Ron Paul IS NOT Dropping Out

On May 14^th, Ron Paul announced that he will no longer be spending precious resources actively campaigning in the 11 primary states that have left to vote.
The media, however, in its infinite wisdom and love for Ron Paul, immediately took this to mean Ron Paul is dropping out of the race. This is simply not the case, as Paul’s own campaign notes that “We will continue to take leadership positions, win delegates, and carry a strong message to the Republican National Convention that Liberty is the way of the future.”

A prioritization of resources is a smart move for a campaign with only $1.8 million in the bank, and this strategy, confusing as it may initially appear, is likely the wisest choice for Paul to keep his campaign going all the way through the convention in August.

Ron Paul Continues Delegate Hunt

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s hunt for delegates appears to be gearing up as we move ever closer to the National Convention in August in Tampa. Paul, the sole remaining challenger to establishment-backed Mitt Romney, has seen a resurgence in his campaign fortunes in recent weeks due to his clever delegate strategy. The three-time presidential contender has increased his delegate count by dozens, including winning 22 of the 28 delegates in Nevada, a state that Romney won, as well as great success in Maine, Louisiana, Washington, etc., leaving Paul with some serious clout heading into the Convention.

Ron Paul Vows to Continue On With Campaign

Ron Paul declared in a letter last night to supporters that he intends to stay in the race and has no plans on dropping out any time soon.
One portion of the letter said, "In the coming days, the media will be expecting me to also bow down to their new prince.  Well, I want to give them a little surprise."

Paul also informed supporters of his $2.5 million Moneybomb goal on April 15th, with the "Taxpayer Freedom Money Bomb." This is the latest and most encouraging sign yet that the Republican race is not over yet, with Ron Paul refusing to concede to establishment pressure (as usual!) and fighting for every last delegate.

 

Ron Paul Raises $3.3 Million in February

The latest FEC filing reports for Ron Paul's presidential campaign show that the congressman raised nearly $3.3 million in February, far more than his superPAC, Endorse Liberty, which raised only $282,000 that month. 

 

Unlike Mitt Romney, who relies greatly on his superPac, Paul continues to receive the least superPAC funding of any of the 4 presidential contenders, reports show. 

Ron Paul Wins Popular Vote in the Virgin Islands

After months of campaigning hard, rallying crowds, and, unfortuntely, losing contests and always being denied a first place finish, GOP contender and Texas congressman Ron Paul finally got a break in the U.S. Virgin Islands on March 12th. 

 

The popular libertarian-leaning presidential candidate won the popular vote on the islands, skirting past Mitt Romney to take the top spot by 11 votes, 112 to Romney's 101. 

 

An encouraging sign is that Ron Paul destroyed his other two components, handidly beating Santorum's 23 and Newt Gingrich's mere 18 votes. 

Ron Paul Winless on Super Tuesday, Still Racks Up Delegates

GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul may have had a winless night on Super Tuesday, but he did not come out empty-handed. Indeed, a statement issue by the Paul campaign shows that Ron Paul took a plurality of delegates in three states, as well asdelegates in at least two other states.

Ron Paul hasn't had a victory yet, but he's placed second in eight states so far: Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Maine, Minnesota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Could Super Tuesday Include a Ron Paul Win?

 

Ron Paul has yet to win a state. Tomorrow, Super Tuesday, could change all of that. The Republican presidential race's largest one day prize will have ten states – and 419 delegates – up for grabs. Luckily for Paul, who has so far relied on a delegate-centric strategy, there are three caucus states, Alaska, Idaho, and North Dakota, where the libertarian candidate could possibly come out with a first place win.

 

Coming off a solid second place finish in the Washington caucus on February 28^th, Ron Paul feels very comfortable in his ability to dominate in delegates. There are 87 total delegates at stake in these three states, and if Paul manages to win all three his delegate count will rise to over 100.

 

In an interview on CBS New's “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Paul emphasized his confidence in winning these three states. “My measurement of winning is winning most of the, the majority of the delegates, in that case we have about three states that we’ve already concluded that we may well win,” said the Texas congressman. “Here in Alaska there’s a very good chance that we’ll come out with the majority of the delegates, in Idaho as well, as well as North Dakota.”

