We the people on marijuana legalization

The foundation of this nation is the ability for citizens to give input into the way the government is run and operated. Nowhere is the concept more prevalent then on the website “We the People,” which is operated by President Barack Obama’s administration.

Members of the public can go to the website and offer their opinions through petition about any topic, from legalization of marijuana to a request for gay rights reforms. Once a petition is created, online participants can “sign” their names, allowing petitions to gain popularity and importance. If a particular petition receives 25,000 or more signatures in 30 days, the topic must be addressed by the government in some shape or form.

The current discussion of a restructuring of debt return for college students is one of the topics brought up on this site and is part of Obama’s effort to act about something the public has deemed important. In that respect, this is a fantastic program and should be continued.

It is vital the members of the country feel as though they have a say on what is happening. This feeling of political efficacy is what separates us, as Americans, from those who are oppressed by their governments.

The foundations of a democracy fall squarely on the ability of the people to speak their minds and be heard by those who have the power to make change. By offering this online petition to the people, the Obama administration is giving U.S. citizens a glimpse into the ideal world we are striving for and facilitates a more politically intellectual and individualized form of government.

One of the topics that has come up for discussion, however, is the request to legalize marijuana. This particular petition was created Sept. 22 and has already received more than 74,000 signatures, much more than the necessary threshold for official attention.

Unfortunately, the governing bodies have skipped this particular petition and have even gone so far as to act adversely.Most recently, the Obama administration announced to the California medical marijuana dispensaries it would be enforcing federal law by evicting and prosecuting marijuana vendors who do not cease business.

No matter where one stands with the legalizing marijuana issue, the intentional avoidance and crackdown on the issue is a negligent mistake on the part of the government.

The second a petition is ignored, every benefit that is derived from “We the People” is negated. If people’s concerns are not fully addressed in the correct and appropriate manner, there will be no feelings of success from the people of the nation.

The petitions associated with marijuana did not receive a necessary response from the administration. It is a breakdown of our democratic pursuits if we do not have our voices heard in a forum that promises such a dramatic act of governmental awareness and political activism.

­— azoot@indiana.edu