If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Reforming marijuana laws is a crucial part of fostering a fairer and more cost-effective justice system. The fact that these laws are finally starting to change is a heartening and remarkable development.
Mr. President, I am writing to you as a wife and mother of two young daughters, whose 34-year old husband, Matthew Davies, faces 10 years or more in federal prison for providing medical marijuana to sick people in California, even though he complied with state law concerning medicinal cannabis.
Possession of marijuana is the leading arrest in New York City today -- but it's not supposed to be this way. In 1977, New York State removed criminal penalties for private possession of marijuana, and made possession in public view a misdemeanor.
Here are some reasons why people in recovery should oppose our marijuana arrest crusade and the drug war as a whole.
While it might not be obvious, the war on drugs touches and destroys so many of the issues we care about and values we hold. Below are ten collateral consequences of the drug war and reasons we need to find an exit strategy from this unwinnable war.
In 1909 Congress made opium smoking a federal offense by enacting the Anti-Opium Act. It reinforced Chinese racism by carving out an exception for drinking and injecting tinctures of opiates that were popular among whites.
This past year was undeniably the most productive 365-day period in the history of the marijuana policy reform movement. This list focuses on the biggest marijuana-related policy accomplishments in the U.S. in the last year.
So you say you don't smoke pot, so how could the War on Drugs affect me?
The biggest day in the history of the marijuana-policy-reform movement will be November 8, 2016. After that day, just 46 months from now, it will be almost inevitable that Congress will change federal law.
There are many things to be thankful for in 2012. People have been taking to the streets around the world, from students in Chile to indigenous activists in Canada to anti-austerity workers in Europe. Here are some U.S. and global issues that experienced newfound gains in 2012.
Will 2013 usher in an era of rapid social transition where we outlaw assault rifles, seriously tackle climate degradation, start to honor the work of government employees like teachers, and start thinking about going back to the land again?
If today's marijuana laws were a psychedelic musical, the citizens of Colorado and Washington State who voted for lawful recrational use would be singing "Legalize It," with a sharp transition into the "No you can't! Yes I can!" chorus from "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)."
The New York Times's article on marijuana in California is something of a masterpiece, in that it manages to discuss the drug war for 1300 words without mentioning poor people.
With adults in Colorado and Washington now legally able to possess an ounce or less of marijuana for any reason, it's important to stop for a moment and take stock of the landscape when it comes to marijuana law reform.
This past year was the best ever for our growing movement to end the war on drugs. Marijuana legalization and broader drug policy reform have moved from the fringes to the mainstream of U.S. and international politics.
With more than one-third (Washington) and more than one-fourth (Colorado) of students dropping out of high school, it is critical to make sure underage students can't obtain a drug that will make it harder for them to succeed.
