How to Become a True Cannabis Activist
If you are a pot lover and want the whole world to share your excitement, you can join the fight for cannabis legalization! It does not matter if you do not have experience in being an activist or do not know where to start; if you have the desire to try to change the situation, it is already half the battle!
It does not matter whether you support the benefits of medical marijuana or the joy of consuming recreational cannabis. If you think that cannabis should be legalized in the U.S., you can help make a few more steps down this path by joining the cannabis advocacy journey with other enthusiasts.
It can be a bit intimidating to make the first steps, especially if you have to do it alone, but the truth is, in a loving cannabis community, you will be able to find wonderful people from all over the country, a passionate group of enthusiasts that can become your best friends.
Where to start
Even before you contact other people, there are plenty of things that you can do all by yourself.
First of all, try to dive into the topic. Read as much about cannabis as you can, whatever interests you, try to dig a bit deeper. All the knowledge you get will later give you a clearer understanding of the existing problems, of ways how to solve them, and of the general situation. You can read about studies that explore the features of medical and recreational marijuana, you can read about your local cannabis community movement and its effort in law reform. Look through the forums on websites, find where and when the activists' meetings happen, join Facebook communities so that you can always be updated.
If you have a friend or two who can join you, it is great. If you do not, do not worry―being a self-starter is always a great quality. Since there are hundreds of different communities and cannabis advocacy groups, you can always find something that fits you best and resonates with your interests.
If you are thinking of starting a cannabis-related business, contact the Marijuana Business Association; NORML will help you join the law reformation movement. There are even lots of communities that have more specific fields of activity, for instance, NORML Women and Women Grow that appeal to women in the cannabis industry.
Get in contact
Contacting other people, sometimes completely unknown, is not easy. However, even starting a conversation about cannabis with your own family can be intimidating. Start talking about it only if it is appropriate, there is no reason to push your opinion down the throat of others. Be polite, be positive. Since you probably already know a lot about the issue, tell the scientific facts about marijuana to give your words more credibility.
Not everyone is ready to believe that marijuana, which for more than forty years has been listed as Schedule I highly addictive and incredibly dangerous drug, indeed can help treat many conditions and symptoms. If it is about your relatives, you can always find testimonials of other people who have already tried the beneficial effects of cannabis. Someone other's example usually works better than just words.
If you are in a new company, try to find out their opinion about cannabis. It can be a start of an interesting discussion. Just try your best not to be too pushy and do not expect people to start supporting pot once you tell them they are wrong. Remember that people always need time and vivid evidence to change their mind, so be patient. Even the smallest grain of doubt you plant in their minds is already a big step toward the goal.
Get involved
Maybe an image of a lonely worrier seems attractive to you, but you will definitely achieve more by working together with others. Whether it is peaceful protests, gathering signatures for a petition, or taking a word in front of the authorities, it is always better to have support on your side.
That is why it is so important to be involved in what it is going on in your area. Even if you live in the states where cannabis is still completely out of the law, you can keep in touch with other enthusiasts through forums or Facebook pages. Create your own network, and you will be surprised how many new opportunities it may give you.
And this can actually bring your activity to the new level. One thing is to believe that marijuana can be extremely beneficial for the humanity, and another thing is to do something practical. Once you start connecting with other people, calling people, writing emails (or even handwritten letters), it will make a difference.
Be ready to get disappointed
Unfortunately, there is no manual on how to behave and what to do in all the situation you might face. Once you start to get really active, you will inevitably end up in situations where you feel disappointed. Maybe you cannot find the right words on time, or you meet total misunderstanding; it can even happen that people simply do not want to listen to you and do not give you a single chance to express your point of view. It may be especially difficult with the authorities or in the political sphere.
There might be moments when you feel down and think that it is impossible to change anything. Well, fighting for rights always required tough skin. If you have the motivation to go further, you will find the sources to continue.
Some people give up if they do not get results once they start, but success does not come easy. You should not expect to change the world simply because you say so. You will meet many opponents of marijuana legalization, and they will also be highly motivated, and they will also try their best to find the right words to persuade you that you are wrong. Patience is one of the essential qualities everyone should have on this long road to the victory.
Do not forget to vote
This is one of the most important things all the activist groups are working towards: to persuade people to make their choice in favor of cannabis legalization. And that is why you should be one of the first who registers for voting and actually vote, too.
As a democratic society, we are lucky to be heard and take part in making the decisions that can change our history, so take advantage of this opportunity. If we are talking about the presidential candidates, check who is supporting the same beliefs as you do, including the marijuana issue.
On the state level, you can also find politicians who support cannabis legalization. Politicians always appreciate every single vote, so the time before elections or voting is the right time to start a dialog with them. You can stay up-to-date with several on-line sources, such as voterpunch.org, publicagenda.org, or vote-smart.org. You can even join a local political party that shares your beliefs and be even more involved in the situation.
Be proactive and get united
Even if you live in one of the conservative states, and there are no cannabis advocacy groups nearby, why not create your own group! You can find people to join you among your friends or through the forums. Be proactive and start uniting people yourself. An organized group has much more power than a single man, this is a real opportunity to be heard. Believe in yourself, go forward, and never give up!
