Things you liked or disliked about the campaign

[Adam]

Concerned said:

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

Only because you aren't registered. Registered members have all sorts of features available.

[missjenna]

I just think a suggestion for next time around, would be to quit focusing on places like Denver and Boulder and focus on places like Colorado Springs and Pueblo...

[How to change]

Get MOMS Speaking Out on your side!!!!!!!!!!!!

The most conservative type moms have to make it known that they are for a regulating movement and concerned about the children

The best put together women best hygene, always prompt , community envovlement type, should assemble a committee find the Moms that you feel are dedicated and have a outlook that you think works
They must convey that IFmarijuana is regulated:

* fewer youth being exposed to drug dealers selling marijuana and other drugs, like crystal meth.
* fewer marijuana profits going towards drug cartels, who often use those profits for manufacturing other drugs.
* more tax revenue for alcohol and drug treatment
* more tax revenue for drug education programs in schools.

Even if it will still be prosecuted under federal law -- The public has to know they must make a stand at some point against a policy that IS NOT working -- The moms must make it known that they are willing to stand against the federal government to make a positive change for their children's future

Under marijuana prohibition, you get the opposite results.

[greenteam]

I was raised in a deep south baptist church with my father as a promenant leader in the church -- Bible thumpin fear tactics to lead the lost to God were all the rage. These pastors feared the congregation into believing that all drugs are the devil's poison and would only lead to wickedness and hell. They condemn the sinner and preach a better way, and I only saw the truth after I quit going to church and started to look at the facts instead of what they put into my head as a child. (even then that was after I had gone off to college and started to hang out with moral and fun loving pot smokers --- then i realized.. hey pot smokers aren't as bad as the Bible thumpers said)

My point is -- to get to the congregation -- you must convince the religious leaders that they will save more souls with the legalization of marijuana than with ruining the sinner's life through the strong arm of the law.

Things to make your point (you have to use their own logic):

1) If you want to target sinners and be able to go out among them and recruit them for God -- make their behavior legal so you can do God's work without embittering them toward's your cause-- they will NEVER listen if they think you hate them and think you are better than them.
What did jesus do to save souls? -- He went to were "the sinners" were and did not preform the acts they did ----> he led by example of not doing those things and he was happy and had it "together" -- he talked with "the sinners" --- if it were legalized the people of the church could go and be among those sinners and lead by example without feeling compeled to turn the sinners into law enforcement to correct their behavior. Make your case that this does NOT work and it only pushes the God Gang's target group further away from them.
2) As it stands now -- most of the churches members are familys and their children. MOST of the time outsiders do not come to the church unless they have hit "rock bottom" -- or unless a friend brings a friend into the fold... but even then -- it is hard for the church to get to sinners because the church thinks they have the moral high ground and will never even associate with dirty sick sinners... if the church REALLY wants a change... they will stop the piety and spread their message through example.

--- Also --- Bring the Tax and Regulation matter into the equation. I saw that 33 major religious leaders in Nevada were for their marijuana regulation and tax. Contact them -- Ask them why they believed regulation and tax to be a better means than the law as it is --- See if they will speak for your next movement to amend the marijuana laws in colorado


So -- if you can get just ONE respected religious leader on your side you can ask that man / woman to go out and talk with other religious leaders about changing the perspective of the church and thus the congregation and then the laws

[krikithaiku]

This was a great attempt at legalizing marijuanna. And with more effort, more funding, and a bit more advertising, we can soon legalize it.

I plan on becoming much more active in SAFER, now that I am able too.

And like most people on this board, I believe one of the downfalls of the campaign was no addressing of the Tax and Regulation issues. If we can come up with a strategy for taxing marijuanna, we can make it just like alcohol and tobacco.

We need to propose not only taxes and regulations on the possession of, but also on the distribution and cultivation of. There should be a Marijuanna Liscence, just as there is a Liqour Liscence. The liscence should include that Marijuanna cannot be sold in quantities more than 1-2 oz to any individual aged 21 years and over, and there should be a regulation on the amount of THC in the actual product being sold. There should also be a permit or liscence for the cultivation of Marijuanna, limiting how much a farmer can grow in a year and the taxations of the crop. The biggest problem is the cultivation, since Marijuanna can sprout just about anywhere, but those who grow without a permit should face fines, just like someone who produces alcohol or tobacco without proper permits and liscences.

Regulation on the selling and cultivation of Marijuanna will benifit the State, and eventually the Country, in two major ways. One, it will bring more money into the government that can be used to crack down on more serious drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines. Second, it will assure that the people are getting good quality, clean, and most importantly, unlaced Marijuanna.

