Today, the White House launched its new, long-awaited website “We the People.” The administration describes the site as a “tool [that] provides you with a new way to petition the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues facing our country.”
The White House further promises, “If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.” The White House has set this threshold at 5,000 signatures within 30 days.
Demand the Obama administration defend their support for marijuana prohibition. If they can not, then why do they continue to endorse this failed public policy?
Below is the petition NORML has submitted for consideration:
We Petition the Obama Administration to:
Legalize and Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol.
We the people want to know when we can have our “perfectly legitimate” discussion on marijuana legalization. Marijuana prohibition has resulted in the arrest of over 20 million Americans since 1965, countless lives ruined and hundreds of billions of tax dollars squandered and yet this policy has still failed to achieve its stated goals of lowering use rates, limiting the drug’s access, and creating safer communities.
Isn’t it time to legalize and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol? If not, please explain why you feel that the continued criminalization of cannabis will achieve the results in the future that it has never achieved in the past?
Sign. Share. Legalize.
(NOTE: The White House has been experiencing technical difficulties with their website, please be patient and allow the petition time to load, if you receive an error message retry later)
UPDATE:
The media is beginning to notice:
Daily Caller – “Weed Legalization and Animal Spay/Neuter Top WH Petitions”
Huffington Post – New White House ‘We The People’ Petition Portal Launched, With Predictable Results
The Hill – Petition to legalize pot is first to hit White House threshold
Remember what happened last time we asked that question? Daddy Obama just laughed.
It only takes 5,000 to make it official, but let’s overwhelme them. Don’t just pass this up if you see we have more than enough. We can get tons of signatures before the deadline.
10,350 so far sweet
There is also a petition on this site that asks for a full pardon to all who have been arrested for marijuana only related offenses. As a current defendant in a manufacturing case I’d appreciate it, but unfortunately this is bigger than just me. I hope to not only see our brethren currently in prison released, but also see those who have lost their rights because of a conviction get those rights reinstated. The URL is: http://wh.gov/gRZ. Please take an extra moment to support this as well.
the petition needed 5000 signatures by october 22, and in the first day there are already over 10,000 signatures. keep it up and show your support!
How about a petition to strip the DEA of it’s authority to deny medical research on cannabis and other drugs!
This conflict of interest was designed by the Nixon administration to firewall science, and Obama did promise that his leadership would follow Science.
I just watched the Republican Debates held in Florida. We had the chance to vote on what questions we wanted to be asked—I know that I sent in my vote for the marijuana question like many others I’m sure did—YET—The Marijuana subject NEVER got brought up as a question to be answered. There silence speaks volumes.
NORML should keep this story current so that more and more people sign the petition. I know we have already reached the required 5,000, but it wouldn’t hurt to show just how much support this has.
I started keeping track awhile ago. There are just over 11,000 signatures and the site has been active for about 55,000 seconds.
That means that every 5 seconds someone new is signing the petition.
I’m keeping track of it at this link http://vrsry.com/maryjane
Now we need petitions for Medical marijuana, hemp for all uses, and marijuana for use as a food.
I couldn’t create an account to sign the petition, because the pop-up window wouldn’t allow the submit button to be shown.
I’ve finally got to create an account by pressing [ENTER] on my keyboard after I wrote their script on the bottom of the pop-up window.
I’m number 11,303
There is actually 3 Marijuana questions (probably more by now) and a hemp question also. Don’t forget to vote for them as well. Search marijuana and then search hemp to bring them to the top of the page. Peace.
I’m # 11,494
glad I saw this. number 11671
blow it up
I’ve been trying for hours, cannot get past the registration. They don’t send the email for confirmation. I suppose the machines are simply overwhelmed and I’ll get registered in a day or two…
I just made a Medical Marijuana petition that includes asking to pass HR 2306. Please help me get this on the list. I need help getting 150 votes. Once 150 votes are reached–it goes live and then everyone can see it and vote for it. You can only vote for it here until it reaches its first 150 vote. Your help is much appreciated. Peace. http://wh.gov/gPy
awesome guys, the first day it’s launched and already over 12k signatures! That definitely beats the 5,000 in 30 day threshold, hahaah!
In all seriousness though, Obama please don’t dodge this issue again. It’s time to be brave and do what’s right for the country, not what’s right politically. The people will support you.
“If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.” The White House has set this threshold at 5,000 signatures within 30 days.
