#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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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!

#Reschedule420

We did it!


Hundreds Got High In Front of the White House To Protest Weed …

Hundreds of people got high in front of The White House to protest the federal government's policies on weed


It's time to demand Obama reschedule cannabis!

PUBLIC NOTICE : Due to popular demand, we’re rescheduling 4/20 this year to 4/2 because Obama’s been a BIG ZER0 on cannabis reform.

President Obama has the power to use his authority to reschedule cannabis. But recent reports have shown that he has no plans to change the status quo and, frankly, that is just pitiful.

While we have been able to drastically reduce arrests for marijuana possession in the District of Columbia, millions of Americans across the United States are not so lucky. As long as cannabis is treated in the same category of drugs as heroin, with no accepted medical use, police will continue to arrest & lockup our brothers and sisters.

We will gather outside the White House at 2:00pm on Saturday, April 2 and have speakers from DCMJ and other cannabis advocacy groups. At 4:20pm there will be a mass-consumption* of cannabis. We will not be seeking any type of permit from the National Park Police because it is our constitutional right to peacefully gather and demand Obama stop being hypocrite. He smoked cannabis and became the president of the United States, and while he might think cannabis is a bad habit, does he seriously think it’s on par with heroin, nicotine, or alcohol?

Some people think we should not protest President Obama in an election year. But if not now when? Let’s make the rescheduling of cannabis a campaign issue now!

This is a challenge to the frontrunners. Will Donald Trump federal legalization? Has Hillary evolved long enough on the issue of cannabis to support federal legalization? Will Bernie Sanders take a national legalization approach instead of a state by state approach? But most importantly, does Obama want a legacy of being the president who finally ended the failed war on drugs? We’re rescheduling 4/20 this year to find out. Join us!

What you can do:

* A 4:20pm Mass-Consumption of cannabis includes smoking, vaping, but also eating. Do you think the National Park Service will go after your brownies, gummies, rice crispy treats, or cookies? Doubtful. As we #Reschedule420 this year, we encourage people who do not want to smoke or vape their cannabis to eat it as a form of protest. So in the misquoted words of Marie Antoinette, LET THEM EAT CAKE!


Reschedule420 is this SaturdayReschedule420 is this Saturday

Did you see yesterday’s Washington Post? The 51 foot joint was on the front page of the Metro Section! What does that mean? We have the opportunity to show America an amazingly positive display of non-violent civil disobedience. It also means we need to ensure that everyone knows EXACTLY what is going down before we’re lighting up.

We are meeting at the corner of 15th & Pennsylvania Ave NW at 1:45pm and walking Cesar Maxit’s 51 foot joint a half a block down Pennsylvania Ave. At 2pm our curated open mic begins and will be lead by MC Adam Eidinger. We have various speakers from different movements confirmed to show up but we encourage everyone reading this to consider making brief remarks if their is time.  At around 4:15pm we will make announcements about the civil disobedience.  At 4:20pm there will be a blessing and many of us will engage in civil disobedience by consuming cannabis.  Shortly afterwards, we’ll part ways, go home, and watch ourselves on the evening news…. SEE YOU THERE!


Possible Civil Disobedience Scenarios at 4:21pm:

1) NO ARRESTS – After consuming cannabis as an act of civil disobedience, we march down Pennsylvania Ave. toward 17th Street for a victory lap!
2) ARRESTS OCCUR AND PEOPLE ARE RELEASED QUICKLY – After paying a small fine ($100 or less) people are released Saturday evening.
3) ARRESTS OCCUR AND PEOPLE ARE DETAINED UNTIL MONDAY – After going before a judge, you are released Monday afternoon and will likely have to return to court at a later date.


Demonstration DOs & DON’Ts

DOInvite your friends!

DON’T – Consume cannabis (smoke, vape, eat, etc.) until 4:20pm. The fastest way to get arrested is to be the only person using cannabis. If you see someone consuming cannabis, politely suggest they relocate to a different area or refrain until 4:20pm.

DO – Help hold the 51 foot joint! You know that you want to take a selfie holding the biggest joint ever brought to the White House!

DON’T – Swear or say offensive things to the general public.

DO – Listen to the various speakers. You will hear some amazing stories about how cannabis has impacted the lives of your fellow Americans. Please show speakers respect by engaging in discussions away from the sound system.

DON’T – Be rude to tourists, strangers, or other cannabis activists. One of our biggest strengths is that we are united in the belief that the federal laws related to cannabis need to be changed. You may meet people who have different political viewpoints than yours and it’s important that you know how to agree to disagree.

DO – Bring your government-issued ID. In case anything happens, it’s always good to be able to prove who you are.

