3,000 Delegates, 1,000 Elected Officials, Candidates and You
Outside of the national Democratic and Republican Party conventions held once every four years, the largest political party convention in the U.S. takes place in California at the annual California Democratic Party Convention. The state political party conventions are the grassroots of American Democracy. If you have never attended a state convention, then here is your opportunity to add to your list of memorable events as there is not a better or more exciting one to explore than the 2018 CaDEM State Convention which will be taking place Friday, Feb. 23 – Sunday, Feb. 25 at the San Diego Convention Center.
Everyone is welcome to attend - you do not have to be a Democrat to attend and, except for the State Delegate sessions, its FREE to attend and participate.
With over 3,000 delegates, it is a whirlwind of grassroots activism. These delegates are the people who go back to their communities and participate in shaping local government policy whether it be as members of local political action groups or serving on local commissions, running for seats on water boards, school districts, city councils and county boards. If you have ever thought of getting involved politically in your community, then you can meet and talk with people just like you that are doing it right now in their communities.
In addition to the delegates there are another 1,000+ attendees who are party officers, elected officials, candidates for office and a cadre of media to make a Hollywood starlet's head swim.
This convention is going to be especially exciting because 2018 is an election year with every statewide office from Governor on down up for grabs plus every member of the state assembly and half the members of the state senate. The California Democratic Party (CaDEM) will be endorsing Democratic candidates for each office in the June primary election. This endorsement is critical translating into millions of votes and millions of dollars in campaign financing so every single candidate for these statewide offices will be there.
This includes such political luminaries as Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom who is running for Governor, Attorney General Xavier Becerra running for election to the office he was appointed to, State Treasurer John Chiang who is running for Governor, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones who is challenging AG Becerra 
and a cornucopia of other candidates. Most extraordinarily, Senator Diane Feinstein will be making a very rare appearance at the CaDEM Convention as for the first time in decades she has a serious challenger in the person of State Senate President Kevin DeLeon.
Also in attendance will be a virtual cornucopia of political superstars including US Representative Maxine Waters, US Senator Kamala Harris, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, US Representative & House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, NextGen Founder and Billionaire Tom Steyer, and a host of other politicians, party officials and political gadflies
from California and throughout the country. The only place you will ever see more elected officials in one place would be in state and federal legislative chambers.
Most of these people will be making their presentations at the General Sessions or in Delegate Sessions which are open only to delegates but there is plenty else going on - it is literally non-stop action the entire three days, but the truly BIG day is Saturday, Feb. 24.
Of particular interest would be to attend any of the 19 caucus meetings ranging from progressive to Native American to environmental to veteran. With speakers of considerable note, some of these can be very spirited and everyone is welcome to attend.
One of the most exciting areas to visit is Exhibit Hall where there are over 50 information booths sponsored by Democratic, progressive, civil liberties, labor, health care, businesses and other organizations. The Brownie Mary Democrats will have its much celebrated and fabulous booth where in addition to displays and literature on medical and adult-use marijuana, BMD will be handing out the oh-so-popular brilliant green marijuana-leaf necklaces and having a free drawing for a BIG basket of cannabis products. You are cordially invited to visit our booth and join with us - you can even help staff the booth if you have a mind too.
You especially will want to be in attendance at the Hospitality Suites Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 10 p.m. many serving drinks, desserts and other delectables. Mingle and socialize with national, state and local elected officials, candidates for office, thousands of Democratic party movers and shakers as well as social, environmental, health, labor, civil rights, women and a multitude of community activists from all over California. The Hospitality Suites are sponsored by elected officials, candidates for office, businesses and organizations - they are the social highlight of the convention and are not to be missed.
In addition to all the convention activity, the Brownie Mary Democrats of California will be holding their annual award banquet and meeting at the Convention on Saturday, February 24 at 6:00 p.m. Featured speakers at the meeting include Dale Schafer, who along with his wife Dr. Mollie Fry served five years in federal prison for furnishing medical marijuana patients with their recommendations and medicine, Yami Bolanos from the Greater Los Angeles Collective Alliance, Marcia Blount from the Sacramento Brownie Mary Club and, yes I will also be making a presentation.
Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. The Banquet/Meeting is being held at TGIFridays at 743 Fifth Ave. in San Diego just six blocks from the Convention Center. There is no charge to attend and food may be ordered directly from the TGIFriday menu.
It all takes place at the monumental and cavernous San Diego Convention Center, 111 W. Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101 located between San Diego's beautiful waterfront and the storied Gas Lamp District. Discover and be part of the nitty-gritty of grassroots political activism. Visit the exhibit area and the Brownie Mary booth, attend some caucus meetings, partake of the hospitality suites and hobnob with the 3,000+ delegates and the 1,000+ elected officials, party officers and other convention attendees.
I have written about and invited people to attend the CaDEM election since 2013 when I first served as an elected State Delegate. Many have taken me up on it and no one has ever regretted taking the time to come and visit and see what our political system is all about and how it functions and be part of where it all starts on the grassroots level. If you can make it, I look forward to seeing you.
For general information on the CaDEM Convention CLICK HERE. To see the CaDEM Convention agenda CLICK HERE.
The Gospel of Psychedelics According to Rick Doblin
Meet Rick Doblin, Ph.D. and founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) on this exciting episode of Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense where he extols the role of psychedelics and marijuana in science, medicine, therapy, spirituality, culture, and policy. Read on to learn more or if you can't wait to start listening CLICK HERE.
Founding MAPS in 1986, Rick Doblin has paid his dues and deserves to be listened too. He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master's Thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients.
His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment. which administered psilocybin based meds to 32 prisoners in an effort to reduce recidivism.
His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist.
MAPS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the use of psychedelics and marijuana. Using science to find solutions to mental health crises, MAPS is doing groundbreaking research into the development of psychedelic medicines to help heal people who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions using psychedelic medicines.
Listen in right now - just CLICK HERE or listen anytime 24/7 by going to: www.blogtalkradio.com/marijuananews
An Unusual Way to Commemorate President's Day
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