ArkNORML News- July 2008

Fighting for every Inch
by Glen Schwarz

    Like a World War I battle, vast amounts of time, money and effort must be made to gain every inch of ground against the fanatic prohibitionists. Reformers might hope that one day the American people will wake up and realize what an absurd position they defend; "Gee, it is the policy of my government to hunt the most versatile plant known to man to extinction, and to imprison anyone who is caught growing it." But don't count on this epiphany any time soon. Let's drive around the front and see what gains are being eked out this election season.

The Fayetteville Petition

    In Fayetteville, organizer Ryan Denham has collected over 4,000 signatures, or about 110% of the minimum needed for a local marijuana reform. The initiated city ordinance will declare the enforcement and prosecution of marijuana crimes to be the lowest possible priority for the city. Denham and his activists will continue to collect signitures until the deadline on August 4. He hopes to turn in 150% of the minimum needed, in order to compensate for signitures declared invalid. There is no second chance or grace period for initiated city ordinaces.

    Denham led a similar effort in Eureka Springs during the last general election. Only 150 voter signitures put the ordinace on the ballot in the tiny village. The free spirits there then passed the ordinace during the November balloting. Little difference has been noticed in the number of marijuana cases busted by local police. But the will of the people was expresed and the forces of reform inched forward.

    Some believe that if a major Arkansas city like Fayettville passes such a reform, then the stage will be set for a marijuana decrimnalization bill in the state legilature. Home is just over that hill boys, keep going!

Massachusets and Michigan

    Efforts led by the reform lobbyists at Marijuana Policy Project placed two initiatives on state ballots for the November elections. Massachusets voters will decide on a decrim measure, which will treat simple possession of pot as a violation, punishable only by citiation and fine. If passed, Mass will be the 12th state to reduce penalties in this manner, but the first to do so by inititiated act.

    Another vote in Michigan will attempt to make it the 13th state to allow medical access to marijuana by patients who can derive benefit from it. Pain, nausea, spasticity and depression are all symptoms for which the psycoactive herb can be effective. Most of the medical states passed this reform by initiated act.

    The medical use of pot in the current dozen states is also a key difference between the major party presidential candidates. Obama would cease the DEA intervention in the medical states. McCain would continue them. And according to MPP, the Republican candidate was rude to and got angry at the person who asked him the question.

Vermont and Hemp

    A bill to allow Vermont farmers to grow hemp was recently passed into law in the granite state. Hemp is the versatile cash crop that is the most tragic victim of the American pre-occupation with sobriety. A growing cadre of states are choosing to just ignore the DEA watchdogs and give to their farmers the OK to begin production to compete with Canadian and European sources.

    In conclusion, every means at our diposal; legilative action, initiated act, and capitalist venture must all be used to make any progress against the lard-ass inertia of 70 years of prohibition. It will take our biggest guns to root out the opponents of freedom. So move them up and fire away!

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