuel, etc.

     c. Distribute the finished product to liquor stores, head shops, or pot bars to sell to adults.

     d. create state or federally issued licences (like a fishing or hunting permit) that allows adults to legally grow a certain number of their own personal use plants per year.

4.   Once cannabis is legalized, our next step should be to release our many non-violent drug offenders who were arrested for minor possession of cannabis. Rally support for this cause by stating the facts: They MUST be released so that they can become productive members of society. It does our country no good to have innocent people rotting in jail when they could be out getting jobs and paying their taxes, nor does it do our economy good by having many of our citizens locked up in jails that are expensive to build and even more expensive to operate.

Well, this is the best I could come up with, let me know if I left anything out. This shouldn't be too difficult to work out, we managed to repeal alcohol prohibition which gave us a pretty good plan to start with.

Suggested by Kristin Gould on 01/28/2009 @ 11:22AM PT
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I just sent the following message to our leader Pres. Obama. At his new Office 0f Public Liaison at http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/opl/ Drop him a line...

My Suggestions:

1. RETURN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
l
2. ALLOW ADULTS TO LIVE THEIR LIFE THE WAY THEY CHOSE.

3. PROTECT OUR CHILDREN WITH REGULATION LEGALIZATION.

4. STOP RELIGION FROM DICTATING OUR RIGHTS.

5. RESTORE OUR RIGHT TO MAKE A PERSONAL DECISION.

6. FREE THOSE NON-VIOLENT ENSLAVED ILLEGALLY.

7. RESTORE THEIR LIFE TAKEN AWAY BY NAZI LEGISLATION.

8. LIVE YOUR LIFE ANY WAY YOU WISH WE DEMAND THE SAME.

9. USE OUR RESOURCES TO HELP US NOT HURT US.

10. RESTORE AMERICA THE WAY OUR FOUNDERS INTENDED.

11. QUIT ARRESTING NON-VIOLENT CHILDREN.

12. STOP WASTING OUR MONEY LEGISLATING MORALITY.

13 ANY ADDICTION IS A PERSONAL MATTER NOT A CRIME.

14. LET THE CHURCH, FAMILY, FRIENDS HELP US NOT JAIL US.

15. STOP THE LIES WE ARE SMARTER THAN THAT.

16. QUIT TREATING US LIKE CHILDREN..

17. STOP THE POLITICAL POWER BEING USED AGAINST US.

18. STOP USING THE MILITARY AND MERCENARIES AGAINST US.

19. USE THE MONEY FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL.

20. ALLOW ALL TO USE AND PROFIT FROM THIS HERB NOT TO BE CONTROLLED BY MAJOR PHARMACEUTICAL WITH MARINOL.

Cherokee Fred Hussein Jesus

FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN
IN JAIL SLAVES TO THE MACINE.

Suggested by Cherokee Fred Jesus on 01/24/2009 @ 07:18PM PT
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why isn't legalization of marijuana and industrial hemp a cause on the front page of change.org yet? this is a top 10 issue for the people of the site, yet it is nowhere to be found!!

Suggested by jeffrey C oldman on 02/05/2009 @ 06:13PM PT
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Medical Marijuana in Florida!

People United For Medical Marijuana (PUFMM.org) is collecting petitions for a state ballot and writing letters to lobby!

http://www.change.org/actions/view/bring_medical_marijuana_to_florida

Suggested by Joshua Giesegh on 07/08/2009 @ 12:13AM PT
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Glad to see this getting some momentum again finally.

In advancing this cause I think it is especially important to handle with care who may cultivate this plant. If cannabis were distributed in the same way as Alcohol then in order to grow this plant you would need the equivalent of a distiller’s license. If legalized this plant should be available to be grown by any responsible adult citizen. We must remember that we are dealing with a plant that’s active ingredient is literally safer than aspirin, and yet has so many beneficial properties. If the growing of this plant is limited then it will ultimately be produced by the very same system that has so many addicted to Alcohol, Tobacco and Pills.

Suggested by X otix on 02/04/2009 @ 02:54PM PT
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can we add a couple words (& HEMP) to our ideas tab and make this an actual cause on the front page of our site please? Legalize the Medicinal and Recreational Use of Marijuana & HEMP

this would help get us a few more supporters maybe.

Suggested by jeffrey C oldman on 05/08/2009 @ 12:27AM PT
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