If you had told me, at pretty much anytime after age 13, that there would be a marijuana legalization proposition on the state ballot with a decent chance of passing and that I would not be involved in that effort, I would have thought that you were taking a far more dangerous drug. Even at that age, I understood that the effects of Prohibition were the same now as those of Prohibition of alcohol back in the 1920s, and that simply creating criminals out of tokers (of which I was not one during high school) was rotten policy. And yet, here I am -- Prop 19 is going down to the wire in California, and I'm occupied on a different campaign.
I was canvassing for Democrats at a community college this week. I was supposed to bring candy to entice people to the table. I went to a local store and found some that amused me -- gory Halloween marshmallows packaged to look like eyeballs with bloodshot streaks printed on the wrapper. I thought that the students would find them funny -- which, in the context of Prop 19, they did.
Then, during a lull, I had an idea for a graphic to help promote Prop 19. If you like it, pass it along.
Note: While I do volunteer for Jerry Brown, in this diary I do not speak for him, his campaign, the Democratic Party, Aqua Buddha, or anyone else other than myself.
If you like this graphic, save it and pass it on -- especially to your California friends who are more into pot than politics, legalization than other legislation, and fighting serious crime rather than busting the easiest targets and pretending that the police have accomplished anything worthwhile.
I've found that often when I post a graphic on Daily Kos, someone informs me that they could have done it better -- and given my amateur status, they usually seem to be right. So here's the deal for anyone who thinks they can improve on this -- contact me at my profile address and I will e-mail the original photo without text and/or the Photoshop version with the background and each separate line separated into layers, and you can have a go at it!
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to help with the Yes on 19 effort, but activists with groups like the Courage Campaign are doing a damn good job without me. (Note: I don't speak for them either. I'm just a fan.) In fact, they've set up a virtual phonebank tool that anyone can use to turn voters out to support Prop 19.
Does it matter if you're from out of state? Well, Karl Rove, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas oil companies behind the "Dirty Energy Initiative" Prop 23 seem to think it doesn't matter. So, wherever your home, if seeing California legalize marijuana would put a smile on your face -- beyond boosting our state's economy and thus probably yours as well -- you can crank up the tool and call!
If you're from California, you'll probably want to check out their Progressive Voter Guide as well.
It's too bad in one sense -- and not at all bad in others -- that I'm frying other political fish this year. I wish I could call for Prop 19 as well. If you'll take up the slack I'm leaving, let me know -- and please accept my appreciation.
And if you think my little graphic (or improved ones that anyone might post here) is worth circulation to build a cross-ideological coalition, especially among college students, to support Prop 19 -- well, I'd be thrilled to see it get broader distribution.
So, pass the photo, pass the proposition, and what you do with the duchy is your own business!