Begin forwarded message:
From: Marijuana Policy Project <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: November 5, 2008 8:50:47 AM PST
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Nine marijuana initiative victories yesterday
Reply-To: Marijuana Policy Project <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Marijuana Policy Project Alert November 5, 2008
Dear Kris Millegan:
MPP and our allies across the country passed nine out of 10 marijuana-
related ballot initiatives yesterday ... and also defeated a bad
initiative. This makes yesterday the most successful day in MPP's 14-
year history.
MICHIGAN: MPP's medical marijuana initiative passed by 63% to 37% in
Michigan, making it the 13th state to protect medical marijuana
patients from arrest and jail. While any new medical marijuana law is
a great victory, this one is especially notable, since Michigan is now
the first medical marijuana state in the Midwest, and the second
largest medical marijuana state in the country (with California being
the largest). Seehttp://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/ for details.
MASSACHUSETTS: MPP's landmark initiative to decriminalize marijuana in
Massachusetts passed by 65% to 35%. The measure removes the threat of
arrest and jail for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana,
replacing it with a $100 fine, which can be paid through the mail
without lawyers or court appearances, just like a speeding ticket.
This is the first time in history that voters have passed a statewide
initiative to decriminalize marijuana! Seehttp://www.sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/
for details.
CALIFORNIA: A measure that would have required the loss of public
housing benefits for recent drug convictions lost by a 70% to 30%
margin. (The measure would have also increased spending on prisons and
law enforcement, as well as increased penalties for gang-related
activities and other crimes.)
CALIFORNIA: A measure that would have expanded the number of drug
offenders diverted from prison into treatment — as well as improving
the marijuana decriminalization law that was originally enacted by the
state legislature in 1975 — lost by 60% to 40%. Seehttp://www.prop5yes.com/
for details.
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA: A measure (which received $5,000 from the MPP
grants program) to expand the non-residential zones where medical
marijuana dispensaries can locate, issue zoning certificates, and
bring Berkeley marijuana possession limits in line with recent court
rulings passed by 62% to 38%. Seehttp://www.yesonjj.com/ for details.
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: A measure (which received $3,972 from the MPP
grants program) to make adult marijuana offenses the lowest priority
for local law enforcement passed by 66% to 34%. See http://www.sensiblefayetteville.com/
for details.
HAWAII COUNTY, HAWAII: A measure (which received $19,800 from the MPP
grants program) to make adult marijuana offenses the lowest priority
for local law enforcement passed by 53% to 39%. See http://www.projectpeacefulsky.org/
for details.
FOUR DISTRICTS IN MASSACHUSETTS: Voters in four out of four state
House districts passed four nonbinding public policy questions
directing each district's state representative to vote in favor of
legislation that would allow seriously ill patients to use medical
marijuana if they have the approval of their physicians. Seehttp://www.dpfma.org/
for details.
_______________________________
Yesterday was the most successful day in MPP's 14-year history.
Of the 100,000 subscribers on this e-mail list, only 6,600 have
donated to MPP's work so far this year. If you and the other 93,400
people who haven't yet donated this year each donate only $10 right
now, that would generate nearly $1,000,000 in just one day. And
raising $1,000,000 right now is essential, because ...
In order to win in Michigan and Massachusetts, our campaign committees
had to spend $400,000 and $700,000 on advertising, respectively, in
these two states. To be sure, $1,100,000 is a lot of money, but the
good news is that these two campaigns cost far less than what the
pundits were saying it would take to spend to win.
At the same time, spending $1,100,000 in the past month means that
we're essentially now broke. If you're feeling good right now and want
to help MPP finish the year strong — so that we can start swinging as
soon as the California, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire,
New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont legislatures convene in January —
please consider donating today.
Before Election Day, we were asking MPP members and allies across the
country to fund the possibility of success on Election Day. Now that
we're looking back on Election Day, I'd like to respectfully ask that
you fund proven success.
Thank you in advance for anything you can give to keep our momentum
going.
Sincerely,
Rob Kampia
Executive Director
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.
P.S. As I've mentioned in previous alerts, a major philanthropist has
committed to match the first $3.0 million that MPP can raise from the
rest of the planet in 2008. This means that your donation today will
be doubled.
P.P.S. You can opt out of receiving fundraising mentions in the e-mail
alerts I send you in 2008 by visitingwww.mpp.org/2008optoutpreference
at your convenience.
Donor Profile: Kris Millegan
Thank you for supporting MPP's efforts to end marijuana prohibition.
According to our records, you have never made a financial donation to
MPP. Would you please joinMPP today?
(If you have contributed financially, please contact us here so we can
correct our records.)
If you make a one-time donation of $10 today, your ranking for this
year would move from the bottom to 5,928.
Support the Marijuana Policy Project
Raised in '08
$2,208,439
Goal in '08
$3,000,000
MPP will be able to tackle all of the projects in our 2008 strategic
plan if you and other allies help us meet this challenge.
We are required by federal law to tell you that any donations you make
to MPP may be used for political purposes, such as supporting or
opposing candidates for federal office.
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