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Governor Mitt Romney

The Election is Finally Here

voting

Although early voting has been going on in certain states since September, the single day where the majority of voters will cast their ballots is here.  Enthusiasm is high as many pictures have been taken of long lines at polling sites.  Whether you are voting for President Obama, Governor Romney, Governor Johnson, or another candidate, it is simply unacceptable that voting has become a test of endurance.  Our country has previously been an example to the rest of the word for handling our elections in a fair way.  It appears, we have entered the one of the first periods  in U.S. history where voting has become more difficult.

President Obama and Mitt Romney have been frantically traveling to many swing states in the last minutes of campaigning.  Even though most people seem to have made up their minds as to who they will be voting for, we decided to highlight some of the candidates below.  For marijuana reformers, this election may not have touched on the key issues you wish to see dealt with, but we will provide any information available about the candidate’s positions.  Below check out a brief description of the candidates and a brief description of their policy positions:

 

-President Barack Obama (Democratic Party)

Our 44th president was born and raised in Hawaii.  He would eventually move to Chicago and in 2006 he was elected to the United States Senate.  His significant accomplishments as President include ending the War in Iraq, passing the Affordable Health Care Act, and giving the order to Seal Team Six to kill Osama Bin Laden.  Critics have been upset with a stagnant economic recovery and his handling of medical marijuana which includes raids on dispensaries and very little difference in the handling of The War on Drugs.  Many marijuana reform advocates are hoping a second term for Obama would be starkly different for both the War on Drugs and medical marijuana.

 

-Governor Mitt Romney (Republican Party)

The Republican nominee for president of the United States was born in Michigan.  He also spent significant time in Utah before moving to Massachusetts.  In 1994 he challenge Senator Ted Kennedy but ultimately lost the election.  In 2002, he took over the leadership role for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, which was in dire financial straits.  Mr. Romney is credited with turning the situation around and ensuring that the Olympics would be a success.  He would eventually run successfully for Governor of Massachusetts in 2002.  As Governor, his chief accomplishment was reforming Massachusetts health care program.   After serving one term as Governor, Mr. Romney decided to run for president.  He lost out to John McCain in 2008 but finally received the nomination in 2012.  Mr. Romney has not addressed marijuana often, but did say several months ago that he would fight medical marijuana “tooth and nail”.

 

-Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party)

The former two term Governor of New Mexico was born in North Dakota.  While attending the University of New Mexico, Mr. Johnson paid his way through school by working as a handyman.  He would eventually start Big J Enterprises, and grow his company into one of the largest construction companies in New Mexico.  In 1994 he successfully ran for Governor of New Mexico.  He was re-elected in 1998 and still remains one of the most popular figures in New Mexico politics.  The Governor was previously a Republican but has since fallen from good graces with the party.  Many analysts believe his support for Libertarian causes such as marijuana reform and same sex marriage created a rift between Mr. Johnson and the GOP.  Mr. Johnson is now officially the Libertarian candidate for president and continues to serve as one of the most high profile advocates for marijuana decriminalization and reform.

 

-Jill Stein (Green Party)

The Green Party’s candidate for the United States Presidency was born in Chicago and raised in Highland Park Illinois.  She graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1979.  Jill Stein has been on the forefront of environmental issues across the country for decades.  She has testified numerous times in front of Government panels.  Ms. Stein has advocated what she calls “ The Green Deal”.  She sees it as a modern version of FDR’s “New Deal”.  In her deal, there would be a 30% reduction in military spending, higher tax rates for the wealthy while directing the additional money toward new age green jobs that would put America back to work while simultaneously working to reduce climate change.  Jill Stein has been a marijuana supporter for a long time and less than two weeks ago said that “marijuana is not dangerous at all” in a recent third party debate.

 

Marijuana.net encourages everyone to get out there and vote.    If you see long lines, please do not be discouraged.  We hope you stay engaged and make sure elections are conducted properly in the future.  The candidates are very different from one another so we encourage you to support the candidate you feel most closely represents your interests.  Additionally check back with us as we provide updates on the many ballot initiatives that are on the books.  Three states (Colorado, Washington, and Oregon) have their residents voting on measures that will legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana.  We will be conducting extensive follow up on the election all week.

