cannabisnews.com: Voters Say Yes to MJ in Massachusetts and Michigan Voters Say Yes to MJ in Massachusetts and Michigan Posted by CN Staff on November 05, 2008 at 05:36:23 PT By Paul Armentano, NORML Source: AlterNet USA -- The politics of compassion have overcome the politics of fear.On election day, Michigan became the thirteenth state to legalize the physician supervised possession and use of cannabis. According to early returns, more than 60 percent of Michigan voters decided in favor of Proposal 1, which establishes a state-regulated system regarding the use and cultivation of medical marijuana by qualified patients. Voters endorsed the measure despite a high profile, deceptive, and despicable ad campaign by Prop. 1 opponents -- who falsely claimed that the initiative would allow for the open sale of marijuana "in every neighborhood, just blocks from schools." (In fact, Proposal 1 does not even allow for the creation of licensed cannabis dispensaries.)Michigan's new law goes into effect on December 4th, at which time nearly one-quarter of the US population will live in a state that authorizes the legal use of medical cannabis.Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, some 65 percent of voters (and virtually every town) decided "yes" on Question 2, which reduces minor marijuana possession to a fine-only offense. Like in Michigan, voters rejected a high-profile, deceptive ad campaign by the measure's opponents, who argued that it would increase adolescent drug abuse, permit large-scale marijuana trafficking, endanger workplace safety, and sharply increase traffic fatalities.Question 2 is expected to become law in 30 days -- making Massachusetts the thirteenth state to decriminalize the personal possession and use of cannabis. (Note: Under state law, politicians have the option of amending the new law.)NORML celebrates both victories and recognizes that neither would have been possible without the grassroots efforts of Michigan and Massachusetts state activists -- who laid the groundwork for both campaigns by successfully passing a series of similar, municipal initiatives over the past several years.Tonight, once again, voters have rejected the Bush doctrine on drugs. They've rejected the lies put forward by drug warriors and law enforcement, and demonstrated -- overwhelmingly -- that truth, compassion, and first-hand experience are more persuasive than the deception and scare tactics of those who would take away our freedoms and confine us in cages.In short, it is the cannabis community, not the Drug Czar, that is shaping America's marijuana policy, and tonight we go to bed knowing that millions of Americans will wake up tomorrow with a better, brighter, and more tolerant future than they had today.Paul Armentano is the senior policy analyst for the NORML Foundation in Washington, DC.Newshawk: Sinsemilla Jones Source: AlterNet (US)Author: Paul Armentano, NORMLPublished: November 5, 2008Copyright: 2008 Independent Media InstituteContact: letters alternet.org Website: http://www.alternet.org/URL: http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/106126NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Natasha on November 07, 2008 at 12:30:11 PT: wohoo Thats what I'm talking about... http://www.momslom.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 06, 2008 at 19:57:12 PT Americans Reject Bush Drug War Doctrine Americans Reject Bush Drug War Doctrine -- Landslide At The Ballot Box: Voters Approve Nine Out Of Ten Marijuana Law Reform MeasuresNovember 5, 2008 - Washington, DC, USAURL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7742 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 05, 2008 at 06:33:48 PT goneposthole What a beautiful day. I think Obama will listen and work to ramp down the drug war not like what we have gone thru these last 8 years. Compassion is a wonderful word and I think Obama really understands what the word compassion means. He doesn't seem to hate people that are different because he is different. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on November 05, 2008 at 06:25:24 PT A referendum on the 'Republicans' and their underhanded tactics and their moral bankruptcy. They've become a hazard to themselves.No political party can fall from grace as far as the so-called Republicans have fallen... in just one day... ever. The pox is on them. The only thing left for it to do is to wither on the vine and die.President-elect Obama deserves his win. If he turns his back on the American people and panders to Wall Street and elitists, he will never be forgiven."I've learned that people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya AngelouLet that be a lesson to the 'Republicans'; good riddance. Good riddance to their 'compassionate conservatism' too. An oxymoron if there ever was one.Way to go Massachusetts and Michigan. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment