*Especially now, when our legislation is being considered.
Please take a look at our Medical Marijuana Bill, House Bill 2247 (see
our summary) and then write to your
Rep and Senator and say you support rational reform of the marijuana
laws. We can't play the election funds game. Your support --
your active, vocal support -- is the only card we have.
And it is not a bad one, especially on this issue. Snce most
legislators don't really expect to get much mail in favor of reform,
each letter they do get has twice the impact of a letter on, say,
taxes. We know it's a drag to write, but that's an important
point. That's exactly why legislators pay attention to letters -
- they know they represent serious commitment."
These are not initiatives; they do not have the force of law.
They are just advisory, a declaration of sentiment by the
District's voters. But politicians do pay attention to them!
To place a PPQ on a ballot requires collecting the signatures
and addresses of 200 registered voters in a House district and 1200 in
a Senate district.
This sounds like a lot, but to put the
effort involved in perspective, it takes no more than 30 person hours
to do a House district and 180 person hours to do a Senate district.
These numbers can be whittled down significantly if signature
gathering is done where the fish are, e.g., outside town election
polling places.
Steven Epstein will again be coordinating
people who want to help.
Anyone volunteering
to assist in this effort, especially if they are willing to do their
own House districts, would be a world of good for the cause.
To
volunteer please contact Steve at
masscannbenorml@aol.com.
