Skip to main content

Marijuana Policy

Marijuana Policy Subtopics:
Hemp
Medical Marijuana
Marijuana Industry

In Drug War, the Beginning of the End? (Opinion)

Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933 and is now considered a failed experiment in social engineering. Alcohol and marijuana prohibition have much in common: both in effect handed production, sales and distribution of a commodity in high demand to criminal organizations, both filled the prisons (America's population behind bars is now the world's largest), both diverted the resources of law enforcement, and both created millions of scoff-laws. Many prominent people think there is reason to believe that we are at the beginning of the end of the drug war as we know it.

Legal Pot Gets Calderon Consideration as Deaths Mount

A record number of homicides in Mexico has forced President Felipe Calderon to open discussions on a new strategy in the war on drugs: legalization. The impact of violence is the biggest threat to the Mexican economy according to 57 percent of Mexican executives, a survey published last month by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu showed. Mexico, which spends about $8.2 billion annually on law enforcement, would save between 5 percent and 15 percent of GDP if narcotics were legal in all countries, said Luis Rayo, a finance professor at the University of Utah.

Just Say Now

In 1996, California became the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for medical use. Now, with a ballot initiative up for a vote in November, it could become the first to ratify an even more striking landmark: the legalization of pot for recreational use. Proposition 19 — the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 — treats pot much like alcohol after the repeal of Prohibition, allowing each city and county to decide whether it wants to approve and tax commercial sales of the drug.

Marijuana Policy Project Insider Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 6

 

Newsletter V1_I6 Header

 

Obama upholds Leonhart nomination despite calls for withdrawal

alt="Newsletter V1_I4 Leonhart" border=0>The Obama administration has affirmed that it believes Michele Leonhart is the right person for the job as head of the DEA, despite a unified effort led by MPP to withdraw her nomination. Leonhart has shown that she is more interested in carrying out Bush-era raids on medical marijuana patients than she is in following a more reasonable policy of non-interference laid out by the DOJ last year.Read more...

Prohibition victim's family receives $4.9M in settlement

Newsletter V1_I6 JohnstonNearly four years after she was killed by police officers in an illegitimate raid on her home, the family of Kathryn Johnston is set to receive $4.9 million from the city of Atlanta. Though this is only a small consolation to the family who lost their grandmother in November of 2006, it may be a sign that major cities like Atlanta will need to rethink the human costs of carrying out these types of raids.Read more...

Update: Detroit's fight to make marijuana legal

Newslettter - DetroitIn an update to a story we brought to you in our very first issue of the Insider, activists in Detroit are now fighting to keep on the ballot a measure that would make marijuana legal for adults. Locals collected more than 6,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot, but in a shocking development, the city's election commission voted 3-0 to remove the measure. Supporters are now appealing the decision in an attempt to get the measure reinstated so that voters in Detroit can have their say in November. Read more...

Mexican leaders call for drug reform

alt="Newsletter V1_I6 Calderon">The endless cartel violence in Mexico and on our southern border has convinced Mexican President Felipe Calderon to call for a debate on ending prohibition, while two of his predecessors say the time has already come, and U.S. officials sadly continue to deny reality. More than 28,000 Mexicans have died in prohibition-fueled violence since 2006, and the cartels now make more than 60 percent of their revenue from selling marijuana in the United States.Read more...

YouTube, MPP, and You!

alt="Newsletter V1_I4 YouTube">Did you know that MPP has a YouTube channel? We do! In fact, we put all of the latest MPP Insider videos, our television appearances, and lots of other great content up all the time. Check it out and be sure to subscribe to our channel to be the first to know when we've added new content!Read more...

 

The MPP Insider - Video Edition

Newsletter V1_I6 Insider

Newsletter Ad - Give By Cell (fixed)

Featured Person

alt="Newsletter V1_I5 Victim">Peter McWilliams, stricken with both cancer and AIDS, died because the federal government prevented him from using the one thing that controlled his nausea.
Hear his story...

Your help is key!

Raised in '10: $2,282,946
Goal in '10: $3,400,000

MPP will be able to tackle all of the projects in our 2010 strategic plan if you help us meet this challenge.

