Cannabis reformation efforts recently made national headlines as President Biden finally acted on campaign promises to pardon all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of cannabis, urge all Governors to do the same for state offenses, and expeditiously initiate the process of reviewing how cannabis is scheduled under federal law.
President Biden isn’t the only one with the opportunity to enact positive change for cannabis this election cycle. This year, cannabis is on the ballot in many states and cities. Come November, it’s more important than ever to show up at the polls and make your voice heard regarding cannabis and the candidates that support a pathway to legalization. Take a look at just a few ways to become more involved and become the best cannabis voter and advocate you can be for your community.
Cannabis Education Is Critical To Be an Effective Advocate
Most of us did not get any education surrounding drug policy reform past abstinence-centered DARE programs. Many educational institutions actively fed us harmful propaganda about cannabis not based on scientific evidence.
It can feel like an enormous task to unlearn misinformation regarding cannabis and educate yourself on the issue to be an effective advocate for drug policy reform in your community.
You don’t have to do it alone, and it doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. There are countless resources available to you as a voter, community member, and advocate to help you better understand the current status of cannabis.
Consider free advocacy education resources, such as the course offered by Oaksterdam University. Such resources will help you to immerse yourself in all aspects of cannabis legalization advocacy and become a resource in your community.
Getting educated about all of the issues that cannabis legalization entails, from the ins and outs of the adult-use versus medical markets to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the industry, criminal justice reform, and more can be vital in being a compelling voice for change in your community.
Stay Up To Date On Cannabis Policy In Your State
If your state has yet to legalize medical or adult-use cannabis, you should stay current on your state’s voter referendums and ballot initiatives. The following states have cannabis on the ballot this November: Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
There are also a couple of other states to watch this year. Oklahoma has three pending ballot initiatives: SQ 818, SQ 819, and SQ 820. If you’re an Oklahoma resident, get involved in the local organization working toward legalization — Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action.
Stay up to date on what’s on your ballot in your state and city by checking resources offered by organizations such as NORML or Marijuana Moment. They invest significant resources into tracking bills, ballot initiatives, and nationwide referendums related to cannabis.
What to Look for In a Pro-Cannabis Candidate’s Platform
You must reach out to your representative to make sure they know cannabis policy reform is an important issue to you. Contacting a representative may seem small, but it is essential.
Here’s a pro tip from an activist with decades of experience advocating drug policy reform: If you are nervous about talking on the phone, write down what you intend to say and practice it a couple of times before you make your call. This tip may help rid yourself of some of the nerves. The non-profit Common Cause has a website resource that enables you to find your representative, which can be an easy way to get their contact information and reach out.
If your representative does not support cannabis legalization, first call them and tell their office you are voting for their opponent because they fail to support sensible policy reform. Then, consider these characteristics when choosing a pro-cannabis candidate:
- The candidate has a solid plan they can speak on for cannabis policy reform with details that prioritize social justice issues to address harms caused by the War on Drugs.
- The candidate’s voting record reflects a pro-cannabis stance consistent with verbal support.
- The candidate has partnered with other lawmakers to introduce pro-cannabis legislation.
Want Cannabis in Your Community? It Starts with You
As a constituent, you can engage in cannabis advocacy by educating yourself and taking that knowledge to your community, helping collect signatures, calling your representatives, or getting out the vote. It’s important to remember that everyone has something to offer. If you can’t dedicate your time, maybe you’re able to donate funds to organizations working on drug policy reform.
There are many ways to become involved and contribute to the movement. Cannabis legalization needs strong and informed advocates more than ever. It can be a challenging, uphill battle for many that live in states with enduring prohibition.
Connect with local organizations or individual advocates and work toward the common goal of legalization in your state. The cannabis legalization movement came from grassroots advocacy, which is how it has grown and become successful. Continue its legacy in your community; whether your contributions are numerous or limited, they make a difference.
