Legalization for all in WA, we need volunteers to make it happen!

[legalizeitgirl]

Hey all,

I'm a Clark County volunteer for Sensible Washington, the non-profit organization who authored I-1068, the Washington state initiative to legalize marijuana for adults 18 and over.

We need YOUR help (yes, you, Washington state residents!)!

We have until June 27th to gather the rest of the 241,153 signatures needed in order for this to get on November's ballot. Our volunteer-only efforts have been awesome, but we need more man/woman-power.

People WANT to sign this initiative; the problem is that we don't have enough signature gatherers for it to be available to all who would like to sign.

For those of you in Clark County who have been unable to find a petition-holder, or know of others in my area who would like to sign, I will be in Vancouver at the intersection at Chaklov/112th in front of Trader Joe's this Saturday (6/19) and Sunday (6/20). We will be there from 11am until 4pm.

This Thursday (6/17) we will have volunteers in front of Vancouver's Whole Foods at 164th and Mill Plain from 5:30-7:30pm.

Next Friday (6/25) we will be in downtown Vancouver at the Hilton (across from Esther Short Park), for the WA State Democratic Convention from 10am until 2pm. That Saturday (6/26) we will be at the Events center at the Clark County Fairgrounds at 8:15am for the continuation of the convention.

Send people our way, come down yourselves, or put your feet to the pavement and help make LEGALIZATION of CANNABIS a reality for Washington State!

Thanks,
jill :)

[jamessr]

According to phil jill, we only need 165k more by the deadline...:(

10 days, a 165k people...what are the odds here??

I live in CC also..and have signed the petition...and I believe I am one of the one's already counted, so I won't be seeing you but, some folks I know will be.:D

Good luck and best wishes..

Sinc. James Sr.

Hey Gypski !! Catch them addresses?? :pimp:

[MuddyPaws]

I registered and signed the petition yesterday, here's hoping!! :thumbsup:

[killerweed420]

Realistically it doesn't have much of a chance this year which is why I didn't get involved other than to sign the petition. We still need to get voters to sign it as much as we can. There just wasn't much time to get the whole thing funded and organized.
If Sensible tries again next year I'll be donating time and money to try and help the cause. Hopefully they can get some funding so they can get some air time on media to push the intiative.

[legalizeitgirl]

Thank you for your signatures! :)

James Sr. and "Killerweed" --Would it be possible for you to HELP gather and put yourself out there with a petition, instead of doubting what this grassroots campaign is capable of accomplishing?

â??Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attemptâ?�--William Shakespeare

Frankly, if you choose not to get involved over doubts about its success, then you are contributing to its failure.

We still have time. We still have people expending the energy. We still have a chance. Let's fight the good fight. :thumbsup:

[jamessr]

Thank you for your signatures! :)

James Sr. and "Killerweed" --Would it be possible for you to HELP gather and put yourself out there with a petition, instead of doubting what this grassroots campaign is capable of accomplishing?

â??Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attemptâ?�--William Shakespeare

Frankly, if you choose not to get involved over doubts about its success, then you are contributing to its failure.

We still have time. We still have people expending the energy. We still have a chance. Let's fight the good fight. :thumbsup:

Unfortunately my dear,

You have misread my post..I have no doubt my dear. I have disabilities which would not allow me to hang out and join in. My appearance would not be conducive to the cause. People would most likely avoid me.lol.(my daughter once asked me to help sell cookies, she has better luck without dad distracting from her cause.)

I was posing a question to you...what are the odds?? Sorry if I wasn't clear.

[legalizeitgirl]

I apologize for misreading the question you posed; there have been many nay-sayers as of late, so my mind automatically jumps to the defense.

Your question is a good one--I'd like to know myself.

I DO know that our odds of success increase with every ACTIVE volunteer we recruit. Dissemination is key to this fight.

So James Sr., though you are differently-abled, I'm sure that you can take an active role in the recruitment of others to our collective cause. We ALL know people, and can all be responsible for spreading the word and motivating each other. :)

[MuddyPaws]

Doing something is better than doing nothing..."we" want it Legal and "we" won't mind if you're a little scruffy....the help would be nice :hippy:

[legalizeitgirl]

^^Agreed. :thumbsup:

There have been 100 views on this thread in less than 24 hours...people are interested in this topic.

