Why marijuana policy gets ignored in Washington

[DreamSmoker]

So if it’s not the polls, and it’s not their own behavior, and it’s not that no one is bothered by the side effects, what is it? It’s the optics. If you say you’re interested in legalization, people think you’re a pot smoker — and, worse, that you’re not “tough on crime,” which was historically a killer for Democrats (just ask Mike Dukakis and Mario Cuomo) and a boon for the law-and-order Republicans. Washington is a town based on perceptions, passed-down wisdom and accepted truths based on history — and, let’s be frank, it’s also known for being peopled with the kind of politicians who would probably stand in midtown Manhattan with the oceans lapping at their knees and deny that climate change was having any effect on the weather. Politics is filled with once-teenage parents who preach abstinence, serial adulterers who crow about family values at the drop of a hat and teenage pot-smokers who tell their own kids that it’s a gateway drug that will ruin their lives.

It’s not about the policy, it’s about the politics. And it doesn’t matter if the effects of those policies are the loss of tax revenues, hundreds or thousands of dead at our doorstep or the mass incarceration of generations of African-Americans and Latinos — until the perceptions of the politics of marijuana legalization change (which means getting people to advocate for legalization who aren’t the typical pro-pot activists Washington politicos have come to expect) then the policies are going to stay the same.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/category/raw-meat/

[CanSocDem]

1. I agree...

...with this quote from the article: "...which means getting people to advocate for legalization who aren’t the typical pro-pot activists..."

I've often thought that if I could have gotten all my pot smoking doctor and lawyer friends to attend the Legalization Festivals that used to be everywhere, we could have had this behind us. But.....the word of the day was and apparently still is "self-protection".

The response to this should be an all out propaganda campaign that includes and celebrates cannabis use in all walks of life.

To be honest, I think the War on Pot is driven by the pharmaceutical industry. They are already in complete control of your health business and cannabis throws a major wrench into their business model. Their lobbyists tell the politicians "...legalization would be as bad as the Bank Failures...".

.

[Duncan20903]

2. Tell that nonsense to Ellen Rosenblum

http://www.kgw.com/news/Primary-between-Rosenblum-Holton-will-decide-Oregons-next-AG-151604235.html

If you think Oregon is too "liberal" to be considered, tell it to the next Congressman from Texas' 16th District, Beto O'Rourke.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/houseraceresults/silvestre-reyes-loses-democratic-primary-in-texas-s-16th-district-20120529

Of course on Election Day Oregon, Colorado and Washington will have the ultimate test of DreamSmoker's assertions with ballot initiatives to legalize petty possession and petty distribution. Petty cultivation is included in the Oregon and Colorado ballot initiative.

Both of the Washington and Colorado ballot initiatives currently are enjoying significant support in polls of "likely" voters. Colorado's initiative has polled as much as 61% in favor.

The fact of the matter is that we really don't know how the public would vote if a mainstream candidate came out in favor of cannabis law reform. To date we've only seen candidates from the fringes support re-legalization. Ms. Rosemblum and Mr. O'Rourke really are the first two. Despite their victories in the primary they still could theoretically be defeated on Election Day. If they win their races DreamSmoker's assertions should be kicked to the curb by reasonable people. Neither faces a serious challenge.