We shout out our grateful thanks to the voters in all of the Michigan cities who voted Nov. 4 for cannabis law reform. These voters showed patriotism, wisdom, and courage. They affirmed common sense and American values. They won’t accept the budgetary or human costs of perpetuating “Reefer Madness” myths. They don’t want their tax dollars wasted, and they know that laws against cannabis are much more dangerous to society than cannabis. They know that pot never killed anyone, and they are watching heroin and methamphetamine become a deadly part of Michigan life. Reality is the opposite of “Reefer Madness”. We have seen that in states where cannabis is available, that death from opioid drugs drop 25%, traffic deaths drop about 9%, suicide drops, violent crime drops, and teen pot use goes down.
MICHIGAN VOTERS ARE CLEARLY READY FOR MAJOR MARIJUANA POLICY REFORM.
A policy as misguided as cannabis prohibition must end when it is clear that voters don’t support it! *We gratefully thank the local campaign leaders* in all eleven cities where we made the November ballot. In the finest First Amendment tradition, and at great personal sacrifice, they brought petitions to the voters. One signature at a time they did the very hard work of putting marijuana law reform on Michigan ballots. These activists are heroic, since fighting against Drug War and the Prison Industrial Complex is the great human rights struggle of our time. We are proud to be associated with these excellent local leaders who gave their voters a voice! Leaders in eight other Michigan cities, working with the Safer Michigan Coalition, are already preparing for ballot initiatives in 2015. More than 20 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana since 1965. Every 40 seconds an American is deprived of their liberty, criminalized and stigmatized, because they enjoy a plant that is far less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes, prescription drugs, or junk food. Cannabis became illegal in 1937 because of a government campaign of outlandish lies. This prohibition has been perpetuated as an illegitimate mechanism of racism, cultural war, and Anti-American social control. Cannabis prohibition is a shame upon the USA, undercutting the legitimacy of government and respect for law enforcement. It makes a mockery of core American values like freedom, liberty and justice. Professional polling shows that the vast majority of Michigan voters want marijuana legalized or decriminalized. On Nov. 4, 2014 Michigan voters have made their opinion clear again. Twenty-two votes for cannabis law reform, in 18 different Michigan cities over the past 10 years, convey a mandate. Cannabis prohibition must end.