To contact MPP, please click here. 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.

 

Pot Smokers Say They Are Persecuted, Demand Investigation

In Israel, citizens wrote State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss with a request that he look into the 'waste of tax money' on police searches for them. The letter noted that "tens or hundreds of thousands of entirely normative people smoke marijuana" and that the police "are doing everything in their capacity to persecute them." The letter's authors claimed that the persecution has intensified in recent weeks, with the police searching private homes.

Why Marijuana Prohibition Has Failed (Featuring Former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson)

Join Students for Sensible Drug Policy at Missouri Southern State University and Joplin NORML as we welcome former New Mexico Governor Johnson and NORML Deputy Director, Paul Armentano for an evening of captivating discussion about why marijuana prohibition has failed and what you can do to help legalize and regulate marijuana.

Bring your friends, family, and your questions! This event is for both the supporters and opponents of marijuana law reform.

There will be a Q&A session after the speakers.

GARY JOHNSON - FORMER 2 TERM NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR ('94-'02)

See him on The Colbert Report from May 2010 here: http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/309253/may-10-2010/gary-johnson

Gary Johnson is a Republican and serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Our America Initiative. He has been an outspoken advocate for efficient government, lower taxes, winning the war on drug abuse, protection of civil liberties, revitalization of the economy and promoting entrepreneurship and privatization.

He was born January 1, 1953 and attended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque from 1971 to 1975, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While in college, Gary Johnson earned money as a door-to-door handyman. His successes in this area led to his own construction business, Big J Enterprises, which was founded in 1976. Johnson grew the company into a multi-million dollar corporation that employed over 1000 people in 1994. When he sold Big J in 1999, no employee lost his job and the company remains very successful to this day.

In 1994, Johnson was elected Governor of New Mexico despite having little political experience. He defeated the incumbent Democratic Governor Bruce King in the general election by 50% to 40% as well as a former Republican Governor in the Republican primary election In 1998, Johnson was re-elected as governor, defeating Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez by a 55% to 45% margin.

Gov. Johnson advocates a “Don’t do Drugs” policy. Drugs can be harmful, addictive and destructive to our lives and society. The current war on drugs, however, has not been successful. Crime, economic problems and abuse related to drug usage are still very present. He believes there needs to be a new direction in fighting these problems. Gov. Johnson believes that one of the best solutions to help with the many problems caused by drugs is to legalize marijuana. He does not advocate the legalization of any other drugs and believes that harm reduction measures should be implemented.

Marijuana should be regulated and taxed by the federal government (just like tobacco and alcohol are currently), which would lead to a lower price for the product and eliminate the criminal element from its distribution, much like the repeal of the prohibition of Alcohol many decades back.

PAUL ARMENTANO - DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL NORML

Paul on FOX New's "Freedom Watch": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR0M3rVZQC8

Paul Armentano is the Deputy Director of NORML and the NORML Foundation in Washington, DC. Mr. Armentano is an expert in the field of marijuana policy, health, and pharmacology, and has served as a consultant for Health Canada, the Canadian Public Health Association, and The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Armentano has spoken at numerous national conferences and legal seminars, testified before state legislatures and federal agencies, and assisted dozens of criminal defense attorneys in cases pertaining to the use of medicinal cannabis, drug testing, and drugged driving. He is a frequent guest on radio, and appears regularly on the nationally syndicated Dr. Drew Pinsky show.

Mr. Armentano is a prolific writer on the subject of marijuana and marijuana policy. His work has appeared in over 500 publications, including more than a dozen textbooks and anthologies, and he is a frequent contributor to Alternet.org, High Times, The Huffington Post, and the Washington, DC newspaper The Hill. Mr. Armentano is a 2008 recipient of the 'Project Censored Real News Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism,' and was selected as one of America's 'Top 20 Young Visionaries' by Who Cares Magazine -- a national quarterly journal devoted to community service and social activism. His book Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People To Drink? was published in 2009 by Chelsea Green.

