MAPP Newsletter, by Lanny Swerdlow, R.N.: Nov. 4, 2012
Lanny's MAPP Newsletter
November 4, 2012
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Eric Holder. the Obama Administrationâ??s Attorney General, has been surprisingly silent on the marijuana legalization measures in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Even though nine (yes 9!) former heads of the Drug Enforcement Administration have signed a letter asking him to intervene in these legalization initiatives in the same way he intervened in Californiaâ??s Prop. 19, he has yet to do so.
On October 15, 2010, AG Holder released a letter threatening the citizens of California in support of Prop. 19 by stating that the Dept. of Justice â??will vigorously enforce the Controlled Substance Act against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law."
Many people feel that it was Holderâ??s threats that turned the tide against Prop. 19 which had been leading in the polls with about a 52% approval rating but ended up narrowly losing receiving a respectable but still losing 47.5% of the vote. Since neither side had spent significant money to run ads, most people in California, although aware of the Proposition, had not heard much of the way of arguments on either side. Holderâ??s statement picked up by all media and given prominent play is credited with causing a small but very significant switch in voter support.
Thatâ??s why the 9 former DEA heads want Holder to do it again, but here it is November 4, just two days before the election and except for a single letter written by a considerably lower level Dept. of Justice employee, nothing has been said. Why did Holder threaten fire and brimstone in 2010 and in 2012 utters not a word?
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[align=left] Two theories are floating around in the political ether.[/align]
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Theory One:
Colorado is one of the nine fabled swing states that will decide who becomes President in 2013. Amendment 64, Coloradoâ??s marijuana legalization initiative is currently leading 52% to 43% whereas President Obama leads Mitt Romney by only 47% to 45%. Clearly voters in Colorado favor marijuana more than they do either Presidential candidate.
It is that bizarre distinction that raises red flags for the Obama re-election team. One of Obamaâ??s largest base of supporters are young people â?? the 18-34 year olds that are so sought after by advertisers. By a huge 30 point margin (61% to 31%), this demographic overwhelmingly favors the legalization of marijuana.
What the Obama team rightfully fears is that if AG Holder comes storming into the fray threatening to â??vigorously enforce the Controlled Substance Act against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law," then a small but significant percentage of those young people will be sufficiently turned off by Obama and vote for either Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson or Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein. Both of these candidates strongly support Amendment 64.
In Colorado the Green and Libertarian parties are stressing their support with the Libertarian Party expending significant (at least significant for the Libertarians) monetary and campaign resources into reaching out to these younger voters specifically with the message that Gary Johnston supports ending marijuana prohibition.
It wouldnâ??t take very many of these voters switching their vote to either Johnson or Stein for Obama to come up on the short end of the stick and wind up losing Colorado to Romney and possibly the election. Holder wants to keep his job and keeping his mouth shut on this issue improves his chances.
Theory Two:
Then there are those with a less cynical and more Pollyanna attitude which is Holderâ??s silence foreshadows a potential change in the Obama administrationâ??s stance on marijuana.
President Obama has real word experiences with the War on Drugs. As a community organizer in Chicago, he no doubt witnessed the horrors caused by the drug war and its overt racist enforcement. In the not so distant past he has called the War on Drugs a failure and has supported marijuana decriminalization. In the more distant past, he knows from his own extremely extensive use of marijuana in high school and college, that marijuana prohibition is far more destructive to our nationâ??s youth than marijuana ever could be.
Could Eric Holderâ??s silence manifest a change in Obamaâ??s policy during a second term? There have been all kinds of scuttlebutt emanating from Washington that reforming the War on Drugs will be an important Obama administration program if he is elected to a second term. I will believe that when I see it, but such a sea change is not unheard of in the Obama administration. He changed his mind on gay marriage (or at least got the courage of his convictions on this flaming subject) and doing the same on marijuana is not that far of a stretch.
This is why the Brownie Mary Democratic Club is so important and will become even more important if President Obama is re-elected. For more information on the Brownie Mary Democratic Club, CLICK HERE
AG Holder could still jump in at the very last moment (with the election just two days away, you canâ??t get much more last moment) and thunder fire and brimstone, but itâ??s awful late in the game to have much of an effect.
Of course there is no reason that it canâ??t be both crass politics and a good sign â?? just because itâ??s crass doesnâ??t mean itâ??s bad.
California is not a swing state â?? Obama is all but certain to carry the state. If you are aghast at Obamaâ??s failure to follow through on his mmj statements during the 2008 campaign, voting for one of the three 3rd party candidates on the ballot is not going to endanger Obamaâ??s candidacy â?? there are just not enough of us out there to make that big a difference â?? I sure wish there were and maybe one day there will be, but that day is not Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.