Ron Paul T-Shirt Day!

Ron Paul T-shirt Day was founded in August by Youtuber alexaforronpaul. The idea is to encourage all Ron Paul supporters to wear their Ron Paul T-shirts every Monday and Saturday. Wearing Ron Paul shirts will help spread the message of liberty and show our numbers. The great thing about it is, anyone with a Ron Paul t-shirt can participate. As noted here, there are  many other benefits to wearing Ron Paul shirts besides those already mentioned, so why not join in to spread freedom and get Ron Paul elected?

 

For more information on Ron Paul T-Shirt Day, check out @RPaulTShirtDay on Twitter or their Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ron-Paul-T-Shirt-Day-Every-Monday-Saturday/209927855731726?sk=wall.

 

Here's the Ron Paul T-Shirt Day video (Youtube):

Ron Paul's Top Five Reasons for Legalizing Marijuana

Ron Paul is well known as a defender of freedom of choice. This position is favorable towards industrial hemp production and getting the government out of regulating the recreational or medicinal use of marijuana. Although there are many, here are Dr. Paul's top five reasons for supporting the legalization of marijuana at the national level.

 

1. The Current Policy is Unconstitutional

"The first federal law against marijuana was in 1937, and they did it through high taxation because they knew they didn't have the authority to say you're not allowed to smoke MJ. Today, it's gone berzerk."

Ever the Constituitonalist, Ron Paul sees absolutely no power enumerated in our federal constitution that grants the federal government the right to regulate any substance that you choose to put into your own body. As the quote above demonstrates, the original anti-marihuana laws seemed to have recognized the constitutional limits to their policy, and accomplished their goals through exhorbitantly high marijuana tax stamps that were kept in low supply. Even alcohol was prohibited in the 1920's through an amendment. Today, the feds have entirely abandoned the constitutional concerns, and have vastly extended their control of Americans personal habits across the board.

 

2. Prohibition Provides Big Profits for Drug Cartels

"You know who the biggest supporters are of this? These are the drug cartels. They lobby to keep these laws in place, because they can't exist without them."

Prohibition is working no more effectively now than it was in the 1920's, yet Ron Paul seems to be the only politician willing to admit this. As he himself says: "Prohibition didn't work, prohibition on drugs doesn't work," and he's absolutely correct. One thing Ron Paul doesn't mention is that the Drug Cartels of today are actually much more violent than the Prohibition-era gangsters. The trafficking of illegal drugs is a several billion dollar industry, and no one has a more vested interest in maintaining the current system with all of the money involved. The various cartel factions south of our border are not willing to relinquish these illegal profits for anything. Since President Calderon's war against the cartels began in 2006, over 50,000 lives have been lost as a result of the policies.

 

3. Hundreds of Billions of Taxpayer dollars Wasted

"We've spent hundreds of billions of dollars since the early seventies in a very unsuccessful attempt to regulate drugs. Prohibition is absurd."

Marijuana prohibition currently costs over 10 billion dollars a year, all of which comes from our tax dollars. This amount has steadily increased and has resulted in hundreds of billions of dollars wasted since the implementation of Nixon's Drug Control Act in 1970. Factor in the estimated 33 billion dollars lost in potential federal tax revenue, and you can begin to see a policy which contributes to our current fiscal crisis. Again, the real question isn't how much a policy costs, it is how effective is the policy. Marijuana probition is high on costs and low on results and efffectiveness.

 

4. Medical Use

"What about a sick person who uses marijuana and they're finding some relief. All the sudden the federal government comes in and says "We don't care about the state law" and throws people into prison who are sick!"

As a medical doctor, Ron Paul understands the controversies surrounding the medicinal effectiveness of marijuana. He personally believes the treatment to be very helpful for certain patients. Under the current policy, marijuana is classified by the federal governmnent as a Schedule I Narcotic, defined as "having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medicinal value in treatment." Ron Paul understands that the sixteen states who have legalized medicinal marijuana, and the hundreds of thousands of patients who benefit from it prove otherwise, and under his administration the dispensary raids would be a thing of the past. Ron Paul would respect any states 10th amendment right to legalize medicinal cannabis.

