Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Showing Original Post only (View all)
 

Comrade Grumpy

(13,184 posts)
Wed May 16, 2012, 01:36 AM May 2012

A Victory in Oregon--Medical Marijuana Has Some Political Muscle [View all]

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2012/may/16/medical_marijuana_ally_wins_oreg

Ellen Rosenblum, friend of medical marijuana, defeated former interim US Attorney Dwight Holden, foe of medical marijuana, by a margin of 63% to 37% for the Democratic attorney general nomination in a campaign where the therapeutic herb was a BIG issue.

Holden was supported by law enforcement. Rosenblum had the medical marijuana people and some campaign cash from national drug reformers.

Here's the press release from a mighty pleased Drug Policy Alliance:

Drug Policy Action
For Immediate Release: May 15, 2012

Support for Medical Marijuana Ensures Victory for Ellen Rosenblum in Oregon Attorney General Race

Drug Policy Action: Holton’s Defeat Sends Message to US Attorneys Nationwide That Attacks on Medical Marijuana Have Steep Political Price

Outcome Has National Implications for Increasingly Formidable Drug Policy Reform Movement


Medical marijuana was a major issue in the Democratic primary for Attorney General in Oregon – and the candidates’ starkly different positions on the issue ensured victory for former judge Ellen Rosenblum. Rosenblum is supportive of patients’ rights to safe and legal access to medical marijuana while her opponent, former Interim U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton, is sharply critical of the program. Although Holton was heavily favored early in the race, he was targeted for defeat by medical marijuana patients and their advocates after threatening medical marijuana providers and their landlords with property confiscation, and overseeing several medical marijuana raids while serving as interim U.S. Attorney last fall. In addition, Holton had pledged to work with Republican legislators who are “anxious” to change the medical marijuana law. With no Republican on the ballot in November, Rosenblum is all but certain to be the state’s next Attorney General.

Drug Policy Action, the political arm of the Drug Policy Alliance, and a driving force behind the initiative that first legalized medical marijuana in Oregon in 1998, threw its support behind the Rosenblum campaign, with $100,000 in total donations to the campaign and to an Oregon group, Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement, during the final stretch of the campaign. John Sperling, an ally of Drug Policy Action who provided major support for the 1998 initiative, also contributed a total of $100,000 to Rosenblum and CSLE.
Jill Harris, Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives for Drug Policy Action, and a native of Eugene, OR, issued the following statement:

“Dwight Holton’s defeat in the Oregon Attorney General’s race should be taken as a clear and unambiguous message to U.S. Attorneys around the country and to the national Democratic leadership that attacking state-approved medical marijuana programs is not a smart political move. Medical marijuana has overwhelming public support – it is now legal in 16 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and national polls have consistently shown support in the 70-80% range for well over a decade. Drug war rhetoric and tactics will not be tolerated, and organizations like Drug Policy Action will be there to defend patients’ rights to safely access the medicine they need.”
52 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"law enforcement" won't give up the $$ cash cow for busting pot smokers - police welfare nt msongs May 2012 #1
I am afraid to Meiko May 2012 #6
She won for many other reasons, but this was not that big of an issue in the campaign. HuckleB May 2012 #2
Well, the drug reformers accounted for 25% of her campaign war chest... Comrade Grumpy May 2012 #4
wow! RainDog May 2012 #9
It was a one minute issue at best. HuckleB May 2012 #14
I live here too. I and the local press disagree with you... Bluenorthwest May 2012 #19
So some young reporter whose focus is on his or her own obsession is all you need. HuckleB May 2012 #29
Like it or not that's an AP story fronm the second largest daily in Oregon Bluenorthwest May 2012 #44
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2012 #23
Nice logical fallacy of a response. HuckleB May 2012 #30
well, it's the Drug Policy Alliance making the claim RainDog May 2012 #5
Which makes the claim much less viable. HuckleB May 2012 #12
And what is it that makes your claim viable? Bluenorthwest May 2012 #16
What would stats or links show? HuckleB May 2012 #31
you deny what every other source says RainDog May 2012 #39
here ya go RainDog May 2012 #49
remember what you said when Democrats make a claim RainDog May 2012 #24
Thanks for pretending to respond. HuckleB May 2012 #32
Why do you think Pelosi came out against the DoJ's raids in CA? RainDog May 2012 #41
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2012 #25
And another logical fallacy (actually two in one sentence, it appears) is offered up. HuckleB May 2012 #33
Right. Sort of like that crazy group who called Marijuana the "defining issue" of the campaign. Warren DeMontague May 2012 #46
So, the Horton campaign ITSELF said medical marijuana was the defining issue of the campaign? RainDog May 2012 #47
No, no, no no, since he lost it was a total non-issue. As the Oregonian put it, a "distraction". Warren DeMontague May 2012 #52
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2012 #8
Sorry, but, no. HuckleB May 2012 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2012 #21
Some PR guy is pushing this? HuckleB May 2012 #34
It's fascinating to read your denial here n/t RainDog May 2012 #42
oh, and look at this - RainDog May 2012 #48
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2012 #51
how do we know it isn't you who is spreading propaganda... fascisthunter May 2012 #27
mmmm Warren DeMontague May 2012 #28
Ah, so personal attacks and logical fallacy is your thing? HuckleB May 2012 #37
I dont know, I could just rack up a whole bunch of sort of vacuous posts in a thread on the topic. Warren DeMontague May 2012 #38
Nice personal attack, and logical fallacy in one swift swipe. HuckleB May 2012 #36
So if you write several posts about "logical fallacies", does that count as one? Warren DeMontague May 2012 #40
Here it was THE issue. What it boiled down to was Holton flipping the bird to the Bluenorthwest May 2012 #15
k&r n/t RainDog May 2012 #3
YES!!!!!!!!! Warren DeMontague May 2012 #7
What's interesting is that Holton was punished RainDog May 2012 #10
Its only interesting -or maybe surprising- to people who aren't paying attention. Warren DeMontague May 2012 #11
Here is the opening paragraph on the outcome from the Register Guard Eugene... Bluenorthwest May 2012 #17
Who wrote that? HuckleB May 2012 #35
The by line is at the link. 'By Jonathan Cooper The Associated Press' Bluenorthwest May 2012 #43
LOLOL!!!! n/t RainDog May 2012 #45
So what was Holton's reasoning for opposing the existing medical marijuana laws? randome May 2012 #18
Here's a link to the handbook from the State on the law.... Bluenorthwest May 2012 #20
"Abuses" of the program. Comrade Grumpy May 2012 #22
He was the federal govt's candidate RainDog May 2012 #50
K&R for a modicum of sanity. n/t Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #26
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»A Victory in Oregon--Medi...