Final Words to Bill

Bill Lockyer,

Now that I have informed you of all of the benefits of marijuana and legalization I am asking you to join me in my fight. With our economy in a major crisis, the failed drug war, and an obvious plea for change, your support is needed now more than ever. Californians look to you for advice and I’m asking you to listen to your constituents and take the stand for a positive change.

As the saying goes, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. I have taken the first step and brought to you all of the information necessary. Now I’m asking you to publicly show your support for the legalization of marijuana, if only for the fact that you are our treasurer and it is the perfect answer to our state’s economic problems. However, I have shown you that it is much much more that just an economic boost, it is a healing herb that has the potential to positively affect many people.

I’ll leave you with these  final words from Albert Einstein:

“The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.”

Thanks for your time and support!

– A Concerned Citizen

And for Voters: Don’t forget on November 2 to cast your vote and be a part of history!

 

Moms Say YES!

On Tuesday, 10/19/2010 Mothers United spoke out in support of Prop 19. They believe that the legalization of marijuana will create safer communities for children and eliminate the marijuana black market. Check out this video and see for yourself:

The moms say regulating and taxing marijuana could mean more resources for schools, while also making it harder for kids to get pot.

If you ask any kid in high school what’s the easiest drug for them to get their hands on, they’re going to say marijuana. It’s easier than tobacco. Easier than alcohol.  – Gretchen Burns Bergman, co-founder and executive director of A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing).

Moms aren’t alone in their public support for legalization, the Service Employees International Union also supports the measure on the grounds that revenues from marijuana sales will support jobs. In addition, according to a recent survey from ABC News, the majority of voters are now in favor of legalization. 48%  of those polled say they’re certain to vote yes on the measure, while 44% said they’re certain to vote against it. 8% are not sure. It’s going to be a tough race but hopefully voters will soon see the many benefits of the legalization of marijuana.

Be Part of the Solution: Yes on Prop 19

I can tell you all about why marijuana is beneficial and why it should be legal until you’re blue in the face, but what it comes down to is the bottom line. How do we make it happen?

Prop 19: Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis

So here’s the low-down on Prop 19 and what it really means. Voting yes on Prop 19 will:

• Control cannabis like alcohol, allowing adults 21 and over in California to possess up to one ounce of cannabis, to be consumed at home or licensed establishments.
• Give state and local governments the ability to tax the sale of cannabis for adult consumption.
• Put our police priorities where they belong, by ending the arrests of non-violent cannabis consumers, saving hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars a year and enabling police to focus on violent crime.
• Generate billions in annual revenue to fund what matters most in California: jobs, healthcare, public safety, parks, roads, transportation, and more.
• Cut off funding to violent drug cartels across our border who currently generate 60 percent of their revenue from the illegal U.S. marijuana market.
• Protect our kids, our roads, and our workplaces, by increasing the penalty for selling marijuana to minors, banning the smoking of marijuana in public, on school grounds, and while minors are present, maintaining strict criminal penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana, and preserving employers’ rights to maintain drug-free workplaces.

I know, it almost seems to good to be true, but marijuana really has the potential to create jobs, boost the economy, take money and power away from dangerous drug dealers, and free up law enforcement officers to attend to real criminals. So be part of the solution and cast your vote on November 2!

Stop the Mexican Drug Cartels

This intensely graphic photo was taken in Mexico City after a shoot-out between rival drug cartels. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the violence was sparked by a botched drug deal involving an estimated 20 kilograms of marijuana, a dispute that led low-level members of the Sinaloa cartel to open fire on local dealers.

This killing has to end!

This year, the deaths from the cartels is already up to 3500. That’s a 40% increase from past years. Today’s Mexican cartels “are as ruthless and brutal as any terrorist organization,” says Sen. John McCain. It’s time to stop funding this violence!

According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Mexican drug cartels receive 60% of their revenue from selling marijuana in the US. In addition, the FBI states that the cartels control marijuana distribution in about 230 US cities. Our laws in the US have created a thriving black market for marijuana. This puts money directly into the hands of evil drug lords.

For the cartels, marijuana is the king crop. It consistently sustains its marketability and profitability. – Rafael Reyes, the chief of Mexico & Central America section of the Drug Enforcement Administration

Prohibition Doesn’t Work

In the 30s,  when alcohol prohibition took place, organized crime was fueled and Al Capone only grew more powerful. This is the same with marijuana. People aren’t going to stop purchasing marijuana, so let’s make sure they can get it from a safe and reliable source, in particular, one that is not killing thousands of people every year.