 

5. Drug Use is a Disease

"It's a disease. We don't treat alcoholics like this. What if we put all our alcoholics in prison?"

Ron Paul is no different than a doctor from the American Public Health Association or the American Society of Addictive Medicine who believe that drug use is a disease that can only be effectively treated through therapy and proven rehabilitation, not jail time.  In countries like Portugal, where drug use has been completely decriminalized and drug addiction is dealt with directly, the illegal drug addiction rate among teenagers has decreased significantly. As a Christian, Ron Paul also takes a moral approach, arguing that no law can save a person from drug addiction; it is only through the church, family, and the local community can a person find the support necessary to overcome an addictive habit.

Poll: Ron Paul Beats Obama in Iowa

A recent Iowa poll is showing some good news for Ron Paul. A new Des Moines Register poll released on February 22 shows Paul with the highest percentage against Barack Obama in a head-to-head contest in Iowa, with the congressmsn getting 49% to President Obama's 42%. Additionally, the poll shows Paul as the only GOP candidate to beat the margin of error. Aside from Ron Paul's percentages, the poll also shows Rick Santorum with 48% to 44%, Romney with 46% to 44%, and Newt Gingrich losing with Obama at 51% to his 37%.  

  

Ron Paul Talks Hemp In North Dakota Visit

 

Ron Paul championed industrial hemp and property rights Monday at a North Dakota campaign stop that was attended by hundreds of supporters. Dr. Paul espoused his long held stance against the federal governments ban on hemp cultivation, arguing for hemps remarkable resourcefulness and potential as a legal crop. Currently, the United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that has criminalized the growing of hemp. North Dakotans have an agricultural history that understands the benefits that the hemp plant can offer. In 2006, they became the first state to legalize the cultivation of hemp, but DEA and federal strangleholds have prevented the legislations effectiveness. Dr. Paul himself put it best to the receptive crowd: "there is no reason that in a free society people shouldn't be allowed to grow hemp. It's a good product."

 

To learn more about Ron Paul's position on hemp, check out this video;

Another Ron Paul Straw Poll Win in Georgia

Ron Paul achieved yet another straw poll win in Georgia this weekend. Paul collected 115 votes to Georgia favorite and former Georiga congressman Newt Gingrich, who collected 73 votes. Following Gingrich are Rick Santorum in third with 60 votes and Mitt Romney trailing in fourth place with 25 votes.

Ron Paul Wins Tennessee Straw Poll

GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is well-known for his prowess in straw polls, a traditional test of enthusiasm for a candidate. Ron Paul has now furthered his straw poll winning streak, winning the Tennessee Republican Assembly straw poll with 200 votes.

 

Following behind Ron Paul are Rick Santorum in second place with 62 votes, following him are Newt Gingrich with 38 votes, and Mitt Romney with 15 votes. 

 

Ron Paul Places 2nd in Maine Caucuses, Right Behind Romney

 

 Ron Paul delivers a fiery speech after the Maine caucus results

Ron Paul performed well in Maine's caucuses Saturday night. Ron Paul, who registers well with the libertarian-leaning voters of the Pine Tree State, garnered 36% of the vote, nearly tying Mitt Romney at 39% for first place.

 

Despite the apparent loss, all is not settled quite yet. 5% of the votes still have yet to be cast, as some precincts in rural northeastern Maine decided to hold off their caucuses until next weekend due to snow. Several of the precincts are pro-Ron Paul, which could bode well for the congressman and allowfor a victory in Maine.   

Optimism After 2nd Place MN Showing

There is a sense of renewed optimism in the Paul campaign, and it is tangible.

After a disappointing 3rd place showing in the Nevada Caucus, Ron Paul is on the rise again with a strong 2nd place showing in Minnesota. Again, the story here is all about delegates, and Ron Paul thinks he can beat 1st place finisher Rick Santorum for that number in Minnesota.

 “We had a very, very strong second place — and it’s going to continue, We do have to remember: the straw vote is one thing, but then there’s a whole other thing — delegates — and that is where we excel. So when the dust settles, I think there’s a very good chance that we’re going to have the maximum number of delegates coming out of Minnesota.”

