Doctor G says: Help me out here !

Perceptions

Perhaps the most important part of any societal change is how you are
seen by the people you want to be involved. And to that end the title you chose to
be gathered under is critically important.
In the sixties as people fought the draft that kept the Vietnam war running
the perception of the principals they stood for was epitomized by the terms used
to describe their actions. A large portion of the population called them â??draft
dodgersâ?� and they refered to themselves as â??resistersâ?�.
When the national press began to refer to â??resistersâ?� their movement
began to make progress. As draft â??dodgersâ?� they were people who avoided their
civic duty, and failed to keep their part of the social contract with our country.
â??Resistersâ?� evoked images of France 1942, with freedom fighters meeting in
secret places while evil men hunted and tortured their members.
â??Resistersâ?� were following the path of good and right, for the good of the
whole community. â??Dodgersâ?� were trying to pull down the democratic principals of
the country to meet their own selfish needs.
If we really want to change the Cannabis laws in this country we have to
change the perceptions of the non smoking population. When smokers are
identified as â??Illegal Drug Abusersâ?� images of Jethro Tullâ??s â??Aqualungâ?� pop into
view. â??Decriminalizationâ?� doesnâ??t present a positive image either. The simplistic
â??Pot Headsâ?� brings Cheech and Chong into view, still not an image most non
smokers would want their children to aspire to.
What we need is a snappy, positive description of our movement.
â??Personal Freedom Supportersâ?� may be accurate, but in these days of the (anti)
Patriot Act this is not a position most people will support. While â??Defenders of the
Founding Fathersâ?� may be entirely accurate, the public lack of understanding
about the founding and financing of the Revolutionary War makes that a hard
sell. â??People of Freedomâ?� sounds good, but itâ??s a bit clunky. â??Drugs Are Really
Excellentâ?� has a nice acronym, but itâ??s been overused and sounds too much like a
Bill and Tedâ??s adventure. â??Supporters of Reasonable Marijuana Legislationâ?� while
accurate lacks the necessary panache. While I personally support the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, â??Normalâ?� is, by definition, a
condition of the majority and, as only fifteen percent of the population at best, has
any first hand experience with cannabis use, the acronym is inaccurate.
So letâ??s get some of that stoned freeassocation brain activity going and see if we
canâ??t come up with something better. Print this one up and read it it to your
buddys before you light up. Come on folks, smoke a fatty and do some
brainstorming. Humm â??Brainstormers for Budâ?�, naw, not quite. Ok smokers,
your turn.

Now I know this belongs under Activism, but not enough people read in that catagory. Anyway I'm asking you to smoke one and talk to each other, how hard is that??
Doctor G

I think it doesn't matter how respectible a name any sort of drug legisation group has so long as people perceive said drug to be the scourge of society. The National Organisation Of Crack Smokers is always going to be seen in a bad light and sadly cannabis is placed on the same or similar level, at least in the US anyway.

yea that is soo tru

i know ppl that think crack is just as bad as pot

so i dont think well be lighting up legally anytime soon

keep toking ppl

later

What I wouldn't give to chill at TGIF's then right after dinner pull out a fat sac of Northern Lights and roll it up right there in the restaurant........then 30 mins later order a wonderful hash brownie sundae..........................on Sunday.

That really would be awesome in the true sense of the word, luckily I think I'll see legalisation in my country before the end of my lifetime. I doubt we'll ever be allowed to smoke in public as smoking tobacco in pubs will soon be banned but even just being able to go to the shop and buying an oz would be great.

damn hippy agitators...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by doctor G

I'm asking you to smoke one and talk to each other, how hard is that??
Doctor G

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It's not hard at all. That's why I do it. It's amazing the things that can be produced with a little bit of marijuana and one's imagination.