Things you liked or disliked about the campaign

[Adam]

Well it's a sad day for pot smokers everywhere
Not only was the Colorado amendment defeated, but the Nevada amendment was also defeated.I'd like to send a big thanks to Mason and Evan and everyone else who put forth an effort to get this initiative passed. It wasn't a complete loss. At the time of this writing (with 2773 of 3161 reporting) over 40% of Colorado residents agree that adults should be allowed to make the rational, safer choice to use Marijuana instead of Alcohol. That's 557,010 of your fellow citizens.

THANKS EVERYONE!!!


Well now that it's all over, I'd like to hear people's thoughts and opinion about the campaign. What did you like, what did you dislike? What would you like to see changed if there was another push for legalization in 2008?

[missjenna]

It will probably only pass if we Tax it and Regulate it....

[Adam]

Well I know that I had several people mention to me that they didn't approve of the press conference down on the steps of the capitol and also that the printed ad's were a little over the top (although I didn't really agree)

Also I had another person mention to me that during Mason's debate's he never allowed anyone to talk and that he seemed to get easily excited. My friend suggested that Mason slow down and allow the other side to speak.

I even knew people who smoked who were not entirely comfortable with the language of the proposed amendment. Many people I talked to would have like to have seen an attempt to setup some sort of a statewide distribution and taxation system as this is the only way to eliminate the drug dealer thus truly making this a SAFER alternative.

[tokinglx]

i think the main reason it didnt pass is because of the lack of time available to spend on educating people on marijuana. there were a lot of good facts that mason put out during the debates, but not enough people watch or listen to the debates.

i think that with a couple of years to prepare we can bring a much more informed populace to the booths and win this with flying colors.


on a different note, there were lots of pot victories in other places across the country
www.mpp.org/site/c.glKZLeMQIsG/b.2180535/k.3A5B/2006_Elections.htm

[Repectable Member of Society]

A great showing for the amount of negative publicity this 100% grassroots effort had thrown at it from the Federal governement and national opposition groups - incredible.

Lessons learned?

- Use a multi part approach to appeal to broader spectrum of voters (Safer is good, but some people felt the campaign was trying to be too sneaky)
- expound financial and social costs of prohibition
- expound tax and regulation benefits
- discount all myths and inaccuracies in governement based medical literature in a "manifesto" for reference
- draft a system for tax and regulation, distribution, and sale
- ensure all legal loopholes are closed

I'm ready to jump in and work on the next round, this shows much hope, attitudes are changing.

[ken]

Sadly, we had no way to respond to the opponents when they asked where people would be obtaining their 1 oz. of marijuana.

If there's no way to set up a system of taxing and regulation with the current federal laws, I say we go straight for legalizing cultivation, if that's possible.

Medical Marijuana patients in a lot of states are allowed up to something like 6 plants, and an ounce of usable marijuana, right? That hasnt resulted in the downfall of society.

Take that same model, make it for recreational users 21+, in the privacy of their own home, etc. That will prevent even the idea of Amsterdam-like coffee shops or purchasing it at convenience stores out of the stupid/uninformed voters' minds.

Given that Nevada had a pretty impressive showing, and SAFER didn't really do too bad, there's progress being made.

In this somewhat pro-pot climate, If someone throws out an initiative that threatens to cut out the potential middleman (taxing, regulating), allowing people to be self-sufficient, I think the politicians will warm up to the idea of a tax and regulate system.

That's just my idea, I wouldn't even know if such a thing is possible.

[Patrick]

Well for one, it can't be taxed and regulated until the federal government changes marijuana from a class 2 petty offense. Thats what I believe Mason was saying in the 850 radio station debate.

I agree that he had lots of good arguments but those arguments were never heard due to lack of people listening to the debates. Maybe give those strict far east counties pot brownies before they vote? hah just kidding.

A big thing would be to not have the blue book saying transferring to minors would be legal. In the debates it was explained very clearly but when I talked to people in person about it they didn't believe me.

Basically it comes down to false information and the fact that young pot heads have better things to do than vote. 2/9 friends in my circle voted, no mater how much shit I gave the non voters, they still wouldn't vote. What bitches.

Maybe getting taxed and regulated on the ballot would help encourage people to vote on it more but its a shame it can't come to that.

[freedom44]

I think those are all excellent suggestions. I would also like to see more signs by the roadside...in Westminster, I saw TONS of signs for politicians but I don't think I saw any 44 signs. The taxation idea is good, it lets the public know that we are trying to get rid of the street dealers who will sell to anybody (including minors)...not to mention the crazy amounts of $$ the government would get for taxing it.

[freedom44]

Yes, definitely do away with that misleading bluebook quote. I know that wasn't SAFER's idea to put it in there, but next time there's got to be a way to keep it from happening. If I hadn't actually researched it and found out that it was bogus, I would have seriously frowned upon it (which I'm sure many did, and that probably resulted in a negative vote for a lot of mislead people).

And maybe after seeing how close this came for CO and NV, more of the people who didn't vote this time will next time.

[kenny]

MASON GREAT JOB,WE WON IN MANY COUNTIES.CHECK THIS CNN SITE OUT

www.cnn.com/ELECTION/ 2006...county.000.html

WE TRULY WON THIS ELECTION,CHANGE IS COMING,KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK,also check out what counties won and consider moving where voters are smarter then the lies of the prohibitionists.THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.COLORADO ROCKS,MILLIONS OF THANKS TO MASON TVERT AND EVAN AND ALL THE SUPPORTERS OF 44.
kenny griffin

[JackdelHombre]

I think Tvert and everyone at SAFER did an excellent job getting the message out-- but the opposition pulled out the "expert" propoganda and advocates had no answer.