Also, we should refrain from using slang terms like "pot" and "weed" and "stoner." These terms may affect us negatively in the sense that the more we use them, the more people think we are uneducated and simpley want to legalize Marijuanna so that we can waste our lives on a couch getting high.

Keep spreading the word through whatever means you can accomplish. Television ads are great, but we need to try and make some that look a little more professional. This isn't too hard to do (I can direct some, I went to school for Video Production.)

When it comes to debates, let the opponents speak their opinions, and then explain your side. Show facts and statistics, break out sources so that people can check them. Be calm, be reserved, and above all, don't get cocky. (I'm not saying you were, Mason, but people have a problem getting cocky durring debates.)

When it comes to protesting, take a more passive approach and don't be so aggressive. Let the opposition have their say at press confrences, and then hold our own right afterwards to get our voice out. Don't shout out negative things to the opposition, it only makes our image look like the more uneducated and stereotypical stoner. That is not what we want.

Drive in the statistics of not only Marijuanna vs. Alcohol, but also Marijuanna vs. Tobacco. Show the statistics of Homicides relates to Marijuanna use with no other substance in the agressors system. Show statistics of teen deaths from alcohol poisoning and overdose. Show statistics of tobacco related deaths. Throw these in peoples faces, and let them make an intelligent decission.

Finally, and this is going to be the toughest, get a Lobbiest. These are the people that get things really going for an orginization. Just look at Big Tobacco and Alcohol. They've managed to keep very dangerous drugs legal for years through the Lobbiests that they send to the governments of the States and the Country. We need to bring this issue as far as we can with someone who can articulate and, in a way, manipulate. It's sad, but true. If we really want to win, we have got to start using our oppositions tactics.

I would love to be the Lobbiest, but I don't know how qualified I'd be. I'm just 22 and haven't even finished college, though I do have a full-time job and keep my responsibilities straight even though I am a user (gasp!)

So, with these things looked at and addressed, and hopefully put into action, I believe we can take Colorado in 2008, and then perhaps the Country by 2012.

Stephanie
AKA Krikit

[potpal]

In the meantime...

Disseminate the truth...

I have a email acct on yahoo that I use to 'spam', sorry, all those eddresses that people send me in their emails (I always cut and paste to avoid passing on others eddresses but if you don't...). Build a list, when you get a worthy post or link to the truth, logic, benefits of our position, forward it, some may read them and even pass them on. Surely, a better use of the internet than cheap viagra and sub-penny rockets bs. So create a free email acct somewhere and share the truth about cannabis. Let 'em have it.

Give pot a chance.

[greenteam]

Funding Ideas
Now that you've got such a hefty precentage on your side for legalization, you might be able to leverage more funding from places that otherwise wouldn't have thought you even had a chance at this.

Places you might look for funding:
--- Marijuana Policy Project
---Virgin Records (Richard Branson might pay a bit to see it legal?)
---Snack Food Industry
---Video Game Industry
---Approach Famous Comedians to do benefit shows that give a portion of the profits to your cause? ( Bill Maher comes to mind and I'm sure there are others and I know he has already done this in california)

National Publicity Ideas
Try to get your story or maybe. even get your spokesperson on The Daily Show
or even better -- The Colbert Report --that would give you a chance to defend your position against Steven's great use of the right wing opposition -- but you'd have to be ready for that

I think these would be great ways to reach an audience on a national basis that this is a serious movement that if young folks get behind it could change prohibtion laws for the better all over the country

[kenny]

hmmmm well amendment 44 won in 13 counties and in denver again as well,i wouldnt call that a loss(more of a first step toward common sense).I would say 40% of colorado wants a change and 13 counties agreed with denver that adult marijuana users shouldnt be criminals or fined. 62% voted for 44 in Summit County,Boulder/53%, Clear Creek/54%, Eagle/56%, Gilpin/61%, Gunnison/57%, La Plata/56% , Lake/52%, Pitkin/72%, Routt/53%, Saguache/51%, San Juan/63%, San Miguel/74%, and Denver/56%(so far still not fully counted hmm??)IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALS,AMENDMENT 44 WINS IN 14 COUNTIES.VOTE YES 2008(Common Sense)

[kenny]

I AGREE GREENTEAM,LETS ALL WORK HARDER AND KEEP WORKING FOR 2008,this TAKES MONEY PEOPLE SO START DONATING SOON AND ASK OTHERS.YES 2008 YES 2008

[kenny]

Steph you already are:) ,contact mason and evan from safer and keep working hard.We are gonna need your help and many others so start networking and keep working hard.YES 2008 YES 2008

[grasshopa]

kenny said:

I AGREE GREENTEAM,LETS ALL WORK HARDER AND KEEP WORKING FOR 2008,this TAKES MONEY PEOPLE SO START DONATING SOON AND ASK OTHERS.YES 2008 YES 2008

I totally agree Kenny! However, we have to know where to donate. Mason is hesitant to say weather it will be he or Sensible Colorado that will take up the issue in 08. I think the community leadership needs to take a breather (hit?), relax, and regroup for a little bit before any real decisions are made on how to go on with 08.