If each of these 100 potential activists went out and gathered 40 signatures apiece, we would have another 4,000 signatures to add to our fight. Simple math and food for thought...;)

[killerweed420]

The last I've heard is we're about 50% short of the needed signatures. Its just not realistic to think they can be got by the 27th. Hopefully Doug and others can work to get some funding for another try in 2011. I'll be there for that. I just have too many commitments right now including the possibility I'll be donating a lung.

[legalizeitgirl]

As I responded above to James Sr.--
Our odds of success increase with every ACTIVE volunteer we recruit. Dissemination is key to this fight.

You can continue doubting the "realism" of what we're attempting, but negativity breeds only negativity.

We can ALL take an active role in the recruitment of others to our collective cause, regardless of how much we're otherwise committed in other aspects of life.

If you need to be an "armchair freedom fighter," then at least use the means available to you in spreading the word (chatrooms/message boards/email/cell phone text campaign...). I challenge you to use what you've got and be creative. :)

[legalizeitgirl]

I hope all of you silent bystanders are engaging in the fight for cannabis legalization using the technologies available to you!

Start a TEXT CAMPAIGN with your cellphones! Let people know where they can find the petition, to either sign or become a volunteer themselves!

Load up MESSAGE BOARDS to spread the word about what we're doing!

Go to CHATROOMS! (Do people still use chatrooms?) :)

IM your friends!

EMAIL ANYONE WHO MIGHT WANT BETTER DRUG LAWS!!

[gypski]

With the enthusiasm that you volunteers are showing it will be a great travesty not to get it on the ballot. I hope you get it done. :thumbsup:

[jamessr]

I apologize for misreading the question you posed; there have been many nay-sayers as of late, so my mind automatically jumps to the defense.

Your question is a good one--I'd like to know myself.

I DO know that our odds of success increase with every ACTIVE volunteer we recruit. Dissemination is key to this fight.

So James Sr., though you are differently-abled, I'm sure that you can take an active role in the recruitment of others to our collective cause. We ALL know people, and can all be responsible for spreading the word and motivating each other. :)

So I asked art curtis the CC prosecuting attorney to sign the petition for ya, he asked me if I wanted to see the inside of a CC jail cell. Just my luck!!!

[legalizeitgirl]

So I asked art curtis the CC prosecuting attorney to sign the petition for ya, he asked me if I wanted to see the inside of a CC jail cell. Just my luck!!!

Hmm...maybe someone's afraid of being out of a job if this passes. :)

You will probably have better results (and no more threats) by asking non-judicial system employees.

Many members of law enforcement support this (even if they don't feel comfortable signing), as every possession charge requires an annoying amount of paperwork for them.

One would think the county prosecutor would be pleased at having a lightened case load in an overburdened "justice" system...;)

[legalizeitgirl]

gypski--thanks for showing support! :)

I notice you're a Washington resident--I'm assuming you've signed? Have you been involved on the recruitment front, or carrying a petition for everyone you know to sign?

Dates, times and locations are in the original message for where we'll be available to those who want to have some laws rewritten! Send people our way! :thumbsup:

[gypski]

gypski--thanks for showing support! :)

I notice you're a Washington resident--I'm assuming you've signed? Have you been involved on the recruitment front, or carrying a petition for everyone you know to sign?

Dates, times and locations are in the original message for where we'll be available to those who want to have some laws rewritten! Send people our way! :thumbsup:

I've done my part to this point, but I better check up on your signing sites this week-end to make sure your crew is working their butts off!!! :D

[legalizeitgirl]

Hey all,

Volunteers at SensibleWashington had an AMAZING idea to aid our fight in CANNABIS LEGALIZATION for Washington state: pay for a print ad in Seattle's "The Stranger" weekly newspaper, with a copy of our petition inserted with the advertisement.

