Help me Change America (Voting ends at 5pm ET on Thursday, January 15)

[LagunaRoadster]

I'm not sure if you've heard, but there's a movement of citizens inspired by the presidential campaign who are deciding the top 10 ideas for how they think the Obama administration should change America. It's called "Ideas for Change in America," and it's being run by Change.org.

One idea is titled: Legalize the Medicinal and Recreational Use of Marijuana. I thought you might be interested in getting involved and recommend you check it out. You can read more and vote for the idea by clicking the following link:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/legalize_the_medicinal_and_recreational_use_of_marijuana

The top 10 ideas are going to be presented to the Obama administration at an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC next week and will be supported by a national lobbying campaign run by Change.org in partnership with leading nonprofits after the Presidential Inauguration. So each idea has a real chance at becoming policy.

Thanks for the help!

Stephen

[lance]

I'm not sure if you've heard, but there's a movement of citizens inspired by the presidential campaign who are deciding the top 10 ideas for how they think the Obama administration should change America. It's called "Ideas for Change in America," and it's being run by Change.org.

One idea is titled: Legalize the Medicinal and Recreational Use of Marijuana. I thought you might be interested in getting involved and recommend you check it out. You can read more and vote for the idea by clicking the following link:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/legalize_the_medicinal_and_recreational_use_of_marijuana

The top 10 ideas are going to be presented to the Obama administration at an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC next week and will be supported by a national lobbying campaign run by Change.org in partnership with leading nonprofits after the Presidential Inauguration. So each idea has a real chance at becoming policy.

Thanks for the help!

Stephen

Went to that site and took a look, out of all the issues we have in this country currently, I have a hard time believing that the number one thing we could do to improve this country is to legalize marijuana!!

Believe me I have no problem with the concept, have never believed that the recreational use of marijuana should be penalized, but what about revamping the tax system, what about health care, what about changes to the corp. tax structure to encourage industries to locate in the US instead of moving offshore??

Would be interesting to see the demographics of the group that thinks this is our country's biggest issue to be resolved.

[MeFryRice]

^^ I agree with Lance on this one.

[Doppelgänger]

Yeah... maybe get to that after some of the other larger issues get addressed.

[MeFryRice]

I just do understand why people feel that legalizing marijuana will create a significant change for the better of our country? Can someone please explain the points that I must be missing here?

[Doppelgänger]

Because it's just as important to have them taking up tax dollars and jail space as to having rapists, murders, drunk drivers and people driving without insurance in jail too....you know, because people busted with a few ounces of pot are just as dangerous and as costly to businesses/people as the aforementioned list of other offenders.

[MeFryRice]

oh yeah, I forgot. My bad...

[metalman]

I just do understand why people feel that legalizing marijuana will create a significant change for the better of our country? Can someone please explain the points that I must be missing here?

Because that way people will spend more time laying in bed, watching cartoons, and eating cheetos...and the worlds problems wont seem as bad. :lol:

[LagunaRoadster]

ya, very interesting that they have a place where you can rank issues and possibly get them addressed. I am usually not political, but this was fairly interesting to say the least, figured I would pass the information on.

[simontibbett]

It will create millions of new jobs and such..........lol. Keep it banned. I like cry babies.

[Roadster]

I voted against "change", lol. My idea for "changing America" would be for Obama to step down and let Ron Paul take over, but that seems a bit of a long shot. :rolleyes:

[MeFryRice]

I give Obama ~6 months before he's assassinated.

[Doppelgänger]

I voted against "change", lol. My idea for "changing America" would be for Obama to step down and let Ron Paul take over, but that seems a bit of a long shot. :rolleyes:

:facepalm:
we need not start political discussions...again...

[MeFryRice]

I'll start a politics thread in a minute for us to discuss this matter.

[wildfire0310]

I just do understand why people feel that legalizing marijuana will create a significant change for the better of our country? Can someone please explain the points that I must be missing here?

Well I did some research back in the day and one of the big reasons to legalize marijuana wasn't for marijuana at all but for it sister plant and hemp. The problem right now is that it is illegeal to grow hemp without going through 1000s of people and forms, cause it so similar to marijuana that one could grow marijuana right next to hemp and 95% of people wouldn't noticed a difference. Hemp has millions of uses and would put a huge hurting on the oil and logging companies which is why they push for it to stay illegeal.

Quick advantages of hemp:
one of the fastest growing plants
can be grown in about 75% of America
high amounts of soy
can be used to make paper, wood, rope, etc
most likely could be used instead of corn to make E-85 :biggrin:

Then also there is the whole reason Mike stated. That and I meet a few people that have the same mind set about, how Marijuana is illegeal but tobacco and alcohol are legal and they are all about on the same level.