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Thread: CA, NV, MA, ME, AZ, MO to have Marijuana Ballot Initiatives in 2016

  1. #1

    CA, NV, MA, ME, AZ, MO to have Marijuana Ballot Initiatives in 2016

    http://qz.com/291091/however-the-us-...eally-matters/

    At least five US states—Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada—will hold ballot initiatives in 2016. And the diverse political makeup of those states, from the conservative battleground of Arizona to the liberal hotbed of Massachusetts, means that success at the ballot box would show that legalization spans the political and ideological spectrum

    http://www.pitch.com/FastPitch/archi...zation-in-2016

    Missouri voters in 2016 will have a hand in picking a new president, a successor to Jay Nixon and possibly legalizing marijuana in the Show-Me State.

    'We endorse the idea of voluntarism; self-responsibility: Family, friends, and churches to solve problems, rather than saying that some monolithic government is going to make you take care of yourself and be a better person. It's a preposterous notion: It never worked, it never will. The government can't make you a better person; it can't make you follow good habits.' - Ron Paul 1988

    Awareness is the Root of Liberation Revolution is Action upon Revelation

    'Resistance and Disobedience in Economic Activity is the Most Moral Human Action Possible' - SEK3

    Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.

    ...the familiar ritual of institutional self-absolution...
    ...for protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment...




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  3. #2
    All of these ballot initiatives are intended to drive turnout for the Democrats. This could backfire on them in an incredible way if Rand Paul can win the nomination.
    "And now that the legislators and do-gooders have so futilely inflicted so many systems upon society, may they finally end where they should have begun: May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works." - Bastiat

    "It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." - Voltaire

  4. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by CaptUSA View Post
    All of these ballot initiatives are intended to drive turnout for the Democrats. This could backfire on them in an incredible way if Rand Paul can win the nomination.
    I hear what you're saying but I think you underestimate the initiatives core supporters; MJ legalization is an apolitical issue that only loosely correlates to party affiliation... its a freedom issue with strong support on both sides that transcends blue and red politics.




    Thats

    87% Democrats showing support for some type of legalization

    87% Independent

    while

    75% of Republicans showing the same

    http://fusion.net/story/20638/fusion...n-republicans/
    Last edited by presence; 11-05-2014 at 07:41 AM.

    'We endorse the idea of voluntarism; self-responsibility: Family, friends, and churches to solve problems, rather than saying that some monolithic government is going to make you take care of yourself and be a better person. It's a preposterous notion: It never worked, it never will. The government can't make you a better person; it can't make you follow good habits.' - Ron Paul 1988

    Awareness is the Root of Liberation Revolution is Action upon Revelation

    'Resistance and Disobedience in Economic Activity is the Most Moral Human Action Possible' - SEK3

    Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.

    ...the familiar ritual of institutional self-absolution...
    ...for protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment...


  5. #4
    I think what you're missing in your analysis is the turnout. While you are correct that these initiatives have broad-based appeal, they tend to drive up the turnout of democrat-likely voters. These are people who otherwise might not show up to the polls. Adding these ballot initiatives usually helps them up-ballot.
    "And now that the legislators and do-gooders have so futilely inflicted so many systems upon society, may they finally end where they should have begun: May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works." - Bastiat

    "It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." - Voltaire

  6. #5
    Expect OK to also make another attempt in 2016, and actually get it onto the ballot this time. This year's attempt fell short of the signature requirement (one of the highest in the country) by only several thousand votes. Since the signature requirement is tied to the number of votes for Governor, and the votes cast for that race was the lowest in something like 36 years, the threshold has been lowered (by around 25000 signatures, IIRC) and will easily be met this time around.
    I have an autographed copy of Revolution: A Manifesto for sale. Mint condition, inquire within. (I don't sign in often, so please allow plenty of time for a response)

  7. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by CaptUSA View Post
    I think what you're missing in your analysis is the turnout. While you are correct that these initiatives have broad-based appeal, they tend to drive up the turnout of democrat-likely voters. These are people who otherwise might not show up to the polls. Adding these ballot initiatives usually helps them up-ballot.
    This something that will have to be a serious cosideration. The GOP will be portrayed as anti pot. The dems may offer a young hip candidate also.
    "Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it."
    James Madison

    "It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams



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    Dum Spiro, Pugno
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  8. #7
    Where you at, VA?
    Quote Originally Posted by Sister Miriam Godwinson View Post
    We Must Dissent.

  9. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Spikender View Post
    Where you at, VA?
    Yeah, good question. I'd love to be able to vote for legalized pot in Virginia in 2016. Would be far better than most other things one could do in a voting booth.
    This post represents only the opinions of Christian Liberty and not the rest of the forum. Use discretion when reading



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  11. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by FreedomFanatic View Post
    Yeah, good question. I'd love to be able to vote for legalized pot in Virginia in 2016. Would be far better than most other things one could do in a voting booth.
    It'd be better than about every ballot initiative we've had in a long while. Anything to relieve people of the police state and incurring fines and offenses just for a plant or the substance from a plant.