The campaign is on a good track to score big with delegates, and our passionate supporters are usually more committed to the delegate process than other candidates, giving Paul an advantage. This 2nd place finish brings renewed optimism to our hope for the issues of sound money, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and respect for individual liberty that define Ron Paul's campaign. And, if Minnesota is any clue to the future, as Dr. Paul himself says: "it's going to continue."

 

 

 

Ron Paul Places Second in National Poll

GOP Presidential candidate Ron Paul received some good news today. A Reuters/Ipsos national presidential poll has the congressman in second place. Paul received 21%, falling behind Mitt Romney for second place.

Here are the numbers:

Mitt Romney - 29%

Ron Paul - 21%

Newt Gingrich -19%

Rick Santorum - 18%

 

 

 

Marijuana Reform Polls Well in Rhode Island

A recent Public Policy Polling survey shows that people in Rhode Island are ready to decriminalize, and perhaps even legalize, marijuana. The poll found that nearly two-thirds (65%) support decriminalization while a mere 52% support legalizing marijuana 

Decriminalization had broad support across the board, with 73% of Democrats, 64% of Republicans, and 60% of independents voting in favor of the proposal. Decriminalization even held a majority over the least supportive group, voters over age 65, with 58% support.

 

Legalization is also polling favorably in Rhode Island, with 52% of voters saying they support taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol.

Virginia Measure to Study Marijuana Sales Fails

A Virginia lawmaker's proposal to study the idea of selling marijuana through state-run liquor stores has failed. The joint resolution from Delegate David Englin of Alexandria was tabled on a voice vote Thursday night in a subcommittee of the House Rules Committee.

 

Englin, who does not use marijuana, cited states with medical marijuana, changing social atittudes, and the need for more revenue in his pursuit for the bill.

Obama Ignores Top-Voted Marijuana Question in Youtube Forum

President Obama has taken to Youtube once a year since the start of his presidency to have citizens vote on the issues most important to them. Democracy at its best, right?

 

Well, the only problem is that this year, just like last year and the year before that, marijuana legalization was again voted the top issue on the American publics agenda, with 18 out of the 20 top topics being marijuana/drug-related.  Unfortunately, rather than answer the question (kind of) like last year, when he called marijuana legalization "a completely open topic for debate." The president instead completely disregarded all marijuana/Drug War questions during his entire 45 minute speech.

 

LAPD Deputy Chief Asks Obama About Marijuana Legalization

Ron Paul Raises $13 Million in Fourth Quarter

The 12-term Congressman finishes up an impressive year of fundraising

 

Ron Paul had a strong showing in the GOP presidential contest's 2011 fourth quarter fundraising. Paul, who has had great success with moneybombs and other quick fundraising tactics, also raised over half of the money -- $7.3 million -- from donors contributing less than $200.

 

In total, Ron Paul has raised $25.3 million and spent $29 million throughout this 2012 election cycle.

Ron Paul Wins Arizona Republican Party Straw Poll

On Saturday, presidential candidate Ron Paul won the Arizona Republican Party Straw Poll. Dr.Paul, known for his success in straw polls throughout the country, took first place with 256 votes. In second place was former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 20 votes. Gingrich was closely followed by Mitt Romney in third place with 17 votes, with Senator Rick Santorum coming in last with 8 votes.

Washington Marijuana Legalization Initiative Makes Ballot

On Friday. January 27, Washington secretary of state's office announced that an initiative to legalize, license, and regulate marijuana has been certified for the November ballot. Washington is the first state this year to have a marijuana measure qualify for the ballot this November.

The initiative, called Initiative 502, would regulate marijuana like alcohol for adults age 21 and over.

Washington will be joined by several other states – California, Michigan, and Colorado – hoping to legalize and regulate marijuana in 2012.

Lawmaker Urges Study on Financial Impact of Legal Marijuana

A Virginia lawmaker wants to study the idea of selling marijuana through state liquor (ABC) stores.

The lawmaker, Delegate David Englin of Alexandria, cites other states with legalized medical marijuana and societal changes, and says he's aiming to bring in more revenue to the state given ongoing budget cuts.

“There are respectable members of society out there, secretly smoking marijuana on the side, and the money that they use to buy that is going to criminals,” said Englin, who said he has never smoked marijuana. “Seems to me that it’d be a better idea to take that money that’s already being spent and use it to benefit the commonwealth.”