DON’T – Be disrespectful to the police! Treat them like you would like to be treated yourself. Do not call them names! If you engage in civil disobedience and the police arrest you, do not fight back or you might end up with a assault charge.

DO – Be peaceful! Have fun! Know that you are making history! Don’t let the detractors who think doing nothing will somehow change something.

DON’T – Forget that the area around the White House is federal property where Ballot Initiative 71 does not apply. So don’t bring large amounts of any “illegal” substances or paraphernalia such as chillums, bowls, dugouts, bongs, etc. We recommend joints, vapes, and edibles for those who are engaging in civil disobedience.

DOBring $50 to $100 cash if you plan on engaging in civil disobedience. Often the police offer a “Post and Forfeit” option, where you may simultaneously post and forfeit an amount as collateral (which otherwise would serve as security upon release to ensure the arrestee’s appearance at trial) and thereby obtain a full and final resolution of the criminal charge. Since there are so many arrests in DC every year for civil disobedience, the post & forfeit option is very common, so bring extra cash with you.

DON’T – Resist arrest if you are engaging in civil disobedience. Resisting Arrest is defined as:
– fleeing a police officer while being arrested
– threatening a police officer with physical violence while being arrested
– physically struggling to free oneself from being restrained
– attacking a police officer while being arrested
– providing an officer with false identification

DO – Be educated on why you are demonstrating. You may be asked by a reporter for your comments. Do you have something ready to say? It’s OKAY to say nothing! But it’s best to read up on why the Controlled Substances Act needs to be changed in regards to cannabis.

DON’T – Act like a fool! We expect national & international media to be present, so do your best to represent cannabis community.

DO – Understand that if you choose to engage in civil disobedience, you might be in DC jail until Monday.

DON’T – Try to find parking nearby! Take the Metro, Bus, ride your bike, or walk! But there is garages & metered parking nearby, but it’s going to cost you a lot!

DO – Know that it is YOUR RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE! You are not risking arrest by showing up, rather you risk arrest by engaging in civil disobedience.

DON’T – Expect the world to change over night.

DO – Bring your prescription medications if you plan to engage in civil disobedience. The last thing we want is for you to get sick in a DC jail! Make sure your prescription medication has your name on it! REMEMBER: Medical marijuana is not recognized by the federal government (this is one of the reasons why we are demonstrating!)

DON’T – Forget to write 202-733-4640 with a permanent marker on your arm. If you engage in civil disobedience and get arrested, call 202-733-4640 when you are at the jail. We’ll have someone helping with jail support. We want to know who you is arrested and when they are getting out.

MOST IMPORTANT DOBE COOL!! Always stay calm. Change happens at the speed of protest, so know that after the demonstration, our efforts will go on!


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It's time to demand Obama reschedule cannabis!

It's time to demand Obama reschedule cannabis!


It's time to demand Obama reschedule cannabis!


It's time to demand Obama reschedule cannabis!


DCMJ is the District of Columbia's leading cannabis community organization

Letter to President Obama Concerning #Reschedule420

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC

Dear President Obama,

This is our 3rd letter to you in the last two years concerning cannabis reform. DCMJ previously wrote you before Ballot Initiative 71 was voted on in the District of Columbia and after the initiative passed with over 70% of the vote. Unfortunately, we haven’t received a reply from our previous letters. This lack of correspondence is why we are writing you today.

Next month DCMJ is rescheduling the international cannabis day of celebration, April 20 to Saturday, April 2, and making it a protest of your inaction on cannabis reform. We are rescheduling the date to urge you to use your power as the president to reschedule cannabis. As a former cannabis (and current?) user, you know firsthand that cannabis does not belong in the Controlled Substances Act. While thousands of Americans die each each year due to dangerous drugs like heroin, the placement of cannabis in the same category makes a mockery of the Controlled Substances Act and breeds distrust in our law enforcement and our government .

I anticipate hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans will join us at 4:20pm for mass-consumption of cannabis on Pennsylvania Ave. as form of civil disobedience. However, I am willing to call off the mass-consumption of cannabis if you agree to a Bud Summit, where leaders of the cannabis reform movement are invited to the White House to discuss steps you can take to end the failed War on Drugs you inherited as president.

As American citizens of the District of Columbia, we do not have Senators or Representatives to advocate for us in Congress. Thanks to the 23rd amendment to the Constitution, we only have you to speak for us. I am tired of waiting for Congress to reschedule cannabis. They would rather continue the failed War on Drugs instead of actually fixing the problems facing America. DCMJ respectfully urges you to call out their failed leadership and fix a genuine problem that you have the power to fix. No more lives need to be ruined with unethical imprisonment for cannabis-related crimes if you act now.

Sincerest Regards,

Adam Eidinger
Founder, DCMJ



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