Opinions - What questions to ask during interview with anti-prohibitoin leaders.

[fnord]

Im doing a few interviews soon with some local people who have been fighting against prohibition longer then some of you guys have been alive. What kind of questions would you ask if you were in my shoes,or should i say flip flops and socks? Ive already got a few in mind just looking for other thoughts.

[FrankenChrist]

The two biggest problems that spring to mind are:

1) something about rational arguments versus emotional arguments

As in: You probably won't be able to convince a mother whose son died of an OD of the benefits of legalisation.


2) people who can't seem to understand or who don't want to understand your arguments.

Hope that helps

Oh yeah, another question I can think of: should drug users do their best to not act and look like the typical perception of druggies.
Do we need a clean cut 3 piece suit spokesman for marijuana ?

[Expat98]

It's tough to think of good questions without knowing more about them. For example, are they fighting against prohibition for all drugs, or just marijuana? And at what level are they working? National, state, local?

It also depends on the target audience who will be reading or listening to the interview. Will it be the Drugs Forum members for example, or a more general audience?

[fnord]

It will be drugs forum members and guests reading it,i dont think i need to ask if a 3 piece suit is nesacarry seeing as the one of the guys dresses up as a mix in between a biker and uncle sam.. But anywho the people in question are marijuana activists hope that helps!

[Panthers007]

There's always the "Bill Downing Look." He's the director of MassCANN. He wore a buttoned-down shirt and dinner-jacket at a MassCANN "event" on Boston Common. He completed the ensemble with a rubber pig-snout. Then he followed undercover cops and pointed at them and oinked so people would know they were the cops. They grabbed him and tried to bust him for "obstruction of justice." But there were a dozen ACLU lawyers all over the cops so fast, they didn't know what to think and had to let him go.

Always a tasteful blend of clothing. Equally at home at a smoke-in, or a court-appearance.

[Lunar Loops]

SWILL would be interested to know if and to what degree they have had police (or other) harassment since becoming vocal in the anti-prohibition movement. How they've coped with this (assuming it has happened).

I'm sure this would be of general interest to the readers here.

[Evil GIR]

I would ask something alongs the line of is drug use an ethics or morals problem.
Moral meaning its based on someones personal or religios opinion.
Ethics meaning, dose the drug harm the person involved and is the drug really that dangerous to society.

I only say because most of the laws seem to be based on personal opinion (morals) and not scientific fact.(ethics)

[Heretic.Ape.]

has this occurred yet? If not, when is it going down? Mind sharing your questions, and, if applicable, answers?

[fnord]

Ive been stalling on writing up a list of questions. but as soon as i get that done i can get an interview posted up with 24ish hours.

[Alfa]

Background information would be nice:
What made them do what they do now? What drives them?
What have they been doing? Accomplishments?
What are their goals and how do they want to accomplish this?
What are their short and long term plans?
What is their most bizarre experience or action?
Do they work together with larger drug policy networks, like the international drug policy consortium or other networks connecting drug policy organisations? Why or why not?
If questions arise after this article is published, are they willing to reply to them?

[ShawnD]

Maybe busting their balls is a good approach, or at least ask questions that show they've put some thought into what they are doing.

If marijuana were to become legal, how should it be distributed? What kind of licensing should be required to grow or sell it? What do you think is a good legal age for marijuana? Should marijuana have a sin tax, like alcohol and cigarettes?

Should marijuana be restricted to use on private property, similar to drinking alcohol, or should it be allowed in public places, like smoking a cigarette? Why?

[fnord]

What do you guys think?

How and when did the maine vocals get started? im going to add a few more questoins then do follow up questions after these are answered.

What casued you to form this group?

Do you work together with larger drug policy networks, like the international drug policy consortium or other networks connecting drug policy organisations? Why or why not?

What kind of changes has the actions of the maine vocals made?

Is it true you were once arested handing out pot brownies on the steps of a federal court house?

What are your short and long term plans for the vocals?


What do you think is a good legal age for marijuana?


Should marijuana have a sin tax, like alcohol and cigarettes?


Can you tell us about a few interesting/funny situations your encountered during your work with the vocals?

Do you mind if i email you back with follow up questions?

Should marijuana be restricted to use on private property, similar to drinking alcohol, or should it be allowed in public places, like smoking a cigarette? Why?

Whats the best bud youve smoked?

How many active members are in the vocals? how do they help out?