Marijuana Legalization in Mexico Gaining Support

Once a subject so taboo that college kids didn't even whisper about smoking pot, the idea of legalizing marijuana in Mexico has gained increasing favor, especially among a vocal group of academics, intellectuals and politicians. Analysts say the shift – which echoes an increasing openness to legalization in the U.S. – is both a function of changing generational attitudes toward drugs and growing public frustration with the country's drug war.

Southern California NORML Anniversary Party with Bambu Station

Please join us for this event presented by WorldBeat Center and Southern California NORML.

Bambu Station was founded in 1996 by Jalani Horton of St. Thomas, V.I. to present creative ideas that would impact peoples lives. In 1999, Andy Llanos of St. Croix joined Bambú Station as the bassist and Tuff Lion, with his brilliant guitar work offered his wealth of experience to help the young bredrens evolve and grow.

Their initial recording was the independently released single, “Amadou Diallo” (2000) and commenced a musical relationship with the addition of Warren Pedersen in 2003 that has galvanized roots fans across the world. Several of their releases are some of the most regarded works today. The sound of Bambú Station is best described as heavy, natural and relentlessly captivating. From its’ music to its’ lyrics, Bambú Station’s sound is very percussive, profound and inviting to any listener.

Their recordings and live shows are filled with a brilliant spirit, harmonies and an alluring quality. They are certainly one of the most significant artists representing reggae music in this generation.

VENDOR SPACE AVAILABLE: Contact [email protected].

Sign the Petition to President Obama: End the War on Marijuana

Find the latest marijuana policy news on the JustSayNow page. You can also follow JustSayNow on Twitter and  Facebook.

Last week, Mexico’s President Calderon called on President Obama to join the debate on legalizing marijuana. The US drug policy has lined the pockets of the drug cartels with billions of dollars, and they are threatening to destabilize not only Mexico but countries across Latin America.

In many regions, the drug gangs are seeking to replace the government, imposing their own taxes in towns they dominate.

Three former Latin American presidents — Cesar Gaviria of Colombia, Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico and Fernando Cardoso of Brazil — wrote an oped in the Wall Street Journal, urging the legalization of marijuana as a way to undermine a major source of income for cartels.

Recently, the U.S. Joint Forces Command warned that the Mexican government could experience “a rapid and sudden collapse” due to drug cartel violence.  And the outgoing head of the CIA, Gen. Michael Hayden, warned that drug cartels “threaten … the well-being of the Mexican people and the Mexican state.”

The problem is so bad that following President Calderon’s statement, two Mexican cardinals have endorsed his call to open a debate on the merits of  legalization.

There have been 28,000 people killed since 2006 in the war with the drug cartels,  including 1200 in July –  the deadliest month yet.  The recent shooting in Arizona that triggered the debate between right and left over immigration was the result of marijuana smuggling, not people trying to get over the border to find jobs.  It’s insane that the conversation instantly devolved into a right-left battle over immigration.  The Arizona law does nothing to address the underlying problem.

Yesterday the Guardian had a piece on the push to end prohibition, including the Just Say Now campaign we launched last week.  Further,  the Guardian editorial board called on David Cameron and Nick Clegg to “launch a national debate on whether we should try legalisation,” and to “tear up the current policy. It has failed.”  “That debate must be opened in Britain and the recent change of government provides a rare opportunity,” they say.

But as Peter Guither notes, although there is strong interest in the issue among both progressive and conservative voters, leadership on both sides of the aisle have been unwilling to address it.  Most are terrified of walking into a meat grinder of social taboos left over from the culture wars, and they won’t brave it until the public demands it.

That’s why we launched the Just Say Now campaign.  Over 30,000 people have already signed the petition to President Obama, saying it’s time to end the war on marijuana.  America’s prison population has quadrupled since 1984 when Nancy Reagan’s war on drugs began, and the private prison system exploded.

Last fall, Eric Holder issued a directive that the DEA should respect state medical marijuana laws.  But as  Jacob Sullum notes, that directive had a lot of wiggle room and as a result the DEA’s raids on medical marijuana suppliers continue.

Please show your support and sign the petition asking President Obama to end the war on marijuana.

Subscribe to Marijuana Policy