Democratic congressional candidate Andy Caffrey has made a surprising campaign promise: If he wins his election this fall, he'll smoke a joint on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Caffrey, who's running to replace retiring Rep. Lynn Woolsey in California's second district, has lit up more than once on the campaign trail -- first at an Occupy event in Mendocino, and again last week outside the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, a Fairfax-based dispensary that was closed by federal officials in December.
In just about any other congressional race in the country, Caffrey's puff would be launch-the-TV-attack-ads controversial. But not in the liberal Second District, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge through America's pot breadbasket to Oregon. The legalization question has been raised in nearly every debate - and drawn mostly amens.
Such attention is exactly what Caffrey is looking for when he smokes on the trail.
“I’m willing to get arrested to fight for our rights, to defend our rights as Californians to consume medicine,” Caffrey told Politico in an interview. “If I have to do it, I’ll smoke a joint on the Capitol steps and get arrested to draw national attention to what’s going on.”
Caffrey, 54, uses medicinal marijuana to cope with what he's described as post-traumatic stress disorder brought on by a number of accidents, including losing all his possessions in the 1991 fire in the Oakland hills, his sister's suicide and a period of prolonged homelessness.
He is running against 11 other candidates.
Watch him campaign at a recent Occupy Mendocino event:
Below, the 16 states (as well as Washington D.C.) where medical marijuana has been legalized:
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Alaska
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanasise/6847095796/" target="_hplink">Flickr: alana sise</a>
Arizona
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/billward/110338154/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Bill Ward's Brickpile</a>
California
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerbache/2260207829/" target="_hplink">Flickr: gerbache</a>
Colorado
Also legalized possession by non-medical users.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dok1/520845832/" target="_hplink">Flickr: dok1</a>
Connecticut
Legalized for medical use.
District Of Columbia
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigberto/2770838680/" target="_hplink">Flickr: ~MVI~ (off to coron)</a>
Delaware
Legalized for medical use.
Flickr: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/7749689644/">Doug Kerr</a>
Hawaii
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricardo_mangual/6006230817/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Ricymar Fine Art Photography</a>
Maine
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="www.flickr.com/photos/indywriter/2683524563/" target="_hplink">Flickr: indywriter</a>
Massachusetts
Passed ballot initiative for legalized medical marijuana in 2012.
Michigan
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayoticblue/213316452/" target="_hplink">Flickr: ckay</a>
Montana
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbarnhill/2633187564/" target="_hplink">Flickr: csbarnhill</a>
Nevada
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/http2007/4699361533/" target="_hplink">Flickr: http2007</a>
New Jersey
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulflannery/4021996652/" target="_hplink">Flickr: psflannery</a>
New Mexico
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everyskyline/3134662783/" target="_hplink">Flickr: michaelwhitney</a>
Oregon
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/d-powell/2099638403/" target="_hplink">Flickr: digging90650</a>
Rhode Island
Legalized for medical use. Also decriminalized possession of less than one ounce.
Vermont
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanalexander/6129117/" target="_hplink">Flickr: BryanAlexander</a>
Washington
Legalized for medical use. Also legalized possession by non-medical users.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rose_braverman/6924724331/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Rose Braverman</a>
Democratic congressional candidate Andy Caffrey has made a surprising campaign promise: If he wins his election this fall, he'll smoke a joint on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Caffrey, who's runni...
Democratic congressional candidate Andy Caffrey has made a surprising campaign promise: If he wins his election this fall, he'll smoke a joint on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Caffrey, who's runni...
I just finished what is going to be known as my most notorious TV ad ever! There is no way President Obama is not going to be asked about it on camera and there is no way he will not be able to smile while answering!
Please share this far and wide Today!
There's no going back now.
Please make a contribution Today too! The more we get the more we can air this ad on TV! We have really cheap rates for airing on CBS and Fox TV (not Fox News) over all of Humboldt and Del Norte counties. NBC is pricier but could run this on NBC too with your help.
Just got home at 6:30 am from San Francisco and being a guest on MSNBC's the Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell show to find another invite on my voicemail. I'm going to be on MSNBC again in five hours! Tamron Hall's show at around 11:30 am Calif. time. We're going to Skype it. So now I'm going to try to catch three hours of sleep.
Have we won yet?
Andy_Caffrey_: Just got home at 6:30 am from San Francisco and
Well, Tamron Hall's show screwed up and I won't be on today, but I will be on next week when I'm in San Francisco and can go to the same studio I went to last night. That will be a lot better than skyping it in from Garberville. Shooting to get on Bill Maher next. That comedian Zach G. already sparked one up on Bill's show. Maybe I'll bring him a bong!
Andy_Caffrey_: Well, Tamron Hall's show screwed up and I won't be
Hi again! Sorry I haven't dropped in enough yet. I have to drive to San Francisco (200 miles away) in a couple of hours to be on MSNBC! I'll be interviewed during the second half hour by Martin Bashir on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. My two favorite MSNBC anchors!
