NORML email alert; Presidential Candidate Promises to Regulate Marijuana

[benburch]

Support NORML's efforts to make marijuana law reform an important issue in
the 2004 Presidential election by making a contribution at
http://secure.norml.org/donate or joining at http://secure.norml.org/join


Dear NORML Supporter,

With the 2004 Presidential election less than a year away, I am pleased to
announce that for the first time in more than two decades, marijuana law
reform has emerged as a prominent campaign issue. Among the nine
Democratic Presidential candidates, several have publicly spoken out in
favor of the use of marijuana as a medicine, and three recently admitted
in a live nationally televised debate to having smoked marijuana. Their
admission was met with rousing applause from the audience! (NORML's
report in this debate is available online at:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5810)

However, arguably the most significant development of the campaign so far
is Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's outspoken support for ending
marijuana prohibition. Last week Kucinich (D-Ohio) announced on his
campaign website that, if elected, he would end federal criminal
prohibitions on the personal use of marijuana by adults, and would
establish national guidelines to regulate it like alcohol. This is one of
the strongest and most progressive endorsements of marijuana law reform
ever uttered by a prominent Presidential candidate!

KUCINICH CAMPAIGN ADOPTS NORML'S POSITION ON RESPONSIBLE USE

On the "Kucinich for President" website, Kucinich states: "Statistical
evidence shows that marijuana use follows a pattern very similar to that
of alcohol. Most marijuana users do so responsibly, in a safe,
recreational context. These people lead normal, productive lives --
pursuing careers, raising families and participating in civic life. ... A
Kucinich administration would reject the current paradigm of 'all use is
abuse' in favor of a drug policy that sets reasonable boundaries for
marijuana use by establishing guidelines similar to those already in place
for alcohol." (Full text of Kucinich's position on marijuana
decriminalization is available online at:
http://www.kucinich.us/issues/marijuana_decrim.php)

Kucinich's position acknowledges NORML's long-standing principle that the
responsible use of marijuana by adults is a relatively safe activity
engaged in by millions of otherwise law-abiding, professional and
productive Americans!

This is no coincidence. In the past weeks, NORML's staff provided
"invaluable" input to the Kucinich campaign regarding decriminalization
and the responsible use of marijuana, and we are pleased that Kucinich
adopted many of NORML's tenets and talking points when crafting his
official position statement on cannabis.

That's right, your financial support to NORML is directly helping to shape
the political debate over marijuana policy in America!

NORML'S SMOKE THE VOTE CAMPAIGN

And that's not all. I'm also pleased to report that NORML's recently
launched "Smoke the Vote" campaign has so far been a tremendous success.

The 2004 Presidential election promises to have profound effects on
marijuana law reform. That's why NORML is seeking to register 100,000
voters under the NORML banner with the online voter mobilization program,
"Smoke the Vote." This voter registration tool allows individuals in all
50 states to register to vote or change their address.

"Smoke the Vote" is the largest 'get out the vote' campaign ever launched
by NORML, and seeks to harness the more than 20 million marijuana smokers
nationwide into a powerful, viable political constituency. And it's
working! To date, more than 2,000 NORML supporters have used NORML's
"Smoke the Vote" service to register to vote for marijuana law reform in
the 2004 election! If you still need to register to vote or change your
address, do so right now at
http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/norml

LOBBYING FOR CHANGE

In the coming months, NORML will be increasing its efforts to make
marijuana law reform a staple of the 2004 Presidential election. In
addition to registering NORML voters, tracking the candidates' officials
positions and voting records, and providing assistance to like-minded
politicians, NORML plans to inundate every campaign office with calls and
e-mails from Americans who are sick and tired of wasting taxpayers'
dollars arresting and prosecuting marijuana smokers!

Please take a moment today to make a donation of $50 or more to help fund
NORML's 2004 campaign efforts, and assure we don't miss this excellent
opportunity to make the 2004 Presidential election a mandate for marijuana
law reform. You can contribute quickly and securely online by going to
http://secure.norml.org/donate or by calling 888-67-NORML.

NORML supporters have an unprecedented opportunity in 2004 to change the
direction of America's marijuana policy. Please help NORML make the most
of this opportunity by supporting our efforts and informing the
Presidential candidates: "We smoke! We vote! Get used to it!"

Warm Regards,
R. Keith Stroup, Esq.
NORML Executive Director and Founder

####################
NORML Media Watch
NORML was featured prominently in several media outlets this week,
including The Washington Times, The Los Angeles Valley Beat and The
Tri-Valley Herald. To read these articles or about other NORML media
appearances, check out "NORML in the Media" at:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5481

Help keep the candle lit by making your New Years resolution a monthly
pledge to NORML. Please visit:
http://secure.norml.org/join/pledge.html

Smokers vote in 2004! If you have not already done so, register to vote or
change your voter registration address at:
http://www.registrationbyworkingassets.com/norml
####################

[bluestateguy]

1. Someday this will be a mainstream position

We're not there yet, but all the momentum is moving in our direction.

[Old and In the Way]

2. There's at least 5MM votes awaiting harvest.

This one issue could get at least 5MM non-voters motivated, like no other issue.

Time to stop the wasteful charade.