Under the resolution, eight members of the General Assembly would be selected to head a study on the feasibility and practicality of legalizing the use and sale of marijuana under certain conditions, and regulating that sale through the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Findings would be due by the first day of the 2013 legislative session.

Gary Johnson: Gingrich Drug Policy is Scary

Gary Johnson, the libertarian former Republican presidential contender, recently released a scathing critique on Newt Gingrich's draconian drug policy.

Johnson remarks, “Ideas are important, especially in a presidential campaign, but some of Speaker Gingrich's ideas over the years are nothing short of scary.” Johnson then continued:

 

“Under his legislation, anyone coming home to the U.S. and caught carrying enough marijuana (2 oz.) to distribute would be sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole – or if caught twice, would be sentenced to death.

This is from someone who has admitted his own past marijuana use, saying ‘it was a sign we were alive and in graduate school’. And in 1981, Mr. Gingrich actually introduced legislation providing for the ‘therapeutic use of marijuana. (HR 4498, 97th Congress)

On drug policy alone, I am beginning to see what Rick Santorum means when he talks about the former Speaker having an idea a minute. We are talking about millions of Americans’ lives here, and having positions ranging from embracing medical marijuana to the death penalty for possessing a small amount of that same substance is astounding both in its hypocrisy and its inconsistency.

The War on Drugs is a failure, and bold steps are in order to align drug policy with reality and humanity. But Newt Gingrich’s notion of bold is not what we need.”

Thumbs up to Gary Johnson for standing up to Gingrich's “bold” ideas.

For more information on Gingrich and Johnson's drug policies, click here.

Ron Paul Offers Stellar Debate Performance in Florida

Paul Wins the Crowd At Florida GOP Debate

Presidential candidate Ron Paul has been in need of a boost in recent days after his disappointing fourth place finish in South Carolina's primary January 11th. Luckily, he got it, in the form of an awesome debate performance last night at the University of North Florida GOP Debate.

Ron Paul was on-point throughout the night, delivering clear, effective, conservative answers on a range of topics from healthcare to immigration. Paul also managed to stay out of the infighting between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, appearing largely above the petty arguments of the establishment candidates. He received heavy applause and his answers were very well received. Hopefully this debate success can transfer over to better showings in the upcoming contests.

 

Here are the Ron Paul highlights from Florida's debate on January 26th:

Kentucky Introduces Hemp Farming Bill

A bill to allow farmers to register to grow industrial hemp in Kentucky was filed Thursday. The bill, H.B. , has 12 co-sponsors. It creates a process whereby farmers apply to grow hemp, and, after passing a background check, would then pay a fee to register to grow industrial hemp. 

 

Although the bill is prohibited under current federal laws, which is acknowledged by the bill, supporters nonetheless hope it will send a message to the federal government about hemp.

Ron Paul Explains Why Other Candidates Won't Talk About the Drug War

Top-tier presidential candidate Ron Paul recently explained in New Hampshire why the other Republican candidates (and Obama) won't bring up the drug war. In the short clip, Ron Paul says "They're easily intimidated. They think people will hold it against them if they talk sensibly about drug policy."

Dr. Paul continues with some well known talking points, declaring "Prohibition of anything doesn't work. The only thing we should prohibit is violence."

Ron Paul continues to be the lone voice in the 2012 presidential field calling for a sensible response to drug use in this country. Keep up the good fight, Dr. Paul!

 

Here is the video:

Mitt Romney Doesn't Know What Industrial Hemp Is

Our Declaration was written on it, it is the most versatile product on Earth, and several of our Founding Fathers grew it.
Yet when presented with the question, presidential candidate Mitt Romney has no idea what industrial hemp even is! The video really speaks for itself.

Newt Gingrich Says Founders Would Punish Marijuana Growers - He's Wrong

Newt Gingrich, the previous flavor of the week before Rick Santorum, was recently asked this question by a man at a Concord, New Hampshire town hall meeting: “Would Thomas Jefferson or George Washington be arrested for growing marijuana?" Gingrich, the historian, then answered, “I think Jefferson and George Washington would strongly discourage you from growing marijuana, and their tactics to stop you would be more violent than they would be today.”

