Haunted by HUD: A Cannabis Gifting Demonstration

Join us for Haunted by HUD: A Cannabis Gifting DemonstrationUnder the draconian rules of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, adults receiving government aid can be evicted for using or possessing cannabis inside their home. From California to Colorado to Massachusetts to Washington, DC, adults should not be forced to live in fear! Your Home should be a safe place!

Join us this Halloween for a lunchtime demonstration at HUD’s HQ in Washington, DC and help us shed some light on one of the scariest issues facing cannabis consumers around the United States!

WHO: Cannabis Reform Advocates, Housing Assistance Recipients, Concerned Citizens
WHAT: Haunted by HUD: A Cannabis Gifting Demonstration
WHERE: 451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC
WHEN: 11:30am to 1:30pm, October 31, 2017
WHY: It’s scary to believe that in 2017 the Department of Housing and Urban Development thinks recipients of housing aid should be evicted for the use or possession of cannabis inside their homes. As more states legalize cannabis for adult & medical use, recipients of aid should not have to fear the HUD boogyman any longer!

Please RSVP on Facebook

We will be planning this upcoming demonstration this Thursday evening at the DCMJ Planning Meeting #14 in the basement meeting room of the Southwest Neighborhood Library. Please join us!

1st Annual Congressional Joint Session on 4/20

Join DCMJ for the 1st Annual Congressional Joint Session on 4/20

Join District of Columbia residents with DCMJ for the 1st Annual Congressional Joint Session!

We are giving away TWO FREE joints to all members of Congress, congressional staff, interns, support staff, and credentialed journalists who are 21 years of age and in possession of a congressional ID.

WHO: Supporters of congressional cannabis reform and those with valid congressional IDs who are 21 years of age or older.
WHAT: 1st Annual Congressional Joint Session, a free cannabis giveaway
WHERE: On non-federal land near the corner of 1st St. & Constitution Ave. NE
WHEN: High Noon until 4:20pm, Thursday, April 20
WHY: We want members of Congress, congressional staff, interns, support staff, and credentialed journalists to legally obtain cannabis so they will support removing cannabis entirely from the Controlled Substances Act. Moreover, we are demanding Congress remove the DC rider that prevents the DC government changing it’s cannabis laws.

Click here to RSVP on Facebook


***Media Advisory and Release***

Contact: Press@DCMJ.org

DCMJ’s 1st Annual Congressional #JointSession,
A Free Cannabis Giveaway for Capitol Hill Staff and Media

DCMJ to Call on Congress to Remove DC Rider Preventing the District’s Government from Sensibly Regulating Adult-Use Stores and Cafes

WASHINGTON, DC — On Thursday, April 20th, DCMJ, the advocacy and educational organization that spearheaded Initiative 71, which legalized cannabis in the District of Columbia, will lead the 1st Annual Congressional #JointSession—a free cannabis giveaway—for members of Congress, Congressional staffers, credentialed journalists, support staff, interns, and 21-or-older Capitol Hill workers with valid Congressional identification.

Organized by DCMJ, DC residents will lawfully give away at least 1,000 free cannabis legally home-grown joints, and call on Speaker Ryan and Congress to reauthorize the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, which prohibits the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency from using funds to step in or interfere with DC and state medical cannabis laws. The measure expires April 28, 2017. To date, the amendment has protected nearly two-thirds of country from federal legal intervention. However, the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment must be approved by Congress every year in the federal budget. Additionally, DCMJ will also call on Speaker Ryan and Congress to remove the DC budget rider that prevents the DC government from regulating adult-use stores and cafes.

“Americans don’t want a crackdown on legal cannabis—they want Congress to end cannabis prohibition once and for all,” said Adam Eidinger, co-founder of DCMJ. “Giving adults access to cannabis and individuals and small business owners legal protection in all 50 states is what the American people have been asking for—just take one look at last year’s election. It is time Congress remove cannabis from its Schedule I classification—and act. On 420, we’ll celebrate adults making informed choices based on facts, rather than propaganda. Our demonstration will begin to lift the special-interest smokescreen giving Congress cover and preventing responsible cannabis laws from being enacted at the federal level.”

