And what does a lobby require to be successful?
That's obvious. That is precisely why I think we have next to zero hope. To get organized and donate the kind of money required with this demographic is likely impossible. Further it would have to be almost everyone in the target demographic not just this forum.
A unified lobby making significant campaign contributions is the only way to stop this non-sense. That's how policy gets made now a days. If politicians thought there would be enough money in it for them, they would make it legal. They don't give a shit about bud either way, it's just right now they have more financial incentives to bust people than leave them alone. That dynamic needs to be changed before any more significant progress is made.
There is tons of money right now. A lobby also requires unification. Something that dispensaries seem to have little interest in doing at the moment. Eventually people will have to stop perusing their own day to day self interests and willing to contribute to something more permanent or this will all fall apart.
Dan you are so right! But the problem is everyone is to busy trying to get theirs. They seem to forget that huge loophole, the Controlled Substances Act. That seems to be big pharma's wild card. If we don't get our ducks in a row and put aside our differences big pharma will walk in and take it all away when they are ready. The DEA and US Politicians will simply say well we tried and 'the populace' couldn't be trusted with it.
Compared to pharma and some of the other big industries I think there is pounds of money. Pharma has tons.
Also, another big lobby/industry that has vested interests in keeping it illegal is the police and jailers unions. They are one of the more powerful lobbies in California, and cannabis helps keep them in business.
Mithrandir420, yes almost everyone here is aware of these issues and many more associated ones. If you look back amongst the posts, in this forum alone, you'll see we've all posted on just these subjects several times in just the few months I've been here. The problem is getting enough people with disparate interests to put aside their differences and agree on the bare minimum of legislation needed to make Cannabis legal.Compared to pharma and some of the other big industries I think there is pounds of money. Pharma has tons.
And then there is the question of the elephant in the room. If it was legalized, how much would the price drop? Would it drop so far that it's no longer worth it for any but the largest producers to grow and sell it? I think that many many people who make a living at it are torn... on the one hand they want it legal. No one should have to sit in jail over cannabis and we all know it. On the other hand complete legalization likely means a severe price drop. I know of at least 2 people who if that was to happen would have very few other career options.
Legalization can be a thorny issue. Personally I would love to see it regulated (and declassified at the fed level) so I could open a canna coffee shop or a cannabis "vineyard". People go wine tasting? They can go cannabis tasting, too! I would love to be a completely legal cannabis entrepreneur.
I'm right there by you.I guess you didn't see this [video=youtube;DpOkT5NeDgE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DpOkT5NeDgE[/video]
At the end they took a verbal vote and the speaker said that the no's have it. So no it didn't pass. They called for a vote so there would be a record so voters who follow this could decide who to vote in or out. But even passing the House it still has to make it through the Senate. Big Pharma seems to have it's representatives well in hand.
Nah, not bad at all. I wish it had passed too. It was frightening to hear. The only person standing up for the opposition was illiterate. The fact they voted it down without rationally stating opposition tells me the fix is in. We NEED a cohesive lobby and we need it fast.Damn I though it did, mybad everyone.
You sure that's a good idea?