There are orgs out there like SAFER and SenCo who fight for us and we need to support them with time AND money. Please, dig deep into your schedule and wallet and support the cause for success. We can't do this without either. I think I saw a figure around $60k that we spent this year. I think if we had $1M to throw at it we would do much better. That would enable us to buy more ad time on, both, TV and Radio where we could get the truth out. That would also enable us to hire more people such as a grant writer.

Given the information, I would be very happy to make the first donation of the 08 campaign.

Perhaps a way to start would be to have a community town hall and discuss how we should proceed.

Lastly, I'm working on SenCo's boards right now. They're tentatively up at sencolo.proboards52.com (Thanks Adam!). I may change this in time but for now that's where they are. You can, also, visit SenCo's page at www.sensiblecolorado.org.

Pot's GREAT in 08!
Mike

[Keep up the Good Fight]

Just a quick comment:

Remind people, especially concerned parents, that this is a measure not only designed to increase the freedoms of our citizens, end government waste, etc. etc. It's also a means of CONTROLLING the market. Prohibition, on paper, is a means to control a problem. In reality, prohibition is the complete absence of control or regulation, and the issues that concern police now -- "pot shops in our neighborhoods!" and so forth -- are actually an argument FOR regulation and taxation. As it stands, we've got shady fellows dealing in all sorts of substances, not just cannabis, and they can sell to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Prohibition is a failed model and needs to go. Everyone can benefit.

[Adam]

www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1326576&secid=1

Here is a comment from the Colorado Springs Gazette that I thought was worth noting on this thread as this could be something else to think about when proposing a new ballot question.

A proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution had threatened to muddy the legal waters — if it stopped being illegal to possess small amounts of marijuana, then could a pipe coated with marijuana resin still be illegal?

[greenteam]

My argument FOR pursuing taxation and regulation at the state level:

This is the ONLY realistic way I can see a pursuit of taxation and regulation winning ground and sparking positive debate throughout the country

Moms, Religious leaders, and LEAP should LEAD this battle
No offense to Mason at all -- I think all his arguments, the way he presented himself, and his generally calm and cool under fire approach to debates was superb. However, If this afore mentioned group does not lead the fight then your movement is looked at as "those damn sinners and hippies trying the ruin the world again"

Give the people something they could have not expected.

SHOCK THE NATION -- or else you get no traction in the country on this issue.

After you've shocked the nation with an unexpected point of view and your legislation to tax and regulate passes --- you WILL get federal government flack and they WILL crack down as they are in California against medical marijuana patients

Let um come...

They'd be fighting against Moms, religious leaders, and LEAP (what sort of politic fueled smear campaign can they run against innocent mothers/Christianity/their own cops?) ----

Your Holy Trinity of Regulation MUST know that they are not only making a stand against the state's ignorance of prohibition affects, but also against the nation's ignorance. If this is the approach you take -- It has to be strong -- the leaders have to be strong with NO SORT of way they're reputation can be smeared -- COMPLETE INNOCENCE -- is the game. If they are discredited... your entire movement loses footing...

The federal government will take the state run regulatory systems to court --- The Holy Trinity must speak out against the federal government saying "This is outrageous!! We are trying to keep drugs out of children's hands because your drug war has failed!!! You're giving the trade back to violent gangs and murderous drug dealers!!" ( Can you picture a crying mother on fox news screaming this to the face of Hannity or Bill? ) ---

now... if that doesn't get a sensible debate on cannabis going in this nation... I don't know what would....

feel free to poke any holes in this idea that you can -- if it's going to win -- it has to be strong!

[tomerodrique]

I believe that rather than a defensive posture, we should adopt an offensive posture and campaign. We might do this by attacking alcohol use and developing a campaign to have a law enacted to control it to the same extent and manner that marijuana use is controlled. I think this would make all those sophisticated politicians who imbibe alcohol daily take notice. Let us attack rather than defend!