Setting the Context  

    The Carrot

    The Stick     

    The Politically Acceptable Middle Ground   

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Concept Summary:  
We suggest three clear messages be sent to all anti-marijuana politicians -- those who support continuing marijuana prohibition  --  those who oppose medical marijuana  --  those who oppose marijuana reform, and those who oppose the creation of a hemp industry.  

Symbolically speaking, one message is "a carrot," the second "a stick.   There's also a third and  previously-ignored option -- a political middle ground -- a way to walk the fence --   a compromise that neither supports nor opposes either side.  

The Contact List:   In order to make this happen, we require a list of anti-marijuana, elected officials, and not just the obvious ones, such as the state senators and the Governor, but everyone who is, in any way, anti-marijuana and is an elected office, such as city and county politicians, judges, criminal prosecutors, financial officer, etc .  Include on the list the person's office phone number, fax  number, Email address, and postal mailing address.   

When such a list is available to us, we will add it to this website.  

We suggest that thousands of prohibition reformers call these people on the phone and send them letters, faxes, and emails such as the ones included below on this page.   Begin with "the carrot." and the compromise.   If they choose to continue supporting marijuana insanity, then and only then, send them "the stick."

 

We'd like to thank you in advance for having the wisdom to re-examine the financial evidence in the marijuana controversy.  

I'm sure you are now aware of the huge monetary benefits that a multi-billion-dollar hemp industry could add to the state's economy, (like that which is presently fully functional and rapidly expanding in Canada).   This industry can be legalized even if marijuana sales remain prohibited.  

Huge, additional, financial benefit could come by way of tax revenues from treating marijuana similar to the way alcohol and tobacco sales are now taxed and regulated.   This could be financial life-savers for hundreds of thousands of voters.     

Imagine bringing several billion dollars every year to the well-being of the citizens of this state,  and all you have to do is stop opposing a hemp industry.   Please remember that hemp and marijuana are very different.   Hemp is not psychoactive.  

If you feel that you cannot change you position on this issue, let us suggest a way out where you don't change, and at the same time don't oppose the creation of a multi-billion dollar hemp industry.   Suppose you were to take a position like the one expressed in the following statement:

I know you have seen the evidence that continued prohibition of marijuana is not only a huge financial drain on the states resources and a social disaster,  it goes strongly against the very core of our democratic ideals.     

We laud you willingness to stand with one of the greatest presidents in all of American history -- Abraham Lincoln.   Here's what he said about prohibition:   

"Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes . . .   A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principle upon which our government was founded."   ____________    Abraham Lincoln -- 1840   

You will have our vote and our support in the next election.   Once again, we say thank you.    Thank you for your courage, your common sense, and for your stand for democracy.    Sincerely,  

___________________   

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If elected officials do not respond to "the carrot" approach, then it's time for the stick:  

 

Dear  __Legislator's Name___,

Why are you opposed to marijuana reform?  

Is someone paying you to oppose common sense?   Are you in a sex scandal and being blackmailed into voting to continue marijuana insanity?  Are you living in the dark ages?        

Please!   Please!   Please!   Examine the evidence!  Prohibition is both very expensive and a dismal failure!  

Terrorists are one of the major beneficiaries of anti-drug laws.   Why are you voting in support of anti-American terrorists?   

You are also depriving the citizens of this state of the benefits of billions of dollars in tax revenues and preventing the existence of a multi-billion-dollar hemp industry.  Why?   What's in it for you.   How are you reaping rewards for such nonsense?   Is someone paying you to oppose drug-law reform?  

Are you aware of statement regarding prohibition from one of America' greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln:    

"Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes . . .   A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principle upon which our government was founded."   ____________    Abraham Lincoln -- 1840   

Why do you support criminal, liars, and terrorists?   Are you taking bribes or kickbacks or What?  Why is your mind " beyond the bounds of reason?"   If you can't see the truth on an issue as simple and as straight forward as this,  you are not fit to hold public office.    

Unless you wake up, in the next election, we will support your opponent and publicly accuse you of being a supporter of anti-American terrorism.   In your case and in the next election, we and thousands like us are going to be one-issue voters.    Are you with us or against us?   Stop opposing reform or take your body back into the cave that your head is.  

Sincerely,  

____________________

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In the Marijuana controversy, politicians are stuck between the conservatives who see marijuana as an instrument of the devil and demand that marijuana prohibition continue and the people who have looked at this controversy and realized that continuing marijuana prohibition is absolute, complete, and total insanity.  

To date, nobody has found or is offering an acceptable middle ground.   Well, that's all gone now.   In addition to the suggested political statement  above on this page,  we have an entire web page devoted to showing politicians how to put the "I abstain" vote in a socially-acceptable context and explain it to their constituents.  
http://www.MarijuanaSanity.com/mmt-political-middle-ground.html#gr  

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