WHAT: The 1st Annual Congressional #JointSession, A Free Cannabis Giveaway – Two free joints per valid Congressional ID
WHO: DCMJ volunteers and legalization advocates – Supporters of congressional cannabis reform and those with valid Congressional IDs who are 21 years of age or older.
WHEN: Thursday, April 20, 2017 High Noon to 6:20pm
WHERE: On non-federal land near the corner of First Street and Constitution Avenue, NE, Washington, DC

*Note: Media interested in videotaping DCMJ rolling joints for the congressional giveaway should send an email to Press@DCMJ.org to schedule an appointment.

Nikolas Schiller, co-founder of DCMJ, added, “It would be a grave mistake to ignore the will of the American people, and for Congress to continue to remain action-less, or to arbitrarily cherry pick when and where to respect DC and states rights. Cannabis consumers across America create tens of thousands of state-legal jobs and valuable economic activity and taxes that support vital programs in states and cities. Congress and the Trump Administration would be better served getting familiar with facts instead of using scare-tactics and out-dated talking points that have been debunked by science. We need to know if Speaker Ryan will truly work to make America great again? The number of cannabis reform bills before the 115th Congress is at an all time high, but the lack of Congressional action is no laughing matter. A federal solution is needed now.”

DCMJ will also request that Congress reaffirm the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, which prohibits the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency from using funds to step in or interfere with state- legal medical cannabis laws. DCMJ further calls on the Appropriations Committee amend or remove the budget rider restricting the District of Columbia government from regulating adult-use stores and cafes.

To learn more about DCMJ visit http://dcmj.org; follow DCMJ on Twitter at @DCMJ2014; like DCMJ on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dcmj2014/.

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#Reschedule420 on 4/24 at the U.S. Capitol

DCMJ Statement on Arrests at Smoke-In on Capitol Steps

WASHINGTON, D.C. — DCMJ, the advocacy and educational organization that spearheaded Initiative 71, issued the following statement regarding #Reschedule420 Smoke-In at the Capitol on April 24, 2017.

Statement from Nikolas Schiller, co-founder of DCMJ:
Cannabis legalization is a bipartisan issue that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Ryan, and Congress can no longer afford to ignore. There is overwhelming support for ending cannabis prohibition, and 71% of Americans are against a federal crackdown.

This is a peaceful and responsible movement that is demanding Congress to stop cherry picking when to respect states rights. We want Congress to do their job and respect the will of the voters.

Unfortunately, the reality is that sometimes our laws don’t match what the American people want. We have many examples of this throughout our nation’s history. It is time Congress ends unjust laws that ‘criminalize’ tens of thousands every year. However, these injustices cannot stand.

We will continue our work and we not be silenced. It’s high time, Congress get in line with the overwhelming number of citizens who support legalizing a plant scientifically far less harmful than alcohol.


Support for Ending Cannabis Prohibition Has Never Been Higher
According to an October 2016 Gallup poll, American support for legalizing cannabis is at 60 percent, the highest it’s been in 47 years, and a 2015 Harris poll found a staggering 81 percent of Americans support legalization of cannabis for medical use. Seventy-one percent of Americans across party lines and age groups oppose a federal crackdown on state-legal programs. Today, there are 29 states and the District of Columbia that have chosen to create regulated cannabis programs, including four of the five most populated states in the nation. More than 20 percent of the U.S. population lives in states that allow adults 21 and older to legally consume cannabis, and more than 60 percent of the population lives in a state where medical cannabis access is legal.

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In case you missed it, at yesterday’s White House Press Briefing spokesman Sean Spicer finally answered a question about cannabis. His response was not good. Please watch it for yourself.

It’s Why We’re Rescheduling 420 Again This Year!

New date & time: Gather at HIGH NOON, on Monday, April 24, 2017 with mass civil disobedience at 4:20pm
New location: The east side of the U.S. Capitol

This is a National Call to Action!
No More Waiting!! Congress Deschedule Cannabis NOW!

While other marijuana advocacy groups are issuing statements, we are calling on them to join us in a national demonstration on April 24, 2017. The powers that be ignore our statements and petitions but they cannot ignore us when we gather in large numbers. Therefore we need every cannabis supporter to join us at the Capitol! 

