cannabisnews.com: MPP's Marijuana Legalization Push Goes Up in Smoke MPP's Marijuana Legalization Push Goes Up in Smoke Posted by CN Staff on December 17, 2002 at 17:33:15 PT By Douglas Quenqua Source: PRWeek A record number of states put marijuana-reform initiatives on their ballots in 2002, but the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), a national organization that "works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana," couldn't be everywhere at once. It chose instead to concentrate its time and resources on a handful of places where victory seemed within reach. One of the most promising was Nevada. But the MPP didn't just help win votes for Nevada's initiative; it helped word it and get it on the ballot. What eventually came to be known as Question 9 would not only have made it legal to possess and use - in the privacy of an adult's home - up to three ounces of marijuana, it would have compelled the state to devise a system of legal distribution. Additional provisions called for allotting cheaper marijuana to seriously ill residents, and common-sense laws against driving under the influence or smoking in public.The first challenge was to get Question 9 on the ballot, which required gathering signatures. The second challenge was to convince voters to back the most sweeping marijuana reform in American history. Strategy "It's important to be on the ground," says MPP communications director Bruce Mirken, so the first move was to send director of state policies Billy Rogers from MPP headquarters in Washington, DC to set up shop in Nevada. "We don't have any regional offices," explains Mirken.The idea at every level was to run a campaign to counter public impressions of marijuana reformers as lawless drug addicts. Hence Rogers called his group Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement (NRLE). The first objective was to obtain the signatures; only then could they worry about changing the law. Tactics Rogers began collecting signatures, canvassing areas where young, liberal, registered voters could be found. But rather than go the usual volunteer route, the MPP sprang for professional signature gatherers. "In some ways, they're better simply because they don't have to stop gathering signatures to go to work," explains Mirken.The first objective was easily met when NRLE submitted 107,000 signatures - almost twice the required number. Then came the campaigning. Get-out-the-vote drives were coupled with aggressive media relations and all the advertising one can get with a total budget of just $2 million. NRLE intentionally shifted the focus away from drugs and toward law enforcement. "This initiative will allow the police to spend more time going after murderers, rapists, and other violent criminals, rather than wasting valuable resources hunting down tens of thousands of nonviolent marijuana users," Rogers was quoted as saying. They also emphasized that the current law forced patients using marijuana for medicine to purchase it from criminals.Results Question 9 was soundly defeated, 39% to 61%. Mirken places the blame on two factors.First was the very expensive, last-minute "scare" campaign run by White House drug czar John Walters. A series of ads about "the horrors of marijuana," ostensibly unrelated to the election, appeared in the waning days of the campaign, and NRLE didn't have the cash to counter them. But beyond that, Mirken speaks of "a wave of Republicanism and conservatism," that seemed to sweep the entire country on Election Day 2002. In what some interpreted as a rebuke to liberalism, Republicans retook the Senate, and increased their hold on the House at a time when Democrats traditionally would have prevailed. Statistically speaking, Republicans and conservatives are much less likely to back marijuana reform of any kind. Future It's far too early to begin thinking about referendums for 2004, says Mirken, but he says to be on the lookout for the MPP in your state.Complete Title: Campaigns: MPP's Marijuana Legalization Push Goes Up in SmokePR Team: Marijuana Policy Project (Washington, DC) Campaign: Getting Question 9 onto the ballot and into the law books Time Frame: Spring 2002-November 5, 2002 Budget: $2 millionSource: PRWeek (NY)Author: Douglas QuenquaPublished: December 16 2002Contact: letters prweek.comWebsite: http://www.prweek.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Drug Reformers Are Regroupinghttp://freedomtoexhale.com/abocr.htmMarijuana Policy Reform Crossroadshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14946.shtmlMPP Files Complaint Against Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14902.shtmlRebellion Against the Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14885.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by Dark Star on December 18, 2002 at 12:39:49 PT Sweden Good luck in Sweden. They may have led the sexual revolution, but Sweden is extremely repressive on the cannabis issue. Check it out in the Canadian Senate Report. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by p4me on December 18, 2002 at 11:47:25 PT I wish I could find the link I think it was on Saturday I found the link to the article about Sweden. I think it was at Truthout but it could have been Buzzflash. It is gone now. I thought it very interesting what the FBI guy with 28 years of service said about Busch not believing what he said.Seden has a program for the advancement of democracy where they bring people to Sweden that might be silenced by conditions in their home country and it was mainly for third world countries. When the US floated the idea of offering a safe haven for Iraqi scientist and their families outside of Iraq for information somebodies light bulb went off and they thought of asking knowledgable people in the US to move to Sweden. The government furnishes them with the house and welcomes them as a friend of democracy. It works too because this FBI guy knew the White House and would never say what he did in his interview in Sweden if he were still here in the land of pee. They invite you and I would think a person would not only have to have relevant knowlegde but somenow be visible. I will check WND.com. It may have been there. I will try a Google