Vote. You know you want to be part of this one, so just do it. I’m not going to tell you who to vote for. By now, if you’ve got a brain, you’ve figured out what you’d like to do with your vote, and don’t need me to help you.
I’m also going to assume that if you have a drug policy related referendum question on your ballot, you’re not going to screw it up. If you’re a reader of this blog and need me to tell you whether to vote for a marijuana decrim referendum, or a release-non-violent-drug-offenders referendum, then it’s time to put down the joint and get off my couch.
If you need to know how your representative voted on drug policy issues, this guide from DPA may help.
24 hours from now, we’re going to know about some winners and losers, but our job won’t be over. It’ll just be getting interesting.
Once the election is done, we can start working on the newly elected officials to let them know about drug policy reform. Learn about your new Representative, and start planning a visit, or a call to their staffers to let them know that there is someone in their district who knows something valuable about drug policy and would like to share it with them.
I’m looking forward to it — with the much anticipated retirement of Representative Jerry Weller (yes, that one), I’ll finally have the opportunity to actually develop a relationship with a new Representative in my district.
And this will be the time, when silly season is over for a few months and politicians aren’t as frightened of drug policy discussions.
One of the positive things I’ve noticed in this election season is the lack of discussion about drugs (outside of specifically drug-related referenda). Yes, I see that as positive, in that nobody was pulling the tough-on-drugs routine. There were plenty of opportunities, and except for insignificant moments (like McCain’s over-the-top rant about performance-enhancing drugs during tonight’s football game), there has been no call for longer prison sentences, or major drug crackdowns, etc.
It appears that the politicians have discovered that there are no votes to gain by pulling out the tough-on-drugs rhetoric. That’s huge!
Sure, they’re not anywhere near the next big step — recognizing that there are votes to gain by supporting reform — but this is a good start.
I still believe that the most important part of our efforts is to educate public opinion so the politicians can follow, but we do have a wonderful opportunity post-election to build a relationship with our political employees.
- DrugWarRant.com, the longest running single-issue blog devoted to drug policy
Join us on Pete's couch.
Send comments, tips,
and suggestions to: Recent Comments
darkcycle on Drug War targets erectile dysfunction pills: “SPAM!” Mar 15, 10:44
Nasha mukhti kedra bhopal on Drug War targets erectile dysfunction pills: “I also appreciate the way you approached the topic with empathy and compassion. Addiction is a complex issue, and it…” Mar 14, 04:28
Son of Sam Walton on Alleged cannabis links to psychosis busted: “So, I’ve heard that the dispos rushed in bulk to vote ‘no’ because they were afraid of the higher taxes…” Mar 12, 08:48
Pete on Drug War targets erectile dysfunction pills: “Thanks as always, Servetus. Good catch, though I suspect the spam filter will be busy once the words “Viagra” and…” Mar 10, 12:26
NorCalNative on Alleged cannabis links to psychosis busted: “Hey dude. Any thoughts on why legalization lost so badly? That 2-to-1 split surprised me.” Mar 8, 13:53
Son of Sam Walton on Alleged cannabis links to psychosis busted: “And for all of you into that whole heavy metal hiking/camping out in the thick German forests in the mountains…” Feb 28, 09:15
Son of Sam Walton on Alleged cannabis links to psychosis busted: “Dogs should be retrained to help their masters find the kindest of kind bud at dispos. Fingers crossed that another…” Feb 28, 09:09
Servetus on Guy who wants to be in office has ideas about drugs: “Psilocybin helps people eliminate their addiction to nicotine. 24-FEB-2023…Lead author and University of Cincinnati postdoctoral researcher Neşe Devenot said the…” Feb 24, 19:27
Pages
- About
- Articles
- A Day at the Museum
- A story for Thanksgiving (Isidro and Teresa Aviles)
- Andrea Barthwell, caught red-handed
- Andrea Barthwell, Snake Oil Salesman
- Bong Hits 4 Jesus – Supreme Court Case
- DEA Bad Girl Michele Leonhart
- Deep Thoughts About the Drug War
- Drug War Victims
- Drug War Videos
- Drug WarRant Joins SOPA, PIPA Protest
- Hammer Down, Pop Up
- If I were Contrarian-King of the United States
- Increase in Burger Abuse Seen
- Irvin Rosenfeld and the Compassionate IND — Medical Marijuana Proof and Government Lies
- Karen Tandy and the DEA (Can Congress Get a Clue?)
- Len Bias – the death that ushered in two decades of destruction
- Mother and Son
- Patriot Act, Victory Act, Despot Act
- Petition for Correction under the ONDCP Information Quality Guidelines
- Raich v. Ashcroft
- Rand and American Enterprise Institute Studies – Indictments of Federal Drug Policy
- the Drug Czar is Required by Law to Lie
- Treatment Statistics
- Who’s Who in Drug Prohibition
- Why is Marijuana Illegal?
Archives
Authors