Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2010 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/O3vnWIvC Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: T.J. Meehan Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n061/a07.html POT: THE GATEWAY TO POLITICAL SUCCESS Re: Ignatieff's Gateway To The Status Quo, Chris Selley, Jan. 22. Voting patterns in the United States show a much greater turnout for ballot initiatives -- be they local or state -- involving marijuana. Part of the reason the GOP won a Senate seat in Massachusetts is because Martha Coakley, the Democrat, was working to undermine a state marijuana decriminalization law and the left saw no reason to turn out to support her. In Michigan, the medical cannabis referendum got 10% more yes votes than Barack Obama. Perhaps that explains the flippant and evasive dismissals of marijuana regulation by both Mr. Obama and Michael Ignatieff. A colleague explained it to me: Marijuana is more popular than any politician. That's why they hate it so much. And while Obama's popularity is shrinking marijuana is more popular now. The reason? Good marijuana doesn't lie. T.J. Meehan, Kingston, Ont. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D