Help Prop. 19 by Midnight Tonight
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Latest
In The Trenches
Latest News
Why California Decriminalized Recreational Pot: 5 Theories (Opinion)
Getting busted for having an ounce or less of marijuana in California is no longer that big a deal, or even a crime, under a new law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Instead of facing a misdemeanor charge, people caught will a small amount of marijuana will now get, at most, a $100 fine. With everything else on his plate â a big budget deal, a landmark health insurance exchange â what might have motivated Schwarzenegger to decriminalize marijuana now?
In The Trenches
MPP Insider Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 9
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Prop 19 polls on the rise
Ending prohibition makes cents (and dollars)
From the Director's Desk
MPP's Steve Fox featured in debate on Fox News
Ban on Fake Marijuana
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To contact MPP, please click here or reply to this e-mail. Our mailing address is Marijuana Policy Project, 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20002. Any donations you make to MPP may be used for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates for federal office. | |||||||
In just the last week two new polls have come out showing California's Prop 19 has strengthened its position among that state's voters. In one instance, the highly respected Field Poll showed Prop 19 leading 49 to 42 percent, a marked increase from June when that same poll showed the initiative down 48 to 44 percent. Let's hope these polls hold true come November and California voters decide to make their state the first in the nation to end marijuana prohibition! 
A new study funded by the Cato Institute and conducted by former MPP grant recipient Jeffrey A. Miron shows that between savings and tax revenue the regulation of marijuana could bring $17.4 billion to government coffers annually. Although Miron's report notes that much of the savings would come from reducing the number of people in the criminal justice system it is nonetheless an affirmation of what MPP has been saying for years: ending marijuana prohibition saves lives AND dollars. 
MPP executive director Rob Kampia shares his latest Huffington Post piece on the pivotal role this year's gubernatorial election in Vermont will play in attempts to decriminalize marijuana in that state. Peter Shumlin (D), who pulled ahead in a very close primary race, has been supportive of marijuana policy reform since Rob's first encounter with him eight years ago and may now be the key to making great policy strides in Vermont. 
Steve Fox, MPP's director of government relations and co-author of 'Marijuana is Safer,' recently went on the morning show "Fox and Friends" to debate Bishop Ron Allen, an opponent of California's Prop 19. As always, Steve remained calm, cool, and collected in the face of far-fetched prohibitionist rhetoric while managing to explain why our marijuana laws need to change. 
MPP director of communications Mike Meno posted a great piece on the MPP Blog detailing the movement by states to ban artificial marijuana substitutes such as K2. Currently, 13 states have banned the substance and Michigan is expected to join that list as early as next week. Is this a sensible move to protect public safety, or a futile effort that misses the real issue? 
In January 2003, 19-year-old Webster Alexander of Alabama received a 26-year prison sentence for selling $350 of marijuana within three miles of a school.Event
A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs featuring Judge Jim Gray
Come hear Jim Gray, former Superior Court Judge of Orange County, CA, talk about why the "war on drugs" has failed, and what you can do about it.
James P. Gray was a trial judge in Orange County, California beginning in 1983. Before becoming a judge, he served as a Volunteer in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica, a staff judge advocate and criminal defense attorney in the Navy JAG Corps, a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, and a civil litigation attorney in a private law firm, in addition to being a Republican candidate for US Congress in 1998, and a Libertarian candidate for US Senate in 2004. Judge Gray has discussed issues of drug policy on more than two hundred television and radio shows and public forums all across the country. Using his experience on the bench and elsewhere, he has also authored a book on the failed War on Drugs, another Wearing The Robe, about practical and ethical issues in being a judge.
For more information, see http://www.judgejimgray.com/
Latest News
High Time? Websites Give Cannabis a Classy New Look
As state medical marijuana laws push marijuana closer to Main Street, a few websites are starting to give it an updated, more understated image aimed at mainstream marijuana lovers outside the prototypical "stoner" demographic.
