Developing Collaborative
Solutions
Presenter
John Redman
Connecting People . . . Changing Communities
Executive Director
Californians For Drug-Free Youth
Director
California HIDTA’s
Overview
Prop 19, what happened
CA 2012
Other 2012 State Marijuana Initiatives
Celebration / Challenges
NORML’S 2013 Conference
Federal Response
Future Legalization Plans
Our Next Steps
Introduction
March 24, 2010, the Tax Cannabis 2010 campaign
gathered enough signatures needed to qualify for the
California ballot. On June 28, 2010, Secretary of
state Debra Bowen announced the proposition
number for the measure set to appear on the
November 2, 2010, Statewide General Election
Ballot.
Prop 19
The Regulate, Control and Tax
Cannabis act of 2010.
Richard Lee
Owner: Oaksterdam University,
The Bulldog Coffee Shop
Four campaign committees were
officially registered as supporting a
"yes" vote on Proposition 19.
"Yes on 19. Tax Cannabis 2010. Sponsored by S.K. Seymour LLC, a
Medical Cannabis Provider, dba Oaksterdam University, a Cannabis
Educator“
"Drug Policy Action Committee to Tax and Regulate Marijuana - Yes on
Proposition 19“
"Credo Victory Fund - Yes on 19“
"Students for Sensible Drug Policy, David Bronner, Adam Eidinger, and
Alan Amsterdam Committee to Regulate Cannabis - Yes on 19"
Supporters-Individuals
Gary E. Johnson: former two term Republican Governor of New Mexico
Joycelyn Elders: former United States Surgeon General
George Miller: current Democratic House Representative from California's 7th congressional district
Barbara Lee: current Democratic House Representative from California's 9th congressional district
Pete Stark: current Democratic House Representative from California's 13th congressional district
John Dennis: 2010 Republican Congressional candidate for California's 8th congressional district
Dan Hamburg: former Democratic House Representative from California's 1st congressional district
Don Perata:former Democratic President pro tempore of the California State Senate
Mark Leno: current Democratic member of the California State Senate
Tom Ammiano: current Democratic member of the California State Assembly
Jorge Castañeda Gutman: former Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
Larry Bedard: former President of the American College of Emergency Physicians
Tom Bates: current Mayor of Berkeley, California
James P. Gray: former Superior Court judge of Orange County
John A. Russo: current City Attorney of Oakland, California
Paul Gallegos: current District Attorney of Humboldt County, California
Jeffrey Schwartz: former Senior District Attorney and Prosecutor of Humboldt County, California
Terence Hallinan: former District Attorney of San Francisco, California
Mike Schmier: former District Attorney of Los Angeles, California and California Administrative Law Judge
Norm Stamper:former Seattle, Washington police chief
Joseph McNamara: Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution and former Chief of Police of San Jose, California
Stephen Downing: former Los Angeles, California police chief
David Doodridge: former Los Angeles, California narcotics detective
Ed Rosenthal: cannabis activist and columnist
Marc Emery: cannabis activist and former cannabis seed seller[20]
Supporters-Organizations
California NAACP
Oakland City Council
Berkeley City Council
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors
California NORML
Drug Policy Alliance
Marijuana Policy Project
American Federation of Teachers
National Black Police Association
National Latino Officers Association
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
ACLU of Northern California
ACLU of San Diego
United Food and Commercial Workers Union
Communications Workers of America, Local 9415
International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Northern California District Council
Service Employees International Union of California
Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative
Los Angeles County Democratic Party
San Francisco Democratic Party
Alameda County Democratic Party
Monterey County Democratic Party
Santa Barbara County Democratic Party
California Young Democrats
Republican Liberty Caucus
Green Party of California
United States Libertarian Party
League of United Latin American Citizens
Supporter Donor Amount
S.K. Seymour, LLC / Oaksterdam
George Soros
Peter Lewis
Paul Buchheit
Philip Harvey
Sean Parker
Richard Mazess
Kevin Bright
Stephen M. Silberstien
Peter Thie
$1,528,932
$1,000,000
$ 218,505
$ 105,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 75,000
$ 70,000
$ 70,000
Sub-Total
$3,367,437
Other
$ 673,144
Grand Total
$4,050,581
Six campaign committees registered
with the California Secretary of State to
spend money to defeat Proposition 19.