Where was L.E.A.P.? they could have provided many Law enforcement experts, 20 yr veterans of the war on drugs. Their experiences show that prohibition has been a failure. What better arguement against Law enforcement than those who are and were in law enforcement with oodles of experience on this issue.

I think more should be focused on the victims of screwed up raids by DEA and local law enforcement---how many ppl killed or put in prison for mere possession of a joint. the young ppl, elderly ppl, sick or disabled ppl who have had their houses raided and destroyed by the police only to discover they didnt even have marijuana in the house, or it was legal for them to possess for medicinal use, but they hancuffed them and jailed them anyway.


wheres all the pictures of normal everyday hardworking citizen who also happen to relax with a joint at night--instead of the hippie in tye dye wasted on the couch? As much as I hate an "image" it seems a necessary tool to open peoples eyes--otherwise your just another wasted hippie.

well theres my thoughts, for whatever they are worth--keep up the good work everyone. Its not over yet...

[umay]

I liked how the prohibitionists were really forced into a position of defending even alcohol prohibition. It's good to know that they can be pushed in this direction because it's a bit like running buffalo off a butte. In debates, Gorman (RMHIDTA), Sweetin (DEA), and Suthers (ASS) all mentioned the talking point about sobriety. Gorman and Sweetin went so far as to offer to work together with Mason towards a more sober society. If they could just say alcohol should be illegal a few more times, then I think that would make it easier for people to stop listening to their lies.

I would have liked to see a stronger response to the federal law superseding state law argument instead of just citing that 99% of arrests are at the state and local level. Perhaps something along the lines of Referendum K, directing the attorney general to sue the federal government to overturn prohibition because there isn't sufficient constitutional authority to do so. (Suthers must know they had to pass an amendment to ban alcohol in order to get that to work.)

[Concerned and Hopeful]

This vote really helped you guys to find out which regions of the state were against the amendment -- SO -- go to those places and find out what their reasons were for going against the amendment: (quickly now while it's still on their minds and they still are able to justify their reasoning with something they believe substancial)
If religion –
Get religious leaders (You NEED these guys on your side to make your case and many times if you sit down one on one with them they are more open-minded than you might think) on your side to quote them scripture to them in the next campaign – As behavior analysis has proven among adults – The only way to get people to listen is to have someone who has proven themselves to be expert and trustworthy
If it's for the kids
-- Show them how the drug dealers sell non-discriminately to kids or adults and the only way to cut out the drug dealer is to cut his profit and the only way to do that is to:
1) Educate the kids to the REAL danger of the drug – Excess of anything can be bad for your health – the same is true for marijuana – If over used it CAN turn the user to one that has a loss for ambition and motivation to succeed in life – it doesn’t kill and it doesn’t cause outrage and violence within the user (other lies to discount by studies)
2) Have parents watch their kid’s behavior and make corrections within the home – Do parents want their kids to be thrown in jail and have the rest of their kid’s life ruined because of that record or do parents want to have the ability to help their children and correct them in their own way
3) If kids want to try it -- they have easier access now threw unregulated distribution than they would if it was regulated by way of government outlets AND make a compromise that adults found guilty of providing to a minor would have HEAVY penalties placed upon them
….|||Think its disingenuous to say “legalize and regulate” when the federal government won’t allow regulation? – If the masses don’t vote to regulate on the grassroots level – then how is the federal government and politicians suppose to know that the people will WANT to make that change!? ||||
Collapse of Society? – Many might believe that all of society will collapse into chaos if the “devil’s weed” was allowed to the masses!!! (panic ensues)
--- Show Amsterdam’s crime rate and hard drug use compared to ours with prohibition
---- Try to get successful proponents of pot to speak to the masses (Richard Branson owner of Virgin MEGA-Empire comes to mind) this shows that pot users can be EXTREMLY successful in contributing to society
---- Show the states that have allowed medical (and all use in Alaska) use have not descended into chaos
---- Show the United Nations asking that the world take a different approach as we are creating worse problems with black markets
--- Cannabis use is not associated with anti-social behavior and public order crimes like alcohol and so can be considered a better choice of recreational drug. ( Which was a part of your campaign I completely agree with --- but still --- have MORE studies by reputable foundations and institutions to support your claims)
----Over all I would suggest that you use MORE Images in billboards that appeal to the conservatives – the bikini girl puts a bad taste in their mouth and proves to them that those dirty little pot pushers are no better than their alcoholic counterparts
Show pictures of teens who otherwise are seemingly harmless and upstanding being carted to jail ----- Show pictures of the wheelchair bound proponents who use the weed to ease their suffering being put behind bars

---------show the masses of teens that didn’t vote how close you got and how much closer had they voted for it!! -- apathy for voting will be their destruction

--- about Myself I am majoring in education with a minor in psychological behavior analysis and I was recently busted -- (charges were not pressed because it was a first time offense and because i've got a 4.0 and seen as a "good one") so I have vowed to completely quit the drug until it is a legal and safe option -- I have a 4.0 and had smoked for my past four years of college and the only thing that could have hurt my life was the criminal aspect had it been tagged onto my record -- THAT is a horrid misfortune for the responsibile recreational user and I hope one day the people will see it is in fact SAFER

[Concerned and Hopeful]

I just found some errors like *threw* instead of through and others I should have looked over before posting --- I didn't realize there wasn't an edit function on this thing

[DrKnow]

I just want to say I am for your efforts here but.

DON"T DO THE Absentee ballots again if you did them this time.

According to the Jon Stewert show they don't count the absentee ballots unless an election is very close like 49% vs 51%

even still they might not count them because we know how the goverment can be about this issue.

Don't be absent next time. Get off your rump and vote.