I've finished the California U.S. House and Senate Voting Guide. These guides focus on statements made by candidates through Project Vote-Smart, as well as actual voting records of incumbents on the "Hinchey" medical marijuana amendements in the House.
The Senate race is definitely one to check out. I'm strongly encouraging all California drug policy reformers to vote for James P. Gray. He is running specifically on a drug policy reform platform, so every single vote for him is a statement. If he ends up with significant numbers, it could make a lot of people pay attention.
Another race to watch is the 3rd District, where former drug warrior and California Attorney General Dan Lungren is trying to get into Congress, which would not be a good thing.
I also found it remarkable just how many incumbents voted against the Hinchey amendment. To understand this, realize that the amendment simply said that, in states where medical marijuana was legal, the federal government should not interfere in state law regarding medical marijuana. California is a medical marijuana state. So those California Representatives who voted against the amendment were essentially saying: "Although the people of California clearly voted to legalize medical marijuana and although the people overwhelmingly support legal medical marijuana, I disagree, and wish to have the federal government step in and arrest and harrass my constituents who are obeying state law." These idiots need to be removed from office, where they're currently incumbents in districts 2, 4, 11, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 48, 49, 50, and 52.
Now on to the next state. I hope to find time do one or two a week, and get as many done as I can before the election. I welcome suggestions, assistance, further details on races (or which states you'd like me to do). I also welcome feedback on the usefulness of such a guide. My thinking at this point is that even if there are a handful of voters who are not fully informed, but do a google search on the candidates and "drug policy" before they go in to vote, these guides could be worthwhile. (I've already found, with the Illinois guide, some candidate staff google searches for their candidate's name and the word "endorsement" -- they need to know that someone is paying attention to drug policy.)
 Don't forget my featured race in Illinois, where I'm strongly pushing for Tari Renner over drug warrior Jerry Weller. And it's one we can win. Support Renner.
8:40:30 PM | drug policy | Links | permalink |
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