I’m probably going to make a few of you guys get a boner looking at this sweet ride! Lotus and Hail Mary Jane – what a great combo for a road trip! Look for this Lotus blazing up the streets of Hollywood!

“STUCK” Is a bi-weekly feature where I post YOUR Stuck HMJ Stickers! Don’t have stickers? They’re FREE and you can get them HERE or find any HMJ staff at the events to get them directly. Email me at: Doodette420@HailMaryJane.com  your stuck HMJ sticker pics to be featured on the site!

This is by far the coolest looking snowboard design I have ever seen. I am ashamed to say that I still haven’t been snowboarding this year because of how bad this weather has been. This is the longest I’ve waited since I started snowboarding 11 years ago. This board gives the Bob Marley snowboard design a run for its money.

Snagged this from xochiewww twitter.

This week President Obama had another one of his online forums, folks spend a few days voting up questions for him to answer before these events. This time, like every time, questions about marijuana and the war on drugs filled up most of the top 20 questions. Much like before, they were ignored.

NORML Spokesman Erik Altieri hit the nail on the head in an email to the Huffington Post saying,

“It is disappointing that, yet again, the administration has declined the opportunity to discuss the very serious issue of ending marijuana prohibition. For the ninth time, the White House has solicited the American people for direct input on the issues they cared about and then, when the resulting answers called overwhelmingly for marijuana law reform, President Obama ignores the will of the American people on this burning issue.”

The second most popular question of all came from Stephen Downing, Former Deputy Chief of LAPD and board member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Downing reflected on his decades in law enforcement and went on to ask the president what he would say to the majority of americans who now support the legalization of marijuana.

Another interesting part of this article was a quote from Harborside Health Center Executive Director Steve DeAngelo. Like many California patients who backed Obama in 2008, he is thoroughly unsatisfied with Obama failing to keep his campaign trail promises. He said,

“I will be voting in the Republican primary in California, and I will be voting for one of the candidates who supports our position on medical cannabis. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of other medical cannabis patients join me. There’s a real opening here for Republicans.”

When the man who has provided safe access to more patients in North America than anyone says he is voting Republican, it really makes you wonder what happened to promises we heard in New Hampshire.

Wakeboarding in Alaska just sounds so damn crazy. It must be so cold riding and falling in that weather. I’m surprised he isn’t wearing a hat.

Everyday at 4:20 pm EST, there will be a new random funny video for you to smoke and laugh at. If you have a funny video that should be a 4:20 Flick, hit me up with it on twitter or send me an email at lenny@hailmaryjane.com.

We saw LeBron James last weekend make one of the most incredible plays we’ve seen in a while. Then we saw Blake Griffin make a play last night against the Thunder that may be the only play to top that this season. This play literally blew up twitter last night and the tweets are still coming in.

And you thought Kendrick Perkins looked mad before?

Who do you think had the better dunk?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Shouts to the Heat for pulling out a close victory today against the Bulls 97-93. Not sure if it is still cool to hate LeBron James or not but I know that it is extremely difficult to hate this play, unless you are the Bulls’ John Lucas. I have actually never heard of him until this and unfortunately for him, this soon to be viral video of LeBron made on him. He literally uses him as a step ladder to make the dunk.

CRAZY!

He will be more known for this than anything he does for the rest of his career. Thanks you, LeBron.

It would be hard to say no to this. What would be a better marijuana related proposal than this? Maybe proposing at the Cannabis Cup or putting the ring in a blunt? I’m just kidding about that second one or am I? Caught this bad boy at the smoke session.

Hopefully the first portion of Activist Marc Emery’s letter, found here,  has had time to sink in. The words of inspiration and reflection are now open press, but exactly how can you implement and take action in a movement pushed into a virtual world? How can you graduate from cannabis supporter to anti-prohibition?? Now that you know what you want to affect, you can now learn how to make that impact. Part I continued…

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

Begin dialogue with your elected representatives! This means writing a letter to your Congressperson in Washington, not through e-mail but a typed up, stamped letter. You don’t even have to write it by hand. Letters should be

• Cogent – logical, always spellchecked and edited.
• Brief – A page is the general rule of thumb when wanting to attract and maintain someone’s interest
• Mailed – Yes, snail mail, it has a bigger psychological impact.

