Weedists, We’re Still Being Called Bitches (at the Polls)

Protest in Oscar Grant Plaza in Oakland on July 25, 2012 while Obama was fundraising in town.

Prompted by Libertarian 2012 POTUS nominee Gary Johnson‘s statement in Seattle last week that marijuana will be legalized by 2016, Examiner.com writes “by going to pot, Gary Johnson has assured he will be marginalized and have little or no effect on the 2012 election nationally.”

Much like The American Prospect calling us out as an inept or disinterested voting bloc, Examiner.com throws down the same challenge at us:

The voters have never shown a willingness to elect a candidate to the presidency who makes legalizing pot the number one issue. Never at any time have the polls on issue priorities ever shown the American people viewing the legalizing of marijuana as the highest national priority. The Libertarian Party nominee always goes to pot and marginalizes themselves by doing so.

After 75 years of prohibition, haven’t we endured long enough? Examiner.com completely ignores mentioning counterpoints in the face of its own argument such as:

• Numerous recent polls showing all-time support for marijuana reform.
• Elected officials who have lost their public seats this year for being too zealous on the war on cannabis.
• Colorado, Oregon, and Washington are voting on full legalization in November.
• Connecticut passed a medical marijuana law and Kentucky is actively working on it.
• Obama and his administration’s relentless and brutally effective attacks on medical marijuana is causing real human suffering and is striking a cord with non-marijuana using voters.
• The above few examples and many more will demonstrate to the larger public that the federal government is out of touch with its people and should be focused fixing our troubled economy.
• As the NY Times wrote, the US can no longer strong arm other nations into the insanity that is the present war on drugs.

Numbers prove we can send a message heard around the world at the 2012 POTUS polls

• For the first time in 2009, there were over 100 million American adults or 44.3% of all American adults who have tried marijuana in their lifetime.
• Over 25 million adults or 11.2% of all American adults used marijuana last year.
• Almost 15 million adults or 6.6% of all American adults used marijuana last month.
• A recent nationwide poll by Rasmussen Reports found that 56 percent of Americans support “legalizing marijuana and regulating it like alcohol or cigarettes.”
• A recent nationwide poll by Mason-Dixon shows that 74% want Obama to respect states’ rights on medical marijuana.
  

Only 131.3 million people voted in the 2008 POTUS election. Look at the massive numbers above who have used, presently use, or support the civil liberties plight of marijuana prohibition. Romney and Obama are neck in neck. We can send an unforgettable message around the globe on America’s desire for marijuana reform by not endorsing Romney or Obama’s plan to support the same failed status quo on the war on drugs.

Use democracy as it was intended; take the time to vote for the candidates that best support your interests through actions (versus empty campaign promises) and just once, ask not what cannabis can do for you, ask what you can do for cannabis.