We are urging those of you reading this who live outside of DC, to reschedule your calendar, come to DC, and smoke out the office of your member of Congress. Locally, we have our eyes set on a few members of Congress that need to smell the change we desire.

Congress is not listening to us and they need to be reminded that America’s cannabis laws need to be changed NOW. Not with some lame bandaid of a law that lets states do their own thing or rescheduling that prohibits plant access, but a comprehensive law that allows you to take your cannabis in a car from DC to California without fear of arrest.

Cannabis needs to be fully removed from the Controlled Substances Act, not pushed down to Schedule II into the hands of Big Pharma!

PLEASE NOTE: Possession of cannabis on the Capitol grounds is not legal. Consuming cannabis anywhere in DC outside of a home is not legal either. But sitting quietly while the Trump administration rolls back our freedoms is not something we plan to do. We need to be loud and proud!

The Inaugural #Trump420 showed that cannabis reform is not a partisan issue. There are millions of Trump supporters who support the full legalization of cannabis, and we are encouraging people of all political stripes to join this national mobilization!

Yesterday’s poll showed a majority of Americans want cannabis reform. But unless we loudly demand it, we are going to get stuck with another shitty law that benefits corporations and not the American people.

We expect arrests to take place on Reschedule420 this year, but we know that our cause is just. We know that the best way to make America great again is not enforcing the outdated Controlled Substances Act, but providing Americans the liberty to choose cannabis for relaxation, enjoyment, and medicine.

Moreover, we can argue that ALL CANNABIS USE IS MEDICAL. If you use it to relax, that is medical. If you use it to put yourself into a better mood, that is medical. The argument that only some sick people can use cannabis while other adults are not sick enough to deserve it is deeply flawed. Many people use cannabis in order to not get sick!

Please share this link with your friends and RSVP on Facebook.

NEWS ADVISORY

Contact: Press@DCMJ.org

Smoke-In on Capitol Steps

Legalization Advocates to Lead #Reschedule420 Demonstration to Call on Congress to End the War on Cannabis, Uphold Rohrabacher–Farr Amendment, and Respect DC and States Rights

WASHINGTON, DC – DCMJ, the organization that spearheaded Initiative 71, which legalized cannabis in the District of Columbia, will lead a #Reschedule420 Smoke-In at the Capitol on Monday, April 24th. The demonstration, which is scheduled to take place four days after DCMJ’s 1st Annual Congressional #JointSession—a free cannabis giveaway—will urge Congress to support Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1227), which would put an end to the federal prohibition of cannabis and enable states to decide their own path regarding cannabis policy. DCMJ will also call on Congress to uphold the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, which prohibits the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency from using funds to step in or interfere with state medical cannabis laws. The demonstration will place a much-needed spotlight on the Congressional inaction and ‘delay’ in addressing our nation’s ineffective drug policies. Additionally, DCMJ will call on Speaker Ryan and Congress to remove the DC budget rider that prevents the DC government from sensibly regulating adult-use stores and cafes.

WHAT: #Reschedule420 Smoke-In on Capitol Steps (House Side)
WHO: DCMJ volunteers and cannabis legalization advocates
WHEN: Monday, April 24, 2017 High noon to 4:20 p.m.
WHERE: Eastside of Capitol on the House steps side of Capitol, Washington, D.C.
*Note: Media interested in videotaping DCMJ rolling joints for the congressional giveaway should send an email to Press@DCMJ.org to schedule an appointment.

“Congress and Speaker Ryan can’t afford to ignore the vast majority of Americans, who want to end cannabis prohibition—so we are headed to Capitol Hill to finally have our issues heard,” said Adam Eidinger, co-founder of DMCJ. “Congressional inaction and leaving harmful laws on the books isn’t anyway to run a government—it is irresponsible. Arbitrarily respecting states rights and walking all over DC’s isn’t setting at the bar very high either. Speaker Ryan and others members of Congress need to stop hiding behind the special-interest smokescreen preventing responsible cannabis laws from being enacted. If these members of Congress ask themselves, who has the most to lose from ending the war on cannabis—it isn’t the American people.”

Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1227)
DCMJ will request that Speaker Ryan and members of Congress support the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 (H.R. 1227) proposed by Virginia Rep. Tom Garrett (R) and co-sponsored by Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D), which would remove cannabis from a Schedule I classification under the Controlled Substances Act.

