Tag: cannawitch

High Friends,

Today is March 27th, 2019 and New York is making magic happen in Albany. Unfortunately, I was unable to travel upstate and exercise my American “stoner” responsibilities, but I do want to share the information I have and hopefully motivate you to do your part if you haven’t already.

*Disclaimer: I’m not a politician and (hate to admit it, but) not that into politics. Although I do understand that participating in current and relative conversations are necessary for growth; and to change the world, I must change myself (thank you, Gandhi), I’m very skeptical of “the system” so I won’t pretend to be an expert.

From my understanding, the financial budget for 2020 will be set on April 1st, 2019 in NY and the Cannabis Community lobbied to pass the Marijuana Justice Act of 2019. For those who are not familiar, this is the bill’s second introduction to Congress because it did not originally pass the Senate in 2017. This act proposes to not only to legalize adult recreational marijuana use on the federal level by removing it from the list of controlled substances but attempts to reverse decades of a failed drug war that has disproportionately influenced low-income communities and communities of color.  

“The bill would also automatically expunge the convictions of those who have served federal time for marijuana use and possession offenses, and it would reinvest in the communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs through a community fund. This community reinvestment fund could be used for projects such as job training programs, re-entry services, and community centers.” – New Jersey Democrat, Senator Cory Booker.

In 2019, there is more than 90% support towards marijuana use for medicinal purposes and more than half of Americans believe marijuana use should be legal. I know personally (and I work in a school), I forget that cannabis isn’t 100% legal and made that clear for years. But that is why I believe it is so important to address this issue … it blows my mind that in today’s day (despite similar rates of use), the racial disparities for African-Americans are close to four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites. I can go into theories of why, but I want to keep this platform a positive space.

So, if you would like to play an integral part as a NY Cannabis Advocate and as an American, please call your local Assembly Member, State Senator, and Governor Cuomo himself by completing the following steps:

1) Go to Who Represents Me? NYC: http://www.mygovnyc.org.

Type in your address and hit ENTER. Go to the 2nd tab entitled “State”

2) Call, email, and/or hit the Facebook page of your Assembly Member, State Senator, AND the Governor. Also let Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie know you want legalization *in the budget*.

Governor Cuomo 518-474-8390

Majority Leader Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins 518-455-2585

Speaker Carl Heastie 518-455-3791

3) Read this script or use it as a guideline when you call or write:

Hello, my name is ________________. I’m your constituent from ________________ (say your neighborhood here). I want to urge you to support adult-use marijuana legalization in the state budget on April 1st! [My community has] / [Communities most harmed by] marijuana prohibition have suffered too long and are anxious for marijuana justice, sustainable equity, repair, and reinvestment. I, along with many other New Yorkers, support marijuana legalization! I’m counting on you to ensure marijuana justice is in the budget. Thank you.

Thank you @Poplar for popping into my Instagram feed and reminding me to do my part. I uploaded the video on my instagram (@thecannawitchnyc, if you’re not following yet) of me calling Gov. Cuomo of leaving a voicemail using the provided script on his V-mail. I called at 3:30 PM on March 27th and it took literally a minute. If calling is not your thing and you would still like to contribute to the end of Plant Prohibition, please write an email to you state reps … it’s 2019!

I pray this post gives further clarification on NY’s Marijuana Justice Status and what to expect as a cannabis advocate. 

For more information, please review the articles below:

https://www.booker.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=892

https://5calls.org/issue/marijuana-justice-act/

Blessed be, High are we