Public Safety First - No on Proposition 19, a Project of California Public Safety
First
Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana, a Committee Against Proposition 19
Communities in Action, a Committee Against Proposition 19
Nip It In The Bud: No on Proposition 19
Associated General Contractors Issues Political Action Committee Opposing
Proposition 19
Crusades for Patients Rights - No on Prop 19 Sponsored by Canna Care
Opponents-Individuals
Dianne Feinstein: U.S. Senator
Laura Dean-Mooney: National President, Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Steve Cooley: District Attorney, Los Angeles County
Kamala Harris: District Attorney, San Francisco
Kevin Nida: President, California State Firefighters Association
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senate candidate Carly Fiorina
Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Attorney General Candidate Kamala Harris
Attorney General Candidate Steve Cooley
Opponents-Organizations
The National Black Churches Initiative
"Fight Crime, Invest In Kids"
The National Association of Drug Court Professionals
DARE America
Coalition for a Drug-Free California
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
the California Narcotics Officers Association
California Police Chiefs Association
The California Cannabis Association
The League of California Cities
Opposition Donor Amount
Julie Schauer
California Police Chiefs Association
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
California Narcotics Officers Association
California Beer & Beverage Distributors
$
$
$
$
$
50,000
49,999
25,000
20,500
10,000
Sub-Total
$155,499
Other
$164,500
Grand Total
$319,999
Proposition 19 Results
Defeated
Vote tally: (as of November 16, 2010)
No votes: 5,061,119
Yes votes: 4,366,381
Difference: 694,738 (No votes)
54% to 46%
Polls
Date of Poll
Pollster
In favor
Opposed
Undecided
APR 20, 2010
MAY16, 2010
JUL 5, 2010
JUL 25, 2010
JUL11, 2010
SEP 1, 2010
SEP 21, 2010
SEP 21, 2010
SEP 26, 2010
OCT 4, 2010
OCT 17, 2010
OCT 20, 2010
OCT 26, 2010
SurveyUSA
PPIC
Field
PPP
SurveyUSA
SurveyUSA
Field
SurveyUSA
PPIC
Reuters/lpsos
PPIC
LA TIMES/USC
Field
56%
49%
44%
52%
50%
47%
49%
47%
52%
43%
44%
39%
42%
42%
48%
48%
36%
40%
43%
42%
42%
41%
53%
49%
51%
49%
3%
3%
8%
12%
11%
10%
9%
11%
7%
3%
7%
10%
9%
The YES Initiative
A “Yes Campaign” has to convince voters that:
1. Not only is the problem their measure seeks to
solve a serious issue that demands immediate
attention, but
2. That their proposed solution is THE BEST way
to do it.
The rebuttal
This two-step process puts the Yes side at a disadvantage. To
defeat a yes measure, opponents usually have two ways to make
their case:
1. They can point out that the problem is not really that important
relative to other priorities
2. They can agree the problem needs solving but that this
particular ballot measure is the wrong solution.
In a marijuana battle we have yet another potential message track
3. That a particular state can’t afford the harm this initiative will
cause.
Opposition Issues
So, what are the assets the proponents usually count on to lead them to victory?
They preach that the War on Drugs is a failure for the following reasons:
•Our state is facing a fiscal crisis and we can’t afford to waste precious
dollars on needless law enforcement activities.
•Why not capitalize on that underground revenue stream, legalize it and
collect tax dollars from it?
•Marijuana is a benign drug that harms no one and arresting anyone for
marijuana use or sales does more harm to the individual than the marijuana
itself.
•If we legalize it, tax it, and regulate it we can keep it out of the hands of
youth.
•Legalizing marijuana will eliminate the drug cartels and end the carnage in
Mexico.