 

This is where Gingrich gets his history backwards. Both Washington and Jefferson grew hemp on their Virginia plantations. Additionally, Washington used some of the hemp to make cloth for his slaves. Newt also seems to conveniently ignore the fact that both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper. It appears that Newt Gingrich is intentionally obscuring these facts of early American history to justify and maintain his hardline stance against marijuana.

 

For more information on hemp and the Founding Fathers, check out this link

Newt Gingrich: Ron Paul Supporters Amount to "People Who Want to Legalize Drugs"

 

In another brash statement that typifies his abrasive style, today Newt Gingrich told radio host John McCaslin that Ron Paul supporters amount to "people who want to legalize drugs."  

Listen to the audio clip here:

Gingrich also took the opportunity to bash Ron Paul's foreign policy with standard NeoCon rhetoric. "This is a guy who basically says, if the United States were only nice, it wouldn't have had 9/11. He doesn't want to blame the bad guys. ... He dismisses the danger of Iranian nuclear weapon and seems to be indifferent to the idea that Israel could be wiped out. And as I said, I think the key to his volunteer base is people who want to legalize drugs."

It is inconceivable how someone who so frequently touts their historian credentials consistently ignores the events of history as a foundation for their foreign policy. Taking into account the reasons for an attack and the blowback and unintended consequences suffered as a result of a constantly-intervening foreign policy can hardly be simplified as just "being nice."

Gingrich's attack of Ron Paul should come as no surprise. It is an expected trial that any new frontrunner must endure. Dr. Paul's big ad push and powerful ground campaign are often cited by the MSM as the reasons behind his surge in Iowa, yet they refuse to entertain the idea that his substantive ideas have anything to do with it. 

Congressman Paul offers real change from the status quo, not the same old same old repackaged and rebranded. To consistently dismiss a group of ardent supporters who call for respect for civil libeties and the basics tenets of freedom in this country restored as one-issue legalize drugs people is beyond disingenuous.   

Why Ron Paul's Rise Is No Surprise

Ron Paul’s rapid ascent in the polls has come as a shock to many political pundits and mainstream news organizations – but not to fellow Ron Paul supporters.

In fact, Ron Paul’s strength has been apparent for weeks now. He has maintained his support throughout the rise and fall of every Flavor of the Month, from Donald Trump to Newt Gingrich. In the past few weeks, Paul’s campaign has taken on a new level of seriousness as his poll numbers have begun to consistently reflect first or second place in Iowa, as well as a surge of support in New Hampshire.

Despite this, all of this should have been readily apparent to anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention to Dr. Paul’s campaign. He continues to have by far the most ardent, die-hard supporters, he has a level of conservative, Constitutional consistency far above the rest of the Republican presidential field, and people are beginning to wake up to the fact that he, not Perry, Gingrich, or Bachmann, represents the best, most conservative alternative to moderate Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination.

Why Hemp Makes the Best Ron Paul Shirts

Hemp is an amazingly versatile product that can make everything from dynamite to bio-friendly fuel for cars, but one of the coolest out of the huge amount of products it makes is the most awesome Ron Paul shirts on the web. 

These Ron Paul t-shirts are made from 55% viscose hemp, and 45% organic cotton. More than just a unique material, hemp also provides many benefits over the more traditional cotton shirts. 

It is naturally anti-microbial, killing smell-causing bacteria so that our shirts will never have an odor, even after use. The fabric that we use is also seven times stronger than standard cotton, and retains color from dye better than any other material, and much better than any fabric formula you use at home. Also worthy of note is that hemp shirts appeal to those concerned about the increase in environmental destruction and waste. Hemp is grown without pesticides, fertilizer, or damaging irrigation allowing each Ron Paul shirt we make from hemp to save over 100 gallons of water compared to a 100% cotton shirt. 

Don’t forget- we’re also donating 12% of the profits from this website project to assist local like-minded liberty groups and organizations (Young Americans for Liberty). With the ideas and rhetoric of small-government conservatism experiencing a recent surge on the national scene, now is the time to spread the message of liberty through these visually appealing, unique, walking billboards. Consider these benefits next time you’re thinking about buying a Ron Paul shirt, and trust RonPaulHemp.com to offer the most legit way to advertise Ron Paul and the timeless concepts of liberty, freedom, and the Constitution.

