Marijuana Policy

Marijuana Policy Subtopics:

Hemp

Prop 19 Analysis: Will Marijuana Legalization Increase Use?

As California moves toward the legalization of marijuana â next month, voters will decide on Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 â a key question remains: could the new law produce a whole generation of stoners? Opponents of legalization say, yes, fearing it will lead to a massive increase in pot smoking among youth. But some supporters suggest the opposite: legalizing cannabis could de-glamorize it and ultimately prompt reductions in toking. Who's right?

If California Legalizes Marijuana, How Will Obama React?

If Prop 19 passes and marijuana is legalized, California could become a "test-case" state in challenging federal laws on the matter. But what would this mean, practically? Well, a lot of it hinges on how President Barack Obama reacts.

California's Prop 19: Leading the Way to Marijuana Legalization

Next month, Californians will vote on Proposition 19: the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. Prop 19 would make recreational use of marijuana entirely legal â and allow cash-strapped cities to raise funds by taxing it. The latest Public Policy Institute of California poll found that 52% of likely voters support Prop 19, with just 41% who oppose it.

Democrats Look to Cultivate Marijuana Vote in 2012

Democratic strategists are studying California's marijuana legalization initiative to see if similar ballot measures could energize young, liberal voters in swing states for the 2012 presidential election. Some pollsters and party officials say Democratic candidates in California are benefiting from a surge in enthusiasm among young voters eager to back Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana in certain quantities and permit local governments to regulate and tax it. Party strategists and marijuana legalization advocates are discussing whether to push for similar ballot questions in 2012 in Colorado and Nevada â both expected to be crucial to President Barack Obama's re-election â and Washington state, which will have races for governor and seats in both houses of Congress.

Miami Beach's Marijuana Revolution

Sensible Florida earlier this year initiated a petition drive to decriminalize marijuana in Jacksonville that stalled, then they turned their sights on Miami's French Riviera. As of this past September 6, the group collected 2,402 signatures from registered voters in Miami Beach. They need to get another 1,800 John Hancocks in order to hold a special election that would let Miami Beach residents make their city the first in Florida to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.

Be Part of History -- Help Legalize Marijuana in California!

Watch the instructional video and start making calls today!

Hi Friends,

You can use your phone to directly help legalize marijuana!

Our Just Say Now Phonebank is a virtual system that provides you with a free, quick & easy way to reach individual voters in states voting on marijuana initiatives.

There are thousands of voters in Arizons, California, Oregon and South Dakota who need to hear from you, and we need your help.

Help us end the war on marijuana - start calling voters in support of marijuana reform today. Click here to start calling: http://go.firedoglake.com/

Ourgoal is to call 100,000 voters in California in the next 30 days. If 5,000 people call 20 voters each, about 5 calls per week, we can reach that goal. You don't have to do it all yourself, though - pass this email to your friends and ask them to call.

Each call just takes a few minutes, and you can start calling voters with just your email address or Facebook account. There's evena video that explains how to call, step by step.

If you're in an SSDP chapter, you can earn points and compete with other chapters everytime you call or rectruit people to your chapter's team. Points are updated in real time on our leaderboard!

Voicing your support for this issue has never been easier or more urgently important, so start calling voters today.

Let's make history, let's make marijuana legal.

Aaron Houston

Exectutive Director
Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Connect with SSDP

Please help us grow our grassroots movement to end the failed War on Drugs by inviting family and friends to join. http://www.ssdp.org/invite

Marijuana: the Victimless Crime That Costs New York State $15 Billion a Year (Opinion)

Kristin Davis opines that there is one fact that Americans, and New Yorkers, must face (as it slaps us in the face): Prohibition hasnât stopped the use and domestic production of marijuana. Marijuana is currently used by over 25 million Americans annually and cannabis is the largest cash crop in the United States. In fact, the only thing prohibition has done for the people of New York is cost them a huge amount of money â somewhere in the ballpark of $10-15 billion a year.

Thousands March on Wisconsin State Capitol to Demand Cannabis Legalization

Yesterday marchers made the annual trek from Library Mall at one end of State Street to the Wisconsin State Capitol. Longtime Harvest Fest organizer Ben Masel estimated that around 3,200 people paraded this year. Not only were crowd numbers up, but attendees seemed very enthusiastic about flexing the activist muscles gained in the fight for medical cannabis in Wisconsin.

Women Taking Action Nationwide -- California's Proposition 19

Tomorrow, women throughout California and across the nation will speak out in support of Proposition 19, the California ballot initiative to control and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol. Women in cities across the nation will also be participating to show their support for marijuana legalization and announce efforts to begin organizing women in their areas.

