http://www.mpp.org/
MPP Mission Statement
In the United States, more than 70 million people have tried marijuana, and millions of adults still consume it on a regular basis.
Almost everyone has a friend, relative, neighbor, or co-worker who consumes marijuana. Because of the widespread economic and criminal justice ramifications of the illicit marijuana market and of Marijuana Prohibition, the marijuana phenomenon touches nearly everyone's life.
All drugs are potentially harmful; marijuana is no exception -- and the entire range of marijuana policies, from total prohibition to total legalization, has drawbacks as well as benefits.
As with alcohol and tobacco, there is no simple solution.
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) understands that no one policy will solve all problems.
Each potentially harmful effect of marijuana consumption and the myriad public and private marijuana control efforts must be thoroughly evaluated.
Each policy option should be judged according to whether the overall harm is reduced or increased.
Furthermore, public policies must be grounded in the reality that marijuana consumption is already widespread despite the present prohibition laws.
A "marijuana-free America" has been proven to be an unrealistic goal.
The Marijuana Policy Project's purpose is to develop and promote policies to minimize the harm associated with marijuana.
Accordingly, MPP ...
* researches the public health, economic, social, criminal justice, and other effects of marijuana consumption and the prohibition thereof;
* formulates realistic, utilitarian marijuana-related regulations and policies;
* works with the appropriate agencies, such as Congress, the executive branch, the courts, the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and other government bodies to implement such policies and to amend those to the contrary; and
* increases public confidence in such policies through speaking engagements, educational seminars, the mass media, and other means.
MPP has identified the following issues that must be addressed with appropriate public policies:
Issue #1: Public Health Effects
Goal #1: An individual's marijuana consumption must not harm or threaten the health and safety of others. For example, operating motor vehicles while impaired, subjecting others to unwanted second-hand smoke, engaging in hazardous cultivation practices, and distributing marijuana to minors must be discouraged and/or prohibited.
Goal #2: Some individuals (e.g., minors) should not consume marijuana.
Goal #3: Misuse and abuse must be discouraged. Honest, realistic, and effective education must be promoted, and appropriate treatment programs must be made available.
Goal #4: Marijuana consumers should not be subjected to extraneous health hazards. Individuals who already consume marijuana, despite the present laws, should not be unnecessarily exposed to adulterated or impure marijuana, nor should they be forbidden to use devices that reduce potential harms, such as water pipes that cool and filter smoke.
Goal #5: Links between marijuana and other drugs should be minimized. Mixed drug markets and dishonest drug education increase the likelihood that marijuana consumers will abuse harder drugs.
Goal #6: Medicinal uses of marijuana must not be suppressed.
Goal #7: Sound research must be promoted.
Issue #2: Economic Effects
Goal #1: Efficiently utilize limited public funds. Scarce public resources should not be wasted on "feel-good" policies that cause more harm than good.
Goal #2: Keep money in the legitimate U.S. economy. Minimize international marijuana trafficking and money laundering.
Goal #3: Raise revenue by taxing marijuana businesses.
Goal #4: Permit domestic cultivation of industrial/environmental hemp. Allow fair marketplace competition with other sources of paper pulp, fiber, fuel, and food.
Issue #3: Societal Effects
Goal #1: Require responsibility for actions. Marijuana consumers must be held fully accountable for any crimes or other anti-social activities in which they engage.
Goal #2: Reduce crime. Adopt prudent marijuana policies to reduce the amount of organized crime, violence, and other predatory crime.
Goal #3: Reduce impairment on the job and in the classroom.
Goal #4: Reduce symbolic generational conflicts and foster respect for authority among youths.
Issue #4: Criminal Justice System Effects
Goal #1: Uphold law and order. Increase the likelihood that policies and laws will be known, understood, accepted, and fairly and consistently enforced.
Goal #2: Foster respect for and cooperation with law-enforcement authorities.
Goal #3: Reduce corruption of law-enforcement and other criminal justice system officials.
Goal #4: Minimize underhanded law-enforcement practices, such as the use of informants, whose mission is to create trust for the purpose of betraying it.
Goal #5: Safeguard civil liberties and personal freedom.
The Marijuana Policy Project believes that the best interim policy --
and an essential element of any successful long-term strategy --
is to allow responsible adults to cultivate small amounts of marijuana in their homes for personal use, subject to appropriate regulations and restrictions.
The Marijuana Policy Project evaluates current marijuana policies and all newly proposed policies in light of the aforementioned issues and goals.
Policies incompatible with these goals are actively opposed.
Policies in accordance with these goals are refined and actively promoted.
The Marijuana Policy Project serves primarily as a lobbying organization.