DCMJ will ask lawmakers to entirely remove cannabis, a plant far less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, from a Schedule I classification under the Controlled Substances Act. Today, Congressional inaction has left tens of thousands of individuals incarcerated, stripped millions of Americans of their right to vote, left otherwise law-abiding citizens with burdensome criminal records, and patients & veterans without access to alternative life-saving treatments that have been known to improve overall quality of life.

Rohrabacher–Farr Amendment
DCMJ will request that Congress reaffirm the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, which prohibits the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency from using funds to step in or interfere with state medical cannabis laws. The amendment has protected nearly two-thirds of the country and cannabis consumers from federal legal intervention. However, the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment must be approved by Congress every year in the federal budget. DCMJ will request that the amendment is upheld under the new Congressional budget.

Protect DC and States Rights
In November 2014, DCMJ-backed Initiative 71 passed by 70 percent of DC voters. Even before Initiative 71 passed, the Council of the District of Columbia proposed a framework, which was approved to regulate the legal sale and taxation of cannabis, which would have enable DC to sensibly regulate adult-use cannabis. However, Representative Andy Harris (R-Md.)—who has long opposed DC’s independence and unsuccessfully worked to block DC’s decriminalization of cannabis—worked to sneak in a ‘rider’ as part of a deal to avoid a government shutdown. The Harris rider has prevented the DC government from spending any of the District’s locally-raised funds to regulate adult-use stores and cafes. This has resulted in the loss of millions of tax dollars, and potentially thousands of jobs.

High Personal Costs and A Waste of Tax Dollars
While some states have implemented responsible cannabis laws, others have decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis, and other states still make cannabis possession a misdemeanor or even a felony. Data shows that current our laws are enforced in racially biased ways. Coupled with enforcement issues and a system that coerces guilty pleas, the consequences can be devastating for individuals charged with cannabis ‘crimes.’ The loss of a job, the right to vote, court fines, and other penalties, along with the stigma of a conviction when trying to secure work, an apartment or home or accessing benefits and other programs can be devastating to individuals and their families. Additionally, the cost to identify, arrest, prosecute, sentence, incarcerate, and supervise people for cannabis possession are tens of millions of tax dollars that could be better spent.

Support for Ending Cannabis Prohibition Has Never Been Higher
According to an October 2016 Gallup poll, American support for legalizing cannabis is at 60 percent, the highest it’s been in 47 years, and a 2015 Harris poll found a staggering 81 percent of Americans support legalization of cannabis for medical use. Seventy-one percent of Americans across party lines and age groups oppose a federal crackdown on state-legal programs. Today, there are 29 states and the District of Columbia that have chosen to create regulated cannabis programs, including four of the five most populated states in the nation. More than 20 percent of the U.S. population lives in states that allow adults 21 and older to legally consume cannabis, and more than 60 percent of the population lives in a state where medical cannabis access is legal.

To learn more about DCMJ visit DCMJ.org; follow DCMJ on Twitter at @DCMJ2014; like DCMJ on
Facebook
.

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Statement on Attorney General Sessions

DCMJ Urges President Trump to Stop Sessions from Reversing Course of Legalization

WASHINGTON, DC — Legalization advocates DCMJ, the organization that spearheaded Initiative 71 that legalized cannabis in the District of Columbia, issued the following statement Wednesday regarding the Senate confirming Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) as U.S. Attorney General.

Adam Eidinger, co-founder DCMJ stated:

“Despite all the damning evidence brought against him, the Senate today rubber-stamped colleague Jeff Sessions to serve as Attorney General in the Trump Administration. Sessions is a failed war on drugs zealot who has gone so far as to suggest that marijuana offenders deserve the death penalty. To say he is out of touch with the legalization wave rolling through the United States would be an understatement. Sessions is a threat to states rights, the will of the voters and the legalization movement as a whole.

“Conversely, President Trump is on-the-record with his support for states rights and medical marijuana, promising a hands-off federal approach to states with legalization laws enacted. We are hopeful that the commander-in-chief, along with leaders from law enforcement, the civil rights community and cannabis activists, will take the opportunity to help enlighten Sessions on responsible drug policy reforms.”

