The NORML National Conference is up and running! NORML’s Chair of the Board, Steve Dillon, opened the conference with his introduction of “It’s Not Your Parent’s Prohibition”. Did you know that in the alcohol prohibition of the early 20th century, you weren’t arrested for possessing or using alcohol, only for selling it. So our marijuana prohibition is far more heinous than the past prohibition.
Allen St. Pierre, NORML’s Executive Director, outlined the facts behind our battles – that we have record numbers of arrests in America and that we have many successful initiatives in the works for this election, including medmj in Michigan and decrim in Massachusetts.
NORML’s Legal Counsel, Keith Stroup, is moderating the Pot & Politics panel. MPP’s Rob Kampia described the efforts in Michigan and Massachusetts. Oregon NORML’s Madeline Martinez outlined the 2010 Oregon Cannabis Tax Act proposal. Joe Elford from Americans for Safe Access talked about the new California Attorney General guidelines on medmj. Drug Policy Alliance’s Ethan Nadelmann talked about California’s Prop 5 (NORA) which would decriminalize marijuana in that state and fix much of the prison sentencing issues. Finally, Ryan Denham of Arkansas NORML and Sensible Fayetteville explains his lowest priority initiative for Fayetteville.
Audio and video to come later this weekend…
