“State’s rights is always code for taking away rights,” Maher pointed out, adding that when some people have it and others don’t, it is not equality.
The unpermitted White House smoke-out protest was announced on Tuesday by the D.C. Cannabis Campaign to demand that the president reschedule marijuana without Congress, thus freeing those who have been jailed over it.
The date was moved up from the normal April 20, but the baking will still begin at 4:20pm.
“There is a huge pent-up demand for this right now, we actually do have the support to do this,” Adam Eidinger, organizer of the D.C. Cannabis Campaign told US News. "We're calling on the whole country to come. This is a national mobilization. Some of us may end up in jail, and that’s fine. It’s actually necessary at this point.”
The same group organizing this protest was also responsible for a 2014 ballot initiative to cast off local penalties for minor possession and cultivation of marijuana in DC, which won. They have also organized marijuana seed giveaways in the nation’s capital.
Eidinger was previously arrested for planting hemp seeds outside of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
"We have to take action now, that's the idea," Eidinger stated. "If it’s not going to happen under Obama, it’s sure as hell not going to happen with Hillary."
President Obama has previously stated that he believes marijuana to be less harmful than alcohol. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is the only candidate who has stated his intent to decriminalize marijuana, while Clinton advocates for state’s rights, but not for the plant’s removal from the controlled substance list.
Approximately half of the nation allows for legal medicinal marijuana, while four states have legalized its recreational use.
"He should pardon tens of thousands of marijuana growers in jail right now. And he should be pardoning them all," Eidinger said. "The war on drugs is a failure? Mass incarceration is a failure? Then do something about it."