Initiative Success Rate
One thing to keep in mind as we go
forward is that a lot of initiatives start
out with high approval numbers,
YET TWO-THIRDS OF ALL BALLOT
INITIATIVES FAIL.
Assurance: None
BUT THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT A PARTICULAR
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION MEASURE WILL GO DOWN
TO DEFEAT WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE OPPOSITION
CAMPAIGN.
Three Phases
Phase 1 Jan – March (research / develop)
– Build the Campaign Team
– Established the Campaign Structure
– Draft a Plan
– Research Public Opinion
– Research Opposition Position
– Developed Materials –Launched Website
– Develop Fundraising Plan
Three Phases
Phase 2 Apr – Jul (generate capacity)
– Launch Fundraising Campaign
– Meetings w/ Key Allies & Civic Groups
– Generate Grassroots Outreach & Recruitment
– Draft the Ballot Argument
– Build Media Relations
Monthly Op Eds.
Letters to the Editor
Action Letters to Public Officials and Departments
– Generate Public Media Events
Town Hall meetings
Community Forums
Rally's
Debates
Interviews
Presentations to Community Groups & Organizations
Three Phases
Phase 3 Aug – Nov (get the word out)
– Voter Contact
– Disseminate Your Message Through
- The Airwaves
- PSA’s
- Print Ads
- Direct Mail
- Earned media
- Town Hall meetings
- Debates
- Op Eds
New Partnership
Left: Asian community supports no on 19 with traveling billboard
and megaphone.
Right: John Redman and Paul Chang speak out against Prop 19 at
the Asian Correspondence Conference September 1, 2010.
New Partnerships
Press Conference:
July 7, 2010
Sacrament West
steps of the Capitol
African American
Faith Based
Community Speak
out Against
Legalization
Debates
October 15 debate
at Loyola Law
School
From the left:
Stephen Gutwillig,
Drug Policy
Alliance, John
Redman,
Communities in
Action
Electronic Media
Interview on KUSI, San Diego
John Redman of Communities in Action debates
Gretchen Burns Bergman of A New Path
Support From Policymakers
October 29th Press Conference, Glendale, CA
From the left: John Redman, Alexandra Datig,
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Bishop Ron Allen
Press Conferences
From the left: Hon. Nate Holden, MADD,
Pasadena Recovery Center, R. Gil Kerlikowske,
John Redman, Sheriff Lee Baca, CNOA Director
Joe Stewart
Recruit Unlikely Partners
2012 Expectations from the
Legalizers
• Protect Medical Marijuana Rights
• Don’t over-penalize 18-25 year olds
• Integrate illegal growers into the market
• Increase the Fear of Prohibition over legalization
• Stop Portraying MJ as a bad thing that must be
controlled
• Be realistic about what legalization can accomplish
• Legalize first, test later
• You can’t treat it like alcohol unless you can test it
• Consistent statewide regulation
• Distance legalization from Medical Marijuana
Meeting in Colorado 1st quarter
Debate training SF
National Strategy
Result
Global Commission on Drug Policy
Report Released June 1, 2011
Former Presidents of Brazil ,
Colombia , Mexico and Switzerland,
Prime Minister of Greece , Kofi
Annan, Richard Branson, George
Shultz, Paul Volcker, Mario Vargas
Llosa and Other Leaders Call for
Major Paradigm Shift in Global
Drug Policy
Commission of World Leaders
Urges End to Failed Drug War,
Fundamental Reforms of Global
Drug Prohibition Regime including
the legalization of Marijuana
Result
Institute of the Black World
Report Released June 17, 2011
The IBW calls for an end to the “War on Drugs,” and hosted a forum
looking at the impact of those policies on the African American community.
Speakers include the Reverend Jesse Jackson, as well as John Conyers
(D-MI), the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee.