You can help make this nationwide effort a huge success by attending the event nearest you. Scroll down to see the complete list of WMM Day Of Action event locations and times.

This effort is being coordinated by the Women's Marijuana Movement, a project of SAFER intended to increase support for marijuana legalization among women. If you have not already signed on to be a part of the movement you can do so today by visiting http://www.WomensMarijuanaMovement.org today.

Please note that locations have been added or changed in California, Florida, and Texas.

Event Times, Locations, and Contacts

CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles
10:30 a.m.?
In front of Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca's office, 4700 W. Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park?
Contact: Lynette Shaw, 323-334-6995
* Women will deliver Sheriff Baca a copy of "Marijuana is Safer" *

Oakland?
11 a.m. ?
In front of of Oakland City Hall, ?1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
Contact: Samantha Talavera, 602-430-1793

Redlands -- University of Redlands?
12 p.m.
Hunsucker Plaza, University of Redlands, ?1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands
Contact: Andrew Bobroff, 410-804-3979

?San Diego
10:30 a.m.
In front of San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis's office?, 330 W. Broadway, San Diego
Contact: Gretchen Bergman, 619-884-3561
* Women will deliver District Attorney Dumanis a copy of "Marijuana is Safer" *

?San Jose -- San Jose State University
11 a.m.
Inside the Student Union, 1 Washington Square, San Jose
Contact: Fiza Najeeb, 925-872-2792

Santa Ana (Orange County)?
11 a.m.
In front of Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens's office, 550 N. Flower St., Santa Ana
Contact: Kandice Hawes, 724-928-9129
* Women will deliver Sheriff Hutchens a copy of "Marijuana is Safer" *

COLORADO

??Denver?
12 p.m.
In front of the Wellington Webb Municipal Building?, 201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver (corner of Colfax & Bannock)
Contact: Eva Enns, 720-620-5931

??FLORIDA

Ft. Lauderdale -- Florida Atlantic University
11:30 a.m.
In front of the Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., ?Fort Lauderdale
Contact: Sabrina, 56-755-7506

Tampa
6:45 p.m.
NE corner of Bruce B Downs Blvd. and E. Fowler Ave., Tampa
Contact: Cyndi Hamad, 727-421-7862

?IDAHO

Boise?
12 p.m.
In front of The Grove Plaza (Front St. & 8th Street)?
Contact: Theresa Knox, 208-353-7331

??MISSOURI

Columbia -- University of Missouri
11 a.m.
Speakers Circle
Contact: Devon Slavens, 816-651-6405

Joplin
1 p.m.
Spiva Park in front of The Globe
Contact: Linda Yelvington, 417-499-9055

Kansas City
10 a.m.
Liberty Memorial?, 100 W. 26th St., Kansas City
Contact: Kelley Wesley, 417-327-9595

MONTANA

Missoula
12:30 p.m.
NW Corner of the Higgins Street Bridge (near the Wilma Theatre), Missoula
Contact: Heather Masterson, 406-370-0604

??NEBRASKA

Lincoln
10 a.m.
27th and O St., Lincoln?
Contact: Melanie Marshall, 402-415-7373

Omaha?
12 PM ?
72nd and Dodge, Omaha?
Contact: Melanie Marshall, 402-415-7373

??NEW JERSEY

Trenton
12 p.m.
In front of the New Jersey State House Building, ?125 W. State St., Trenton
Contact: Dawn Schiaretti, 609-553-3783

??NEW YORK

Saratoga Springs?
12 p.m.
Town Center, ?Corner of Lake and Broadway, near the police station, courthouse, and Skidmore University
Contact: Kat Dancz, 518-541-2719

OREGON

Portland
4:30 p.m.
Pioneer Square at SW 6th & Broadway ?
Contact: Jennifer Alexander, 503-839-5969

TEXAS

Austin?
11 a.m.
In front of the Texas Pioneer Woman Monument, Texas State Capitol Grounds?, 1100 Congress Ave.
Contact: Cheyanne Weldon, 337-349-9314

College Station -- Texas A&M University
11 a.m.
In front of the Sul Ross statue by the Academic Building, Texas A&M University campus
Contact: Pru Reardon, 713-560-2708

Fort Worth?
11:30 a.m.
In front of the fountain on the east side of Tarrant County Courthouse, 100 E. Weatherford St., Fort Worth (corner of Weatherford and Commerce)
Contact: Elizabeth Rodriguez, 817-896-4898

??Houston?
11 a.m. ?
In front of City Hall, 901 Bagby St., Houston
Contact: Anne Webster, 832-693-5800

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?

Subscribe to Marijuana Policy