Latest News
34 Dead in Mexico's Weekend of Blood
Mexico has been shaken by yet another weekend of drug prohibition violence, with 34 deaths blamed on drug trafficking organizations and a series of grenade attacks that injured a dozen people.
Latest News
Mexican Drug Prohibition War Crimes Go Live on the Internet
In the midst of the brutal drug prohibition war encroaching on their lives, thousands of Mexicans every morning check social network websites to see if they will encounter any unpleasant surprises on the way to work or school.
Chronicle
Richard Lee giving up on speech (but not on the initiative)
"Stoners Against Prop 19" Disrupt Debate at Hemp Expo
Opponents of Prop 19 heckled Richard Lee last weekend at a debate on the measure's merits. Surely we can do better than that.
Latest News
Oakland Leaders Attend Reopening of Pot Mega-Store
It was already known as the Wal-Mart of the marijuana world with 15,000 square feet of everything you ever needed to grow or smoke marijuana. Now, iGrow is growing even more, so much, that it changed its name to "weGrow."
Latest News
It's Time to Call Off War on Drugs, Former Narcotics Agent Says
Russ Jones, a 10-year veteran with the San Jose Police Department and former Drug Enforcement Agency task force member, wants to legalize and regulate all currently illicit drugs.
Chronicle
opium poppies (incised papaver specimens)
Afghan Opium Supply Halved, But Not for Long, UN Warns
Plant disease -- not eradication -- reduced the supply of Afghan opium this year, but rising prices mean more farmers will plant next year, the UN warns.
Chronicle
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Big Brother to Watch Over Medical Marijuana in Colorado?
Colorado is drafting regulations for its growing medical marijuana industry, but some advocates think they're going overboard with the surveillance.
Chronicle
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California Governor Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
While getting busted for pot possession in California is only a $100 fine, it is still a misdemeanor. Or at least it was. Now it's going to be true decriminalization.
Blog
Please Stop Telling Politicians That Voters Like the Drug War
With due respect to David Harsanyi and Reason, I'm getting a little tired of being told that politicians and voters are united in opposition to reforming drug laws. How many times have we heard this before?
Chronicle
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Prop 19 Hits 52% in Poll -- California Legalizing Marijuana?
As election day draws near, California's marijuana legalization initiative appears to be picking up voter support. It's now at 52% in one poll.
Latest News
Marijuana Soda? Medicinal Users Now Have Smoke-Free Option
A new line of marijuana-infused beverages are now available to patients with a recommendation for medical marijuana. Made by Colorado-based Dixie Elixirs, the carbonated drinks are marketed to medicinal marijuana patients who wish to avoid âweed cultureâ stigmas.
Blog
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Join me at FireDogLake Today for a Discussion With Author Ryan Grim
I'll be hosting the FDL Book Salon this afternoon at 3:30 ET for an online discussion of Ryan Grim's excellent book This is Your Country on Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America. I'll be moderating and Ryan will be taking questions. It should be fun. Join us if you can.
Latest News
Authorities: Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations Operating In The Tri-State
Drug prohibition has incentivized Mexican drug trafficking organizations to come to our backyards. Their workers are hidden in crops and hillsides throughout rural Ohio counties.
Blog
Don't Worry, You're Going to Love Marijuana Legalization
Marcos Breton at the Sacramento Bee says he "might be wrong to oppose Proposition 19," and he's right about that at least. What follows is a frustrating editorial that offers some good reasons to support reform, before becoming overwhelmed by doubt and uncertainty.
Latest News
Drug Legalization -- a Windfall for State Budgets (Opinion)
Researchers say that if marijuana is legalized across the nation, there would be $8.7 billion in law enforcement savings and $8.7 billion in tax revenue. If all drugs are legalized, the savings figure becomes $46.7 billion and the revenue $41.3 billion. A budgetary benefit of $88 billion per year is not chump change, especially given the current state of the economy.