Sadly, the 20th of April has become known in the United States as the anniversary of the mass shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado in 1999. Moreover, sociologists have noticed that the whole calendar for April is crowded with similar unhappy “anniversaries,” such as the Virginia Tech shootings two years ago and the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995. (So-called terrorism expert Steven Emerson appeared on network television shortly after the blast to proclaim that the attack had numerous “Middle Eastern traits”.)
It is perhaps not surprising that what has become a peculiarly, if not exclusively, American pastime would wind up having its own special day, and for many April 20th is that day.
But there are a few welcome signs of a backlash against the fetishistic, violent tantrums that threaten to define our culture in its decline. The New York Times reports :
“Long stigmatized as political poison, the marijuana movement has found new allies in prominent politicians, including Representatives Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Ron Paul, Republican of Texas, who co-wrote a bill last year to decrease federal penalties for possession and to give medical users new protections.
The bill failed, but with the recession prompting bulging budget deficits, some legislators in California and Massachusetts have gone further, suggesting that the drug could be legalized and taxed, a concept that has intrigued even such ideologically opposed pundits as Glenn Beck of Fox News and Jack Cafferty of CNN.”
Last week, the venerable progressive journal In These Times ran a feature on the gathering momentum for reform :
“As a medley of border violence, recessionary pressure, international criticism and popular acceptance steadily undermines America’s decades-long effort to eliminate drugs and drug use, the U.S. movement to legalize marijuana is gaining unprecedented momentum.
Once derided and dismissed by lawmakers, law enforcers and the law-abiding alike, marijuana reform is sweeping the nation, although the federal government appears committed—at least for the time being—to largely maintaining the status quo.”
Advocates for legalization are marking the occasion by launching a national public awareness campaign, to include television spots. According to news agency PR Web :
“The Foundation for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML FOUNDATION) a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization established in 1997, is purchasing advertising time on selective cable outlets to underscore the urgency of decriminalizing marijuana also known as cannabis.
The NORML Foundation launched this Marijuana Law Reform Advertising Campaign on 4/20, a day marked as a holiday celebrated worldwide by the cannabis culture to create further political pressure on the federal government to both recognize 1) the ever-increasing support of Americans who favor cannabis legalization and 2) the clear sea change of cannabis laws that’s been happening at the state level since Californians voted in favor of medicinal access to cannabis in 1996.”
New York Times : Marijuana Advocates Point to Signs of Change
In these Times : An End to the War on Weed? Marijuana advocates believe legalization is on the horizon.
PR Web : Marijuana Advocacy Group Launches Cable TV Ad Campaign on ‘4/20′
Examiner.com : National Weed Day fuels marijuana legalization debate
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