A physical letter has a psychological advantage. The Congressperson and his secretaries and mail readers know that anyone who would, in this day and age, type up a thoughtful letter, put a stamp on it, walk to a post office box, and patiently wait for a response after making a physical effort, is probably going to put a similar effort into voting. A person who does all that may get politically active if disappointed, or may volunteer for the Congressperson’s re-election campaign if satisfied. A Congressperson gets hundreds, perhaps thousands of emails, but they take little effort to send, and letters are much rarer and far more precious politically

So your Congressperson responds in an undesirable manner. How do you appeal to your congressperson?

• Provide them with medical or scientific rebuttals- these should come from a course they would respect. “(That is, someone from his religious order, or political party, or colleague from the university he attended.)
• Absolutely avoid name-calling and insults.
• Thank them for their response
• Mention claims and statements they made in previous elections
• Stick to the point and find areas of mutual agreement

Writing politicians requires patience because it’s likely you will be unsatisfied and frustrated. But you want them to assess your point of view, and you also want to become a known quantity – that is, someone who has a rational intelligent point of view.

If you have a legislator or Congressperson who advocates a rational point of view, then a letter endorsing that point of view is a good idea. Ask what you, as a citizen, can do to draw support to the proposal by that representative.

WRITING TO NEWSPAPERS

Writing to papers after engaging with elected officials in dialogue is the next step according to Emery.

• Aim for daily and weekly newspapers in your community
• Should be in response to a news item on prohibition, police behavior, harsh sentencing, the impact on the community, etc., etc.
• No more than 200 words.

With a reportedly 1 in 4 chance of getting published there’s no reason to skip this medical conduit.

RADIO TALK SHOWS

Radio talk shows are very useful tools as far as expressing your views and getting people to listen. You don’t even have to use your name. Examples of when to contact:

• Crime or prison discussions
• Inner cities or budget talks

You may not always get air time, but that which you do achieve will be valuable.

“As long as your message is powerful, informative and understandable, you’re having a positive impact.”

PROTEST AND RALLIES

“At some point you may want to organize a protest or a rally. This could be at the office of an elected official, in front of City Hall, or the Statehouse if you live near it. “

Though it is difficult to get more than a dozen people to show up for a cause, it is a powerful force. Your message and actions should be effective.

• Chants should never be rude, but to the point “No More Drug War” or “Cannabis Save Saves Lives”
• Signs should be legible and convey a point – remember, if covered in the media you want to send responsible and readable point. *Computer made signs best*
• Dress appropriately, represent! Appearance is most important, you’re trying to convert onlookers and newspaper readers—represent the community in a light that will appeal.

If you want to change minds, not only do your ideas need to be carefully chosen, but your clothes, your appearance, your demeanor, your language and your signs need to appeal to the conservative, older people who see you while driving by in their cars, or on the TV news, or in a newspaper.

STUDENT & CAMPUS ACTIVISM

Student and campus activism take the issue to the source of one of the most power influential groups, students. Starting a campus group or club towards a narrow initiative can be a small portion or your activity. Start a chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (www.ssdp.org and www.cssdp.org). You don’t want to appeal to a stoner mentality, but rather a philosophical one. Your group should take on the heart of the drug war, the prohibition.

A club achieves several activities:

• Invite speaks to lecture and educate the group and larger student body
• Booth during clubs week
• Advocate for any anti-prohibition politicians running for office
• Members would volunteer for political campaigns.
• Leadership would resist rules or regulations that require expulsion of students who use or advocate marijuana
• Seek to address laws that restrict or prohibit student aid to those with drug convictions.

It is important that this club not degenerate into a pot-smoking club. All the indulging, if desired, should occur after serious work has been expended to get necessary political activism done that day.

*Also write to campus newspapers and radio stations*

Try to get an Anti-Prohibition Radio show. This could be a one or two hour show where you read articles and news items from Norml.org or StopTheDrugWar.org and play anti-prohibition songs, of which there are many. (“Bush Doctor”, “Legalize It”, newer marijuana music – there are dozens and dozens of songs if you check around.)

GET INVOLVED WITH POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

Endorsing Ron Paul, Emery states that hands down the first five months of 2012 should be used endorsing and getting involved in political campaigns.

The Republican race for the Presidential nomination will get down to Mitt Romney vs. Ron Paul by Super Tuesday in March (March 6th). The Republicans cannot win without the Ron Paul voters, and the Republicans cannot beat continued-and-expanded-war Obama without Ron Paul as their nominee. If Ron Paul is not the nominee for the Republicans, I will urge you to support the Libertarian Party candidate, the former two-term governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, a fine principled man who repudiates the drug war and would certainly legalize marijuana if elected President.

