cannabisnews.com: Practical Pitfalls Of The Plebiscite





Practical Pitfalls Of The Plebiscite
Posted by FoM on October 24, 2000 at 10:24:32 PT
By Doug Saunders
Source: Globe & Mail
The harvest season has arrived in Northern California's Mendocino County, and farmers are busy with their autumn ritual of picking, packaging and marketing their crop while waging a political battle to get the government off their backs.The leading crop is marijuana, and the pot farmers of Mendocino's "golden triangle," famous for the quality and potency of its herb, have been fighting against Washington's war on drugs for more than two decades.
Now, they may have found a solution that has become increasingly popular among Americans who want to bypass laws imposed by elected governments: the plebiscite. When county voters enter the polling booths on Nov. 7, among their ballots will be Measure G, which proposes to instruct police to give marijuana laws "lowest priority," and allow individuals to grow up to 25 pot plants without arrest."This is a pot-growing centre, and a lot of our economy is dependent on that, and also, a lot of people have been hurt by the drug war and there's a lot of antagonism against that," said Marvin Lehrman, president of the Ukiah Cannabis Club.Most observers expect the measure to pass. There's not even an opposition campaign.If Measure G passes, it will place the values of Mendocino County sharply at odds with those of Washington and the California legislature, which has some of the toughest drug laws in the country.Authorities would face an awkward choice: Follow the wishes of voters and allow one county to defy the legislature, or go against the desires of Mendocino's majority (although Measure G could be overridden by state or federal laws).Such a dilemma is faced by governments across the United States, as election-day plebiscites become an increasingly popular means of enacting laws. To get a measure on a ballot, most states require a petition signed by a small proportion of the state's population, usually tens of thousands.A thriving industry of professional signature-gatherers has arisen, typically charging $1.50 a signature. For many wealthy interest groups and industries, this is far cheaper than lobbying to have a law passed in the legislature.Scores of ballot measures will be put before voters this year in the 23 states that allow them. They would forbid gay marriage, permit doctor-assisted suicide, prevent governments from raising taxes, and, in three states, take steps toward legalizing marijuana.Many would have the force of constitutional amendments; overriding laws passed by elected representatives and preventing new laws from being passed. Never has a country's electoral democracy found itself so sharply at odds with its "direct" democracy."The direct democracy process, when it was introduced in the early 20th century, was meant to complement the legislative process, not to supplant it," said Eric Schockman, an associate professor of political science at the University of Southern California. He notes that propositions were created as a populist measure to balance off legislatures taken over by railroad and mining interests.Now, in some states, the opposite has happened: Moneyed interests use the plebiscite system to mount an end-run around the legislature. Mr. Schockman, like many critics, feels this system has become profoundly undemocratic."Why not just put the legislature out of business, and govern by referendum?"The plebiscite system lay dormant throughout much of the 20th century. Then, in 1978, conservative groups in California mounted Proposition 13, which prohibited governments from raising property taxes. It still stands, one reason wealthy California has the worst public schools of the 50 states.Prop. 13 was copied in other states. Now, some find it impossible to introduce basic spending bills because their powers have been proscribed by plebiscite.Nowhere are plebiscites more prominent than in Oregon, where a conservative activist named Bill Sizemore has used ballot initiatives to transform the state's economy and government. Paradoxically, Mr. Sizemore has been defeated repeatedly in election bids.Nevertheless, his initiatives -- he has six in the coming elections -- have made him more powerful than the governor. A recent political cartoon illustrated the three branches of government: legislative, executive and Sizemore."Sizemore is aggressively using what has become a corrupt process," said Oregon political analyst Bill Lunch. "It allows millionaires to get the issues they want on the ballot."Nevertheless, Oregonians have repeatedly voted in favour of his initiatives. In a stroke of self-preserving genius, one of Mr. Sizemore's ballot initiatives this year would prevent the state legislature from ever passing a law that would weaken the plebiscite process.The initiative system has allowed small groups to make changes that are more extreme than the majority's views.For example, a major poll this year found that 69 per cent of Americans support harsh antidrug laws, and around half believe marijuana should remain illegal. But in many liberal communities, marijuana is widely believed to be no more harmful than alcohol, and addiction is seen as a medical matter -- places like Mendocino County.Actor Martin Sheen, who plays the president on the TV show The West Wing and whose son, Charlie, was a drug addict until his father turned him in, plans to run an ad opposing the plebiscite question during an episode of the program that champions the values of electoral democracy. It may be one of the few occasions when the two political systems appear to support one another.Note: Direct democracy used increasingly in U.S.to bypass democratically elected politicians.Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author: Doug SaundersPublished: Tuesday, October 24, 2000Copyright: 2000, The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Forum: http://forums.theglobeandmail.com/Related Articles:Interest High in Mendocino County Pot Measurehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7259.shtmlMendocino Pot Measure a First http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7077.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by liberal individual on February 14, 2001 at 11:54:09 PT
american improvement
I agree completly with the measure G plan to legalize marijuana for personal and/or economical use. I plan on taking a trip to visit the little county of mendocino. I think you would enjoy the messege sent within the song "the plan" by NOFX. Well, keep up freedom fighting.