Marijuana Legalization Up in 2 Key States, Recent Polls Show

Two polls released recently show both Massachusetts and Colorado polling favorably on marijuana legalization. Both states already have decriminalized up to an ounce of marijuana, but cannabis supporters in both states are gearing up for full legalization efforts in 2012. Massachusetts is setting its sights on medical marijuana legalization in 2012, while Colorado, already possessing a medical marijuana system, is readying for a complete "tax and regulate" legalization effort in late 2012.

With both states already displaying strong signs of tolerance when it comes to marijuana laws, it is nonetheless surprising to see the actual results of the polls. When Massachusetts voters were asked by DAPA Research, 58% supported legalizing marijuana and regulating it like other legal intoxicants with sales prohibited to underage persons. The stat was 69% for Democrats, 44% for Republicans, and 54% for ""other." Support rose to 62% when respondents were asked if they would support regulating marijuana like alcohol. The poll also finds that nearly 54% opposed federal government interference in and disregard for state marijuana laws, with only 35% supporting the federal government overriding state law.

 

Coloradoans were asked in a Public Policy Polling survey, "In general, do you think marijuana usuage should be legal or illegal?" 49% voted for legal cannabis while only 40% wanted it to remain illegal.

 

Both of these polls show an upward trend towards legalization in these two states. This is hopeful news for when Ron Paul wins the election, because Paul's hands-off administration will allow innovative states like Colorado and Massachusetts to fully implement their own marijuana policies.

Newt Gingrich Wants Crackdown on Drug Users, Calls Medical Marijuana a Joke

 

 

“Places like Singapore have been the most successful at doing that. They've been very draconian. And they have communicated with great intention that they intend to stop drugs from coming into their country.”

The above quote from GOP frontrunner Newt Gingrich demonstrates the full extent of his tremendous ignorance on U.S. drug policy.  In fact, it looks as though this may be the one area where his policy hasn't changed much.

In the 1990's, Gingrich introduced a bill into the U.S. House of Representatives that would have made death the punishment for convicted drug smugglers. The bill went nowehere, but according to a recent Yahoo News interview, Speaker Gingrich still insists on execution as the only effective way to stop Mexican Cartel drug smugglers. (What about legalization??)

His recent praising of Singapore's drug laws should absolutely appall anyone who cherishes freedom and civil liberties.

Singapore currently mandates death by hanging for MERE POSESSION of over 500 grams of marijuana, and much less for other drugs.

Gingrich also forgot to mention that according to the recent Kennedy vs. Louisiana (2008) case, the death penalty can no longer serve as a punishment to a crime where the victim's life was not taken.

But there you have it. If Gingrich continues to soar in the polls you may not know his true positions on his numerous flip-flops, but you can definitely count on  this latest Flavor of The Month to leaving a sour taste in your mouth in regards to drug policy reform.

Ron Paul Surges Into the Top Tier

The mainstream media has finally begun to realize Ron Paul's staying power and real chance at winning the 2012 election. Two recent Bloomberg polls have shown Ron Paul to be in first  and second in Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively. 

Herman Cain on Medical Marijuana

Herman Cain has recently come out in favor of states that legalize medical marijuana, saying that such he prefers to take a state's-rights approach to all issues. Here are Herman Cain's own words on his new medical marijuana policy from a recent MSNBC interview in Iowa:

 "If states want to legalize medical marijuana, I think that's a state's right," Cain said while campaigning in Iowa. "Because one of my overriding approaches to looking at all of these issues -- most of them belong at the state, because when you do something federally ... you try to force one-size-fits-all." 

 

Now if Cain could only take the issue deeper and examine other critical related issues like hemp decriminalization and marijauana legalization.. 

2012 Republican Presidential Candidates Stances on Marijuana

Ron Paul's views on drugs and marijuana are simple: leave it to the states. Besides Ron Paul's familiar states-rights and libertarian approach to marijuana, what do some of the other leading candidates think about the subject?

