How Prop 19 can help Roger Christie, Aaron Zeeman and the other 12 facing federal charges in Hawaii?
A “Yes Vote” on prop 19 will signal to the Federal Government and the world that people are ready to end MARIJUANA PROHIBITION, to end this failed drug policy that targets cannabis users.
If prop 19 passes, politicians will take notice and some may feel the courage to take a stand. Marijuana legalization will take center stage as the Feds most likely assert their power and attempt to stop it.
The media and the public will have ample time to listen to listen to marijuana advocates dispel years of marijuana propaganda.
All this could trigger the day when a United States Representative to the United Nations will walk into the UN and declare that it is time to amend the Single Narcotics Treaty of 1961, to once again recognize the medicinal benefits as of cannabis, and to make the necessary changes that will allow federal law to change and end the 70+ year prohibition. This is important for all users, medical or not.
IT IS TIME for the United States and other nations to be free to loosen up their cannabis laws. It is time to end prohibition. The significance of prop 19 goes far beyond the issue of personal use, or possession of an ounce. This is the first initiative to make the ballot in 70 years of prohibition that eliminates criminal sanctions for any adult use of a small amount of cannabis. It would be irresponsible not to vote YES on 19.
Roger Christie, Aaron Zeeman and 12 others are facing prison because of pot politics. YOUR VOTE MATTERS. IT REALLY IS THE LEAST THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE THOUSANDS OF CANNABIS PRISONERS IN THE US PRISONS TODAY, AND THE THOUSANDS MORE FACING TRIAL.
Roger Christie, leader of the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry is a longtime marijuana activist. For over 15 years he has been active in reforming marijuana law in Hawaii. Aaron Zeeman has been active in marijuana politics for at least ten. In the 90’s Christie worked to end the harassment of personal growers. In 2006 both Roger Christie, Aaron Zeeman and many others fell short of the needed signatures to get a “lowest police priority” initiative on the ballot. They failed to gain enough signatures, but they did attract the attention of the federal authorities. The Feds placed wire-taps on Roger’s church, home and cell phone lines to gather evidence on his ministries daily operations.
Roger and others were instrumental in getting a Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Cannabis Ordinance’ pass by 34,957 votes on November 5, 2008. Law enforcement could then be freed up to deal with dangerous issues instead of going after marijuana users.
Move to 2010 where Roger Christie sits in a federal prison, being held without bail for being a danger to society for marijuana related charges. Roger has had 4 bail hearings. All attempts to have Roger released before his trial have failed.
And what about the 13 other people arrested with Roger? Many are facing mandatory minimum prison sentences of 5-10 years for minor amounts of marijuana. How? The federal government has charged them with conspiracy. That means they worked together to provide for each other and share their collective cultivation efforts. All 14 are charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 284 marijuana plants, which carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum of 40 years. Several homes are at risk of being lost in asset forfeiture proceedings. Many of the people, including Aaron Zeeman below did not have or posess any marijuana plants during the raids.
Aaron Zeeman is a single father and lives a very simple life in Hawaii raising his ten year old daughter. He has been a registered medical marijuana patient for many years. Surviving on social security Aaron struggles with health problems. With all this, Aaron has been a working force in marijuana advocacy and worked on the measure with Roger to get Ballot Question #1 (the lowest law enforcement priority ballot initiative) that won on Hawaii’s Big Island. He had been a “member” of the church for over a decade. Aaron did not know how Roger found him when he will ill, but he was thankful for his ministry in his time of need.
HOW CAN VOTING YES ON PROP 19 in California help people like Roger Christie and Aaron Zeeman? Because their will be a ripple effect of media coverage and federal involvement on this issue that may help trigger the end of 70 years of marijuana prohibition.
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