This just means that they will look at our petition, send it to someone that doesnt give a shit, and let them respond by saying…”cannabis has no accepted medical value and is a danger to the public and our children, sorry but at this time we will ignore your request and continue to lock up thousands of peaceful smokers”
I used my Civil Liberty to sign this petition. Now I , as ALL SIGNERS, should use my voice to ask CNN and Fox news to report on this in Relevance to how the White House reacts to the will of “WE THE PEOPLE”. If enough of do as our fore fathers used to say “Hold them to the fire”. We will be heard.
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.html
#13759
For a while (1hr or so) they were coming in at about 4 votes every 10 seconds…
keep it up!
From: Whitehouse.gov [info@messages.whitehouse.gov]
Sent: 9/23/2011 12:16:07 AM
Subject: new petition submitted by Cris Ericson:
Demand an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
to End Marijuana,Marihuana, Cannabis and Hemp Prohibition.
You now have 30 days to get 5,000 signatures in order for your petition to be
reviewed by the White House.
Until your petition has 150 signatures, it will
only be available from the following URL:
http://wh.gov/gP1
Here are a few tips to help you promote your petition and get to 5,000
signatures:
1. Email: Email your petition to your friends, family and
others who care about this issue. Below is a sample email you can forward to
your friends right now.
2. Facebook: Post your petition to your Facebook wall to
let folks know about it. Here’s a sample message you can cut and paste
into your Facebook status:
I just started a petition on the White House petitions site, We the People.
Will you sign it?
http://wh.gov/gP1
3. Twitter: Tweet about your petition. Here’s a sample
tweet you can use:
I just started a petition on the White House Petitions site, We the People.
Will you sign it?
http://wh.gov/gP1
Dear friends,
I wanted to let you know about a new petition I created on We the People, a
new feature on WhiteHouse.gov, and ask for your support. Will you add your
name to mine? If this petition gets 5,000 signatures by October 23, 2011,
the White House will review it and respond!
We the People allows anyone to create and sign petitions asking the Obama
Administration to take action on a range of issues. If a petition gets
enough support, the Obama Administration will issue an official response.
You can view and sign the petition here:
http://wh.gov/gP1
Here’s some more information about this petition:
Demand an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to End Marijuana, Marihuana,
Cannabis and Hemp Prohibition.
We the People of the United States of America
Demand an Amendment to the United States Constitution to End Prohibition of
Marijuana, Marihuana, Hemp and Cannabis because we have a Right to Equal
Protection Under the Law to NOT be prosecuted and punished for for growing,
harvesting, farming, using, smoking, selling, manufacturing, brewing and
bottling substances and products which are equally as dangerous or LESS
dangerous than other legal products and substances such as alcoholic
beverages and tobacco products, as used and sold to adults age 21 and over.
The government has entrapped Americans by concealing criminal penalties under
Title 21 USC rather than listing them under Title 18 Crimes. Also, the
government spells marijuana and marihuana two ways in the law to conceal
penalties.
-1′
#59 Joad
I agree. Please keep this story current so new signatures can continue to be collected.
Every single person in the United States could sign this petition, all 310 million of us, and President Obama will say “Legalization is not in my vocabulary” as he sits there with his home brew.If President Obama would grow a set, and get off his knees around the republicans, he could change the world,don’t hold your breath…
I voted and left a message on “The Hill” blog. Wouldn’t it be nice if our elected leaders finally start to pay attention to this terrible problem? If someone uses marijuana it does not make them a criminal nor does it mean they have a drug problem!!! Why can’t the prohibitionists like John Boehner and Lamar Smith understand that? I have to believe that if they tried it their intelligence level just might increase to the point where they could understand it.
Now yall don’t get all excite about this here petition. To begin with just talking about legalizing this drug send the wrong message to our children And why would u want to talk about legalization all drugs. Drugs are bad.And beside the D.E.A said we are winding the war on drugs.BLA BLA BLA What need u think they are going to say.U really believe the (w-h) will have an Real and true debate on (c-s-l) No way. Pleas don’t get mad when they laugh at u. We all know what they are goiing to say any way.
“The White House has been experiencing technical difficulties with their website,”
Why does that not surprise me. I wonder – if it were for the opposite – would there be technical difficulties.
“The White House further promises.”
There promises aren’t worth a plugged nickle. They haven’t kept the promises they’ve already made, let alone any new ones.
“The White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.’
This is for the President – not his staff. Appropriate policy experts are the same experts that are shredding public opinion, and the will of the people now. The official response will be made by Michelle Leonhart and the DEA, and we already know what that’s going to be. This is all a “False Front.” Watch what happens while we are spending our time involved in this shell game. Maybe they will move THC [only] to schedule III so Pharma can get started extracting from the natural plant – and – take over the market. “Be careful what you wish for – you just may get it.”