MPP Mission Statement
In the United States, more than 70 million people have tried marijuana, and millions of adults still consume it on a regular basis.
Almost everyone has a friend, relative, neighbor, or co-worker who consumes marijuana. Because of the widespread economic and criminal justice ramifications of the illicit marijuana market and of Marijuana Prohibition, the marijuana phenomenon touches nearly everyone's life.
All drugs are potentially harmful; marijuana is no exception -- and the entire range of marijuana policies, from total prohibition to total legalization, has drawbacks as well as benefits.
As with alcohol and tobacco, there is no simple solution.
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) understands that no one policy will solve all problems.
Each potentially harmful effect of marijuana consumption and the myriad public and private marijuana control efforts must be thoroughly evaluated.
Each policy option should be judged according to whether the overall harm is reduced or increased.
Furthermore, public policies must be grounded in the reality that marijuana consumption is already widespread despite the present prohibition laws.
A "marijuana-free America" has been proven to be an unrealistic goal.
The Marijuana Policy Project's purpose is to develop and promote policies to minimize the harm associated with marijuana.
Accordingly, MPP ...
* researches the public health, economic, social, criminal justice, and other effects of marijuana consumption and the prohibition thereof;
* formulates realistic, utilitarian marijuana-related regulations and policies;
* works with the appropriate agencies, such as Congress, the executive branch, the courts, the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and other government bodies to implement such policies and to amend those to the contrary; and
* increases public confidence in such policies through speaking engagements, educational seminars, the mass media, and other means.
MPP has identified the following issues that must be addressed with appropriate public policies:
Issue #1: Public Health Effects
Goal #1: An individual's marijuana consumption must not harm or threaten the health and safety of others. For example, operating motor vehicles while impaired, subjecting others to unwanted second-hand smoke, engaging in hazardous cultivation practices, and distributing marijuana to minors must be discouraged and/or prohibited.
Goal #2: Some individuals (e.g., minors) should not consume marijuana.
Goal #3: Misuse and abuse must be discouraged. Honest, realistic, and effective education must be promoted, and appropriate treatment programs must be made available.
Goal #4: Marijuana consumers should not be subjected to extraneous health hazards. Individuals who already consume marijuana, despite the present laws, should not be unnecessarily exposed to adulterated or impure marijuana, nor should they be forbidden to use devices that reduce potential harms, such as water pipes that cool and filter smoke.
Goal #5: Links between marijuana and other drugs should be minimized. Mixed drug markets and dishonest drug education increase the likelihood that marijuana consumers will abuse harder drugs.
Goal #6: Medicinal uses of marijuana must not be suppressed.
Goal #7: Sound research must be promoted.
Issue #2: Economic Effects
Goal #1: Efficiently utilize limited public funds. Scarce public resources should not be wasted on "feel-good" policies that cause more harm than good.
Goal #2: Keep money in the legitimate U.S. economy. Minimize international marijuana trafficking and money laundering.
Goal #3: Raise revenue by taxing marijuana businesses.
Goal #4: Permit domestic cultivation of industrial/environmental hemp. Allow fair marketplace competition with other sources of paper pulp, fiber, fuel, and food.
Issue #3: Societal Effects
Goal #1: Require responsibility for actions. Marijuana consumers must be held fully accountable for any crimes or other anti-social activities in which they engage.
Goal #2: Reduce crime. Adopt prudent marijuana policies to reduce the amount of organized crime, violence, and other predatory crime.
Goal #3: Reduce impairment on the job and in the classroom.
Goal #4: Reduce symbolic generational conflicts and foster respect for authority among youths.
Issue #4: Criminal Justice System Effects
Goal #1: Uphold law and order. Increase the likelihood that policies and laws will be known, understood, accepted, and fairly and consistently enforced.
Goal #2: Foster respect for and cooperation with law-enforcement authorities.
Goal #3: Reduce corruption of law-enforcement and other criminal justice system officials.
Goal #4: Minimize underhanded law-enforcement practices, such as the use of informants, whose mission is to create trust for the purpose of betraying it.
Goal #5: Safeguard civil liberties and personal freedom.
The Marijuana Policy Project believes that the best interim policy --
and an essential element of any successful long-term strategy --
is to allow responsible adults to cultivate small amounts of marijuana in their homes for personal use, subject to appropriate regulations and restrictions.
The Marijuana Policy Project evaluates current marijuana policies and all newly proposed policies in light of the aforementioned issues and goals.
Policies incompatible with these goals are actively opposed.
Policies in accordance with these goals are refined and actively promoted.
The Marijuana Policy Project serves primarily as a lobbying organization.
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