Here's something to feel thankful for this
holiday season:
AZ
House Minority Whip, Ruben
Gallego (D-LD27), just announced he is introducing a bill for full-scale marijuana
legalization in Arizona, in part, thanks to the work of our organization,
Safer AZ. The
bill is already making national news though it hasn’t been filed yet. Read
Gallego’s press release about it here:
Gallego’s
announcement is already
In response this
week there has been a flurry of calls and messages
between cannabis activists around the state to see what all we could do to in
promoting public awareness of this bill and bring AZ cannabis legalization one
step closer to reality. THX to my congressional run last year and my wife's
membership on AZ's DNC delegation, the Gallegos and the Weissers are already
social friends within the party, and so I am more than happy to help my friend
w his work, especially when he is working on one of my main issues. It is the
kind of thing I am attacking at a federal level w my congressional campaign and
here in the state through my work as the legislative liaison and general
speaker for Safer AZ.
Safer
AZ is a cannabis activist network working to promote reform
through direct activism at the statehouse and in the general public. We
are the people behind the current petition
drive for the citizens’ Marijuana initiative to tax and regulate cannabis,
AND, the “Harm
Reduction Measure,” another cannabis bill also readying to be introduced
this January by Rep.
Mark Cardenas (D-LD19), which will address the state draconian felony
sentencing statures for possession. We are also the creators of the “Safer AZ
Legislative Status” report which informs Arizonans of our legislators’
positions on cannabis reform.
Among others things we
are already doing to promote Gallego’s
bill include communicating w other cannabis activist groups, in particular
PHX NORML, NORML in AZ & LEAP to promote awareness of the bill through our
networks. I, in particular, talk directly w smoke shop and dispensary operators
throughout the western part of the state to promote cannabis awareness in
general and legalization efforts. In addition, Safer AZ creates/participates in
musical events to increase visibility and we are coordinating a major public
action on Jan. 13 to bring cannabis activists from all corners of Arizona to
the statehouse to call for legalization. Finally we work w reporters to provide
info and interviews to help improve their coverage of the issues.
The
future of America is legalization. We have this chance to push to bring that
future sooner, rather than later. There is a tremendous urgency of now. The
often quoted figure is the AZ Central poll that showed 59% approval for
legalization. It is certainly reflected in what I am seeing in the western part
of the state. While the two parties officially take different positions on the
issue, the citizens of both parties support legalization. Here is a link to
read further on my observations of this issue.
A poet, political writer,
entertainer/arts organizer and Democratic community activist from the
Bullhead, Kingman & Prescott areas, I first challenged the GOP for control
of the newly created congressional seat in 2012 while maintaining my full-time
teaching career. This year I am running full-time and standing up for a 21st
Century economy, dramatically improving education, immigration reform, women's
rights & gender equality, solar & wind, rural modernization, improved
consumer protections against predatory banks & corporations, reversing the
privatization of government services (such as private prisons), increased arts
funding, and, yes, cannabis legalization at the federal level.
We can make a difference,
Join me.
Please Contribute Here:
this message paid for by
Mikel Weisser for US Congress
unsubscribe
here: yzurthemepark@gmail.com