Vincente Fox,  the Mexican President from 2000-2006, supported legalization saying, “We should consider legalizing the production, sale, and distribution of drugs as a way to weaken and break the economic system that allows cartels to earn huge profits…radical prohibition strategies have never worked.”

NY Times says that despite huge enforcement actions on both sides of the Southwest border, the Mexican marijuana trade is more robust and brazen than ever.

Be part of the solution and legalize marijuana. No more funding these heinous acts. Let’s put our money to better use, like fixing our own economy.

Hemp is the Answer

Environmental, Renewable, Reusable, & Recyclable

According to Popular Mechanics, hemp has the potential to be manufactured into 25,000 environmentally friendly products. Yet, it is illegal for farmers to grow hemp in America. This is because hemp is a form of marijuana. And ever since it was outlawed in 1937, the government has battled with the production and manufacturing of hemp. However, hemp can be used to produce a countless number of products ranging from paper to clothing to building supplies to cars to fuels to food and so much more.

Hemp produces a much higher yield per acre than do common substitutes such as cotton and requires few pesticides. In addition, hemp has an average growing cycle of only 100 days and leaves the soil virtually weed-free for the next planting.

“Why use up the forests which were centuries in the making and the mines which required ages to lay down, if we can get the equivalent of forest and mineral products in the annual growth of the hemp fields?” – Henry Ford

Here are some examples of products made from hemp:

Fabrics:

Biodegradable Plastics:

Fuel:

Replacement for wood/building products:

Paper:

Body Products:

Food:

Hemp is the answer to many of our world problems today such as deforestation, over-filled landfills, and oil drilling. Check out my related blogs links for more info on some of these current problems.

Who Really Benefits from Drugs?

This video should set a few things straight about who’s behind the prohibition of marijuana. Check it out:

Money talks. And those who have money speak louder.

William Randolph Hearst:

In addition to Harry Anslinger, William Hearst played a major role in the support of marijuana prohibition. But why? For those of you that don’t know, Hearst owned and operated many newspapers and the paper mills thatprinted the paper. When hemp gained popularity and competed with his paper production Hearst lobbied and used his political power to eliminate his competition.

Hearst used his newspaper empire to fuel a propaganda campaign against marijuana with articles entitled, Marijuana Makes Fiends of Boys in 30 Days and Create Terror of the Killer Weed from Mexico. In addition to fueling racist attitudes toward Hispanics, Hearst papers run articles about marijuana-crazed negroes raping white women and playing voodoo-satanic jazz music.

As you can see, the people that made marijuana illegal in the first place had motives of their own and used their money and power for their own benefit, not for the betterment of others.

Racism and Lies

With all of these proven health and economic benefits, it brings me to the question, why was marijuana outlawed in the first place? Well, let me take you back to the 1930s.

Harry J. Anslinger: The Drug Czar

To understand prohibition, of both alcohol and marijuana, you must learn about Harry Anslinger. Anslinger started off his career as the Assistant Prohibition Commissioner of the Bureau of Prohibition (yes, there was such a bureau) and when marijuana started gaining popularity in the Southwest, he seized the opportunity to outlaw such a “terrible” drug. With his new found hate for marijuana and its users, Anslinger became Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1930. This is where it all went downhill for the pot lovers.

Anslinger headed the campaign against marijuana from 1930-1937 using the Reefer Madness propaganda. Check out this quick video…it’s so far from the truth it’s comical.

To support this “Reefer Madness” Anslinger created the “Gore Files.” The Gore Files were [imaginary] cases that Anslinger used to prove the violence of marijuana. He told stories of ax murders, sex, and “negroes” on marijuana. Here’s a quote from it:

“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US and most are negroes, hispanics, filipinos, and entertainers. Their satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with negroes, entertainers, and others.”

Anslinger scared the public into voting for the prohibition of marijuana. He based his entire campaign on lies and racism. Maybe it’s time we reevaluate our legislation.

The Healing Herb

Even for those of you that don’t smoke pot and don’t support pot smoking, it is important to at least respect the fact the marijuana is a healing herb that many people benefit from. Marijuana not only has physical health benefits, but spiritual and psychological as well. Marijuana is more then just “getting high,” it’s a way of life in which the user can connect with nature or simply just relax.

Well enough mumbo-jumbo, let’s get into the facts.