search with Sweden and some key words like FBI.1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by knox42897 on December 18, 2002 at 11:17:41 PT: P4me send me link to SWEDEN Hello P4me, I was wondering if you would email me that link to Sweden. Not olny would I like to talk there, I would also be willing to renounce my American Citizenship and become a Swed, if I could grow my medical marijuana free from any terroristic intimidation from dilusional, schizophrenic, enemy combatants.It's far too early to begin thinking about referendums for 2004, says Mirken, but he says to be on the lookout for the MPP in your state.I called in yesterday on a TV program that features the Mayor of Las Vegas. I asked him if he would be willing to meet with me to set up a medical marijuana task force in Las Vegas that would be identical to the task force in San Diego. Also, the Mayor mentioned that his sister suffers from Glaucoma, as was interested in learned more about medical marijuana for his sister. I am to call his office today, and hopefully set up an appointment. One of my patients has Glaucoma and with the use of medical MJ she lowers her eye stress points by 10 full points. I am also hoping someone will send me some studies concerning Glaucoma, as I definetly need to get the mayor to help us fight!LAS VEGAS NEVADANS FOR RESPONSIBLE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN U.S.A. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by The GCW on December 18, 2002 at 04:51:47 PT FEDERAL COURT CONSIDERS POT ARGUMENTS http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2283/a11.html?397 Judge Preparing To Decide Whether U.S. Should Be Blocked From Prosecuting California [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by p4me on December 17, 2002 at 22:49:21 PT P.S. Why can't Walters have a turn at demonizing tobacco, the cause of 1 in 5 deaths in America? Only 5% of the tobacco settlement of 1998 has gone toward prevention of tobacco use. Don't you think it incompetent that the person that heads the department for national drug policy doesn't address the issue? http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2002/45/ma_150_01.html1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by p4me on December 17, 2002 at 20:08:58 PT Walters Of course I think Walters is just a parrot balking out what the plutocracy want said and he dwells in the Fortress of Insanity as a welcomed soldier. That does not mean that MPP should not target his job because the plutocracy supports him and he is just a parrot that would be replaced by another parrot. I am just saying the fact that you cannot get rid of a liar like Walters is illuminated for everyone by attacking the liar and his lies. He should be the focal point of MPP's and everyones efforts. I don't say he is a liar just to call him a liar. It is descriptive and he does lie. He lies repeatedly. If you don't attack a liar then what are you fighting. And yes, I realize unless they really lock on to the lies of this cabinet member and keep on it the Stonewall will protect him. I thought about putting up an article where Sweden invited some of our citizens to their country where they might feel free to speak their mind because there is such intimidation in this country. I read it within the last 5 days and some retired FBI or CIA type person was talking about Busch and he said not only did he not believe what Busch says, he said Busch does not even believe all the stuff he says. The same is true of Walters. He is not stupid and he has all the underlinings to tell him the truth, but he ignores it all in his role as parrot.Walters is the mouthpiece for the Schedule One Lie and he has to be challenged on his lies and flat out called the liar he is and tell the American people that the reason we have the problem with a state and federal view of medical cannabis is because of one thing- the Schedule One Lie.MPP should be gunning fot this liar and all liars that support the SOL.1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by pokesmotter on December 17, 2002 at 19:43:52 PT: p4me I was thinking about something. Say Walters does step down or get removed. Who should replace him?? His job title of "drug czar" will call for someone with views similar to his; that drug laws work and have to be enforced. Walters though seems very focused on marijuana for some reason. Personally, I cannot think of an ideal person to enforce drug laws because i believe that they don't work. Unfortunately, the people who put Bush and Walters in power do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by p4me on December 17, 2002 at 19:13:57 PT At least the media is talking Usually we are covered with silence only to be interupted with lies. The article that is still missing is the one that tells of the illumination that comes with gaining a cannabis perspective and of course the still wanting article, "Cannabis Prohibition- It's the Money, Stupid." That is a hint for the journalist that might read this site.To be honest, MPP should be after Walter's resignation/firing. If they cannot get that, then I wonder what they can do. They need a compilation of lies that he has told similar to the collection that appeared in the last article by the Christian Science Monitor a few days ago.If the zero tolerance people would only divert some of their hate/effort to joining in the effort to curb the harm of alcohol we would all be a lot better off. Why doesn't Walter's give one special sermon just for Demon Alcohol? Is alcohol not worthy of the man in charge of national drug control policy? Of course it is. It is Walter's that is not worthy of the office he holds and MPP should ask for his head(tongue) on a platter. The guy has got to be replaced.1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by medicinal toker on December 17, 2002 at 18:10:28 PT 2002 a record year? "A record number of states put marijuana-reform initiatives on their ballots in 2002..."What record? 2? Nevada and Arizona were the only two statewide mj or mmj initiatives in 2002. 1998 and 2000 each had more than 2, between Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Maine, Washington and Alaska. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment