May 12, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Colombia: Politics: Congress: Medical Marijuana: Marijuana: Join Together: Sam Farr attended the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) reception, a nonsmoking affair featuring soft jazz, fine desserts, and advocates dressed in suits and ties. "We decided from the outset, no scrungie beards. No ponytails. We'd be mainstream and professional. We'd try to look like Republicans as much as we could,"

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Colombia: Special Report: Sam Farr: Sam Farr: Archived Stories: May 12, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Colombia: Politics: Congress: Medical Marijuana: Marijuana: Join Together: Sam Farr attended the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) reception, a nonsmoking affair featuring soft jazz, fine desserts, and advocates dressed in suits and ties. "We decided from the outset, no scrungie beards. No ponytails. We'd be mainstream and professional. We'd try to look like Republicans as much as we could,"

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-245-37.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.245.37) on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 5:21 pm: Edit Post

Sam Farr attended the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) reception, a nonsmoking affair featuring soft jazz, fine desserts, and advocates dressed in suits and ties. "We decided from the outset, no scrungie beards. No ponytails. We'd be mainstream and professional. We'd try to look like Republicans as much as we could,"

Sam Farr attended the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) reception,  a nonsmoking affair featuring soft jazz, fine desserts, and advocates dressed in suits and ties. We decided from the outset, no scrungie beards. No ponytails. We'd be mainstream and professional. We'd try to look like Republicans as much as we could,

Sam Farr attended the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) reception, a nonsmoking affair featuring soft jazz, fine desserts, and advocates dressed in suits and ties. "We decided from the outset, no scrungie beards. No ponytails. We'd be mainstream and professional. We'd try to look like Republicans as much as we could,"

Marijuana Advocates Play Washington Game
5/12/2005


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Marijuana lobbying in Washington, D.C., is far from the counterculture, as well-heeled advocates mix with members of Congress just like supporters of other issues, the San Francisco Chronicle reported May 5.

A recent Capitol Hill soiree hosted by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) was a nonsmoking affair featuring soft jazz, fine desserts, and advocates dressed in suits and ties chatting with supporters like Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Sam Farr (D-Calif.), and Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.).

"We decided from the outset, no scrungie beards. No ponytails. We'd be mainstream and professional. We'd try to look like Republicans as much as we could," said MPP Executive Director Rob Kampia. "I don't mind having short hair if it can help change the world.''

MPP, which donated $50,000 to Congressional supporters last year, wants to be taken as seriously in Washington as are the lobbyists for the alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical firms. That's hard when staffers for members of Congress have been known to introduce MPP lobbyists as "the potheads."

"The puns and jokes deter members of Congress from embracing the issue," said Eric Sterling, an MPP founder and currently president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation. "They are genuinely afraid of the issue. MPP from day one has been very professional in its presentation. There is an insistence at not having people come in tie-dye shirts, and there won't be pot smoking. It's a serious issue that deserves to be taken seriously.''

But Rep. Frank admits that MPP has a tough task in convincing lawmakers that marijuana should be treated more like a medical or social issue than a criminal one. "Intellectually, it's very easy," Frank said. "Politically, it's hard."

"We've come a long way,'' Kampia said. "But we're not blind to the fact that the members of Congress who have to get elected every few years are reluctant to work with an organization with the 'm-word' in the title."





When this story was posted in May 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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May 7, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: May 7 2005 No: 583 May 7, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
"Peace Corps Online" on recess until May 21 7 May
Carol Bellamy taking the reins at World Learning 7 May
Gopal Khanna appointed White House CFO 7 May
Clare Bastable named Conservationist of the Year 7 May
Director Gaddi Vasquez visits PCVs in Bulgaria 5 May
Abe Pena sets up scholarship fund 5 May
Peace Corps closes recruiting sites 4 May
Hill pessimistic over Korean nuclear program 4 May
Leslie Hawke says PC should split into two organizations 4 May
Peace Corps helps students find themselves 3 May
Kevin Griffith's Tsunami Assistance Project collects 50k 3 May
Tim Wright studied Quechua at UCLA 2 May
Doyle not worried about competition 2 May
Dodd discusses President's Social Security plan 1 May
Randy Mager works in Blue Moon Safaris 1 May
PCVs safe in Togo after disputed elections 30 Apr
Michael Sells teaches Islamic History and Literature 28 Apr

May 7, 2005:  Special Events Date: May 7 2005 No: 582 May 7, 2005: Special Events
"Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30
"American Taboo" author Phil Weiss in Maryland on June 18
Leland Foerster opens photo exhibition at Cal State
RPCV Writers scholarship in Baltimore - deadline June 1
Gary Edwards' music performed in Idaho on May 24
RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000  strong Date: April 2 2005 No: 543 Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
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Story Source: Join Together

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Colombia; Politics; Congress; Medical Marijuana; Marijuana

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