I will drop back in here as often as I can. You can write to me at media@CaffreyForCongress.org. I'll write back, although it may take a few days. It's now 13 days before the primary!!!!
I agree with much that he is saying but i do not like the fact that he paints republicans as the bad guys. Both sides caused this mess and we voted them in. It is time for a strong 3rd party.
Just_logic: I agree with much that he is saying but i
I agree. While the republican-controlled house is certainly not legalization or even medical marijuana friendly as the recent vote to stop the raids on dispensaries proved, it is our current DEMOCRATIC President who has authorized those raids in the first place.
I personally would never vote him in because he is still under the impression that bigger government is the answer. I want less government. He also doesnt understand that the Democrats and Republicans are working together to assure that one of them is in power always. That sounds like a game. The one thing I remember is that Americans dont remember anything. Like revoting in people that gave themselves a raise for screwing us over. We have very short memories. That was both sides doing this. So I say stop being a good Democrat, stop being a good Republican and start being a good American!
Just_logic: I personally would never vote him in because he is
I never called you a Democrat. However, you are running under the Democrat ticket and based on your speech you sound like one. I was making the observation based on that. I disagree with your approach to government, which in fact doesnt matter what party you represent. With that said I 100% agree with your perception that people locally looked up to should be the ones representing them in Congress. I believe this was the government intended for this country. But with years and years of Republican vs Democrat people forget what really matters, having a say!
Just_logic: I never called you a Democrat. However, you are running
> Democratic congressional candidate Andy Caffrey has made a surprising campaign promise: If he wins his election this fall, he'll smoke a joint on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Change we can believe in? Oh yea.
omobob: > Democratic congressional candidate Andy Caffrey has made a surprising
I promise you I'm the real deal, omobob! I'm not a politician, I'm a grassroots organizer of electoral revolution to oust the corporatists and save the planet in the nick of time! Please join with me!
Andy_Caffrey_: I promise you I'm the real deal, omobob! I'm not
My scheming ex "wife" abandoned me after 28 years, took half my possessions, falsely accused me so she could get a draconian support agreement, and ruined my relationships with my kids and nearly everyone in my family. I've had my share of accidents and was even "homeless" for a few months - well ok, I was renting but - Hey - that sounds like it should qualify me to smoke! Or at least write a country song ...
tedhwr: My scheming ex "wife" abandoned me after 28 years, took
It actually is different. If you don't qualify for medical purposes, it is illegal to smoke weed.
If something is against the law, then it is AGAINST THE LAW even if you disagree with, until you manage to get the law repealed. Until it's repealed, every single person who smokes weed without medical right to do so, is not a law abiding citizen.
The kind of people who think they're above the law just because they disagree with it, is what's wrong with america.
CloudyOne: It actually is different. If you don't qualify for medical
I lit up one to celebrate his coming out, and if he does light up, look for me on the NC Legislature grounds to light up with him. Anyone wish to join me?
p_Parks: I lit up one to celebrate his coming out, and
I can't find any links to support that. Do you have a link? I'm not doubting what you say, I just can't find anything to support it. I know they were on the cover of the NY times with Phil Walden and Allman was holding a spoonfull of coke but that's all I could find. If you have a link, I will concede that Greg had Willie beat but I was really only refering to Willie pioneering the legalization of herb.
artorius317: I can't find any links to support that. Do you
The problem with this country's political system is that professional politicians are in lock step with one another and nothing gets done. We need Dems who disagree with Obama, and Republicans that disagree with Romney and Beohner and have the guts to say so! Otherwise it wil just be status quo which no one seems to want.
Cara_DePalma: The problem with this country's political system is that professional
We're they suffering from PTSD with a history of being homeless and taking it medicinally? If he just wanted to party and had things together otherwise I would feel differently.
Jscg10: We're they suffering from PTSD with a history of being
It doesn't matter if you want pot legalized, need Medical Marijuana, or you are brainwashed into a "Reefer Madness" mentality, the efforts to bring awareness to the issue is what is at the forefront of Andy's planned smoke on the capitol steps. And to all the idiots fighting Medical Marijuana, take a minute to reflect on anyone you know dying from cancer, MS, MSA, Parkinson, etc...., and realize that just maybe your antiquated support to a failed policy was another nail in that person's coffin. Institutions, such as the Mayo Clinic, have reported that the Government's failed policies are stiffing true research that could save your family members life ! http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)00021-8/fulltext
Thomas_Tommy_Fitzgerald: It doesn't matter if you want pot legalized, need Medical
I have always wondered if my Father, who has Alzheimer's, would all of a sudden start sounding like the scarecrow in Wizard of Oz if I smoked w/him. Studies need to be done.
Vixter: I have always wondered if my Father, who has Alzheimer's,
"The active component of marijuana, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), competitively inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as well as prevents AChE-induced amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) aggregation, the key pathological marker of Alzheimer's disease."
AmKonDotNet: Cannabis has been proven to slow alzheimers, I wish my
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The Huffington Post | By Lucia Graves Posted: 05/21/2012 4:04 pm Updated: 05/21/2012 6:38 pm