Mission 1998 Campaign Join the Party Support the cause

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Welcome to the Homepage of the Marijuana Reform Party, New York's political effort to join with the drug law reform ballot initiatives around the nation. The constitution of the State of New York does not allow citizens to put their own initiatives on the ballot. Forming a political party is an alternative that, by chance, is easier. We hope that you will support us in our effort to become the first officially certified ballot-line party in America dedicated to ending the prohibition of marijuana.

The New York State Board of Elections

has certified these totals for the 1998 general elections:

Anyone interested please contact us by filling in the Volunteer Questionnaire, using the "comment" section for any specific communication. You can find the volunteer questionnaire form by clicking on the blue "Join the Party" button at the top of any page.

Are you sick and tired of the drug war?

1998 marks the 17th year of the War on Drugs declared by Ronald Reagan in 1981. It marks the 30th year of the War on Drugs declared even earlier by Richard Nixon in 1968, and is the 61st year of marijuana prohibition. In the past three decades tens of millions of otherwise law-abiding American citizens have been arrested for marijuana offenses, the vast majority for simple possession. Hundreds of thousands have spent time in prison. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent in a futile attempt to eradicate marijuana use from American society. Civil rights have been curtailed more and more through drug war policies such as urine testing, property forfeiture, "no-knock" searches, and more. Despite this national crusade marijuana use is as prevelant as ever. Something must be done to put an end to the foolish and wasteful institution of Marijuana Prohibition.

The Marijuana Reform Party (MRP) of New York

was established to provide a vehicle for political action for those New Yorkers concerned about ending the criminal prohibition of marijuana. While citizens in other states have conducted ballot initiatives to bring about change, under New York State's constitution citizens do not have that option. A political party, focused on the issue of marijuana, will allow us to affect policy and apply pressure for legislative reform. As the party grows, without even winning an election, we will still be able to trade our votes for political access and influence, in the grand tradition of third-party politics in New York going back over a century. By joining the MRP you are helping to build a power base for positive change, which will improve your quality-of-life.

The Marijuana Reform Party believes:

• That adults who choose to use marijuana in the privacy of their own homes should not be subject to civil or criminal sanctions.
• That it is wrong for children to use marijuana, and that such use is best stopped through honest drug education and by providing children with positive alternatives to drug use.
• That the best way to protect the health and well-being of our community and children from marijuana-related harm is to control the growth, distribution, and use of the drug through a rational system of regulation and taxation.
• That drug addiction in general should be dealt with through treatment and prevention, rather than police and prisons.

Some facts you may not know about marijuana prohibition:

• Marijuana is decriminalized in New York, with simple possession not even being a misdemeanor offense. Until recently, relatively few people where ever arrested for marijuana possession in New York. Since 1990 arrests for marijuana possession increased 476% statewide. In New York City the arrest rate for possession has increased by over 1000%!
• More than 35,000 marijuana offenders are in prison or jail nationwide. These marijuana offenders are occupying cells that could be used for violent offenders.
• Public opinion polls show that a majority (53% to 34%) Americans view drug abuse as a public health problem best handled by prevention and treatment programs, rather than by police and prisons.
• Marijuana prohibition creates a mixed drug market, which puts marijuana consumers in contact with hard-drug dealers. Regulating, taxing, and allowing adults to grow their own marijuana would seperate marijuana from cocaine, heroin, and other hard drugs.
• Because marijuana is typically used in private, trampling the Bill of Rights is a routine part of marijuana law enforcement (e.g., drug dogs, urine tests, phone taps, informants, curbside garbage searches, military involvment in the drug war, etc.).

What Can I Do To Help?

• Make a campaign donation, or better yet help organize a fundraising event.
• Encourage your friends to join the MRP.
• Distribute MRP literature in your town (which can be downloaded for printing via clicking the "Support" button or the previous link in the first bullet point in this section.
• Write a letter calling for the end of marijuana prohibition to your elected representatives, and/or to your local newspaper.
• Organize a local MRP branch in your community.
• We can help you do all of these things. Just contact us through our 1998 Gubernatorial campaign headquarters at the telephone number and address below or simply Click here (or on the blue "Join the Party" button at the top of this page) to contact the Leighton for Governor office.

(212) 439-4860

"Leighton for Governor"
P.O. Box 20420 DHCC
New York, NY 10017
http://www.MarijuanaReform.org

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