Pubdate: Fri, 7 Mar 2008 Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW) Section: Feature Article Website: http://www.drugsense.org Author: Buford C. Terrell Note: Buford C. Terrell is a retired law professor whose teaching fields included drug laws, law and sex, First Amendment, and legal history. He also hosts a public interest television show in Houston called "Drugs, Crime, and Politics". Read more of his writings at his blog, http://terrelldruglaws.blogspot.com/ CHANGE The word for this political season is "Change." We hear it from the candidates and from the commentators and pundits, but mainly we hear it from the voters. I'm starting to believe them. Change is in the air; and it smells a lot like burning bud. At the state level, three New England states -- Vermont, Massachusetts, and now New Hampshire -- have some kind of decriminalization bill actively in the legislative process; and the debate is substantive in all of them. Medical marijuana is nearing ballot status as a referendum in Wisconsin and has been introduced into one mid-Atlantic legislature. In the halls of Congress, the radical restructuring of crack cocaine sentencing, including retroactive application has been accepted and a needle exchange program for the District of Columbia has been approved. At least one bill recognizing state medical marijuana programs will probably be on the agenda for the next term. Perhaps the two reforms of the last session will convince some politicians that they can vote for reform without committing political suicide. Internationally, Israel is set to begin free distribution of heroin to addicts. Morales of Bolivia and Chavez of Venezuela are both supporting native coca growers. The American College of Physicians, the largest and most prestigious organization of practicing doctors, has just passed a resolution supporting medical marijuana, calling for its availability for some patients and for more research. The clinical trials for using MDMA in therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are progressing. An Administrative Law Judge has recommended approval of a marijuana-growing license for the University of Massachusetts. Even more, the public is for change. Large majorities nationwide favor making medical marijuana available to patients, and large numbers oppose imprisonment for simple possession of marijuana. But will any of those things happen? Won't next year just be politics as usual. I'm going to be braver than the pundits here. Nearly all of them are predicting a Democratic President and larger Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. When I compare what I am seeing this year with what I have seen in fifty years of watching presidential politics, I predict that this year will bring a realignment -- both in Congress and in the states -- larger than anything since FDR and the New Deal routed the Republicans in 1932. So what should Drug Reformers do? The first, and most important, thing is to vote and to assist your favored candidates in campaigning. The second is to never publicly ask one of your favored candidates his or her position on a drug question. The issue is still such a fright factor in politics that they will almost certainly come up with some equivocating answer that makes them look dumb. Instead, take an opportunity to ask that question of some one you oppose and give him a chance to look ignorant or uncaring. Next, begin planning and organizing now. The opening days and weeks of a new Congress or legislature is when they will feel the most powerful and confident and when the opposition will be most demoralized. Petitions, resolutions, and proposed bills should reach their targets between Election Day and the opening of the sessions. And talk to them -- write, telephone, text, and if possible, visit them. Let them know you care -- a lot. I feel optimistic. Change IS in the air. But it takes a lot of thought and work to pull that wispy idea out of the air and nail it to solid ground. Change is in the air, but only you can make it happen. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake