Five days until November 2 which is Election Day for medical marijuana in Arizona. I live in Tucson and I've been doing the grassroots (pun alert) thang for my favorite herb on the planet. Arizona for a quick reminder for you Kossacks has passed Medical Marijuana twice before (1996 and 1998) but right wing politics in our state (and boy howdy we have our share of nutty politicians which would actually be kind of charming if not so fucking sad) but I digress.
Our Proposition 203 is actually a hybrid based mostly on the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act with the added benefit of the Arizona Department of Health (ADH) would license 124 non-profit medical marijuana dispensaries to be spread around the 15 counties. The patient or their designated caregiver once licensed by a doctor will be able to purchase up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every 14 days. The patients or their caregivers will also have the ability to culitivate 12 plants as long as the space used is an enclosed locked facility (closet, greenhouse or any room) that could be either indoors or outdoors.
I'm working with a very dedicated group of marijuana advocates called AZ4NORML. We are in Tucson and for the last two years our life has been all about freeing the weed so to speak. It's important to help the medical marijuana patients first, then the rest of the like-minded people second. Our initiative is going to pass with a mandate on Tuesday and I'll come and eat my words on Wednesday if this doesn't happen. I might not be Miss Cleo with my super psychic powers but I've been doing outreach on the campus of the University of Arizona as well as holding up signs at street corners and the response is fabulous. People are responding in droves to our positive message about the benefits of hemp for medicine and they get it. Our politicians, except for a few exceptions (Raul Grijalva is a notable champion for the cause) are timid mice who can't stand up and deliver but that's OK. It's WE THE PEOPLE right and the ballot box and our citizen's initiative is going to rule the day.
So California and Prop 19 I salute you. If Prop 19 passes (and it's looking good) then the Berlin Wall is coming down on our 40 year failed WAR ON MARIJUANA. I no longer refer to it as a War on Drugs since that doesn't even cut it.
South Dakota and your Medical Marijuana Initiative just "get 'er done". I can't imagine how beautiful Thomas Jefferson our Hip and Happening Hempster President will look once you can enjoy legal medical marijuana and visit Mount Rushmore.
The state of Oregon whose motto is "We're greener than you think" I drink your hemp milkshake. I was in Portland just 6 weeks ago and it was the best time of my life hanging out with the NORML crowd attending the JUST SAY NOW National Conference.
My last shoutout is for my adopted state of Arizona. I might not be a born and bred Zonie but as a lifelong friend of Mary Jane I love that Arizona has some of the finest domestic grown marijuana in the world. I call it MexiGold and it's going to be legal to cultivate up to 12 plants of this incredibly beautiful herb that thrives outdoors in a small greenhouse.
So on this lovely Friday, October 28, just five days before one of the most important elections in my life I want to say HEMP HEMP HOORAY to everyone, friends and foes alike.