Proposition
420
The
U.S. H.E.M.P. Act
(United States Homeland Economic
Management Provisions Act)
Statement of Intent
In 1996, the Voters of Arizona approved, with a
nearly 2:1 margin, a ‘medical marijuana’ proposition. The Arizona State Legislature directly
ignored this clear indication of voter intent.
Two years later, with a voter approval roughly the same, this scenario,
from the vote to the outright dismissal of it by the State Government, was
repeated. In 2002, ‘medical marijuana’
was again on the ballot in Arizona. This time, the ‘objectionable’ material
(other substances were also considered in those bills) of the previous two
approved measures was eliminated and the onus of distribution of this
‘controlled substance’ was placed on the Arizona Department of Public
Safety. For the first time, a ‘medical
marijuana’ initiative was defeated in Arizona, this time primarily by a rather
unusual argument on the behalf of those involved with Public Safety that they
should not be the ones to control a ‘controlled substance’. It was upon this disappointment that years of
following this subject, years of research and focus on different national
attempts, began to coalesce as a unified theory, one that has developed to
become Proposition 420, the United States Homeland Economic Management
Provisions Act.
In
developing this idea, I identified three primary issues related to Cannabis
legislation that must be addressed:
a) Medicinal use of Cannabis
b) General Legalization of Cannabis
c) The integration of Cannabis into the
U.S. Economy
With
Medicinal Cannabis, the issue which has the greatest sympathetic appeal, what
was needed was a simple, strait-forward proposal which focused solely on
Cannabis, stating need for such legislation as well as setting up general
guide-lines insofar as determining it’s use as well as possession.
With
Legalization, arguments are centered on the ethical issue of Individual Freedom
as defined by our Founding Fathers and past Presidents as well as the
oppressive social and financial costs of placing ‘marijuana’ at the forefront
of the ‘War on Drugs’.
Insofar
as the integration of Cannabis into the U.S. Economy, I reflected upon both the
historical role that Cannabis has played in the U.S. as well as some of the
primary issues which currently face our nation, issues such as the lack of or
expense of basic medical coverage, the falling U.S. dominance in education, the
aging and outdated National infrastructure and the issues facing those who
offer their sacred honor in the duty of this Nation. Certain events during the years altered and
added to the overall plan, events such as the black-out of the Northeastern
quadrant of this Nation due to a tree touching a power-line, extreme flooding
in the central States, the tragedy of Katrina, bridges collapsing under stress
at high capacity and mostly, the simple fact that there are Veterans of these current
conflicts who are now sleeping on the streets.
The Katrina disaster also impressed upon me the absolute need for some
form of Citizen based emergency response program. Having spent the primacy of my adult life
without insurance, nor any for my child, I knew first hand how desperate the
need for some form of viable Universal Health Insurance was…and that there
needed to be a way to pay for it rather than just shuffling numbers and debt.
Cannabis,
encouraged through all the spheres in which it may be exploited, seemed, at
least to me, an obvious response. Here
was a commodity that could be used in countless ways. Here was a commodity that could be the basis
of new technology and employment in every state. Here existed, if just this Nation would grasp
at it, a solution to both the economic issues as well as the energy issues
which faced the U.S. All that needed was
to get past the hysterical prejudice surrounding more than four score and seven
years of disinformation and propaganda surrounding the purposeful substitution
of an ethnic slang word (marijuana) for the historical and patriotically
praised names of it’s past (Hemp/Cannabis).
Such is part of the reason for including both Law Enforcement and the
Fire/Safety community into this act…I admit, something of a bone thrown to
those who could, and should, benefit as much as possible from such legislation.
Finally,
over the most recent years with growing clamor, I have heard our political
servants cry out over and again how the U.S. Public needs to engage in a
dialogue, how ideas from the People should rise to the fore of this discussion
and how ever so desperately there needed to be some sort of program, often
fashioned in name after the ‘Apollo Program’ or the ‘Manhattan Project’,
concentrated on developing new energy resources to end our dependence on the
fossil products of hostile nations and multi-national entities.
I
hereby submit to my fellow Citizens of the United States my humble proposal:
Proposition 420, the United States Homeland Economic Management Provisions Act.
(U.S. H.E.M.P. Act…and yes, I do admit to having fun with that name). My reasons for producing this are simple; I
love my Country and wish to see it prosper for if it does, than so do we all
yet if it founders, again, so do we all.
I cannot offer this for sale for it then would have no value. I may only offer this as my contribution to
this nation, my gift of appreciation for the supreme gifts this Nation has
given me. All I ask in return is that my
name be recognized as the author of this.
As
for the imagery and text contained, these I do retain copyright over. I offer the reprinting of this material for the promotion of Proposition 420 and/or as arguments in any Cannabis legalization measure offered for review by the American public. The imagery associated with this proposal, the "seals" designed to promote Proposition 420, these I retain control over. They may be used strictly for the promotion of the legalization of Cannabis though they may not be used for any individual profit.
Thank you,
Kenneth
Bykerk
NEXT POST: Outline of Proposal
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