We here at Recycled Minds made a deliberate decision to avoid posting or sharing things about the presidential election in the U.S. - why you may ask? It was our way of protesting politics as usual - as incredible amounts of money were spent on election campaigns, and candidate's rhetoric evolved into the typical pandering to certain demographics until the ultimate message became garbled and unclear. After watching Obama's victory speech, it became clear that he has returned to his original message of change, and that this election could prove to be one of the most important in the history of the country. With that, we would like to share a different victory of sorts: one that coincided with that of Obama's - some major wins for marijuana reform laws. The Drug War mongers are back on their heels, and lets hope that continues on - to their complete fall into the abyss. Some coverage of the victories was posted on Alternet and the Drug War Chronicle. These share the news and explain why it remains so important to change these laws.
From Alternet:
On Tuesday, largely under the radar of the pundits and political chattering classes, voters dealt what may be a fatal blow to America's longest-running and least-discussed war -- the war on marijuana.Michigan voters made their state the 13th to allow the medical use of marijuana by a whopping 63 percent to 37 percent, the largest margin ever for a medical marijuana initiative. And by 65 percent to 35 percent, Massachusetts voters decriminalized the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, replacing arrests, legal fees, court appearances, the possibility of jail and a lifelong criminal record with a $100 fine, much like a traffic ticket, that can be paid through the mail.What makes these results so amazing is that they followed the most intensive anti-marijuana campaign by federal officials since the days of "Reefer Madness." Marijuana arrests have been setting all-time records year after year, reaching the point where one American is arrested on marijuana charges every 36 seconds. More Americans are arrested each year for marijuana possession -- not sales or trafficking, just possession -- than for all violent crimes combined.
Nothing short of amazing really. I know this is only being naive, but in one day, it seems like the world is a little less crazy.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting if this issue went national...if on average someone is arrested on marijuana charges every 36 seconds, imagine how much money is tied up in that. Decriminalizing or loosening drug laws would surely help state & national budgets.