80,000 copies of "The Stranger" are picked up by people EACH WEEK! Just TWO signatures on EACH copy distributed would be enough to ensure I-1068's place on our November ballot! Great idea, huh? :D

What we need in order to do this, all you "armchair warriors," are DONATIONS!! Printing the ads and inserting 80,000 petitions is certainly not free (but I bet it would be much cheaper if using HEMP paper...)!

https://sensiblewashington.org/donate/

It's an easy way to help out, every little bit (even $5) helps, and you can do it from the privacy of your home. It's a secure site, and they accept Visa or MasterCard. They've got $100 of my money, and I'm an unemployed student. :thumbsup:

If you feel uncomfortable listing your employer, enter that you're "unemployed," because I don't think it'll be accepted if left blank. (If anyone finds out otherwise, let me know!)

Thanks for any and all help you can lend! :)
~jill

"Be the change you want to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi

[legalizeitgirl]

We're only $265 away from our goal! :)

Donations must be made by 4pm today, as this is when "The Stranger's" deadline is.

Thanks, if you've chipped in already! :thumbsup:

[tango244ns]

will be there to sign petition.thabks for all the work....

[legalizeitgirl]

You're welcome!

Bring your friends, or anyone sympathetic to our cause! :)

[legalizeitgirl]

Our goal for donations was reached and exceeded!! :D

Sensible Washington will have a full page advertisement, with a petition inserted, into 80,000 copies of next week's edition of The Stranger. The Stranger is a weekly, free, alternative newspaper distributed in Seattle. Check them out: The Stranger - Seattle's Only Newspaper (http://www.thestranger.com/)

Thank you for anyone who was able to donate (or wanted to, but was unable to). :)

[jamessr]

So jill, who was the person with the shirt on saying legalize it out in front of fred myers mill plain/112th saturday ? Cause the "OLD" guy with the red hat," SCRAGGLY" gray beard and "PLAID" jacket about ran her away into the street..lol.

Just think of him hanging out asking people to sign...it would not be conducive to anyone's cause now would it??:D

God forbid you would have thought it was me.lol.

By the way, you are one fine young lady.:thumbsup: Keep up the good work, and glad gypski was able to assist you in your endeavors today...

I look forward to actually meeting you some day.

[legalizeitgirl]

jamessr--Was that you that walked by in such a hurry (going north on Chaklov toward Mill Plain)? Or am I thinking of a different "scruffy" guy?

You should've stopped by and introduced yourself! No fair that you knew to look out for me, and I had no idea who you were. Sneaky. :)

I only actively engage those who engage me first; I don't want to be that annoying girl who holds people up when they're in a hurry. I figure those who see what I'm doing and want to talk to me will do that. ;)

I'm heading back out there today, 11a-4p again--come out and actually say "HELLO!" this time! :D

[jamessr]

jamessr--Was that you that walked by in such a hurry (going north on Chaklov toward Mill Plain)? Or am I thinking of a different "scruffy" guy?

You should've stopped by and introduced yourself! No fair that you knew to look out for me, and I had no idea who you were. Sneaky. :)

I only actively engage those who engage me first; I don't want to be that annoying girl who holds people up when they're in a hurry. I figure those who see what I'm doing and want to talk to me will do that. ;)

I'm heading back out there today, 11a-4p again--come out and actually say "HELLO!" this time! :D

No my dear, that wasn't me but, could have been. I was just sitting in gypski' vehicle behind you watching the bumb almost run you into the road...I gasped, then lol.

If I am in the area, I will stop and say "HELLO".

[legalizeitgirl]

Hey all,

This Friday (6/25), we'll be outside the Washington State Democratic Convention from 10am until 2pm collecting signatures. We may have volunteers who are able to be there later than 2pm; I'll keep this post updated. The address for where this day of the convention will be held is: 301 W 6th Street, Vancouver, WA 98660.

On Saturday (6/26), the convention continues at the Clark County Fairgrounds Events Center, located at: 17402 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield, WA 98642. We will have volunteers present from 7:30am until late afternoon (convention does not have a set end-time).

Our FINAL DAY FOR GATHERING SIGNATURES to secure I-1068 a place on November's Washington state ballot is SUNDAY, JUNE 27th! We're planning on spending the last day gathering signatures at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver, outside the Farmer's Market.

ALL SIGNATURES MUST BE SENT IN ON MONDAY, JUNE 28TH!