The Institute of the Black World 21st Century Declares War On The “War
on Drugs” A Petition to Recruit an Army of Advocates and Organizers To
End a Failed Strategy and Create Just and Humane Alternatives
Result
Institute of the
Black World
Report Released June 17, 2011
The Institute of the Black World
21st Century Declares War On
The “War on Drugs” A Petition
to Recruit an Army of
Advocates and Organizers To
End a Failed Strategy and
Create Just and Humane
Alternatives
California Result
6 legalization initiatives in CA
•The Regulate Marijuana like Wine Act of 2012
• Failed to Qualify 4/6/2012
•Reduce Marijuana Penalties Initiative Statute
• Failed to Qualify 4/18/2012
•Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012
• Failed to Qualify 4/19/2012
•CA Medical Marijuana Regulation Control and Taxation Act
• Withdrew for Circulation,
• Exact Language used for AB2312
•California Cannabis Hemp and Health Initiative
• Circulation Deadline 6/4/2012
•Medical marijuana Patient Associations Initiative Statute
• Circulation Deadline 8/16 2012
The New Prop 19
The Authors
Coalition of Cannabis Policy Reform
Dale Jones – Chair
Allice Huffman – Vice Chair
Tom Angell – Media Relations Director LEAP
Previously Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Graham Boyd – Visiting fellow, Criminal Justice Center, Stanford
Previously, Founder ACLU Drug Law Reform Project
David Bronner – President Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
Antonio Gonzalez – President, William C. Velasquez Institute
Stephen Gutwillig – California Director, Drug Police Alliance
Jeff Jones – Marijuana Activist
Richard Lee – Founder / President, Oaksterdam University
Dan Rush – Special Operations Director for United Food and
Commercial Workers Union (UFCW)
2012 Marijuana Initiatives in
Other States
On November 6, 2012, Colorado and Washington voters
approved the legalization of marijuana.
In Massachusetts voters approved a medical marijuana
initiative.
In Oregon and Arkansas, voters defeated reform measures.
In Montana, voters approved the legislature's decision to
restrict the state's medical marijuana law.
Arkansas
Issue 5: Authorize the use of marijuana for
medical purposes.
LOSS: 48.56%-51.44%
Colorado
Amendment 64: Allow the personal
possession and cultivation of marijuana by
adults who are 21 and older and allow
regulated sales.
WIN: 55.33%-44.67%
Massachusetts
Question 3: Authorize the use of marijuana for
medical purposes.
WIN: 63.33%-36.67%
Oregon
Measure 80: Repeal Oregon's marijuana
prohibition and replace it with a system of
taxation and regulation.
LOSS: 46.58%-53.42%
Washington
Initiative 502: Allow the possession of an
ounce of marijuana by adults who are 21 and
older and allow regulated sales.
WIN: 55.70%-44.30%
Title
Pot smokers gather under Seattle's Space
Needle to celebrate legalization of marijuana
NBC NEWS
Dustin, left and Paul, both
from Puyallup, Wash., and
both of whom wouldn't give
their last name, smoke
marijuana beneath the Space
Needle shortly after midnight
on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in
Seattle, Wash. Dustin and
Paul were two of about 100
pot smokers gathered in
Seattle's City Center to
celebrate the legalization of
the possession of marijuana.
Title
Garth Carroll, who also goes by the name of
"Professor Gizmo," smokes what he describes as
"good, greenhouse organic herb" at the base of the
Space Needle in Seattle just before midnight on
Wednesday, Dec. 5. Carroll is a medical marijuana
patient and marijuana activist in Seattle.
Title
"It's too good to be just for the young," said 67-yearold Pat Edmonson about the marijuana cigarette she
smoked just after midnight on Thursday, Dec. 6, in
Seattle. Edmonson, of Whidbey Island, Wash., was in
Seattle with her daughter to celebrate the legalization
of the possession of marijuana.
4 Year Strategy
California NORML‘s 2013
Conference
“Cannabis in California: Ending the
100-Year War“,
January 28, 2013
SAN FRANCISCO — Energized by pot
legalization in Colorado and Washington,
marijuana law reformers revealed huge plans
Sunday for the next four years in the U.S.
Exit Polls Show…
those who voted “No” on 2010 California legalization initiative
Prop 19:
- 39 percent had friends that smoked pot;
- 34 percent were past pot users;
- and fifteen percent said they supported legalization.
