cannabisnews.com: Candidate Fires Up Campaign for Pot Use 





Candidate Fires Up Campaign for Pot Use 
Posted by CN Staff on September 25, 2002 at 11:05:37 PT
By Erik Kriss, Albany Notebook
Source: Post-Standard NY
Thomas Leighton brought his pony-tail and his three-issue campaign for governor to the Capitol Tuesday. The Marijuana Reform Party candidate advocates: Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. Repealing the Rockefeller drug laws, which mandate lengthy prison sentences even for low-level drug offense convictions. 
Allowing farmers to grow hemp for industrial purposes, such as paper and clothing. "I feel these should be individual initiatives on the ballot," Leighton told reporters during a hallway news conference. But since New York doesn't allow such initiatives, "we need to have a clear signal from voters that they want action on these issues," he said. Leighton admitted he smokes marijuana for pleasure. And he acknowledged his ultimate goal is to "end marijuana prohibition altogether. In the meantime, we should at least help relieve the suffering of people who are sick and dying" but forbidden from easing the pain with marijuana. Leighton won 24,788 votes in 1998, less than half the 50,000 he needs to make Marijuana Reform a legal political party in New York and automatically qualify it for a ballot spot in all races. "A lot of our votes went to Grandpa Munster because he was a celebrity," Leighton said, referring to former television star Al Lewis , who won 52,533 votes for governor four years ago on the Green Party line. Leighton noted the Marijuana Reform candidates for U.S. Senate and state comptroller more than doubled the number of votes their Green Party opponents received in 1998. This year, the Greens are running City University of New York sociology professor Stanley Aronowitz for governor. If you want a videotape of Leighton's Capitol visit, try contacting Gov. George Pataki's campaign. The Pataki campaign had a staffer film the whole thing. Snipped:  Complete Article: http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/news-4/103294291832494.xmlSource: Post-Standard, The (NY)Author: Erik Kriss, Albany NotebookPublished: September 25, 2002Copyright: 2002, Syracuse Post-StandardContact: letters syracuse.comWebsite: http://www.syracuse.com/poststandard/Marijuana Reform Party of N.Y.http://www.marijuanareform.org/CannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 25, 2002 at 11:49:20 PT
afterburner
Thank you. That's all I want is a community of people with similar thoughts that can help each other thru the rough times so no one loses hope. Hope is a terrible thing to lose.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by afterburner on September 25, 2002 at 11:45:30 PT:
We are the media: truth and hope
No media outlet contains more truth and hope than this one, CN. It's not just the posted articles,thank you FoM. But also all you good people writing the comments. Keep up the good work. Note to Michigan and D.C. voters: see if you can find a way to write-in your approval for the initiatives that the DEA muscled off the ballot. Peace, action, and co-operation. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 25, 2002 at 11:43:06 PT
Oh My Goodness Scotty J.
Thanks DdC! You know I loved the chat there when I first got on line. I wish Scotty J. Success! I really do!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by DdC on September 25, 2002 at 11:34:37 PT
New Yorks Getting the Message Out in Several Races
I don't live in NY and congratulate both candidates for their support in legalizing cannabis. My first web page was at legalize.com when it had 600 members. Now its over 6000 and still growing. Maybe they can combine their efforts...
DdCMy first webpage
http://www.legalize.com/hempfarm/dendecannabistScott Jeffrey" scottyj legalize.comSubject:Vote Jeffrey to Legalize MarijuanaTO MY FELLOW MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION ADVOCATE:My name is Scott Jeffrey and I am the Libertarian Party candidate for governor of New York. I am writing to introduce myself and to share my thoughts about the fall campaign. I believe this election presents a unique opportunity to advance the cause of marijuana legalization in our state.New York suffers under some of the most oppressive drug laws in the nation. Most New Yorkers are well aware of the Rockefeller drug laws that sentence low-level drug dealers to prison sentences of fifteen years to life -- longer than most violent criminals, including rapists. The Rockefeller drug laws are both unjust and ineffective, and must be repealed.But voters are less aware of the nightmare occurring in New York City under two successive Republican administrations. We have gone from an average of 600 arrests a year for marijuana possession to over 60,000. Nearly one in ten marijuana arrests in the United States occur in New York City. What used to be a citation offense resulting in a modest fine now entails one to three days in jail awaiting processing. Many, many New Yorkers know friends, relatives and co-workers who have been caught up by this Draconian arrest policy.I am running on a platform to Legalize Marijuana. There are well over one million New Yorkers who smoke pot at least occasionally. We are patriotic, productive citizens. We don't deserve to go to jail or be fired from our jobs for our choice of lifestyle.In addition, legalizing marijuana is an effective means to reduce hard drug use. Marijuana is a steppingstone. Not because users develop a tolerance and need a stronger high - that is nonsense. Marijuana is a steppingstone by being illegal. It is a soft, illegal drug that bridges the gap between soft, legal and hard, illegal drugs.Young adults and teenagers involved in marijuana are introduced to drug dealers who can then try to sell them something else. The fact that cocaine is illegal no longer serves as a deterrent when so many citizens have gotten used to breaking drug laws. Legalizing marijuana will finally allow a consistent and credible condemnation of illicit drug use from all segments of society.Hard drugs destroy both individual lives and entire communities. If we want to be serious about reducing hard drug use we need to be honest, get real, and remove the steppingstone by legalizing marijuana.VICTORY IS ONLY 50,000 VOTES!I am optimistic about my chances for victory in the governor's race. I know that with your help I can win. But I am not expecting to be elected. For the Libertarian Party and me, victory is 50,000 votes.Your vote for governor is really two votes. Besides picking the next governor, your vote decides which political parties are recognized by the Board of Elections. Gubernatorial candidates must receive 50,000 votes for their party to achieve official status. This represents less than one percent of the total votes cast.Fifty thousand votes is a legal victory. New Yorkers would be able for the first time to register as Libertarians, allowing us to build a voter base. Equally important, we will be able to run candidates without the burden of petitioning that we now face.The overriding goal of my campaign is to empower youth by providing my generation a voice in politics. Besides speaking out myself on youth issues, I also encourage other young New Yorkers to run for office to represent for our own. By gaining official status, the Libertarian Party will be able to run dozens of youth candidates each year and groom a new generation of leadership. We hope and expect that many of our youth candidates would come from within the anti-Drug War community.Fifty thousand votes is also a public relations victory. A new third party born from grassroots activism will capture the attention of the New York political establishment and the imagination of the average citizen. When the media looks for answers as to how we were able to put together our victory, we can tell them that a key element was our outspoken support to legalize marijuana.A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION!This is where a candidate would normally ask for your vote and financial support. I am writing to ask for something more profound -- for you to take action.First, please forward this e-mail to your friends, family members and fellow marijuana legalization advocates. Print out hardcopies and mail them to those without e-mail. Please make them aware of the importance of their vote on November 5th.Second, on my website I've created a Legalize Marijuana flyer: http://www.VoteJeffrey.com/help/Putting up flyers is the easiest political activity to engage in. It doesn't require approaching strangers or any formal coordination with our campaign. It does require some commitment.Please take an hour once a week and hit the same neighborhood or college campus. Tape flyers to bus stops, lampposts and bulletin boards. They will get taken down after a day or two. But if you put more back up, people will not only notice but also remember. I guarantee that you will see the impact of your efforts on Election Day when your community votes Libertarian well above the statewide average.Third, please visit our campaign website and register your e-mail address. Electronic communication provides our low-budget campaign a vital link to our supporters.My campaign is unique. By empowering average citizens to speak out, we show that marijuana legalization is a moderate, mainstream issue supported by millions of New Yorkers from all walks of life. If everyone who reads this e-mail takes even five minutes of their time to complete just one of these actions, we will easily reach our goal of 50,000 votes. Just as important, we will loudly proclaim our pro-liberty message that politicians from both major parties want to silence.A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF.I am a 34-year-old software developer and native New Yorker. I grew up in Park Slope, Brooklyn and graduated from Princeton University, class of 1989.I ran for U.S. Congress two years ago against Charley Rangel in upper Manhattan, a district that encompasses Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood. Last year I ran for Manhattan Borough President and received 3052 votes, more than any Libertarian had gotten in the borough in over 20 years. That year I also ran a 13,000-signature petition drive to put nine other Libertarian candidates on the ballot with me. Collectively we received over 20,000 votes.
            
