The 2014 Legislature Midterms – One More Hurdle To Overcome by Chris Tucker
The midterm elections of 2014 are shaping up to feature similar legislation to Initiative 502 in Washington and Amendment 64 here in Colorado. The ballot will once again be open to legalize recreational use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21, and with more members of Generation Y becoming eligible to vote with each election, the measure will most likely pass in more and more states in the near future. The legalization of recreational marijuana will create significant growth in the MMJ industry and the driving force behind many of the actions are a direct result of nonprofit organizations and what they do to help this booming industry.
Non-profit organizations such as Sensible Colorado, the Marijuana Policy Project( MPP) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy( SSDP) aim to increase public support for noncoercive and nonpunitive marijuana policies while trying to change state laws to reduce or eliminate penalties for the medical and non-medical use of marijuana. Leading up to 2014 legislature midterms, there is still much that will need to be done if the dream of a fully legal cannabis nation is to be realized.
MPP, for example, advocates taxing and regulating the possession and sale of marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, envisions a nation where marijuana education is honest and realistic, and believes treatment for problem marijuana users should be non-coercive and geared toward reducing harm. As part of their strategy for this, they are gearing up to get seven current states with medical marijuana laws to become completely legal.
Sensible Colorado says,“ This is historic. So much work has gone into implementing this but there is still more to be done. But it needs to be done right. It takes a true commitment from everyone.”
There are laws around the country that will need to be changed when more states become legal, such as the ones pertaining to discrimination of MMJ patients and their rights. Brian Vicente, co-author of Amendment 64, has quite a bit of interaction with all of the medical marijuana non-profits and he says that people are very excited about this.“ We have worked so hard for many years with steadfast determination. Contact your elected representative and show up at town council meetings to voice your opinion about these changes for the upcoming election. Let your voice be heard.”
Going into the 2014 midterms, all of these non-profit organizations are building up their game plan leading into the new election year.“ Working together and moving forward in a positive direction is the key,” says Vicente.
This cannot be done without help. Donations and volunteers are greatly appreciated in order to help achieve the success that these organizations have fought long and hard for. As with any political issue, if you believe in something, write your local politician. Attend town hall meetings and get involved in the process. Use your voice. It’ s the strongest tool you have.
If you are interested in getting involved with these organizations, please visit:
Non-profits understand the need to work together as one unit in order to make all these goals become a reality. There is excitement in the aftermath of Amendment 64 passing that all of these organizations are reveling in. Joshua Kappel of sensiblecolorado. org www. mpp. org ssdp. org thcmag. com 45