We should to look to history. Temperance rallies consisting of hordes of purse-lipped matrons were instrumental in
enacting prohibition, but protests did not end it.
Prohibition ended when the government realized that
prohibition made
criminals out of
otherwise law abiding people. And that
genuine criminals were benefiting from alcohol being illegal. Prosecutors could not get a conviction due to
jury nullification.
Cannabis users should keep their noses clean. Lead exemplary lives,
except for cannabis use. Weed smokers should serve
jury duty, go to work or school, join
NORML, support pro-freedom candidates, and pay their taxes. In other words, live your life and continue to participate in
civil disobedience.
We should keep growing and encourage others to do the same. The Black Market is bad news. Buying from a lowlife dealer
ultimately benefits
very bad people. In a large part of the U.S., the black market is run by cartels waging an open
war in Northern Mexico. The stronger the cartels get, the more the
government feels
justified in waging the
War on Drugs. Stop supporting the cartels.
Grow 'yer own damn weed.
For the most part, protest rallies are counterproductive. Confrontation will get us nowhere.
Normal people see protests nowadays and wonder, '
Why don't those hippies get jobs?' Look at photos or video from any pro-cannabis rally and you will see what I mean.
Drink beer and smoke pot! - Vancouver Rally Participant
[youtube]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4o-IEOhCaGc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4o-IEOhCaGc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]
On the other hand,
normal people who are
educated as to the harsh realities of the
War on Drugs make far greater
allies. It's not hard to convince a thoughtful individual how unjust and wasteful the current prohibition laws are.