P.S. Here’s what we should be petitioning them to do.
“Define the whole plant material.” Get a legal definition. There is none at present. The definition will be the foundation for its legalization.
Please SHARE THESE PETITIONS also!!!
1 – http://www.change.org/petitions/end-the-federal-prohibition-of-the-cannabis-plant#?opt_new=f&opt_fb=t
2 – http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/end-the-federal-prohibition-of-the-cannabis-plant/
I have posted this petition that I would like everyone here to sign:
We petition the obama administration to:
explain how the President is not a hypocrite for putting people in jail for minor possession of marijuana.
The link is:
http://wh.gov/gp1
We have all sent in our reservations to FEMA camps. At least we will all have something in common when we’re locked up. See you there!
17,000 Americans and growing : )
Hello again folks! Thanks for taking action! I’m thrilled to see how many of us are standing up to see cannabis regulated, but I’m sorry to say I’m disappointed to see how few have stood up for our prosecuted brethren. I’m trying to stay positive and assume that the trouble the site is experiencing is the reason so few have signed the Grant a Full Pardon to all American Citizens who have been Arrested for Marijuana Only Related offenses at: http://wh.gov/gRZ. Please keep trying. Our prisons are overflowing with people who do not deserve to be there.
re:no mention in florida of marijuana legalization question..only silence….the Governor of lorida owns the drug testing company…beware..
It’s been one day. 18,000 signatures! Nice job fellow Americans!
This will get swept under the rug by the gumbent…but I’ll sign anyways…
You’ve heard rumors that government agencies like the military or the CIA held experiments on mind reading.
Well, my spidy sense always tingles in close proximity to certain Washington types, even when on tv or on the radio when they are asked about cannabis issues and so-called black ops, etc. Marijuana profits are the U.S. government’s biggest source of off-the-books funding for covert operations. They’ll never be able to replace that money if marijuana is legalized because they’ll have to go public in order to gain support for the taxes and tax increases to keep their magic carpet ride all over the world going. Nobody wants to explain to Congress what all it is used for, so the best thing to do is keep all the dirt under the rug.
If marijuana were legalized, it would usher in a truly new world order, an order of a U.S. that had more transparency. And, who wants that?
The answer: Anybody who does have anything to do with all the dirt being swept under the rug.
Magic Carpet Ride
by
Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (Magic Theater, Pablo, Marijuana)
a novel
by
Hermann Hesse (said to have been a cannabis lover)
U.S. government, de aap is uit de mouw!
YOU GUYS NEED TO MAKE A “FIRE OUR DEA/DRUG ENFORCEMENT” PETITION AND REPLACE THEM WITH PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE BRAINS AND ARE NOT INCOMPETENT…ILL SIGN THAT ALL DAY. BUT IN ORDER TO GET 5,000+ WE NEED YOU TO POST IT ON HERE NORML…PLEASE…THATS A RESPONSE I WANNA HEAR AS WELL AS THE 20,000 PEOPLE WHOM HAVE ALREADY SIGNED THE “TAX MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL, ECT” PETITION. sorry for caps. just had to get the point across. 😀
sign this one also: https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/reschedule-cannabis-schedule-2-it-has-medicinal-value-period/4HFPYBf1
I’m # 20,994 🙂
did anyone else notice on the “Marijuana/Marriage” photo from google/fox news that marijuana/drugs was mentioned like ~5-6 times they just didnt tell you:http://yt-debates.appspot.com/images/pulse/Social_Issues_Wordle2.jpg
Marijuana, Drug war, Drugs, prohibition, legalization, and drugs again” lol…
You would think the White House should have started working on reply to this petition before they even bothered to put up the website.
Legalize it, tax it, roll it, smoke it.
interesting Eric. I also know that I sent in story suggestions to Fox news and CNN, NBC, AND CBS. And not one story yet about the petition. They all have readily ignored me. As expected I might say….. Everyone should suggest this as a news story and just see how “in the pocket” the news actually is. China’s got nothing on the nightly news when it comes to state censorship!!
So here is a question for you, if Norml wants this petition heard by America as a whole , why aren’t they spreading the word to High times Cannabis Culture and others to post the link on THEIR web pages as well? So far there has been not one word about it from any other so called promoters of reform.
[Editor’s note: High Times, Cannabis Culture, etc….are all contacted by NORML re alerts, reform events and legislation. If you’re not seeing those commercial webpages promoting reform activities, isn’t your question best asked to them?]