See also:
http://www.mpp.org/site/c.glKZLeMQIsG/b.2180535/k.3A5B/2006_Elections.htm

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Marijuana Policy Project <rob@...> wrote:

Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2006 12:02:30 -0800
Subject: 3 out of 3 state marijuana initiatives fail; 10 out of 10 local initiatives pass
From: "Marijuana Policy Project" <rob@...>

	Marijuana Policy Project Alert		November 8, 2006
	3 out of 3 state marijuana initiatives fail; 10 out of 10 local initiatives pass  The Marijuana Policy Project's initiative to tax and regulate marijuana in Nevada was defeated last night by a 44% to 56% margin. While this is a huge disappointment to all of us, more than four in 10 Nevada voters actually voted to end marijuana prohibition entirely. This is huge progress since the 39% to 61% defeat of a similar ballot measure in Nevada four years ago. This year's attempt in Nevada was only the sixth time that anyone has attempted to pass a statewide ballot initiative to end marijuana prohibition in a state; the other attempts were in California in the early 1970s, Oregon in 1986, Alaska in 2000 and 2004, and Nevada in 2002. Although we didn't win yesterday, the results demonstrate the voters' increasing willingness to reconsider our nation's marijuana laws. And we achieved this strong finish despite intense campaigning by the White House drug czar's office and the entire law enforcement establishment in Nevada. The fact that we came close to victory while up against such powerful opposition is remarkable. And we're not giving up: We'll be back in Nevada to try again with another marijuana initiative in November 2008 or, more likely, in November 2010. The drug czar will keep trying to frighten people with lies, and we'll keep telling the truth, and eventually the truth will win. Sometime next week, I'll email you a fuller analysis of what went right and what went wrong in Nevada. In other election news, voters in 10 out of 10 communities in Arkansas, California, Massachusetts, and Montana passed a series of local marijuana ballot initiatives by wide majorities. Unfortunately, voters in South Dakota narrowly defeated an initiative to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest and jail by a 48% to 52% margin. In addition, Colorado voters defeated by a 40% to 60% margin a statewide initiative that sought to remove all penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults aged 21 and older. Notably, last night's change in leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives means that House leaders who have consistently opposed medical marijuana legislation will lose their committee chairmanships in January, and a strong supporter of protecting medical marijuana patients — Nancy Pelosi — will soon be House Speaker and choose the new slate of Democratic committee chairs. This will provide the most favorable conditions in Congress to pass federal medical marijuana legislation since I co-founded MPP in January 1995 (which was immediately after the "Republican Revolution" of November 1994). The momentum is with us, but major social change never comes easily. We know we won't win every battle, but we win most of our battles. But we need your help. We pulled out all the stops in our campaigns in Nevada and elsewhere, and we spent almost all of our money in the process. Won't you please help us get back on our feet? We have much work ahead of us in the coming weeks, especially with the new Congress. According to MPP's records, you have not yet made a financial donation to MPP (or the tax-deductible MPP Foundation) this year. Would you please consider donating $10 or more today? We can't continue our work without your generosity. 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 $3.5 million that MPP can raise from the rest of the planet in 2006. 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 by visiting www.mpp.org/2006optoutpreference at your convenience.		Raised in '06 $2,796,091 Goal in '06 $3,500,000 MPP will be able to tackle all of the projects in our 2006 strategic plan if you and other allies are generous enough to fund our work. Popular Links: • MPP's home page • FAQ • State-by-state medical marijuana laws • MPP news releases • 2006 strategic plan • Download hand-outs • About the Marijuana Policy Project • MedicalMarijuanaProCon.org MPP e-mail list options Update your contact information or change your alert preferences Small Print … You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to MPP's e-mail alerts. To unsubscribe, click the link at the bottom of this message. Removal may take up to 48 hours. To contact MPP, please click here or reply to this e-mail. Our mailing address is MPP, P.O. Box 77492, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 20013.

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MMM (Global Million Marijuana March):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cannabisaction
Newsweek, Nov. 14, 2005, page 36:
"The most recent evidence comes from autopsies of 44 prisoners who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan in U.S. custody. Most died under circumstances that suggest torture. The reports use words like 'strangulation,' 'asphyxiation' and 'blunt force injuries.' ... A few months before the [Abu Ghraib] scandal broke [spring 2004], Coalition Provisional Authority polls showed Iraqi support at 63 percent. A month after Abu Ghraib, the number was 9 percent. Polls showed that 71 percent of Iraqis were surprised by the revelations."

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