For all the fanfare that accompanied the project when it was first announced, it is worth noting that the Obama team released the final report with zero publicity. In fact, the report itself does not even highlight the most popular ideas with, for example, a “Top 10” list. Perhaps that’s because had they done so, the No. 1 idea listed would have been the call to legalize marijuana (buried on p. 26 of the report). At 92,970 points, the idea to decriminalize marijuana easily beat out other ideas like ending torture (sixth place) or revoking the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy (seventh place). In fact, marijuana placed twice among the top 10. At No. 3 is the demand that the federal government stop interfering with state medical marijuana laws.

 

Having combed through the briefing book, AllGov.com determined those ideas that really did make the top 10, based on points received:

 

1. End marijuana prohibition (92,970)

2. Commit to becoming the “greenest” country in the world (70,470)

3. Stop using federal resources to undermine states’ medicinal marijuana laws (66,170)

4. Replace government sponsored abstinence education with age-appropriate sex education (65,350)

5. Funding for bullet trains and light rail (65,100)

6. The permanent closure of all torture facilities (61,250)

7. Revoke the George W. Bush tax cuts for the top 1 % (57,080)

8. Get insurance companies out of health care (55,080)

9. Revoke the tax exempt status of the Church of Scientology (52,470)

10. Bring back the Constitution (50,160)

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Citizen’s Briefing Book (White House) (PDF)