The prestigious Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) published a statewide survey this month showing that 38% of likely 2010 voters in California consider legalizing marijuana a "very important" issue. Another 24% consider the issue "somewhat important." This includes voters who are passionate about ending prohibition and voters who strongly support continuing the war on marijuana.

While the 38% figure is lower than other issues expected to be on next year's California ballots, it's worth noting that just a year ago this question would not have been asked by PPIC and wasn't even on the radar for the mast majority of voters. This is a testament to the success of advocates in putting the problem of marijuana prohibition onto center stage.

How far will we push it next year?

A pair of Washington State legislators has submitted a bill to end the state’s prohibition on marijuana, similar to the one introduced by California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) back in February.  The primary sponsor of the bill, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-Seattle) says she’s happy to start the conversation about ending marijuana prohibition to get the attention of Congress.

A bill more likely to pass is the decriminalization bill introduced earlier this year, which was recently endorsed by the Washington State Bar Association.  The bill stalled last year without reaching a vote, but remains active in the upcoming 2010 session.  Lets remain hopeful that Washington lawmakers do the right thing and stop throwing citizens in jail for using a substance less harmful than alcohol.

The president signed the omnibus spending bill into law yesterday, lifting the ban on medical marijuana in Washington, D.C. It is now 100% official, and the nation's capital can begin to implement the original medical marijuana initiative from 1998.

Last week, we brought you the story of John Wilson, a 37-year-old New Jersey man who stands accused of operating a drug manufacturing facility, even though he says the marijuana he grew on his property was for personal use only to treat his multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, Wilson is facing 20 years in prison and—most outrageously—had been prevented from mentioning his disease or anything about the effectiveness of medical marijuana to the jury, even though New Jersey might soon become the 14^th state to pass medical marijuana.

Luckily, that is no longer the case.

While taking the stand on his own behalf yesterday—and after a series of conferences between the judge and lawyers from both sides—Wilson was permitted to explain what he told police officers when they asked him about his marijuana plants: “I told them I was not a drug dealer,” he said, “and I was using the marijuana to treat my M.S.”

This is a small victory, yes, but now at least the jury has a better understanding of why Wilson was growing marijuana. If that realization still results in Wilson being found guilty, two state senators have said they will ask Gov. Jon Corzine to pardon Wilson before he leaves office next month.

Stay tuned for updates.

We told readers a few weeks ago that MPP would update them on how the government was responding to the American Medical Association’s new policy on marijuana. To refresh everyone’s memory, the AMA’s new policy is:

Our AMA urges that marijuana’s status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods. This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product. (source)

So they don't go as far as we do, but they are calling for a review of marijuana's Schedule I status (Schedule I drugs being defined as having no medical value). Now, lets look at how the drug czar is characterizing it. To quote the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s latest anti-medical marijuana literature:

The American Medical Association: “To help facilitate scientific research and the development of cannabionoid-based medicines, the AMA adopted (a) new policy … This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product.” (source)

Notice the ellipses? Here is what the press release they’re quoting from actually says in full:

"To help facilitate scientific research and the development of cannabionoid-based medicines, the AMA adopted new policy urging the federal government to review marijuana's status as a Schedule I substance. Despite more than 30 years of clinical research, only a small number of randomized, controlled trials have been conducted on smoked cannabis. (source)

What you’re seeing here is a blatant misrepresentation of the American Medical Association’s policy on marijuana. The ONDCP should be held accountable, and you can help do that by sending them an e-mail here.

A new survey showing, among other things, a slight uptick in teen marijuana use, got considerable press yesterday and today. A widely-circulated Associated Press story, along with many other reports, included this claim: “The increase of teens smoking pot is partly because the national debate over medical use of marijuana can make the drugs seem safer to teenagers, researchers said.”

Baloney.

Medical marijuana burst onto the national scene in 1996, when California passed the first effective medical marijuana law, Arizona passed a flawed initiative with similar intent (whose value turned out to be only symbolic due to its wording), and the Clinton administration went ballistic. It stayed a major issue in 1998 and 1999 as a further wave of initiatives passed and the Institute of Medicine issued a report giving a qualified endorsement to medical marijuana, which has been in and out of the spotlight ever since.

In 1996, the last survey taken before any medical marijuana initiatives passed, 11.3 percent of eighth graders reported current (past 30 days) marijuana use. For 10^th graders the figure was 20.4 percent, and for 12^th graders it was 21.9 percent. In 2009, after 13 years of medical marijuana laws that now exist in 13 states, the figures for current use are 6.5 percent for eighth graders, 15.9 percent for 10^th graders and 20.6 percent for 12^th graders.

The pattern is the same for lifetime use: In every age group, marijuana use is down, not up, since the medical marijuana debate hit the national stage. That’s even true in California, where the lack of tight regulation has led to the most allegations of abuse, according to the official California Student Survey. Alas, the state no longer seems to have the data posted online, but we compiled it (and other state surveys) here.

It’s a shame that researchers who’ve been enlisted in the war on marijuana choose to repeat unfounded propaganda rather then address the reality that their federal bosses prefer to avoid: Teen access to marijuana isn’t caused by laws that let sick patients use it, it’s caused by a failed policy of prohibition that prevents the sort of sensible regulation we apply to tobacco.

A measure seeking to make personal marijuana possession and cultivation legal for adults appears to be headed to California’s November 2010 ballot. Proponents of the initiative -- led by Oaksterdam University founder Richard Lee -- say they have more than enough signatures to qualify for the ballot next year.

The initiative, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act, would allow adults over 21 to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and cultivate a garden of up to 25 square feet. It would give local governments the ability to tax and regulate the distribution of marijuana but also would allow them to ban local sales. Language in the proposal leaves the state legislature the option to set up a statewide regulatory system for legal marijuana sales.

Ultimately MPP seeks a system under which marijuana is taxed and regulated throughout the state similarly to alcohol, but any relief from the misery of marijuana prohibition will be a good thing for Californians. Passage of this initiative would surely be a step in the right direction.

This measure is one of four marijuana reform initiatives circulating in California. However, the three others are relying on volunteer petitioners and seem to be far less likely to collect the 433,971 valid signatures needed to qualify in time for the 2010 ballot.

For more information or to become involved in the initiative campaign, visit TaxCannabis2010.org.

MPP spokesman Mike Meno discusses implementation of a medical marijuana program in Washington D.C. and the benefits it will have for seriously ill patients in the District. 12/14/2009

Tobacco kills at least 5 million people every year and the number could rise to 8 million by 2030, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization.  By contrast, there is not a single record of someone dying from using marijuana.  So, why is the extremely dangerous and lethal substance legal and the safer substance, sometimes used as medicine, illegal?

MPP spokesman Aaron Houston appears on ABC 7 Washington D.C. to discuss the Congressional approval of a budget that will allow medical marijuana in the District of Columbia. D.C. voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative to allow medical access to marijuana in 1998, but were prevented from implementing it until now by the Barr amendment. 12/14/2009