Any hopes that South African President Jacob Zuma would be able to mediate a resolution to the Libyan civil war have apparently gone by the boards after his one-day visit. Zuma did meet with Moammar Gadhafi, and said that Gadhafi was ready to implement the African Union “roadmap” accompanying a cease-fire. But while that plan includes reforms, it does not call for Gadhafi to step down, and it’s unclear whether he would agree to that. Anyway, the AU roadmap is already a dead document, having been rejected by the opposition.

It is telling that Gadhafi is not even mentioned in the document at all. And certainly, this does not hew to the demands of the Libyan rebels that Gadhafi leave the country and go into exile. But I would say it offers a framework to ease the current regime from the scene and install a more democratic structure. Obviously Gadhafi hasn’t backed up prior agreements with actions.

If we all stand together, we can turn around a horrific status-quo by putting cannabis in the realm of health, not law enforcement. Persuade our community leaders to stand up and speak for humanity and humane practices. For voters unsure of the result of legalization, let’s demand an immediate cease fire in the War on Drugs, to show that all hell will not break loose.