This spring I secured the Libertarian nomination for governor. This summer I successfully ran our statewide petition drive, delivering 19,000 signatures to secure my spot on the ballot.
            
My campaign has been able to motivate volunteers and make effective use of limited resources. We've done it through empowerment. I am hoping to empower the marijuana legalization community and leave you with valuable political experience to continue the fight after Election Day.-- Scott Jeffrey
Libertarian for Governor
Empower Youth / Legalize Marijuanajeffrey votejeffrey.comhttp://www.VoteJeffrey.comP.S. PLEASE, FORWARD THIS E-MAIL to at least five friends and/or marijuana legalization supporters. Don't delay -- please do this now. Thanks again for your activism in support of liberty.
Legalize.Com
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by druid on September 25, 2002 at 11:15:42 PT:
the rest of the article ...
Old York, New York The governor of New York got a visit at the Capitol Tuesday from the Duchess of (Old) York. And Pataki couldn't have scripted Sarah Ferguson's visit any better. He said he was "privileged" to welcome the ex-wife of England's Prince Andrew to New York to promote her campaign for children's and women's health and against obesity. "On the contrary," the duchess followed in the Queen's English, "it is my great honor and privilege to be standing here next to you, governor. You have done quite an exceptional job, you really have. Not only in this country but all over the world recognizes the work you did on Sept. 11 and since that time." More work required If Pataki wins re-election, he'll have to keep doing "quite an exceptional job" to keep the state's finances in order. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Pataki's fellow Republican, recently predicted to his hometown newspaper, the Troy Record, that the state could face an $8 billion to $10 billion budget deficit next year. Critics have charged Pataki, Bruno and the rest of the Legislature with adopting a no-tax-increase budget in May that would merely get the governor and lawmakers through the November elections with little immediate pain but dire long-term consequences. The state budget is nearly $90 billion. Erik Kriss' Albany Notebook appears Sunday and Wednesday in The Post-Standard. He can be reached at (518) 463-8038 or by e-mail at erikriss aol.com 
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment