FAQ's About the MERP
Model for
Marijuana Re-Legalization
=======================================
The MERP Model for Marijuana Re-Legalization would allow adults to "self
cultivate" as much Marijuana as they would like without any taxation,
regulation or other government interference. This essay addresses many
of the frequently asked questions about the MERP Model. It also
describes how you can get involved to aid in MERP's implementation.
=======================================
First of all the MERP Model is a
contraction of the following:
The Marijuana Re-Legalization
Policy Project (MRPP) = "MERP"
More to the point MERP is a model
for Marijuana Re-Legalization that explicitly treats the unlimited "self
cultivation" of Marijuana as an inalienable, sacred right which would be
completely exempt from government taxation, regulation or other
government interference.
Here is a more complete
description:
In a nutshell the MERP model would
allow any adult over 18 to grow all the Marijuana they would like
without ANY taxation, regulation or other government interference (e.g.,
there would be no control over THC levels etc.). It is very important to
understand that MERP absolutely does not preclude the issuance of
commercial licensing or commercial taxation and regulation. But self
cultivation is protected as an inalienable sacred right. Such a system
would self regulate the market without much need for regulation since
the current profit margins (e.g., $300 to $600 and ounce) would be
replaced by normal profits where an ounce would probably not sell for
more than 100 percent over the cost of growing. In other words
commercial price
Ron Kiczenski and I have talked at length on a number of occasions. It
was his recommendation to lift the limit of 100 plants, under MERP, to
an unlimited number of plants. His argument was that Marijuana would not
just be grown to smoke but to produce seed, flour and EFA containing
oils as well as tinctures (e.g., Run From the Cure). I could not argue
that point which is why I recently changed the model to allow unlimited
self cultivation.
I highly recommend that you read the
"How To Re-Legalize"
article first, as it provides a great overview of the MERP Model and the
MERP Movement strategy. The
"Essays and Videos" will take you to a growing list of
articles and videos that address the MERP Model from just about every
possible angle. And the
"Documents for Individuals" will take you to a growing list
of articles that address how you can become a part of the MERP Movement
toward a Peaceful, Sustainable "Marijuana Planet."
Once you have read the
"How To Re-Legalize"
article I highly recommend visiting the
Movies About Marijuana link in the
"Documents for Individuals" section. The
movie -- "The Union: The
Business Behind Getting High" -- is
particularly pertinent for understanding why it is so important that the
MERP Model is implemented in the very near future.
The background information, on
the history of Marijuana, will eliminate any fears that some citizens
might have about any fallout stemming from the wide spread cultivation
allowed under the MERP Model. Of course the majority of
citizens that have such concerns are those that don't have any
experiential knowledge of Marijuana, Conversely most
citizens with experiential knowledge about Marijuana, (e.g., the have
smoked marijuana at some point in their lives), have no real concerns
about widespread cultivation.
Of course from a historical
perspective Marijuana (e.g., Hemp or Cannabis) was so widely grown and
valued, in colonial America (1600's onward), that it was allowed for the
payment of taxes. So in reality the MERP Model will actually allow
cultivation levels closer to those known well to Washington, Franklin
and Jefferson. And, in point of fact, all three were all growers
and users of Hemp. And there is also compelling reason to believe
that some of them actually smoked it for it's psychotropic qualities.
Well, I'm not really here to
give you a history lesson. I'm actually here to induct you as an
activist in the MERP Movement to Re-Legalize Marijuana. So feel
free to spend the necessary time watching the videos and reading the
articles. But it is your activism that is most important here.
My goal is not to make a career of this. Let's roll up our sleeves
and do what is required to fully implement the MERP Model. Then
lets move to resolve some other problem. Let us not make a career
of this.
Since the first Medical Marijuana
Initiative (Proposition 215 in California) was passed in 1996 twelve
other similar initiatives were passed. The 13th state to pass a
Medical Marijuana Initiative was Michigan and I am proud to say I
collected over 1,000 signatures for this: about 1 in 400 signatures.
I was happy to contribute to this effort but have always felt that
Medical Marijuana Initiatives are but a stepping stone toward the
ultimate goal of unlimited, untaxed, unregulated self cultivation.
It should be noted that the Marijuana
Policy Project has been behind most of these initiatives which have been
largely funded by three billionaires: Soros, Lewis and Sperling.
Up until Michigan a patient or caregiver could grow at least 12
Marijuana plants in order to produce the required medicine. But
the 14th Initiative, currently ongoing in Arizona, has taken a different
direction in that only patients, who live more than 25 miles from a
dispensary, will be allowed to continue to self cultivate. We
believe this to be an attempt to restrict cultivation to dispensaries
and encourage voters to defeat this initiative unless the language is
significantly altered.
I do fully support Jack Herer's CCHH Initiative
for California. This is the
only initiative that largely conforms to the MERP Model. The only
fly in the ointment is that it restricts the number of self cultivated
plants to 100. MERP allows unlimited numbers of self cultivated
plants. Here is a telling
excerpt from the CCHH Initiative:
"No person, individual, or
corporate entity shall be arrested or prosecuted, be denied any right or
privilege, nor be subject to any criminal or civil penalties for the
possession, cultivation, transportation, distribution, or consumption of
cannabis hemp marijuana."
All of the other California
initiatives are "Trojan horse" initiatives that only benefit the
Cannabusiness Community and the various levels of government that hope
to tax and regulated cultivation, THC levels etc. This is the only
California initiative that I would presently endorse. Here is a link for more information on CCHH:
I'm not going to spend any time
discussing the Prohibitionist Model since anyone with an IQ over 40
already knows this doesn't work. The problems with the Medical
Marijuana Model are many.
First of all the Medical Marijuana
Model seeks to restrict usage to citizens that are deemed to need it for
Medical purposes. In my thinking beer is far more dangerous than
Marijuana and most studies confirm that assertion. As such it only
makes sense that Marijuana be treated less seriously than beer and that
requires that all adults, over the age of 18 should be able to both
cultivate and consume it without penalty. But there are other
advantages to the MERP Model that cannot be realized through any "tax
and regulate" proposal.
The MERP Model completely legalizes
self cultivation by adults over the age of 18. By doing this it
removes most of the excess profits only available within a "black
market" economy. So under the current "prohibitionist model" high
quality Marijuana (e.g., Sensimilia or ganja) cost between $300 to $500
an ounce. Unfortunately those that buy from "Marijuana
Dispensaries" are paying about the same price per ounce, which must be
prohibitive for many medical users that are often not working full time
due to their illnesses.
The real reason the price is so high
is because those involved can face jail time or violence from other
competitors within the illicit market. Once legal, under the MERP
Model, these artificial constraints fall away and you will be able
to grow it in your garden for free or under safe LED light arrays for
around $20 an ounce. So MERP essentially takes all of the "black
market" profits out of self cultivation.
This is very important because, by
treating self cultivation as a sacred, inalienable right, MERP creates
at least three advantages that cannot be claimed by an "Medical
Marijuana" or "tax and regulate" model.
By taking the "black market" profits
out of Cannabis consumption and cultivation a number of great things
would occur immediately:
* The Mexican Drug Cartels would go
out of business in a matter of weeks.
* The sick and the poor would instantly have access to free, or at least
cheap, medicine.
* The police would no longer have an excuse to invade you home in hopes
of discovering a few Marijuana plants.
* It would provide a counter balance to the many liberties that were
lost in the wake of 911 through implementation of the Patriot Act and a
number of Executive Orders.
Yes it does. But it also draws
an explicit line in the sand by demanding that self cultivation, of any
quantity, is treated as an inalienable, sacred right. As such you
cannot tax it or regulate any aspect of it (e.g., the THC levels etc.)
This mechanism automatically self regulates the market and assures that
the consumer pays far less than the current price ($300 to $500 an
ounce) without the need for any further government regulation or
enforcement costs.
As previously stated a "tax and
regulate" model would cost significant money to regulate and enforce.
It would also continue to send many non-violent Marijuana consumers and
cultivators to court and quite possibly to jail. Let us also
recognize that our founding fathers intended that "we the people" should
have our interests fully represented by our government. So then
what is the point of taxing the people so that a small monopoly of
"Cannabusiness" elitists get to realize all of the profits? After
all WE are the government.
The MERP Model would help stimulate
the economy in a number of ways without taxing or regulating self
cultivation. Let me give a couple of examples:
* First, all that money that is
currently going to Mexican Drug Cartels would evaporate over night.
That means that nearly 27 Billion dollars would stop going south to
Mexico each and every year after the MERP Model becomes the law of the
land. That means that 27 billion dollars would now be going to
buying food, clothing, entertainment etc. within the United States.
In defunding the Mexican Drug Cartels, violence on both sides of the
border would be reduced dramatically: creating a much more civil society
on both sides of the border. And this would both create more jobs
and generate local, state and federal tax revenue. And it would do
it without any costly regulation.
* The MERP Model would also give
quick rise to a Renaissance in the Agricultural and Industrial uses of
hemp. And once again this would create thousands of new jobs along
with the local, state and federal tax revenue that these new jobs would
generate.
* You can post links to "MERP
Headquarters" at your websites.
* You can call your Federal
Representatives weekly and remind them that they won't get re-elected
unless MERP is fully implemented by the next big election in 2010.
* If you are a millionaire you
can donate some money.
* If you have the time you can
attend hemp events and distribute MERP Mini-flyers.
What is most important is that
we act collectively to push MERP forward until it is fully implemented.
And when the term "Marijuana Bust," is heard as infrequently as "Witch
Burning," we will know that we have succeeded. Again, let's not
make a career of this. Let's just get it done.
Thanks, in advance for your
activism and sacrifice.
Yours in Peace and Freedom,
Bruce W. Cain
Editor, New Age Citizen
Author of "The New Agenda for America" and the "MERP Model for the
Re-Legalization of Marijuana"
Please send the link to
activists throughout the planet. The translation bar should allow
this to be read in any language. The 5-Point Strategy for
Marijuana Re-Legalization should be easy to implement in any country
throughout the planet. I encourage all groups celebrating the
Global Marijuana March to make the immediate implementation of the MERP
Model a primary focus of the event.
Call President Obama and your Representatives and demand:
(1) Immediate clemency for Marc Emery and
(2) Immediate implementation of the MERP Model through an Emergency
Session of Congress, similar to what was used to pass the TARP Bailout
on October 3rd, 2008
President:
U.S. Senate switchboard:
202-224-3121
U.S. House switchboard:
(202) 225-3121
The President:
Comments: 202-456-1111.
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Share
your views on whether Lou Dobbs should support Marijuana Re-Legalization at our
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