Thank you to everyone in Clark County who made it out to our collecting site last weekend! :D

Be an active member in the political process and your community--send your friends and family our way this coming weekend! :thumbsup:

[legalizeitgirl]

I-1068 has now been endorsed by the Washington state Democrats, in a 314 to 185 vote! Read more about it here: Washington State Democrats Endorse I-1068 | Sensible Washington (http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/washington-state-democrats-endorse-i-1068/comment-page-1/#comment-2052)

Sensible Washington and the residents of Washington who want to see cannabis legalization on November's ballot appreciate this support! :)

[legalizeitgirl]

Well, it's looking like I-1068 is not going to make it onto the ballot this year. :(
It's estimated that we were short by 30-40k signatures. This is not a very large number, considering our gathering was done on a PURELY VOLUNTEER basis.

Sensible Washington will be submitting a new initiative (with a new initiative number) on January 3rd, 2011. This is the soonest it can be submitted.

In the meantime, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE and plan!

We've got the next six months to strategize, and educate people about the benefits of cannabis legalization and Sensible Washington's mission.
Please, please, PLEASE keep spreading the message, talking with your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family, and let everyone know the truths about prohibition and the "war on drugs."

We may have lost this battle, but the war is still being waged against social injustice, prohibition and senseless drug policies. Don't give up, and don't be disheartened--we can win this someday!:D

Start considering NOW how you can help in the future, with your time, financial resources, and/or involving your social networks. We're more powerful as a team, and each person's contribution will make our goal attainable. :)

Thanks, all. :hippy:
jill

[legalizeitgirl]

Hey all,

Just checking in and bumping up the thread, to remind everyone of the importance of this gaining a place on the 2011 ballot.

We have more people incarcerated in the United States than any other nation (including China, which is an authoritarian regime with a population more than four times larger than our own); the majority of the charges placing them there are non-violent drug charges, specifically cannabis.

Remember this, research the facts yourself, spread the word, and keep hope alive for better national drug policies, which start at the state level. :)

[Gatekeeper777]

start a state wide fund for it.
Hire people to clooect the number of signatures needed. say at $1.00 per signature.
You will give incentive and you will help the local ecconomy.

[legalizeitgirl]

Sensible Washington (the group responsible for submitting the initiative to the Secretary of State, and for coordinating all of last year's volunteer efforts) has a website set up to accept donations from private individuals(check them out: Donate to Sensible Washington (http://sensiblewashington.org/blog/donate/)).

Unfortunately (in this case), in order to donate to a political organization you must disclose your name, occupation, employer--basically a bunch of information that people are fearful about providing. So far, donations have been not even enough to cover administrative costs associated with campaigning.

I legitimately don't know the answer to this: is there a difference between a public fund and the donation button on their website?

As far as paying per signature goes...SensibleWA tried REALLY hard to find funding for this. This article (Sensible Washingtonâ??s Response To The ACLU of Washingtonâ??s Refusal Of Support For I-1068 (http://sensiblewashington.org/blog/uncategorized/sensible-washingtons-response-to-the-aclu-of-washingtons-refusal-of-support-for-i-1068/)) goes into the ACLU's refusal to endorse the initiative--because of this refusal, organizations with financial clout chose to avoid association with us.

All the other initiatives for Washington state had paid gatherers, except this one. Their gatherers were paid by HUGE interest groups/corporations (such as Costco, Pepsi, etc.), and unsurprisingly, all of those other initiatives made it onto this year's ballot. But I completely agree with you: providing incentive ($$) is necessary in this process.

Without funding: awareness can't be raised, myths about cannabis can't fully be debunked, there's a massive struggle to have printing costs covered, and (many) signature gatherers don't necessarily feel strong motivation to go stand out in our crappy spring weather for hours at a time. *Sigh*

I've had some time to mull this all over...so I apologize for such a long reply to such a brief suggestion. :)

[killerweed420]

I think Doug can still do it with the voluntary organization he had before. There's more time now and it can be better organized and more people involved.
I will be involved this time so I guess its time to get me a haircut and and a shave and look respectable again.lol Don't want to go around looking too much like Doug.lol