Bongress

It is a debate that has raged on for decades: are longtime Sesame Street roommates Bert and Ernie gay? That, friends, is a prickly pear, but you can bet your Johnson that Big Bird certainly knows his way around a cockatoo.

Speaking of age old debates, the decriminalization of marijuana is one political ping pong ball that has never been returned successfully. White funk soul brother, Asher Roth, feels so strongly about helping the hazy-eyed, organic goddess Mary Jane break free from her oppressive shackles in California that he has created a website,Bongress, to encourage voters to vote in favor of Proposition 19 on election day.

Roth, a gifted linguist, is also politically savvy. Knowing many ballot issues get washed out in petty, party-line politics, he has created a bipartisan U.S. bongress, made up of Demochronics and Repufflicans, all with the shared goal of pushing Prop. 19 through come November 2. High hopes indeed (get it?).

$14B	Estimated value of California's annual marijuana crop, per a state report. California's annual grape crop for wine is $2 billion. It's possible someday instead of having a glass of red or white, you may be able to choose a bowl of White Widow or Red Skunk… in pot country.

Broadus Effect

noun.     a phenomenon in which voters uncomfortable with telling live pollsters how they really feel on sensitive issues say they support the popular opinion as opposed to divulging their true feelings.

Coined by pollster analyst Nate Silver, and named after his hip-hop highness,Snoop Dogg, the Broadus Effect is the opposite of the Bradley Effect.

Legislation was passed by the Virginia Assembly in 1619 requiring every farmer to grow hemp. In Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland, hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender. Today, it is illegal for American farmers to grow hemp in spite of the fact that it can be used in the manufacture of tens of thousands of environmentally friendly products.

A Simple Plant

50,000 people a year die of alcohol poisoning. You cannot overdose on pot. Approximately $10 billion of taxpayers' money is spent annually on marijuana prohibition in the U.S. 90% of marijuana-related arrests are for simple possession. If passed, Prop. 19 could lower the cost of weed by 80% and reduce Mexican cartels' profits by 60%. 40 percent of the U.S. population has tried marijuana at least once. (PSSSSSSHHHH. We all know that number is totally higher... come on people - it's time to start admitting the truth).

Whether you're down with decriminalization or up in arms over Prop. 19, get out and vote and let your voice be heard. In the meantime, check out brother Asher Roth's site,Bongress.