I've recently returned to MPP's headquarters in the District of Columbia after attending the Seattle Hempfest in the other Washington. If you didn't already know, Hempfest is the largest marijuana-policy-reform event in the world, not to mention the second-largest event of any kind in Washington state. More than 150,000 people attended this year's event, which was spread out over three days.
Unlike the 20 annual Hempfests that preceded this one, this year's event included a real debate, which was whether marijuana users should vote for Initiative 502 -- the marijuana-legalization initiative that will appear on the November 6 statewide ballot.
If this seems odd to you, it should. This is the first time that Washington voters will have the chance to end marijuana prohibition, and yet some marijuana users -- although thankfully a small minority -- are screaming that voters should defeat the initiative and maintain prohibition, because the initiative isn't perfect enough.
We've heard this kind of argument before in other social change movements -- gun control, gun rights, abortion expansion, abortion reduction and so forth. So the fact that it's happening in the marijuana-reform movement is not surprising.
I spent a lot of time listening to smart people on both sides of the issue tell me their views. Toward the end of the Hempfest weekend, I concluded this is really just a matter of law, rather than needing to choose between clashing personalities or gleaning the future from a crystal ball.
So here is the cold analysis of Washington's current law versus the future law in Washington if Initiative 502 were to pass by a simple majority vote on November 6 ...
Because the goal is to keep the largest possible number of nonviolent marijuana users/growers/sellers from being arrested and dragged into the criminal justice system, my organization strongly supports the passage of Initiative 502.
And, by the way, we're joined by the Drug Policy Alliance, the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP, and even the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. And, just as importantly, the initiative was endorsed the day after the Hempfest by the Seattle Times, which is the largest newspaper in Washington state.
It's time to end the debate among anti-prohibitionists. It's now time for all of us to work very, very hard to pass the initiative on November 6, in order to keep our friends and family out of jail.
This post is part of the HuffPost Shadow Conventions 2012, a series spotlighting three issues that are not being discussed at the national GOP and Democratic conventions: The Drug War, Poverty in America, and Money in Politics.
HuffPost Live will be taking a comprehensive look at America's failed war on drugs August 28th and September 4th from 12-4 pm ET and 6-10 pm ET. Click here to check it out -- and join the conversation.
Mr. Kampia may have to give up his viagra addiction!
THANK YOU for stating the OBVIOUS!!!
IF you do NOT LIVE in the STATE of WASHINGTON your POINT is MOOT.
SO like the Lady said...
IF your NOT in this State SO STOP TRYING to DIRECT IT!!!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2784185/table/T1/
Notice ONE person was above 5ng/mL after smoking FOUR blunts that day. No one else was above this nor were they the day after .
I'm voting for Obama in Colorado - under duress and absolutely, positively YES on 64.
Getting high should not mean you can't ever drive again. And its crazy not to allow growing. This is the exact sort of law Big Rx can put up with and will set the movement back. Vote no and work toward legalization.
Vote NO on I-502. Tens of thousands of patients have no issues driving because they are titrated on their meds and tolerate higher levels without side effects. I-502 does not take this into consideration. Other states like Colorado have considered even higher levels, but have not instituted them because the science is not there.
I will take the affirmative defense over the felony you support Rob.
You won't understand until you are diagnosed with cancer too. The apprehension of chemotherapy that the nausea causes is unbelievable. Yet it gives me the courage for the strength I will need to not take the plea you suggest I take so the law can be changed.
No Thanks Rob. 502 is more than 2 steps backwards for cancer patients.
A strong vote for reform this year will null and void both federal and international law.
Nations desperate to climb out of the economic crisis or the blood bath they find themselves in will just look at America's reforms and say "hey, we want some of that too" and they will just go ahead and legalize.
Be prepared for a strong vote and a tsunami of reform to roll around the world immediately after.
Register to vote for any ballot or reform friendly politician you can.
Do it for Mexico.
War is Over!
2012!
DUI based on arbitrary blood tests = sending people to jail when they are not impaired.
Remove these obviously srewed up parts and it might be a good law.
Not a pot smoker, so you aren't worried? You should be. They plan on setting up the same unscientific per se limits for your prescription medication. You too could find yourself in jail even when you're not impaired in any way.
By the way, we should all stop sending money to these idiots at NORML and MPP. They certainly aren't on our side.
Steve Sarich
NO ON I-502
Legalize it. Vote Gary Johnson for POTUS 2012