i would like to say we are gonna do our part to try to change the mind of stupid people who will do whatever the politician man says. the man who could careless if you were dieing a man who could careless if you child was bleeding in the streets a man who will speak the way he feels, which us americans are not allowed to do, these people give us americans bad names when they decide to control the world hmmm sounds a little like the nazis which the us backed before we went to war with them lol...anyways besides the point we are getting those petitions soon from this web site about the whole emry bullshit. we are going to support him and also we found this cool little thing called the TRUTH online about Marijuana and we are gonna print them out and we are gonna walk around with other people and put it on houses, cars, and so on to try to change even one persons mind. we are gonna write our senator even if he dont like it we will write again. there is alot a person can do to help without having to be in the full view of the world....we will get marijuana LEGAL i know it i can feel it.....so i thought i would share this with other people who feel the same and to let you all know what we are doing in IOWA and Omaha Nebraska.....toke one up for the people who are part of the revolution....

Hey good 1st post, we welcome you

Hello. So that's what happens when a person contacts their representative about marijuana. Thanks for the information.
Sending money to organizations that work to legalize and/or regulate marijuana like alcohol and cigarettes is a good thing.

You should have people call their reps! I wasn't content with the form letters either, so I started making phone calls. Take into consideration that us americans have a lazy streak, and it's a lot easier to pick up the phone, then to write a letter. Not only that but consider the impact of a phone call, or better yet a flood of them. If you ran a highly successful letter writing campaign the staffers at the reps office would receive big bags of mail, that they had to print form letters for. Big Deal. On the flip side of that coin if you run a successful call in campaign their phones are constantly ringing, with people upset at the other end (always be polite yet firm) and at the end of the day, it has much more lasting effect on them.

Here's my best example of a flier I handed out all over my neck of the woods at college campuses, around town, in bars, under windshield whipers, even at my congressmans church (under windshield wipers during service):

Would you feel safer with a person convicted of rape, or a person convicted of a marijuana offense in a dorm of your college? Guess which one has restrictions on Federal Financial Aid?
Call Mark Green and ask him why he'd prefer a rapist on your campus! Toll Free 1-800-773-8579
For more info see www.raiseyourvoice.com

Yeah I know it's highly controversial, but I didn't give a shit. When I'd hand out these fliers I'd explain to people that a person convicted for growing flowers can't get financial aid, but rapists, murderers, and armed robbers can still receive an education. Mark Green voted for this legislation, and has yet to act on legislation stopping the real criminals from receiving an education. Where's his priorities? Call this guy, don't be shy he works for you.

One day I called his office and said I received one of my fliers from a nice young man, and I was wondering if it was true. The staffer gave an exasperated sigh and said he knew about the fliers being circulated, but that they didn't tell the whole story, and they'd be happy to send me a form letter. The letter confirmed everyting I told these people, since I had already received the same letter before. I haven't had as much time to circulate my fliers in a while, but I plan on doing a lot of it this summer, since we've got governor elections this November, and this Republican from hell is planning on moving up from Congress to become governor!

Whenever you call politicians you get their staffers, whose job it is to stand between you and the politician. I've got telemarketing experience so I try to use my powers of persuasion to get a hold of them. Sometimes it doesn't work, but more often then not I get through to them eventually. You will be very nervous, if your anything like me, but plan your arguments in advance and try to think of the worst thing to shoot down what you have to say, and be prepared for them to use it against you, and have your rebuttle prepared (ex: but states that legalize medical marijuana will have easier access for kids...Well actually representative, states that legalize have lower rates of kids using drugs, and if you want to score some pot it's a lot easier for a high school student to find it at school then for an elderly patient to find it on the street, with the laws as they stand now. Any change would likely be for the better).

In closing emails and letters can be deleted or thrown out, but a live person on the phone is a completely different story, they can hang up, but that's pretty bad PR. Just try to do it sober, and possibly taking notes before hand wouldn't hurt for a quick glance in case you flake.

That's great what you did, 1984! I'll be calling my reps from now on..

Dez

A fun issue to get them on is alcohol prohibition. Have somebody who hasn't contacted them before plead with the politician to make alcohol illegal. Then watch in amazement as they get a letter in the mail (some things are better to get on paper, then over the phone).

It's interesting reading. The same politician who talked about the dangers of drugs, is saying things like "The idea of bringing back prohibition is an interesting one, but one that I don't think is necessary. I think the answer lies with folks exercising more personal responsibility" and after calling the office and saying that I wasn't satisfied by that letter I received another one that ends with:
"I believe this is the best way to ensure people can responsibly and safely enjoy alchol" after saying we should just enforce the laws we've got instead of making new ones. After more research I discovered Mark Green was the 1996 Wisconsin Tavern League Association "Legislator of the year". I pointed out the hipocracy of his stance against marijuana. Then I received a letter saying we've got to agree to disagree. Mark Green is one of the politicians I've been unable to reach directly by phone. I did meet him in person once at a republican election night party and shook his hand, and started to tell him who I was (that guy that sends all the letters about marijuana and alcohol prohibition) and he got really uncomfortable, and his "bodyguard" (or so it seemed) whisked him away to go shake rich people's hands instead, but I think I got into his head. I thought about heckling him further, but I got nervous being in the wolve's den full of his supporters. It seemed so surreal at the time. I'll get him this year though, I'll call him out on all his bullshit in public.....somehow. Now THAT'S a lot more nerve wracking then phone calls even IMO.

Thanks for all the info, 1984. I will call my rep. and see if I can get through.. most likely not, but whoever answers will hear a lot from me.

These politicians can't respond when they're confronted with their hypocracy. They want their booze legal, and they have such a inaccurate opinion of cannabis. My rep wrote me back, and quoted a doctor saying it causes pulmonary problems.. that's why it's illegal. I'll compare it to alcohol.. that's how Denver legalized it..

Dez

I'm not normally a big advocate of dealing with the g-ment buggerers, but that's great work 1984! Thanks!

I would suggest forming a NORML chapter down in the KEYS and go for your medical initiative in KEY WEST. That Island is already the bomb, imagine it with compassion clubs and coffee houses. Mikey