Prop 19 lost by about 400,000 votes, representing just a
fraction of the pro-legalizers, former smokers and their friends
who voted against their own self-interest.
Rebuild Their Base
Troubling base defections drove calls for vigorous and renewed base-building, and
a new unity among ever-bickering pro-legalization factions in 2013.
Pollster Graham Boyd delivered the sobering Prop 19 exit poll numbers
“Lessons from Washington, Colorado & Prop 19″ panel that included: Colorado
Amendment 64 campaign co-director Mason Tvert
Washington Initiative 592 director Alison Holcomb
Prop 19 founder Richard Lee
Drug Policy Alliance senior attorney Tamar Todd
Prop 19 failed to carry pot-growing epicenter Humboldt County, with 53 percent of
Humboldters voting “no” on decriminalization.
A Call for Unity
Losses have humbled them and they are now committed to
working together as part of the
Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform.
“Folks in this room are the core of the base. It is going to be
vitally important that we do the work of building a coalition that
holds together,” Boyd said.
The unity theme was widely echoed. Mason Tvert urged
California activists to “take the next couple of years to get
people ready.”
The 4 Year Plan
President Rob Kampia outlined an ambitious four-year agenda for the MPP. Kampia said pot
legalization in California in 2016 is going to cost $14 million.
Kampia called California legalization in 2016 “ours to lose” in either one of two ways: too
radical of an initiative; or severe infighting amongst legalizers.
Legalization in Hawaii, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont by 2016 will cost $9 million, Kampia
said.
“It really only takes 23 rich guys who can write $1 million checks, and I know 23 rich guys who
can write million dollar checks,” Kampia said.
Nov. 2016 “is going to make this last November look boring,” he concluded.
CA Legislation
State Senator Mark Leno and Rep. Tom Ammiano brought political gravitas
to the conference, as well as a sense of fear from Sacramento about all
things pot.
Medical marijuana industry regulations will be discussed this February in
the state Senate, but Leno said his colleagues are “afraid of their own
shadows” when it comes to the popular herb.
Rep. Ammiano said 28 new representatives in the Assembly should be
open to marijuana law reform, but all efforts face powerful opposition,
chiefly from the: California Narcotic Officers Association; and California
Police Chiefs Association.
Additional Opposition
The League of California Cities is also aggressively
pushing dispensary bans in the name of local control,
Ammiano said.
Meanwhile the California Chamber of Commerce
wants to ensure employers can keep firing workers
for weekend or vacation pot use, Leno said.
Amiano’s Predictions
Rep. Ammiano said California medical marijuana crackdown
would end “soon”, either with the transfer of US Attorney
Melinda Haag or the resignation of Attorney General Holder.
Rep. Ammiano thanked Washington and Colorado for
“massaging things” and called Ms. Haag’s closure of scores of
licensed Bay Area dispensaries “drone strikes” and a “jihad”
Harborside
Harborside Health Center attorney Henry Wykowski said the
world’s largest marijuana dispensary will remain open by
federal order, and the Oakland club intends to vanquish Ms.
Haag in a juried Bay Area trial, which could set nationwide
precedent.
The 300 or so people in the room Saturday erupted into
cheers, and the large convention hall took on the aura of a
Southern Baptist revival. All that was missing was an organist
and a choir.
A Random Note
Sen. Leno said that if he ever has the honor of
serving San Francisco in the House of
Representatives, he would “make marijuana
issues a priority”. Sen. Leno is termed out in
four years. Rep. Pelosi faces no term limits.
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
Published: December 6, 2012
Federal officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss
the matter. Several cautioned that the issue had raised complex legal and policy
considerations — including enforcement priorities, litigation strategy and the impact of
international antidrug treaties — that remain unresolved, and that no decision was imminent.
The United States Attorney in Seattle, Jenny A. Durkan warned Washington residents that the
drug remained illegal.
“In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a
Schedule I controlled substance,” she said. “Regardless of any changes in state law, including
the change that will go into effect on December 6 in Washington State, growing, selling or
possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law.”
