Message to our Civic Government Leaders, Congressional Representative and Public Servants
Feel free to copy and send to your Congressional Leaders
Message 1
President Obama has finally spoken about the marijuana legalization ballot initiatives in Colorado and Washington.
He said he does not -- "at this point" -- support widespread legalization of marijuana. But, more importantly, he said there is a "need to have...a conversation". For the first time ever, he is framing the conflict between federal and state law as a question to be resolved as opposed to one in which it is simply assumed that federal marijuana prohibition trumps all.
He also said that the federal government has "bigger fish to fry" than to waste resources on possession and suggested that Congress should compromise with the states on the issue.
Obama knows he is confronted with a dilemma and has, at last, acknowledged that it's time for a conversation.
Although Obama's comments sound promising, he didn't say that the federal government will leave state-regulated marijuana cultivators, distributors or sellers alone.
The Obama administration is on the verge of issuing a major position statement on marijuana legalization -- and Obama's history on medical marijuana offers important insights. Even though Obama pledged not to use federal resources to prosecute medical marijuana patients, the federal government has still raided and prosecuted medical marijuana providers, undermining state efforts to responsibly regulate medical marijuana.
We can't let history repeat itself. We need to pressure Obama not to undermine marijuana legalization like his administration has with medical marijuana.
I did something about it, and I hope you'll join me. Take action today and urge Obama not to interfere with marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado. Click here to take action:
Message 2
A recent Gallup poll found that marijuana legalization is supported by a majority of Americans, including a majority of independent voters, a majority of people in Western states, a majority of people in Eastern states, a majority of people in the Midwest, and almost a majority of Americans in Southern states. 18 states and the District of Columbia have already made marijuana legal for medical use. 15 states have decriminalized marijuana for personal use.
Even Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy from Vermont has said that federal law needs to be updated to allow states to do what is best for their citizens without fear of federal intervention. Until that happens, only you can ensure that the federal government won't interfere with marijuana laws passed by the citizens of the states. The federal government should not interfere in states that want to try a different approach.
In Colorado and Washington, marijuana legalization will begin to bring the currently unregulated and profitable marijuana market under the rule of law, helping to curb the crime, violence and out-of-control youth access that flourish under the current system of prohibition. I urge you respect and protect the will of voters by allowing the states to effectively implement their marijuana legalization laws.