Nikolas Schiller, DCMJ co-founder, added:

“Senator Sessions statements earlier this year are quite clear: it is up to Congress to pass legislation that absolves him of the responsibility of turning a blind eye towards cannabis. The silver lining is that if President Trump keeps his campaign promises, Sessions will judiciously use taxpayer dollars on the Federal enforcement of cannabis similar to the previous administration. I urge Congress to take up legislation that will allow the new Attorney General to focus his time on more important issues facing the American people.

“But if President Trump wants to take cash out of the hands of international drug cartels and create millions of tax-paying jobs, then America’s cannabis community is a willing partner. If President Trump wants to overhaul healthcare and help veterans, America’s medical cannabis community is also a willing partner. Partnerships make America great, but until cannabis is fully legalized, the full potential of America is not being achieved.

“Looking at the 2016 Election and the eight states that passed new responsible marijuana measures in November, an interesting political trend reveals itself: cannabis polls high across party lines—independents, Libertarians, Green Party, Republicans and Democrats. The evidence of this can be seen in the 28 states and the District of Columbia that have already enacted sensible drug policy reforms. Americans are now looking to the President and Congress to change the laws nationally and replace them with more common sense approaches towards cannabis. You don’t have to be a farmer or a political scientist to realize that Americans want President Trump and Congress to act now.”

Please email Press@DCMJ.org with any follow-up questions.

March of the Clones

Check out the video from March of the Clones:

“March Of The Clones” Washington DC 09.24.16 from Mike Flugennock on Vimeo.


For far too long the power of the Dark eeide (the DEA, the prison industrial complex, and ignorant members of Congress) has lead to the arrest and jailing of millions of Americans for non-violent drug offenses. As President Obama’s final days at the White House wind down, he needs to be reminded that he can be a Force of Good and end the failed war on drugs NOW.

On Saturday, September 24, 2016, we will gather at 2pm in Dupont Circle for a short rally, then at 3pm we will march 1 mile down Connecticut Ave. to the White House, and at 4:20pm we will engage in mass civil disobedience on Pennsylvania Ave.

We urge everyone to bring cannabis cuttings that weigh under an two ounces to create a sea of green to show President Obama that cannabis is a harmless plant not worthy of being in the Controlled Substances Act.

This is an unpermitted demonstration but is a first amendment protected activity. However, possession of cannabis on federal property is still a crime which we believe must end. Possessing cannabis in Dupont Circle and Lafayette Park (both National Parks) is unlawful and is an arrestable act of civil disobedience. Those wishing to participate but who do not wish to break law can join us on DC streets (Connecticut Ave. outside of Dupont Circle and Pennsylvania Ave. by way of 17th St.) without fear of arrest.

Please spread the word about the March of the Clones by inviting your friends on Facebook or tweeting about the demonstration using the hashtag #MarchOfTheClones !

EMERGENCY LEGALIZATION DEMONSTRATION!

TONIGHT: EMERGENCY LEGALIZATION DEMONSTRATION AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Last month we said that when the DEA makes it’s decision on cannabis descheduling we’d either protest or celebrate at 4:20pm on the day of the announcement.

Today is the day. Unfortunately, it is extremely hot today, so we are moving the emergency demonstration to 8:20 PM THIS EVENING!

The Obama Administration’s DEA is TONE DEAF on cannabis reform, so tonight our demonstration will feature #ToneDeafKaraoke

We will poorly sing ballads of reform, like the Obama Administration’s DEA has poorly reformed America’s cannabis policies.

We will insult the ears of everyone at the White House like they are insulting every American that believes in rational drug policy.

Here we are, 43 years and millions of marijuana arrests later, and we being told that cannabis is still as dangerous as heroin. WHAT THE HELL?!?! The Obama Administration’s DEA thinks Americans should go to jail for a non-toxic plant. WE THINK OTHERWISE!

We are going to take our outrage, anger, shear annoyance and we are going to make some noise! If you don’t want to sing, bring your pots and pans so Malia will hear you!

We’ve heard rumors angry activists may even throw their cannabis plants plants, seeds, and even lit joints over the White House fence.

THAT IS NOT ALL….

We are calling for a mass-mobilization on Saturday, September 24, 2016.

We are not going to sit by and let Obama, Hillary, or Trump get a pass on cannabis reform!  The Time is NOW!