All the 3rd Party candidates on Californiaâ??s ballot support ending marijuana prohibition. Judge Jim Gray is the vice-presidential candidate on the Libertarian ticket with Gary Johnson. He is a long-time friend of the Inland Empire marijuana community having spoken at many of our meetings and advocated on behalf of our issues. Now that he has retired, he has made ending the War on Drugs a prime focus in his life and certainly deserves our thanks and support.
The Green Party has always been strongly in favor of ending marijuana prohibition and the War on Drugs and their candidate, Dr. Jill Stein has spoken forcefully on the subject. And then there is Roseanne Barr of the Peace and Freedom Party â?? I know that sounds like a joke but thatâ??s what people thought of that second rate actor Ronald Reagan.
Itâ??s the swing states that are going to decide who is President and it may be that the young voters in Colorado turning out en masse to vote for marijuana may be casting the deciding votes. At 7:30 p.m on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at the Riverside MAPP meeting we will either be celebrating the victory or commiserating the loss of the marijuana legalization measures. Those ballot measures along with the Presidential race and many of the statewide and local races will be analyzed and our prospects for success in protecting and expanding medical marijuana laws and marijuana law reform will be discussed.
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What happens Tuesday will affect us for many years â?? learn just how much by joining fellow patients and marijuana law reform activists at the Wednesday, Nov. 7 MAPP meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the offices of Presto Quality Care (formerly THCF Medical Clinic) at 647 Main St., Riverside CA 92501. There will be a cookie and milk bar along with other light refreshments and beverages. Bring a friend, plan to meet old friends and make new ones.
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Lanny Swerdlow vs Paul Chabot
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For those of you who have been following my trials and tribulations with professional drug warrior Paul Chabot, my malicious prosecution civil lawsuit against him for my false arrest back in Oct. 2007 may be occurring on Monday, November 12. I say maybe because this trial has been postponed multiple times over the last two years mainly by Chabotâ??s lawyer.
This case has taken more twists and turns than a roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, but I will have a more detailed history and update on this in my next email newsletter so please watch for it. The trial, if it takes place on Monday, Nov. 12 is going to be explosive especially now that I will be representing myself. Yes â?? representing myself.
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More on how that has come about in the next email, but if you can make it at 8:30 a.m. to the Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse at 8303 Haven Ave. in Rancho Cucamonga 91730, I would sure appreciate your show of support. I promise you the show that day will be worth the price of admission (for those who take me a bit too literally, let me hasten to add that the statement is strictly figurative â?? there is no admission charge to be in court at the trial of the century). [HR] [align=center] [/align]
Ellen Komp from CalNORML, Lynn Lyman, California Director from the Drug Policy Alliance and Cheri Sicard from NORML Womenâ??s Alliance will be the featured guests on the Monday, Nov.5 broadcast and simulcast of Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense.
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Ellen Komp, CalNORML[/align] [align=center]
Lynn Lyman, Drug Policy Alliance
Cheri Sicard, NORML Women's Alliance
Our featured guests have all participated in programs to assess support of candidates for marijuana issues from the President on down. They will present their findings and with what I believe are a womanâ??s more worldly views, provide a nuanced and unique perspective on the 21st century American electoral process that is truly giving us the best government money can buy.
Our studio phone lines will also be open for you to call in with your take on Tuesdayâ??s election. Whether itâ??s about a specific candidate or one of the initiatives on the ballot here in California or elsewhere, we want to hear your opinion, so please call-in to the show on our listener call-in number 888-909-1050.
To clear up all this political mumbo-jumbo, listen to Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense this Monday at 6 p.m. and every Monday at 6 p.m. broadcast over IE Talk radio station KCAA 1050AM and simulcast on the Internet at kcaaradio.com. Click on Listen Live (A or B) to hear the show or click on USTREAMTV to listen and see Uncle Ronnie, Kali Smith and myself as we broadcast and simulcast another exciting, eventful and enjoyable show about marijuana. It will be even more exciting, eventful and enjoyable if you kick back and light up when listening (except if you are driving of course).
As always I would like to thank our sponsors whose support make this award winning show possible â?? Attorney Allen Bartleman, Real Estate Agent Linda Salas, Riverside Medical Cannabis Delivery Service, William Gunn Construction, Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center and Presto Quality Care. If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact me at 760-799-2055 or send me an email to receive information and a rate card which will reveal our very low ad rates.[/align] [/align]
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Are you looking to earn some extra cash and help the movement at the same time? I am looking for a Sales Rep for our radio show Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense. If you are interested in this and want to know more, contact me by sending me an email or calling me at 760-799-2055.[/align]
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[HR] Please take a moment to go to our website, www.marijuananews.org, and make a donation.
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[align=left] WATCH my latest videos HERE or click icon above.[/align]
[HR] MISS THIS WEEK'S RADIO PROGRAM? No problem, click HERE to access the latest Marijuana Compassion & Common Sense Radio Program.
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[align=center] The Human Solution
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[align=center] Because no one should go to jail for a plant - Joe Grumbine
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