Smoke the vote, 2012

The 2012 election is, without a doubt, the most important one to date  marijuana law refom. Three states, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon will be voting to legalize marijuana for responsible adults and Montana and Massachusetts, will be voting on medical marijuana.. These reform efforts coupled with a presidential election should be history in the making.

Criminal marijuana prohibition 

Criminal marijuana prohibition is a failure. Over 20 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana offenses since 1965. NORML believes that the time has come to amend criminal prohibition and replace it with a system of legalization, taxation, regulation, and education.

Where it all began.

On the day the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act was enacted -- Oct. 2, 1937 -- the FBI and Denver, Colo., police raided the Lexington Hotel and arrested Samuel R. Caldwell, 58, an unemployed labourer and Moses Baca, 26. On Oct. 5, Caldwell went into the history trivia books as the first marijuana seller convictedunder U.S. federal law. His customer, Baca, was found guilty of possession.

Caldwell's wares, two marijuana cigarettes, deeply offended Judge Foster Symes, who said: "I consider marijuana the worst of all narcotics, far worse than the use of morphine or cocaine. Under its influence men become beasts. Marijuana destroys life itself. I have no sympathy with those who sell this weed. The government is going to enforce this new law to the letter."

From: The First Pot POW

NORML

I do have to wonder why? Why is it so important to force so many of our citizens to become criminals simply because of the smoke they choose to inhale. My first thought is of course some of the powers that be must be profiting from it in some way, but then I really don't see where that could be. I would think that the same groups could somehow make even more if the laws were different.. I for agree with NORML. NORML, supports the removal of all penalties for the private possession and responsible use of marijuana by adults, including cultivation for personal use, and casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This policy, known as decriminalization, removes the consumer -- the marijuana smoker -- from the criminal justice system, while maintaining criminal penalties against those who sell or traffic large quantities of the drug.

Smoke the Vote!

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