If you decide to do one thing to end this terrible prohibition, joining the Ron Paul Revolution RIGHT NOW is the most urgent need.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

• Gathering signatures- doing this can help put medical cannabis or the legalization of cannabis on your state ballot. Look here for current drives in states.
• Contact organizers of initiatives so you can help represent them and the movement on the streets and on campus

Find out about the Libertarian, Constitutionalist or Green Party candidates in [your] district or community if the Democrat and Republicans have nothing to offer. These smaller parties value your contributions in money and manpower even more than the major parties. These smaller parties will give you insight into how to run (or not run) a modest budget campaign with limited goals. Since the small party candidates aren’t expecting to be elected, their job is to educate the public on their issues, critique the Democrat and Republican candidates, and recruit volunteers and members for future growth and campaigns. Your job is to learn all you can about the political process.

RUN FOR OFFICE

With councilors and county supervisors allowing the local police to “trample over the rights and privacy of the people” From police brutality to a judge who may sentence pot-related offenses harshly, there are many reasons people choose to run for office. What should you do to get ready?

• Plan accordingly, save money and have time and effort to spare. Acknowledge and utilize error
• Find a campaign manager – someone who is passionate, organized and will help you spread the word.
• Get some signs – “Get quotes on a 100 corroplast (corrugated plastic signs) measured about 18″ x 24″ (larger signs, like 24″ x 36″ or 24″ x 48″, are better to hold up on busy roads, printed both sides in one color plus black on white). Election supplies can be found at websites online”
• Get your name out there cheaply…or even free by attending busy roads during peak traffic hours
• Acknowledge you probably won’t win – but such experience is priceless and it will give you an idea of how the political system works.
• Plan accordingly, save money and have time and effort to spare. Acknowledge and utilize error

” Most of your friends will be useless in helping you, but you should try to get $10 and $25 donations from them. Ask people to volunteer and, if they get on board, assign them specific tasks essential to your campaign. Develop a Facebook page and website touting your candidacy. Make them both easily navigable and easy to understand. Look at other candidate templates on the net to find a style or approach you like (Jodie’s 2009 BC Green Party provincial election campaign website design is simple but informative: www.jodieformla.ca/).”

Note of warning: Participating in an election is a very rewarding experience. To do it right is very draining, very exhausting, and very satisfying. It’s nice to get out there and listen to voters, tell people your ideas, and do the campaigning. But it takes a huge amount of time and energy. Decide if it’s really worth it for you before biting off more than you can chew!

Last, but not least…

DO WHAT YOU LOVE

Finally, everyone has a creative gift or ability of some useful kind. What is your talent?

Here’s a list of examples on easy talent driven ways to help

• More money than time? Donate.
• More time than money? Volunteer
• Create musical songs/videos for the candidate of your choice.
• Website developer? Lend your skills to reform groups on setting up their site on a free OR cheap budget.
• Organizing skills? Offer your help to organize rallies.
• Graphic Artist? Design election signs, rally posters, graphic images for website and even site design

With the millions; I’m sorry, billions of talented cannabis supporters there is no way we cannot be an unrivaled creative/helpful force in changing our future…the future of cannabis prohibition. Abolish the war on drugs!

Everyone who believes in the cause of liberty and an end to prohibition has something valuable to offer. All you need to do is commit.

Now get to work!

If You’d like to send Mr. Emery mail of you may do so by writing to the following address:

Marc Emery #40252-086
FCI Yazoo City – Medium E-1
P.O. Box 5888
Yazoo City, MS
39194

Images Via Gary Wintle,  CrownProd and Cannabis Culture

Edibles have become a big part of the medical marijuana community. Over the past few years it has seemed to take off in my area. Mainly because of the law passing for medical marijuana in 2008. Before that year we had to resort to making our own brownies. I’ve been with many different people cooking up brownies. All did it a different way than the other. Some made the cannabutter. Some ground their weed up in a coffee grinder to the point where it looked like kief. Then just poured it straight into the brownie mix. That is what I did majority of the times we made them. We would brake up a half ounce and put it straight into the brownie mix. My question to you greenies is, what is the way you usually make them? Was my way the dumbest way possible?