Politics and Dharma

Billions of dollars have been spent annually for decades to eliminate cannabis and yet marijuana is even more prevalent today, and cheaper, than when the drug war began. It is repeatedly demonstrated on the evening news that the policies of prohibition are needlessly dangerous and expensive. How many cops have died serving drug warrants? How many children have died in gang war crossfire? How strong are we going to allow the prohibition-fed crime-gangs get before we change our behavior? Isn’t it time you said something about it? How would you like to say it to the elected officials of the county and state?

Here’s an opportunity to stand in front of your friends and neighbors and say, “No matter how you feel about marijuana, it’s clear that the Drug War is a failure. Our jails are full and yet street drugs flow freely. We must end this nonsense of prohibition and begin to maturely regulate and control street drugs.” Beyond this opportunity is another to say the same things to the elected representatives of this county, and another to speak directly to the representatives of the state, each time as the delegate of a larger caucus. It’s important to say these things, and it is very important they should be said in this forum. Join me and let our voices speak as one.

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If you are a resident of Travis County and feel strongly that current cannabis prohibition policies are dangerously misguided, I invite you to join with me to help build a grass-roots campaign to promote the regulation and control of cannabis. Currently, I am looking for some folks with some free time and spare cash to help spearhead the networking effort. No previous political experience required, although it is gladly welcome. Some materials, a plan, training as-you-go, and general organizational support will be offered. This is all volunteer, with the expectation that each will pay for their own materials, travel, etc. Demands on time are minimal and easily metered out. The state convention in April, next year, is in Austin, so even that is easy.You can do this if you really believe that a major policy change is in order. You can do this, even if you’ve never done anything expressly political in your life. You’ll get a chance to hang out with a bunch of like-minded folks and experience the psychedelic three ring circus that is the Texas political process. We have the simple task of identifying supporters of cannabis regulation and control bringing their numbers to the attention of state and local representatives. We are sharing the goal of getting a cannabis regulation issue to the state platform with activists in Dallas and Houston, so there is a good chance of success if we can each carry our counties.

Send me your info and I’ll bring you further up to speed. [For this post only, all comments are screened and email is turned off, so you can leave your contact information in relative safety.] Please note your state house district number (it’s labeled ‘Leg.’ on your voter’s card) and precinct number (labeled ‘Prec. No.’) if possible, otherwise, just send your home address.

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