IT’S TIME TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA
Legalization is necessary to promote racial justice, provide PTSD therapy, and open the industry to big investment and taxation.
QUICK READ: With nearly all Americans able to buy marijuana, it shouldn’t be classified as a “dangerous and addictive drug” like heroin. But multiple state laws about weed conflict with tthis view. These laws prevent research and therapies, big investments and big tax revenues. It’s time for a change.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will push a bill in April to legalize marijuana so it is no longer classified as a dangerous and addictive drug, like heroin.
Legalization is supported by over 91% of Americans, some Republicans in Congress, Amazon, billionaire Charles Koch, and President Biden.
While hundreds of millions of Americans have access to legal weed, either for medical or recreational use, in 38 states possessing marijuana is still a =crime.
These different laws, regulations, and rulings create legal confusion and sentencing disparities.
Nixon began the war on drugs to disrupt two enemies: the anti-war left and Black Americans. Vietnam has been rebuilt, but in some states one of every 13 Black men is now in prison for drug offenses.
Schumer’s bill joins four others already moving in the House. Separately, they would:
Erase non-violent marijuana convictions and provide rehabilitation measures.
Encourage small business development by allowing banks to service marijuana outlets.
Redirect taxes on marijuana sales to communities ravaged by the war on drugs.
Marijuana is big business and, with legalization, it will be bigger. In Colorado, buyers spent $2.2 billion, yes billion, last year and sellers paid well over $400 million in taxes.
It’s time to legalize marijuana nationwide.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I agree with you that marijuana should be legal everywhere in the US. I hope you will support legislation to reform federal laws in order to legalize marijuana nationwide.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I agree with you that marijuana should be legal everywhere in the US. I hope you will support legislation to reform federal laws in order to legalize marijuana nationwide.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
With hundreds of millions of people already having easy access to marijuana, it’s time to decriminalize it across the US.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for supporting the SAFE Banking Act and other marijuana reform measures. Marijuana should be legal nationwide.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for shining a light on the illegal marijuana industry in your district. I hope you will support legislation to reform federal laws to legalize marijuana nationwide.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for your tireless work to decriminalize marijuana and end the racist war on Black and Brown communities.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for supporting the SAFE Banking Act. Marijuana should be legal nationwide.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for supporting the SAFE Banking Act. Marijuana should be legal nationwide.
ACTION 3: “GOOD TROUBLE”
Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, make some “good trouble.”
Join Indivisible Oregon.
Demand Justice is working to rebalance the Supreme Court. To get involved in this fight, click here.
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday.
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Work to protect democracy in the House by replacing retiring US Representative Peter DeFazio with another Democrat, replacing Democrat Kurt Schrader, the “Manchin of the House,” with a progressive, and electing a Democrat in Oregon’s new Congressional District 6.
Demand your primary news source stop creating false equivalencies and just report the truth.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon.
Center for Common Ground has a Reclaim Our Vote campaign for the Texas Primary! Make calls to Black registered voters in Texas, urging them to vote in the upcoming March 1st Primary. Register for phone banking here!
Rally inconsisent Democratic voters to vote in 2022 with Progressive Turnout Project | Feb, 2022 | Medium
TRAINING FOR DEEP CANVASSING WITH COIN: THURSDAY MAR 3, 6:30-8:00pm
DEEP CANVASSING WITH COIN: SATURDAY MAR 5, 10:00am-1:00pm
DEEP CANVAS PHONEBANKING WITH COIN: SATURDAY MAR 5, 10:00am-1:00pm
Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
FURTHER READING:
Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace On A Mission To Legalize Cannabis Forbes 1/25/22
Amazon pushing for federal legalization of marijuana | khou.com
Big Weed is on the brink of scoring big political wins. So where are they? - POLITICO
Schumer Proposes Federal Decriminalization of Marijuana - The New York Times
Flaws in Federal Cannabis Bills Threaten the Legal Market
Is 2022 the Year for Federal Cannabis Reform? National Law Review
The Marijuana Policy Gap and the Path Forward - R44782 Congressional Research Service
Chuck Schumer pushes for federal marijuana reform following New York legalization - Vox