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Presidential Debate On Foreign Policy Omits International War on Drugs

3rd debate

Last night millions of Americans tuned in for the 3rd and final debate of the 2012 presidential election.  The event was less tense than the last week’s town hall debate which the saw the candidates create an uncomfortable atmosphere.  Perhaps surprisingly, the attack on the American Consulate in Libya was only briefly mentioned.  The candidates did engage on some important international issues regarding Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan.  However noticeably missing was much of any conversation on our South American neighbors.

The war on drugs is foreign policy area that has a much more direct impact on the lives of daily Americans.  Violence over drug trafficking is out of control and the Cartels have now infiltrated and have a presence in several states including Arizona and Utah.  Additionally, U.S. authorities have found underground tunnels complete with railcars that have been constructed by the Cartels that run between San Diego and Tijuana.  This foreign threat could not be hitting closer to home and there has been almost no mention of the war on drugs on the national stage last night.

Failure to alter the failed course of the war on drugs has now become a decades long blunder.  By electing to ignore the problem, tens of thousands have died in only a few year span.  Additionally, our borders have become less secure.  It is honorable that the United States is compelled to help the civilians in the Middle East, but we should not forget some of our closest allies both geographically and culturally who live in Mexico, Central America, and South America.  Failure to act and amend our laws has also cost the United States money through incarcerations and court expenses while also diverting police resources from other issues.

Instead of using the last best chance to talk directly to the American people about a range of crucial foreign policy issues, the two candidates seemed satisfied by sampling falling back on their domestic economic talking points during last night’s debate.  There was no mention of the European Debt Crisis, only a whisper regarding Greece’s financial meltdown, and of course the violence only miles from our border.  If violence, money, and the security of this nation are important to whoever lives in the White House in January, the War On Drugs cannot afford to be an ignored issue.

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90 Minutes

debate

Why is 90 minutes so important?  It is about the average run time of a movie.  It is the allotted time for a regulation soccer match.  Ninety minutes is probably the length of your bosses lunch break.  On Wednesday night, it represents the amount of time Americans have to formulate their opinion on who they will be casting their vote for the United States Presidency.

For political junkies the presidential debates offer a breath of fresh air.  This is where the two candidates will actually be face to face and respond to each other.  The system is not perfect, but this true reality show offers more than the same campaign speech rehashed over and over again to a receptive crowd.  They certainly are not perfect, as many important topics will be skipped over, but in this age of hiding behind talking points, Wednesday’s 90 minutes may be the closest thing we get to an intellectual conversation about fixing this country.

Unfortunately for marijuana activists, it is unlikely that the “M” word will even be muttered during the 90 minutes.  Even as politicians and residents remain sharply divided on medical marijuana dispensary raids, this issue will continue to be avoided.  Though elections are won and lost on the issues, we never seem capable of moving forward.  Roe V. Wade was decided 40 years ago, yet we are sure to hear the two men in suits talk at length about abortion rights.  School vouchers, tax rates, the deficit, and tort reform, are all important but have dominated debate questions for many elections now.  Instead of tackling a new age issue in marijuana reform, we are likely going to be relegated to hearing about the same old issues.

One would think that in 90 minutes, there surely is time to talk about those who struggling, about compassionate relief.  Well if 90 minutes is too short for that, perhaps the wasted money and lives on the war on drugs can be fit in? Hmm,no?  Certainly all of the lives (many of them teens) that are ruined by incarcerations linked to low level marijuana possession will get its day in the sun.  Again you say no?    Then personal freedom, in a country founded on the very principle should definitely spring marijuana into the presidential debate.  Of course a discussion on returning rights and liberties to the people likely has virtually no chance of taking place whether the debate is 90 minutes or 90 days.

 

Click here for a schedule of all of the Presidential debates and a list of the moderators

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