420petition.com and NORML Launch “Give Pot a Chance” Video Campaign

Miami Beach, FL, July 03, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Marijuana news and advocacy website 420petition.com, part of the Medical Cannabis Network (MCN); and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) are teaming up to launch the “Give Pot A Chance” video campaign. Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul recently introduced the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011 (HR 2306) to finally end the long federal war on marijuana and give regulatory power back to the states where it belongs. However, that same day Texas Rep. Lamar Smith said he would not allow his key House committee to even consider the bill. Through the “Give Pot A Chance” campaign, people all across the country will create videos urging Rep. Smith to allow democracy to work and give the bill a hearing.

"NORML and our supporters decided to reach out to Representative Smith this month and let him know we considered HR 2306 sound public policy,” said NORML Communications Coordinator Erik Altieri. “Instead of addressing the concerns of the general public, Smith removed his page from Facebook and wiped it clean of any and all comments posted in support of the bill. Why is Rep. Smith ignoring the will of the people on this issue?”

Now, with the use of 420petition.com’s video submission capabilities, MCN and NORML will seek to collect thousands of videos made by Americans demanding fair treatment for the anti-prohibition bill. “It is situations such as this that illustrate why it is imperative the American people make their voices heard and, through petitions such as this one, keep pressure on their elected officials," added Altieri.

“Even the President has admitted that marijuana legalization is a legitimate topic for debate,” said MCN CEO Jason Draizin. “Congressman Smith’s refusal to grant HR 2306 a hearing is an outdated, unwarranted and outrageous attack on the democratic process. The American people will not stand for this and we want 420petition to be the launching platform for their grievances.”

Concerned citizens will be able to go to 420petition.com and easily submit their personal video responses to Rep. Smith’s blocking of the bill and his claims that marijuana has “a high potential for abuse and does not have an accepted medical use.” These videos will also be automatically re-uploaded to the 420petition Youtube channel. In the second stage of the campaign, the videos will be uploaded to GivePotAChance.com, which will serve as a video and community hub for the effort. The initial stage of the campaign is set to run until Friday July 8th.

"Lamar Smith, has provided both cannabis law reformers and the general public a typical up-close view of why the US Congress—the creator of Cannabis Prohibition laws in 1937 and later the Controlled Substances Act of 1970—rarely seems to work the way it was intended,” said NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre. “One person, either ignorant or uninformed, can block consideration of a controversial political issue if he or she wishes to do so."

The campaign will end with all the videos collected being delivered to Representative Smith.

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