CANNABIS CIVICS: POLITICS IS LOCAL

CANNABIS CIVICS 101: POLITICS IS LOCAL

There seems to be a major misunderstanding about federal cannabis reform, so let's make this as simple as possible.

Federal legalization does NOT automatically legalize Cannabis in Alabama.

Washington, D.C. does not have to give Alabama permission to change Alabama's Cannabis laws.

States have already demonstrated this for decades.

Today, states across America have legalized medical Cannabis and/or adult-use Cannabis while Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

How?

Because states can change their own state laws.

Likewise, if federal prohibition ends tomorrow, Alabama's Cannabis laws do not magically disappear.

Alabama would still have to address its own laws and regulations.

So why does federal reform matter?

It matters enormously. Ending federal prohibition would remove a massive barrier, eliminate the tired excuse that "Cannabis is federally illegal," and represent an historic change after nearly nine decades of prohibition.

But Alabama citizens do not have to wait for Washington.

If you want Cannabis policy changed in Alabama, the people who need to hear from you are much closer to home:

Your Alabama State Representative.

Your Alabama State Senator.

Politics really is local.

For 14 years, the Alabama Cannabis Coalition has encouraged citizens to contact their legislators, attend public meetings, show up at the Alabama State House, testify, write letters, make phone calls and demand change.

The greatest obstacle is not that Alabama lacks permission from Washington.

The greatest obstacle is that too few Alabama citizens consistently demand change from Montgomery.

Federal reform would be exciting.

Federal reform would be historic.

Federal reform is long overdue.

But we do not need Washington's permission to change Alabama.

We need Alabama citizens to FIND YOUR VOICE.

United We Stand • Divided We Fail

H Marty Schelper

Founder of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition

www.alabamacannabiscoalition.org