Mitt Romney

Mitt has stated clearly his opposition to medical marijuana. Here's a clip of Mitt Romney scoffing at a medical marijuana patient:

 

And here is Ron Paul graciously answering that same medical marijuana patient's questions:

  

Herman Cain 

 

While initially dodging the question at the 2011 Ames Straw Poll (not unusual for Cain), Herman Cain has now officially come out in favor of states wanting to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, saying that it is a state issue.

 

Rick Perry 

 

Rick Perry

In his book, Fed Up, Perry says that medical marijuana is an issue that should be left up to the states. In an interview on the subject of drugs, a Perry spokesman stated that "The Governor does not support legalizing any drug. The Governor supports federal drug laws where appropriate. And while the Governor is personally opposed to legalizing the use of medical marijuana, if states want to allow doctor prescribed medical marijuana, it seems to him that under the 10th amendment, they have the right to do so."

At least Perry deserves a few brownie points for using the 10th Amendment when dealing with medical marijuana.

 

Newt Gingrichn   

 

Newt Gingrich has been steadfast in his opposition to marijuana legalization. He infamously co-sponsored the Drug Importer Death Penalty Act of 1996, under which importing more than two ounces of certain illegal substances into the country could be punishable by life imprisonment or death. Check out our page on Newt Gingrich's stance on marijuana, and overall drug policy, here: http://www.ronpaulhemp.com/newt-gingrich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You Can Help End the War on Hemp

 

We the people are sick and tired of the federal government's senseless war against hemp, a plant with endless industrial value and zero recreational drug potential. Well, the good news is that now we can actually do something about this. A petition has been created at WhiteHouse.gov to end the War on Hemp. It has nearly 20,000 signatures, and all petitions that reach over 25,000 signatures will elicit and "official response" from the White House. Unfortunately, we can't count on an "official response" from the Obama administration to actually mean much, but it will be a start. Let's keep pressing this administration, all the while recognizing that Ron Paul will be the one to truly free the weed.

 

RonPaulHemp.com

Media Black Out Won't Stop Ron Paul

There is no question that Ron Paul is on the verge of an explosion in popularity. Despite this, the media wishes he would just go away, and the continued media shutout of Ron Paul has reached its climax of ridiculousness. That's why tomorrow, October 19th, is so important. On Oct. 19th, everyone needs to donate all they can to help the great doctor and the cause of liberty. Let this be a fundraising day so big that the media can't BLACK THIS OUT. Ron Paul 2012 - Hemp for Victory!

Here's a graphic breakdown of just how biased the media is towards Ron Paul:

 

Notice that Ron Paul is at the very bottom, below such third-rate also-rans as Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman.

Ron Paul Raises $8 Million in Third Quarter

Ron Paul has once again succeeded in rocking the political establishment with his fundraising prowess. Ron Paul's campaign reported a haul of more than $8 million for the third quarter of the presidential race, falling behind big money status quo candidates Rick Perry ($17 million) and Mitt Romney ($13 million). Compared to those numbers, Ron Paul's numbers may appear to be upper level second-tier at best. Yet the amazing thing about this accomplishment is that Paul, always true to his principles, raised this money from no less than 100,000 small donors, 5 TIMES the number of donors to Rick Perry. With Ron Paul's fundraising capabilities and bulletproof message, I believe he is well on his way to becoming President of the United States in 2012. Keep it up, Dr. Paul!

Media Realizes Ron Paul Might Win

The media is finally beginning to notice Ron Paul's large and growing support and the defining role he continues to play in the 2012 presidential election. An AP article today reported that Paul is "proving to be a force in the 2012 contest," something that has long been obvious to us Paulites. They further argue that Ron Paul is becoming such a force that he may well be a "spoiler" for either Mitt Romney or Rick Perry. I agree with Dr. Paul  on this one though, how can campaign success in a democracy be called spoiling? That's the name of the game, after all, and I believe Ron Paul is in it to win it. 

Ron Paul IS Top-Tier

I just want to start this blog by pointing out that, despite what the media tells us, Ron Paul is a top tier candidate. I say this because of the facts. Over the past few months Ron Paul has grown his support tremendously, and he is consistently polling around 14%-15%, third behind the two establishment candidates.