Tips

These come from the Capitol Hill neighborhood coordinator in Seattle who has collected nearly 1,000 signatures herself and gotten dozens of local businesses to carry the I-1068 petition.

Read her tips, then sign up to volunteer!

1. Be confident! This is something you believe in and you want everyone to know why!

2. Get noticed! Don’t be afraid to get vocal and visual. Speak loudly and clearly. Make eye contact and speak directly to people. Walk with them if they don’t stop, just make sure everyone knows what we’re doing. Signs help! Even if people can’t hear what you’re saying they can see it, even from a distance.

3. Never profile people!!! Don’t ever assume someone won’t sign your petition based on appearance! Ask everyone you come across and you will be amazed at the diversity of our supporters.

4. Always be prepared! Have extra petitions, voter registration forms, and plenty of extra pens whenever you go out. It helps to have extra clipboards so multiple people can sign at once. It also helps to have multiple people. If you have someone holding a sign to advertise what you’re doing or talking to people walking by while another takes signatures you won’t miss any opportunity to get the people passing’s signatures!

5. Be informed! People will ask questions, and we need to have the answers. Know your facts, and be ready to convince anyone who questions you there are scientific facts to support our argument! Tell people our reasons! Financial, environmental, medical, moral,pick one! Convey the mass benefits of legalization. Also inform people of how they can help, like how to volunteer, meetings, and events happening, and to check out our website!

6. Be direct in your search for support!! I always ask people right away if they would like to help legalize marijuana in Washington. If they say yes, whip out your petition and ask if they want to sign. Make sure the are registered to vote in Washington if they would like to sign. If they aren’t, ask them if they would like to be and whip out a voter registration form. If they don’t want to sign, ask them why. Address individual concerns. Explain to them the benefits of legalization, and that if we don’t stand up for our rights no one will. If when you initially ask if they would like to help legalize they say no, ask if they beleive in democracy and Washington citizen’s right to vote on the laws that govern them. Most people, even if not supportive of marijuana, are supportive of giving us the right to vote, and if you explain our petition is simply to put this initiative on the ballot and that they could still vote however they want or not at all they may still sign.

7. Be persistent! If you have to debate with someone to get their signature, do it. If you have to ask 100 people before you get one to sign, do it. If you have to run alongside someone to get them to sign, do it. People will stop traffic to sign, and you need to be willing to take that signature. Don’t let anyone discourage you because you know we are right!!

Sign up to volunteer now!