The fourth of July and cannabis legalization
This Fourth of July, recreational cannabis is officially legal in nine U.S. states and medical cannabis in 30. And the most important issue is that a majority of Americans actually support cannabis legalization these days. According to the Pew Research Center, 61 percent of Americans think it’s high time for cannabis prohibition to end. Here comes a list of some of the most important activist who celebrates this Independence Day calling for total cannabis legalization.
Jack Herer
Jack Herer is greatly credited with fathering the modern cannabis legalization movement in the United States of America, and many cannabis activists still point to his 1985 book named “ The Emperor wears no clothes”. Being born in New York he moved to Los Angeles in 1967 where he opened the first hemp store and head shop at Venice Beach. By the way, he smoked his first joint when he was 30 years old.
Margaret Mead
Being the New York Times best-selling author of Coming of Age in Samoa, Margaret Mead advocated for cannabis legalization since 1969. Mead told the U.S. Senate that cannabis should be legalized, arguing that criminalizing the plant did more harm than good. These are her own words:
“It is my considered opinion that at present that marihuana is not harmful unless it is taken in enormous and excessive amounts. I believe that we are damaging this country, damaging our law, our whole law enforcement situation, damaging the trust between the older people and younger people by its prohibition, and this is far more serious than any damage that might be done to a few overusers, because you can get damage from any kind of overuse.”
Unfortunately her words did not have the impact she wanted and she was insulted. Some “intelectuals” said she was advocating heroin for children and called her ” dirty old woman”.
Dr, Lester Grinspoon
He is a very important voice for cannabis legalization. IN the beginning, Dr. Spoon was so anti cannabis that he set out to research the plant’s “dangers”—but he ended up learning about the numerous health benefits of cannabis instead. He knew nothing about cannabis but when he learnt everything about it, he became pro legalization.
He wrote the book named Marihuana Reconsidered, which scientifically explains the effects and benefits of cannabis.
Tom Forcade
We all know High Times is more than an icon. But you knew that the prestigious cannabis magazine has activist foundations? Tom Forcade established High Times in the summer of 1974. But the publication’s role in activism dates back to its establishment by underground journalist Tom Forcade, a prominent agitator.
Keith Stroup
Keith Stroup created his legend when in 1970 founded the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Stroup and the rest of the members of NORML were so serious and prestigious that the community listened to them in every situation. All 50 states saw reduced penalties for minor cannabis offenses during Stroup’s time as NORML’s executive director.
Ethan Nadelmann
Named “ The Real Drug Czar” by Rolling Stone, Ethan Nadelman founded the Open Society Institute’s International Harm Reduction Development program. in 1994. Additionally, in 1994, the Harvard alumnus founded the Drug Policy Alliance; America’s foremost nonprofit fighting against the war on drugs, in 2000.
He was very important in advising George Soros and other important activist as well as hundreds of mayors, governors, international politicians, and state and federal lawmakers.
