Prior to February, 2010, I had never been to Hempfest or a cannabis rally. 16 months later, I can barely remember that I had a life before cannabis politics.
This one issue may touch more parts of our society than any other single political issue that I personally care about. Deforestation and the conversion of ecosystems into tree farms is a huge global catastrophe. Hemp could significantly reduce or eliminate clear-cutting. Pharmaceutical medicine is a dangerous experiment that is killing people by the tens of thousands every year and poisoning millions. Medical marijuana can replace many of them. Bio-fuels from corn are just stupid. Hemp might work better. Cotton farming is so toxic that you shouldn’t even eat the peanuts grown near cotton, in my opinion. Hemp could replace cotton overnight without pesticides. The evils of petroleum would require their own book to describe adequately. Hemp replaces a number of oil products. People need a non-toxic way to relieve stress at the end of their work day. Recreational marijuana is the safest substance available. The list goes on.
Cannabis can replace so many toxic and destructive industries that I have decided that my biggest political priority as a lobbyist, political operative and father is to free this plant, or perhaps I should say “free our use of this plant” to help save our future. It may be one of the more important components for creating a sustainable civilization.
Over the past 40 years, various organizations and activists have been creating a lot of buzz and attracting millions of people to engage with cannabis politics, creating a true political giant. Hempfest, for example, brings over 200,000 people together every year to celebrate cannabis and protest prohibition. We have a few billionaires on our side, an emerging industry in medical marijuana that is already valued in the billions and millions of supporters. So, why is prohibition still on the books?
First, we have pretty tough opponents. Law enforcement entities at the state and federal level have a vested interest in maintaining the conflict to maintain the spending of $10 billion per year against cannabis. They’re not interested in eliminating marijuana use, but in maintaining the conflict. They hold a tremendous amount of inherent political influence. All they have to do is invoke the name of public safety and too many legislators bow to their will. As a lobbyist, this is one of the most frustrating and corrupt things I have ever witnessed.
Additionally, large corporate interests work to keep it underground until they can own and control it. The pharmaceutical industry, for example, has declared that they want to own and distribute medical marijuana, with the declared intention of displacing community-based dispensaries and cooperatives.
Second, the movement has developed tremendous breadth, but needs greater depth. If, for example, the 200,000 + enthusiasts from last year’s Hempfest had each donated an average of 5 bucks, I-1149 would have made it on the ballot and received a great budget to build on for the general election. We simply need a little more action from each supporter and funding problems for campaigns will become a thing of the past.
Third, the movement needs more people from the “outside” to get interested and involved. We need more millionaires and billionaires shoveling money into campaigns. We need straight-looking business folk organizing behind enemy lines. We need activists who focus on recruiting the participation of non-traditional allies.
Fourth, things need to be better organized. If this year has shown us anything, it’s that de-centralized campaigns aren’t going to win it for us, contrary to my prior belief. We have to suck it up and organize centrally-directed campaigns with enough budget and dedicated funders to win.
Fifth, people within the movement waste a tremendous amount of energy fighting and attacking each other. The problem is severe and costs the movement a lot of, well, movement. Slandering each others work and perspectives should be discouraged by everyone. We all do it from time to time (some people do it all the time), and we all need to remind each other to be cool and respectful.
This is stressful work and a lot is at stake. The potential each of us holds in our hands, however, is the power to get laws out of our way and to change the future. I’d like my kids to inherit a friendlier culture along with a more sustainable relationship with nature. Cannabis politics can bring us both if we hold ourselves and each other to higher standards of conduct. Remember, we win by making friends, not enemies.
This year has seen some wins and some losses. All told, however, cannabis issues grow in strength and political power with each passing year. It’s clear that our successes are becoming a major threat to the Feds who are now lashing out. This is not a time to give ground and hide. Instead, we need to re-organize, fundraiser, expand and re-double our efforts. We’re a tidal wave whose waters are lapping over the edges of the floodgates. The lies are losing their power and the people are flocking to our side of the debates by the month. We have the raw resources to win, we just need to organize them better and we will change history.
-Ezra Eickmeyer is a business lobbyist, political consultant, student permaculturalist, activist and father of 3. He has represented NORML and Washington Cannabis Association to the Legislature and is currently on the board of directors of Seattle Hempfest. You can contact him at ezra@olypen.com.
