Marijuana Reform: A Turbulent 2009 Timeline

January 20 - As President Obama takes office, he asks voters to write in with their top priorities for his administration. Poll after poll puts marijuana legalization at the top of the agenda. Esquire in "Why Obama Really Might Decriminalize Marijuana" coins the phrase, "Yes We Cannabis!")

January 31 - George Obama, the president's impoverished half-brother, has his Nairobi hovel shaken down for pot, leading to his arrest for a single joint. Charges are dropped.

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps makes tsunami-sized waves when he admits to puffing pot. Most sponsors stick with the champ, another sign the times have changed. Although eight are charged criminally in the incident, the announcement that Phelps will not be not charged comes just after he apologizes to China (and keeps the Mazda account).

February 1 - While facing a "driving-with-blunt" charge in Pittsburgh, Santonio Holmes earns the Superbowl MVP award when he catches the winning touchdown. Before the game, Holmes calls a press conference to admit he sold drugs as a teen in Florida. Later, charges are dismissed.

February 2 - The New Yorker can find only one heroic moment in erstwhile senatorial contender Carolyn Kennedy's life: when she took the rap for a cousin growing a marijuana garden at her family's Hyannis Port home.

Whoopi Goldberg admits she's smoked pot in a segment discussing Phelps on The View. Twilight's Kristen Stewart, who'd been filmed smoking pot on her doorstep, is photographed in a bikini with two strategically placed pot leaves. The new Friday the 13th Flick alludes to Jason being a stoner.

February 9 - Rapper Lil' Wayne (Phelps' favorite) tells Katie Couric he uses marijuana medicinally for migraines and picks up two Grammys. By year's end, Wayne is targeted for arrest.

As the economy tanks like the Titanic, economic arguments for marijuana legalization gain traction. CNBC's program Marijuana Inc. becomes the most popular documentary ever aired by the station. The comments page for the program, with people writing in from across the country, reads like talking points for the legalization movement.

February 23 - AB390 (Ammiano), the first-ever state bill to legalize marijuana for adult use, is introduced in the California legislature. Set on a two-year track, the bill will see hearings in the Assembly Public Safety committee on January 12, 2010.

March 11 - Bolivian president Evo Morales, a coca farmer, chews a coca leaf at a UN summit in Vienna to protest laws against the crop.

March 25 - The U.S. places troops at the Mexican border. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declares the US “insatiable” when it comes to drugs.

March 26 - Sen. Jim Webb introduces Senate Bill 714, The National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009, which seeks to initiate a comprehensive re-evaluation of America's drug and prison policies. "Legalization is on the table," says Webb.

Obama finally addresses the public's call for legalization at an online town hall meeting. Acknowledging the overwhelming support, he says, "I don't know what that says about the online audience," dissing his base. He adds, "I don't think that is a good strategy to grow our economy" to smiles and laughter from the hall. Reason magazine blasts him for his "glib dismissal."

April 1 - No Fooling: Studies Say Alcohol is More Harmful to Teens' Brains than Marijuana

April 3 - Guitar god Carlos Santana publicly tells Obama: "Legalize marijuana and take all that money and invest it in teachers and in education. You will see a transformation in America."

April 12 - Three-time Olympic gold medal sprinter Usain Bolt tells reporters he rolled and smoked joints as a youngster in Jamaica. Bolt still makes Top Sports Moments of the decade lists for his record-breaking performances in Beijing and is named a Runner Up as Time magazine's Person of the Year.

April 20 - Cannabis's official holiday is celebrated by Family Guy extravaganja, "Nothing Is Better than a Bag of Weed"

April 25 - USA Weekend declares Pineapple Express star/writer Seth Rogen "still a pothead;" incicive interviewer wants to know if he still gets the munchies.

April 28 - Both houses of the Mexican Congress pass a bill, proposed by conservative President Felipe Calderon, to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and other drugs.

May 5 - (Cinco de Mayo) Answering a question from a reporter about the recent Field Poll that showed 56% of Californians favor marijuana legalization, Governor Schwarzenegger says, "I think it's time for a debate."

May 6 - Zogby releases a poll it conducted for the conservative O'Leary Report, which polled 3,937 voters and found 52% support for legalization nationwide, with only 37% opposed.

May 22 - Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee reveals that almost the entire crew of his film Taking Woodstock has had experiences with pot, including himself. He said he was schooling abroad when he dabbled with marijuana.

June 8 - "Transformer" star Megan Fox, the hottest actress of the summer, tells reporters she smokes pot and wants it legalized, adding, "America’s war on drugs is propaganda."

June 26 - Chicago Cubs' catcher Geovany Soto, the reigning National League rookie of the year, announces he'd tested positive for pot at March's World Baseball Classic. Cubs manager Lou Pinella, who told reporter he'd once tried it, stood by Soto.

July 7 - Subway releases its Michael Phelps ad campaign, using Sly and the Family Stone's "thankyoufalletinmebemiceelfagain". Subway's float in the Rose Parade 2010 celebrates its champion sponsorships, with Phelps front and center.

July 9 - Marijuana Policy Project attempts to run ad campaign in favor of AB390; most stations censor it.

July 23 - Completing the sports triumverate of 2009 (football, baseball, and basketball), the NBA's reigning MVP LeBron James releases his autobiography, where he writes that he tried pot as a high school student in Akron. James's credibility is damaged by reports he tried to deny being dunked by a college player just prior to his revelations.

August 8 - Sonia Sotomayor is sworn in as Supreme Court justice after acknowledging in her hearings "I'm not an expert in marijuana growing" but indicating she may be open to respecting privacy rights around doing so.

August 14 - Brad Pitt jokes on The Today Show he will run for Mayor of New Orleans on a legalization platform; tells Bill Maher he doesn't smoke anymore. "I'm a dad now, you want to be alert."

September 28 - NORML holds national conference in San Francisco, minus the poster for the event, depicting a photo of young Obama smoking a joint, after the photographer threated to sue.

November 6 - SF Giants pitching ace and reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum is pulled over with a small amount of pot in his car. Lincecum subsequently wins a second Cy Young award, just after he apologizes for his actions.

December 1 - A home movie purporting to depict Marilyn Monroe smoking pot is released by a collector who paid $275,000 for the footage.

December 4 - According to a RadarOnline story, alleged Tiger Woods mistress Jamie Grubbs worked at City Organic Remedies in Studio City, dispensing medical pot.

December 15 - Tax Cannabis 2010 announces it has sufficient signatures to appear on the November ballot. "We were overwhelmed with people who wanted to sign the petition," says organizer Richard Lee.

December 20 - Hollywood is abuzz with the news that the new Meryl Streep/Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin film got slapped with an "R" rating for depicting pot smoking without negative consequences. "I forgot how much fun having fun was," says Steve.

In 2009 we said goodbye to these friends of freedom:

John Updike
Dom Deluise
Bea Arthur
David Carradine
Walter Cronkite
Patrick Swayze

Much more, sources at: www.VeryImportantPotheads.com/blog2009.html

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