 


WHO: You, your friends, and everyone you forward this email to!
WHAT: EMERGENCY LEGALIZATION DEMONSTRATION AT THE WHITE HOUSE
WHEN: TONIGHT, Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 8:20pm
WHERE: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC, North of the White House
WHY: The Obama Administration’s DEA is out of touch with the American people’s demands for cannabis reform and need to be told that cannabis should be removed entirely from the Controlled Substances Act NOW!

CLICK HERE SPREAD THE WORD ON FACEBOOK!

INVITE: Harry’s 5/20 – 5:20pm, Friday, May 20 @ the White House

It's 5:20! Obama is late on cannabis reform!

Join us at our upcoming demonstration in front of the White House on Friday, May 20th at 5:20pm. As you may or may not know, May 20th is the birthday of Harry J. Anslinger, one of the founding fathers of America’s failed war on drugs. Back in 1937, over the objections of the American Medical Association, he managed to use racist and xenophobic justifications to convince the Congress to pass the unconstitutional “Marijuana Tax Act“. We are going to celebrate his 124th birthday by participating in mass-civil disobedience alongside with our veterans in front of the White House.

The protest will begin at 05:20 PM outside the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. NW. It is legal to attend, however, please note that the event will be unpermitted with mass cannabis consumption. We ask you to come to participate, or to show your support to our veterans who are risking arrest by leading the die-in.

Click here to RSVP on Facebook!

Our Formal Request for a Higher Level Meeting at the White House


The White House                                                             May 11, 2016
President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

We would like to sincerely thank you and your staff for the assistance in helping DCMJ take meaningful first steps towards an open and honest dialogue with your administration regarding the serious need to de-schedule cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug under federal law– a classification reserved for lethal drugs considered to have no medical value such as heroin.

Today, more than half of the country has enacted medical cannabis laws. Four states and the District of Columbia have also passed laws to make adult cannabis use legal and several more states will vote on cannabis ballot initiatives this November.

Unfortunately, we have seen a pattern by the federal government of taking a backseat, while the states stand on the right side of history. This is not the first time that the states have been forced to take action while the federal government avoids it’s responsibility to address outdated, flawed and failed policies that harm Americans.

States, one-by-one, are standing up against unconstitutional laws like the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states. Prior to being ruled unconstitutional, DOMA followed a very similar pattern like various cannabis ballot initiatives. Just like we saw with DOMA, we know more states are working to take an important stance against failed and unconstitutional drug policies of the federal government.

It is important to look at the facts regarding how our nation’s failed cannabis policies harm Americans:

  • According to the ACLU’s original analysis, marijuana arrests now account for more than half of all drug arrests in the United States.
  • Of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010, 88% were for simply having marijuana.
  • Nationwide, the arrest data revealed one consistent trend: significant racial bias.
  • Despite roughly equal usage rates, African Americans are 3.73 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana.
  • Every year, medicinal cannabis is denied to tens of thousands of patients and our military veterans, who could benefit from its therapeutic uses.
  • Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include: pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, movement disorders, among others. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that marijuana’s medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective.
  • Currently, more than 60 U.S. and international health organizations support granting patients immediate legal access to medicinal marijuana under a physician’s supervision.
  • Numerous research studies also show that the dangers of marijuana may have been overestimated in the past, while the risk of alcohol has been commonly underestimated.
  • In 2011 alone, an individual in the U.S. was arrested for marijuana use, sale or possession every 42 seconds, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report.
  • Alcohol and tobacco—both legal substances in U.S.—are more toxic, more addictive, more harmful to the body, more likely to result in injuries and death than cannabis.
  • There are more black men in prison, on parole or probation today than were enslaved in 1850 before the Civil War began.

While we are appreciative of your administration’s initial effort to take steps to begin an open dialogue with the cannabis community and its organized constituents, we would like a formal commitment from your administration to continue this conversation and are requesting:

  • An official response to DCMJ regarding our listening session with ONDCP
  • An official response to our original and standing request for a higher-level meeting with senior administration officials, such as the White House Office of Public Engagement before Friday, May 20, 2016; and
  • An answer to our original request that the White House host a cannabis policy reform summit with you, your senior staff and other key stakeholders such as patients, patient advocates, business owners, grassroots advocates, the disabled community, scientists, the medical community, veterans and others.

