By John Payne, Show Me Cannabis Campaign
I recorded an abridged audio version of the message to be sent out to the mobile campaign today. Text “smc” to 420420 to receive mobile updates.
Today, we celebrate the day that our forebears publicly declared, at great personal risk, that individuals are endowed with freedom by virtue of their humanity, and that people have a right to alter or abolish any government that attempts to infringe upon their natural liberties. But, as Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” which is why the struggle for freedom continues to this day.
The prohibition of cannabis is possibly the worst offense against freedom in America at present. Every year, nearly a million Americans are put in shackles and caged simply for possessing a plant. It is our right and duty to change the laws that allow such tyrannical acts.
In the last year, we have seen amazing progress towards ending marijuana prohibition. The states of Colorado and Washington have legalized the responsible, adult use of cannabis; here in Missouri, Saint Louis decriminalized possession of small amounts; and a flag made of hemp is flying over the U.S. Capitol today for the first time since before cannabis was prohibited in 1937.
Those victories were all won at great personal and financial cost, and there are far more battles upon the horizon. Keep freedom on the march this Independence Day by taking part in our Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness Money Bomb and sign up for a recurring contribution to Show-Me Cannabis! Here are just a few of the ways we will be taking the offensive against prohibition in the near future:
- Back in March, we hired Gary Wiegert, who also happens to be a sergeant with the Saint Louis Police Department, to lobby on our behalf in Jefferson City. The department attempted to stop Gary from speaking out on the issue, so Gary sued them in federal court for violating his First Amendment rights. Now, Saint Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson has said that Gary will be allowed to lobby for us! That’s great news, but it also means we have to raise money to pay for his services.
- I have secured substantial pledges of matching funds for two of our local media campaigns. In Joplin, former Show-Me Cannabis Regulation board member and Joplin NORML director Kelly Maddy has pledged to match contributions of up to $300. In Springfield, an anonymous contributor and SMCR board member Maranda Reynolds have combined to pledge matching funds of up to $600. By contributing to either the Joplin or the Springfield media campaigns now, you can double your impact thanks to these dedicated supporters!
- I am searching for supporters who will make similar pledges for all our media campaigns, but you can make a contribution of any size to any of our media campaigns at this link.
- We are taking the fight to areas of the state that are usually considered hostile to cannabis law reform with our town hall meetings, which we currently have scheduled for Rolla on Thursday, 8/8 and Joplin on Tuesday 8/27. In fact, the Rolla event appears to have already grown beyond what the meeting room at the library will accommodate, so we are searching for a new, larger venue!
As you can see, we are advancing on all fronts, but our progress will stop dead in its tracks without your support. Please commit to a recurring contribution and help us reach our goal of 50 new pledges by the end of Friday! As my favorite American revolutionary said, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: It is dearness only that gives everything its value.”
Finally, another generous contributor has offered to finance a contest for everyone who contributes $20 or more a month to Show-Me Cannabis. We are still fleshing out the details, but at the end of the year, we will hold a drawing to send one lucky person to Colorado to see firsthand the benefits of a legal, regulated market in cannabis. Stay tuned to this newsletter for more details!
