It's scary to be labeled an activist. When you're identified as an activist, then you're targeted by this damn war.

It frustrates me that some friends of mine wont even write their elected officials about the drug war, because they don't want to be identified as a pot smoker. Living in a red state is a bitch! How can these people be convinced to get more involved?

p.s wake n bake




Dez

I sometimes feel as if I am spinning my wheels every time I send off a written letter, e-mail, or stop by the local offices of this areas elected officials (Space Coast/Florida). If I get a reply, it is only a "canned" response, and 90% of the time, it is a half-ass rebuttal as to why "my" duly elected representative could never support/condone the "crime" of supporting drug use. And at the local offices, you get some brain washed political welp who is appalled you came into "their" office, and wasting their time with radical nonsense. Then, when you walk away shaking your head, you vent to the very people who you are trying to effect a positive change for, and you get the "I don't have time / I dont vote, or dont want to make waves" reply. Sort of makes you wonder...

Prop

It's very frustratiing .. when I get a form letter reply back, it pisses me off that they could care less what importance my letter had. They don't give a damn that so many people are wasting away in prison for smoking pot.. They're loyal to their corporate buddies first, not us.

I WANT DEMOCRACY BACK!

Dez

Dez, trust me I know exactly what your talking about,but you got to understand alot of people in our country are afraid to even speak about the topic to a total stranger. You just have to be a leader Dez, we need more of them!



Now as far as protesting, hell I would be protesting everyday, if it were'nt for paying bills,goin to school part-time, and the all mighty FEAR it self. Though this is what I'm doing.....


Were I live there at, myself,and 11 other friends of mine from work,and friends when I was in high school,are going to organize a peaceful protest on the front steps of the ST.CLAIR COUNTY COURT HOUSE IN BELLEVILLE,ILLINOIS on April 20th of 07. Why so long? Well first funds, second we are sending out Wavers of when,and what time the Protest occers we will send some out starting Augest, and soforth till the protest starts.



We will be sending out at least 5,000 wavers, hopefully more. Posting the wavers on telephone poles, giving them out to people.

When the event happens, we will be providing soda, water, and many of prizes!

We just started this little idea 4 days ago, I will post any new things going on with our protest.

well it's just good to hear someone else is writing letters and standing up for us canabis users. i understand how frustrating it can be, my closest friend wont write a letter, but he sure love what i grow for him....

to the end of prohabition

Ofallon, it sounds like you're quite the activist yourself! Great you're involved! I wish I could do more than write my Dishonorable politicians. They only listen to the corporations, not us.. but if enough of us wrote them, it WOULD make a difference. Just look at chimpie .. responding to the far right as far as the border is concerned.

Dez

Quote:

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I sometimes feel as if I am spinning my wheels every time I send off a written letter, e-mail, or stop by the local offices of this areas elected officials (Space Coast/Florida).

---

I'm in Florida myself at the moment (Tampa area) and have been giving some thought to whether a ballot initiative for medical marijuana would have a chance in this state. Perhaps in 2008?

The Governor and Senate races are this year. It's unlikely that Jeb will be on the ticket for the oval office. So Florida will be a battleground state in '08.

I have no idea how many "boots on the ground" NORML has in FL or what medical MJ advocates already have in mind for Florida, but it seems to me that a well worded Ballot Initiative might stand a chance. It could also serve to swing the state one way or the other in the presidential election.

Something to think about. It beats wasting time on the whores currently in office.



Vote Smart Florida.org

Hey Prop:
I feel your frustration with regards to those shitty responses.
I always get canned responses from Senators Boxer and Feinstein, in addition to the ones from Rep. Mike Thompson (CA, 1st District). At least Thompson's replies are somewhat positive toward harm-reduction, but discouraging that I always get the same auto-gen response to every cannabis-related concern I email about.

In "real life," I just faced a situation where cowardly people refuse to stand-up for their rights. On the way to our local 420 celebration, one member of our party bowed out because I had a sign drwaing attention to ourselves. I also had a camera (like about half of everyone there did) and that made this dude nervous too. He was like "I don't want anyone to know I toke." I was thinking, "Then why the hell are you going to smoke pot in a public park in front of the gods and everybody, including the cops?"
It was not like I was shooting a documentary about Mr. Buzzkill or anything (he should be flattered if I were to), but he chose to stay home anyway. Better for us, IMHO, as anyone who loves to smoke cannabis (or at least anyone I share a circle with) is OBLIGATED to stand up against the tyranny and oppression of our peaceful culture.

Now that's not to say that I think everyone is obligated to participate publicly, in fact for some (growers, dealers etc.) it is unwise to make yourself known publicly. BUT this dude was willing to smoke weed and be stoned in public, at a POT celebration with about 1500 stoners, so long as he felt no one would see him, which is just stupid. How exactly did my message change anything. Talk about paranoia!

I am so tired of folks wanting to experience the "benefits" without taking any of the risk. Hundreds of thousands of Americans rot in prison while this guy bums MJ off all of us who put ourselves out there for the cause??? That is just unacceptable in my book.

Better all the way around I guess, because that was the day I made a stand and let him know not to come try and bum smoke off me or attempt to butt into the circle anymore, as we don't hang with closet smokers.

I've only ever gotten one response back, prolly canned but at least not ignored:

Dear ******:

Thank you for contacting my office to express your views about reforming Federal laws regarding marijuana use. I appreciate your taking the time to provide me with the benefit of your thinking on this issue. As your elected representative in the U.S. Senate, I value your opinion.

Withkindregards, I am


Sincerely yours,
Robert C. Byrd

That sounds just like the one I got! Damn bastards are all getting paid for their lousy vote to keep pot illegal, and laughing all the way to the bank. And they keep getting reelected year after year. Like that pussy John McCain! And look at Sherriff Joe Arpaio, for instance.. he's elected every single time! And those neo cons down in hell hole Phoenix area love him! They love it that he created Tent City! I can't imagine how awful that would be to be busted and sent there!

Dez