Given the compelling and staggering facts as to why these failed cannabis policies harm Americans, we are sure you can understand why we cannot tolerate your inaction on these important issues any longer. We simply cannot stand on the sidelines and watch while everyday more Americans are harmed by what is clearly racist and unconstitutional failed drug policies. This is why we are requesting a formal response regarding the above from your administration before May 20th.

Otherwise, on Friday, May 20, Harry Anslinger’s 124th birthday— a staunch supporter of prohibition and the criminalization of drugs, who played a pivotal role in cannabis prohibition—DCMJ will gather in front of the White House for another “Deschedule Marijuana” demonstration with non-violent civil disobedience. We feel compelled to do this as a symbolic message of solidarity on behalf of the tens of thousands of medical patients denied safe access to cannabis and the additional tens of thousands of Americans, who are rotting behind bars due to cannabis criminalization.

Harry Anslinger famously said the following deplorable, racist statements to justify marijuana prohibition:

“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.”

“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”

“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”

“Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing.”

“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”

“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”

You should understand our protests are not just for medical research into cannabis, but ending cannabis prohibition once and for all. You have the opportunity to heal the national wound of unjust cannabis policies that have always targeted minorities, hurt patients and corrupted policing in America for nearly 80 years.

If we do not hear back from you regarding the above meeting request, we also plan to highlight the racist views justifying marijuana prohibition which are more current than Mr. Anslinger at our demonstration. We will play recordings at the protest of President Richard Nixon’s xenophobic comments made while inside the White House. For example, we intend to play a recording of President Nixon saying the following:

“I mean one {a new bill} on marijuana that just tears the ass out of them. I see another thing in the news summary this morning about it. You know it’s a funny thing, every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish. What the Christ is the matter with the Jews, Bob, what is the matter with them? I suppose it’s because most of them are psychiatrists, you know, there’s so many, all the greatest psychiatrists are Jewish. By God we are going to hit the marijuana thing, and I want to hit it right square in the puss, I want to find a way of putting more on that.”

Our protest will ask if the 5 million Americans that were arrested for marijuana during your time in the White House went to jail for Anslinger and Nixon’s bigotry or your indifference?

At DCMJ’s April 25, 2016 meeting with ONDCP, there were 20 empty chairs in the room that could have been filled with additional cannabis stakeholders for a meaningful and open conversation with the your administration. It’s clear that the time has come to expand the conversation. You simply were not willing to let bad policies like DOMA to be left to the states to sort out. Why should cannabis reform be any different? Now is the time for you to call cannabis prohibition a bad policy that was formed by propaganda, is unjust, un-American and extremely racist in its enforcement, even in 2016.

DCMJ looks forward to hearing from you and continuing this important dialogue with your administration—behind open or closed doors. We fully realize that continuing this conversation is vastly more effective than more demonstrations, but we need a commitment from you to keep talking. Otherwise, you should be aware that this movement has no plans on stopping protests— just like those who knew it was the right thing to not stop until DOMA was overturned.

We appreciate your administration’s consideration of continuing a sensible dialogue as well as hosting a cannabis summit with key stakeholders before you leave office.

Sincerest regards,

Adam Eidinger
Nikolas Schiller
Co-Founders, DCMJ

INVITE: The Funky Jaywalk — This Saturday at the Funk Parade

This weekend is going to be FUNKY

!! CALLING ALL FUNKY CANNABIS ADVOCATES !!

DC HighlifeYou are invited to get your funk on this weekend with the cannabis contignent of the Funk Parade led by DCMJ and DC Highlife!

ARE YOU READY TO FUNKY JAYWALK!?!

DETAILS: We are gathering at 3pm on Saturday, May 7 outside the Howard Theatre (620 T Street NW). Look out for the mobile jail cell as our gathering point. At approximately 4pm we will jaywalk a newly-rolled 51 foot joint with a bumpin’ sound system down U Street in the Funk Parade!

JOIN US & FUNK PROHIBITION!

Spread the word & invite your friends, because it’s gonna be FUNKY! We will be updating the Facebook Event Page with the latest info, so be sure to RSVP!