1. Cancer: According to researchers at Harvard University and the California Pacific Medical Research Institute, marijuana has been found to reduce the tumor growth in common lung cancer by 50% and may be able to stop tumor growth in breast cancer. Researchers believe that marijuana can provide a non-toxic alternative to chemotherapy without the painful side effects. Not only can it help prevent tumor growth, but marijuana has also been used by cancer patients as a way to alleviate the side effects and bring back their appetite.

2. Seizures: Marijuana has antispasmodic and relaxing qualities that have proven to effectively treat seizures. Marijuana allows the muscles to relax and therefore seizures are not as likely.

3. Glaucoma: This is one of the most well-known benefits of marijuana. According to studies done by the National Eye Institute, marijuana has been proven to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

4. Multiple Sclerosis: Marijuana has been proven to protect nerves from the damage caused by MS and therefore can reduce tumors and muscle spasms associated with the disease.

5. Tourette’s  and OCD: Similar to the way marijuana treats seizures and MS, marijuana’s effects slow down the tics in those suffering from Tourette’s, and the obsessive neurological symptoms in people with OCD.

6. ADD and ADHD: According to a study done at USC, marijuana can be used as a substitute for the dangerously addictive pharmaceutical, Ritalin.

7. Alzheimer’s: Despite what you may have heard about marijuana’s effects on the brain, the Scripps Institute, in 2006, proved that the THC found in marijuana works to prevent Alzheimer’s by blocking the deposits in the brain that cause the disease, therefore concluding that THC “may be the most effective drug for treating the declining effects of Alzheimer’s disease.”

In addition to treating these diseases and disorders, marijuana is used by many as an herbal remedy for stress management, relaxation, tension, and just taking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Marijuana is not designed to be a “gateway drug” or an addiction, it is designed for herbal healing and relaxation.

Greens = Green$

For those of you that think in numbers, California currently has a $19 billion deficit. And I don’t know about you, but I think our taxes are already high enough. So what can be done to balance this out? Legalize marijuana. While it won’t completely fix our deficit, it will definitely play a huge role in getting things back to normal.

I’d like to specifically reach out to our state treasurer, Bill Lockyer.

Dear Bill,

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen requesting your support. As the California State Treasurer we are depending on you to get us out of this terrible debt. Californians are looking to you for guidance and advice on what can be done about this deficit. I am here to suggest a solution, legalize marijuana.

Marijuana is currently the #1 cash crop in California. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s  actually worth double the state’s vegetable and grape crops COMBINED! All in all coming out to about $14 billion in revenues a year. It’s time for that market to be taxed, and it can only happen if you publicly show your support for Prop 19.

“Marijuana already plays a huge role in the California economy.  It’s a revenue opportunity we literally can’t afford to ignore anymore. It’s time to end the charade of marijuana prohibition, tax the $14 billion market, and redirect criminal justice resources to matters of real public justice.”     – Stephen Gutwillig, CA state director for the Drug Policy Alliance

The proposition is already on the ballot, but I am requesting that you help ensure that it is passed by announcing your support. The missing piece to the puzzle has been found, but we need your help to put it in its rightful spot.

Thanks for your time,

A Concerned Citizen

you don’t know JANE!

On this November’s ballot there is a very important prop, Prop 19: Control and Tax Cannabis. Before Californians cast their votes, it is important to reveal the myths about marijuana. I’ve chosen the top 3 myths that people seem to be the most worried about.

1.  Marijuana is a gateway drug.

This is a common misconception about marijuana. Many supporters of marijuana prohibition will use this argument to reach out to parents and scare kids, but it is simply not true! An example of this is when Holland legalized marijuana in the 70s. Rather then seeing a rise in the use of hard drugs like cocaine and heroine, the Dutch saw a substantial DECREASE in the use of hard drugs. This goes to show that marijuana tends to be a substitute for the much more dangerous drugs like alcohol, cocaine, and heroine.

2. Marijuana is addictive

Marijuana is not highly addictive like hard drugs or tobacco, but it can cause dependence. Someone that is dependent on marijuana is similar to someone dependent on coffee in the morning. While it may be easier to get out of bed with a cup of coffee it is not absolutely necessary.

3. Like other drugs, you can overdose on marijuana

FALSE! There has never been a single case of marijuana overdose. In order for a human to overdose on marijuana you would need to consume nearly 40,000 times the amount of THC needed to intoxicate you. In contrast it only requires 5-10 times that amount of alcohol to intoxicate to be fatal. For example, if it requires 3 beers to intoxicate you, it only requires 15-30 beers to kill you. However, if it takes 3 hits of marijuana to intoxicate you, it would require 120,000 hits to kill you. You can’t consume the THC fast enough for this to be remotely possible.