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Comment #4 posted by mungojelly on October 25, 2000 at 00:45:42 PT:
right on
Right on, Dan. We have to stop underestimating our own support! Even though we are polling at increasingly tight margins nationwide, they try to pretend that this means nothing: "oh, see, look, the poll says that we have 55% support and you only have 45% support, therefore your position loses, therefore go away." Even if we were unable to get those last few percentage points, we would still not be politically powerless! We just need to step into our power. Consider for instance, in this celebrity cult which is America, how many celebrities support marijuana legalization! The Beatles, Willie Nelson, apparently Whitney Houston... oh & BTW, she doesn't have to show up for her own trial?! What's that all about? You know, if these celebrities had to follow the rules that the rest of us have to follow, I think we would hear a lot more public condemnation of the drug war. 
mungojelly
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Comment #3 posted by Dan B on October 24, 2000 at 22:05:47 PT:
Direct Democracy: The Best Thing Going.
"Why not just put the legislature out of business and govern by referendum?"A good question. The reason why public referendum has become the democratic vehicle of choice is that our "representatives" rarely, if ever, follow through with what they promise. The result is that the people have to step in and do the legislators' jobs for them. By the way, the "direct democracy" process is doing exactly what it was intended to do. Intead of mining and railroad interests, our current democracy is run by pharmaceutical, petroleum, and other corporate interests. The "direct democracy" process is still our best way to keep those "interests" in check, and I believe it is the only way Washington will ever listen to the will of the people.Long live direct democracy!Also by the way, if "about half" of the people who took the poll described above believe that marijuana should be illegal, it stands to reason that the other half do not. This is in spite of the American government;s aggressive campaign of misinformation regarding marijuana for the past 80 years. That sounds like a very clear mandate by "about half" of the population to make some major changes with regard to marijuana laws.Dan B
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 24, 2000 at 12:36:11 PT:
News Briefs From The Associated Press
Willie Nelson Lauds Marijuana Tuesday October 24 11:31 AM ETNEW YORK (AP) - Willie Nelson says marijuana and exercise are part of his daily routine.That's what the 67-year-old country singer tells Details magazine in its November issue.``I don't want to call it a drug - an herb is not a drug. It's good for stress, which is the biggest killer on the planet,'' Nelson is quoted as saying about marijuana. ``If you need some temporary help in getting through the day, cannabis is the best way.''And when it comes to male-female relationships, Nelson's choice as a guide: ``Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus.''``It's the best explanation I've heard. The only one that makes sense to me,'' he says.'' Houston Not Expected at Drug Hearing Tuesday October 24 2:38 PM ETKAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - Prosecutors say they don't expect Whitney Houston to attend a hearing on a marijuana-possession charge against her, but an attorney will appear on her behalf.The arraignment was set for Thursday, but was pushed back to Nov. 2. If convicted of possessing marijuana, the pop star would face up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.Houston's handbag was seized by a security guard at Keahole-Kona International Airport after a routine search on Jan. 11. Police reported the bag contained half an ounce of marijuana.Houston and her husband, singer Bobby Brown, boarded a flight to San Francisco before police arrived.Houston, 37, has won six Grammy awards. Her best-known hit is ``I Will Always Love You.'' 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 24, 2000 at 12:13:47 PT:
Important E-Mail and Press Release
Hi Everyone, Dr. Russo sent me a couple important emails and I posted them on my ezboard for you to see!Peace, FoM!
Cannabis & Marijuana News Board
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