    I had a friend get locked up not too long ago for weed... it's sad. No one ever got hurt, no crime was committed, he wasn't forcing anyone to take weed, yet he got arrested for it.

    Bull$#@!.
    Quote Originally Posted by Sister Miriam Godwinson View Post
    We Must Dissent.

  12. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Spikender View Post
    It'd be better than about every ballot initiative we've had in a long while. Anything to relieve people of the police state and incurring fines and offenses just for a plant or the substance from a plant.

    I had a friend get locked up not too long ago for weed... it's sad. No one ever got hurt, no crime was committed, he wasn't forcing anyone to take weed, yet he got arrested for it.

    Bull$#@!.
    government kidnappers.
    This post represents only the opinions of Christian Liberty and not the rest of the forum. Use discretion when reading

  13. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by FreedomFanatic View Post
    government kidnappers.
    Oh, you own a plant that God created and enjoy the fruits from its stem?

    Cage. Fines. Another cog in the murder machine, as My Chemical Romance might say.
    Quote Originally Posted by Sister Miriam Godwinson View Post
    We Must Dissent.

  14. #12
    It has a great chance of passing in MA. Maybe NV too? I'm not sure about a state like MO or OK. Well, maybe several years in the future. I see marijuana being legalized in every state
    Lifetime member of more than 1 national gun organization and the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance. Part of Young Americans for Liberty and Campaign for Liberty. Free State Project participant and multi-year Free Talk Live AMPlifier.

  15. #13
    Out of curiosity, why do so many constitutionalists support these sort of ballot initiatives? It's a form of direct democracy, which Constitutionalists traditionally claim to oppose.
    Quote Originally Posted by Torchbearer
    what works can never be discussed online. there is only one language the government understands, and until the people start speaking it by the magazine full... things will remain the same.
    Hear/buy my music here "government is the enemy of liberty"-RP Support me on Patreon here Ephesians 6:12

  16. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by heavenlyboy34 View Post
    Out of curiosity, why do so many constitutionalists support these sort of ballot initiatives? It's a form of direct democracy, which Constitutionalists traditionally claim to oppose.
    Because kidnapping innocent people is wrong and goes against the spirit of the Constitution. They are using it to fight tyrannical government because it is the only feasible way to do it at the moment.
    "He's talkin' to his gut like it's a person!!" -me
    "dumpster diving isn't professional." - angelatc
    "You don't need a medical degree to spot obvious bullshit, that's actually a separate skill." -Scott Adams
    "When you are divided, and angry, and controlled, you target those 'different' from you, not those responsible [controllers]" -Q

    "Each of us must choose which course of action we should take: education, conventional political action, or even peaceful civil disobedience to bring about necessary changes. But let it not be said that we did nothing." - Ron Paul

    "Paul said "the wave of the future" is a coalition of anti-authoritarian progressive Democrats and libertarian Republicans in Congress opposed to domestic surveillance, opposed to starting new wars and in favor of ending the so-called War on Drugs."

  17. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by dannno View Post
    Because kidnapping innocent people is wrong and goes against the spirit of the Constitution. They are using it to fight tyrannical government because it is the only feasible way to do it at the moment.
    That was a thoughtful answer, thanks. ~hugs~
    Quote Originally Posted by Torchbearer
    what works can never be discussed online. there is only one language the government understands, and until the people start speaking it by the magazine full... things will remain the same.
    Hear/buy my music here "government is the enemy of liberty"-RP Support me on Patreon here Ephesians 6:12

  18. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Keith and stuff View Post
    It has a great chance of passing in MA. Maybe NV too? I'm not sure about a state like MO or OK. Well, maybe several years in the future. I see marijuana being legalized in every state
    Here in OK, it's a very tough battle. Ron Paul supporters have allied with liberals on the issue. One problem faced in the State Legislature is even though some legislators are sympathetic to the issue, they don't want the backlash in their districts, and want to honor how the voters in their district feel. The few democrats in the State Legislature have been willing to bring it up, but various legislative attempts have all been killed off in committee. Another problem is even if you can get the signatures for a ballot initiative through, you still have to get all those people to actually vote. The blue dog democrat who just lost the Governor election by about 10% was sympathetic to the issue (and has been as a State Rep), but didn't campaign in it.

    I personally feel that OK will be one of the last states to see MJ legal in any sort of way, and that it won't happen here until at least one other southern conservative state does it. As the dominoes slowly start to fall, eventually people will wake up to the fact that it's "easy tax revenue" and an economic boon to the state. As it creates an economic boom in neighboring states, eventually people here will want to get in on it too. The winning arguments for it here in OK are a pro-business economic argument, and a religious compassion argument for medicinal use.
    I have an autographed copy of Revolution: A Manifesto for sale. Mint condition, inquire within. (I don't sign in often, so please allow plenty of time for a response)



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