Ms. Durkan’s statement also hinted at the deliberations behind closed doors, saying: “The
Department of Justice is reviewing the legalization initiatives recently passed in Colorado and
Washington State. The department’s responsibility to enforce the Controlled Substances Act
remains unchanged.”
Future Legalization Plans
DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA IN
VERMONT
Gov. Pete Shumlin (D), a strong supporter of
decriminalizing marijuana, partially
campaigned on the issue and easily won
reelection on November 6 with 58% of the
vote. The Vermont legislature is poised to pass
the bill he wants, so this legislation could
become law by this summer.
LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Incoming Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) is a strong
supporter of medical marijuana, she is
expected to sign a medical marijuana bill
similar to those vetoed by former Gov. John
Lynch (D) in 2009 and 2012.
BUILD SUPPORT FOR
LEGALIZATION IN THE
RHODE ISLAND LEGISLATURE
Medical marijuana was legalized and marijuana
possession was decriminalized in Rhode Island in
2009 and 2012, respectively.
There is now considerable momentum to tax and
regulate (T&R) marijuana like alcohol, and Rhode
Island’s state legislature could become the first to do
so.
BUILD SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZATION IN
CALIFORNIA, MAINE, AND OREGON
There will be a sincere effort to pass T&R bills
through the legislatures in these three states.
Should they fall short, MPP and its allies will
pursue statewide ballot initiatives in November
2016, at which time all three will be expected to
pass.
BUILD SUPPORT ONLINE
People have said that the Internet is marijuana legalization’s
best friend, and this could not have been more evident than it
was last year. Campaigns mobilized their supporters,
organizations raised funds, and the public was able to follow
the progress in real time.
Prohibitionists, who have depended on the government for its
largess for years, are now at a disadvantage. Private citizens
simply do not want to donate to them, and most information
about marijuana is now reaching the public without being run
through their filter.
CONTINUE THE STEADY
DRUMBEAT IN THE MEDIA
National and local media outlets are covering the
marijuana issue more than ever before.
Communicating to voters through news coverage is
the most cost-efficient way to increase public support
for ending marijuana prohibition.
BUILD SUPPORT FOR
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
IN CONGRESS
There are already approximately 185 members of the U.S.
House who want to stop the U.S. Justice Department from
spending taxpayer money on raiding medical marijuana
businesses in the 18 states (and D.C.) where medical
marijuana is legal.
They want to reach 218 votes on this amendment, thereby
ensuring the amendment's transfer to the U.S. Senate for an
up-or-down vote.
BUILD SUPPORT FOR ENDING
MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IN
CONGRESS
Last year, the first-ever bill to legalize
marijuana attracted 21 sponsors. Their goal is
to expand the number of sponsors to more
than two-dozen during the 2013-2014 election
season.
Challenges
•Normalization in popular culture
•Lack of anti-marijuana news coverage
•Organized Marijuana legalization effort
•Few prevention strategies specifically
focused on marijuana
•Widespread ambivalence, misinformation
among youth, parents and society in general
Our Plan
What We Need to Build
A Standing Army of
United Professionals Supporting
Sound Drug Policy
Thank You
Title
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Title
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Implementation
Puget Sound Business Journal
Jan 22, 2013
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee is advising the
State Liquor Control Board to move forward on initial
steps for creating a legal recreational marijuana
market after a visit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday
with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Washington State
June 1st
Seeds in the Ground
December 1st
Pot Shops to open
Challenges
Information
Amendment 64: Business organizations ask
feds to clamp down on Colorado marijuana
measure
By Sam Levin Wed., Dec. 5 2012
Now, a coalition of business groups opposed to legalization is
urging the federal government to enforce the Controlled
Substances Act.
The coalition is made up of twenty business organizations
across the state, mainly chambers of commerce and economic
development corporations. This group has put its message into
letters to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and President
Barack Obama, as well as Colorado Governor John
Hickenlooper and Attorney General John Suthers, asking them
for their support.