Maine, Legalization, and the ballot initative process... finding an organization?

Rolling Stone has just posted an article about the "7 states most likely to legalize next"... From the article:

"5) Maine
Maine's legislature has recently expanded decriminalization and is moving on a legalization-and-regulation bill that could bring the state $8 million a year in new revenue. ''The people are far ahead of the politicians on this,'' said Rep. Diane Russell of Portland. ''Just in the past few weeks we've seen the culture shift dramatically.''


State legislators in Maine, as in other direct-democracy states, are actually wary of the ballot initiative process and may work to preempt the voters. A legalization scheme devised by lawmakers, after all, is likely to produce tighter regulation and more revenue than a bill dreamed up by pot consumers themselves."

Check out NORML's web site, they'll probably have some info on some organizations in your area. Way to want to get involved!

AltarNation said:

Rolling Stone has just posted an article about the "7 states most likely to legalize next"... From the article:

"5) Maine
Maine's legislature has recently expanded decriminalization and is moving on a legalization-and-regulation bill that could bring the state $8 million a year in new revenue. ''The people are far ahead of the politicians on this,'' said Rep. Diane Russell of Portland. ''Just in the past few weeks we've seen the culture shift dramatically.''


State legislators in Maine, as in other direct-democracy states, are actually wary of the ballot initiative process and may work to preempt the voters. A legalization scheme devised by lawmakers, after all, is likely to produce tighter regulation and more revenue than a bill dreamed up by pot consumers themselves."

Read the whole article: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-next-seven-states-to-legalize-pot-20121218#ixzz2FSRDkeAH

And onto my post:

I am seeking information regarding organizations in Maine that are working towards the goals described in this article. Specifically, I am seeking more information about any individuals or organizations that I could get in touch with about contributing my resources and time toward the task of successfully stepping AHEAD of state legislation to prevent the sort of "tighter regulation" described above.

I am not very educated about this, but very much want to contribute what I can to this. If nothing else, I have a lot of free time, and a good head on my shoulders, and can learn what I need to learn to help.

So, I am just wondering if anyone has any information regarding currently in-progress organizations in maine that I might be able to join up with to help fight the good fight. What I want to do is sort out who is working on a serious model and plan, and get on board.

So if you know who it is that I should be in touch with to pursue these goals, please post here and tell me about it!

I know that I might seem like a "late joiner" or a bandwagoner, and I will take the heat on that one, as I have not gotten involved politically before now other than voting for medicinal, et cetera... but I am ready to get involved and make this happen, and I know there are others out there too who are also looking for such a resource. So please, take it easy on the flames, and know that we all want the same thing here.

What can we do? Who can we contact? Where do we commit our efforts to make this happen?

Again, looking for state-specific information and resources... I realize this isn't a state-specific forum but I felt it was a more appropriate place than the medicinal forum.
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I was directly involved in the pr that helped put cali prop 215 or the CUA in place and i can tell you that no matter what the 'groups' or gov says about 215, you should google it and read it because it is what your looking for.
Also I just rapped up a lower court civil case involving 215 and I can tell you for sure you need 215's wording or something akin to it.
They rarely let me out of the hog pen (politics & my fenced in area within such) so I probably wont be back but good luck to you<3