Monday, September 21st, 2009 at 8:55 pm | By: Radical Russ
Show 004: Three special episodes live from NORML National Conference!
NORML’s new talk radio program, NORML SHOW LIVE, will be streaming for three days at the 2009 NORML National Conference, “Yes We Cannabis”, live from the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Francisco. These special three-hour episodes will be available at live.norml.org at the following special times and archived for download later just fifteen minutes after broadcast:
Thursday, September 24
11:00am – 2:00pm Pacific Time
Friday, September 25
11:00am – 2:00pm Pacific Time
Saturday, September 26
3:00pm – 6:00pm Pacific Time
The show will be hosted by “Radical” Russ Belville, but with very limited commercial interruption and the occasional narration. After the shows broadcast remotely in the difficult wireless environment of Portland’s Kelley Point Park and the noisy backstage of the Boston Freedom Rally, Russ is excited to present an indoor event that will take its audio directly from the conference PA system.
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 8:20 am | By: Radical Russ
More video from the continuing Anderson Cooper series, “America’s High: The case for and against pot”:
My dos centavos:
#1 Oh, go get a glass of water! It’s tough enough breaking the stoner stereotype (”stoneotype?”) when your eyes naturally look half-lidded anyway, but to add the audible smacks of a dry mouth makes it even harder.
#2 When David goes for the FDA route, decent comeback on “we’d love to”, but how can you miss mentioning the FDA warning released hours earlier that says Zicam may kill your sense of smell? Or uttering the word “Vioxx”? Also need to point out the disingenuousness of the FDA route and bolster medical marijuana’s acceptance by picking up on Anderson’s AMA comment – “the AMA says there isn’t enough scientific proof of medical marijuana, despite 17,000 peer-reviewed studies that prove it, but when we try to get scientific studies of marijuana from the government, NIDA refuses to allow them to take place
#3 When David goes to the “alcohol and cigs cost more to society than the taxes they bring in”, decent comeback on how harmful they are and marijuana’s safer, but still leaves viewer with impression there will be increased usage and costs from legal marijuana. I’d add, “David, almost everyone who wants to — 22 million adults annually — use marijuana NOW, so we’re already absorbing any of these ‘imaginary costs’ you mention, while also taking in $0 in tax revenue and spending $7.7B on prohibition. Taxing existing marijuana users would bring in $6.2B and eliminate $7.7B in prohibition costs, so these imaginary costs from the few new users would have to top $13.6B/year for your theory to make any sense. Also, if these new users were giving up other drugs and alcohol in favor of marijuana, overall costs for drug and alcohol abuse in this nation would drop.”
Overall, nice job discussing a complicated issue in the sub-five minutes you were given. But I think the days where we need be polite and respectful to our prohibitionist opponents on TV are over. These people need to be treated like the liars they are and our responses should become a bit more forceful in that respect. The people are largely on our side and are thirsting for someone to smack down one of these opponents of liberty.
In case you missed it, Paul Armantano has a great piece about this unexpected good news. It’s very notable that the anchor begins to put very pointed questions to the prohibitionist that was brought on to “debate” Rob Kampia.
Many of these drug warriors are clearly unhinged, their views informed more by blind zealotry than by sober policy analysis. That’s why I hesitate to post this video of longtime anti-drug culture warrior Joyce Nalepka attempting to disrupt a recent MPP-sponsored press conference regarding faulty drug tests administered by law enforcement. After all, there are shaky folks on all sides of the marijuana policy debate, and I don’t think it’s right to single out the clowns on such a serious matter.
However, as Nalepka herself points out in this exchange with MPP’s Rob Kampia, she has drug policy experience – if not expertise – and the larger, federal drug war establishment hasn’t exactly tried to disassociate itself from her. She’s president of Drug Free Kids: America’s Challenge and was once president of the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth, which Nancy Reagan chaired during her husband’s presidency.
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 5:56 pm | By: Radical Russ
Bursting with indignation, legions of legalize-marijuana advocates are urging a boycott of Kellogg Co., including all of its popular munchies, for deciding to cut ties with Olympic hero Michael Phelps after he was photographed with a pot pipe.
The leader of one of the biggest groups, the Marijuana Policy Project, called Kellogg’s action “hypocritical and disgusting,” and said he’d never seen his membership so angry, with more than 2,300 of them signing an online petition.
“Kellogg’s had no problem signing up Phelps when he had a conviction for drunk driving, an illegal act that could actually have killed someone,” said Rob Kampia, the group’s executive director. “To drop him for choosing to relax with a substance that’s safer than beer is an outrage, and it sends a dangerous message to young people.”
Also urging a boycott were the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Drug Policy Alliance. They encouraged their members to contact Kellogg to vent their views.
That’s exactly the message the general public needs to see – that a drunk driving conviction didn’t even merit a second thought, but a bong photo required immediate termination. Â This story is on the Associated Press now and it’s beginning to feel like that moment when the little boy cries out that the Emperor is naked. Â The company that makes pot smokers’ favorite munchies is dropping the world’s greatest athlete for smoking weed because the kids need the message that smoking weed will ruin your life. Â It’s really a hypocrisy wrapped in an irony wrapped in serendipity, isn’t it?
The reason this story won’t die (other than I won’t let it!) is because it’s vibrating on the same resonance frequency as the public’s overall rejection of this moralistic hypocrisy in general. Â We’ve suffered through a prostitution ring-busting governor of New York being caught with a prostitute, an anti-gay senator caught in a bathroom soliciting gay sex, and bankrupt CEOs throwing parties and paying bonuses off taxpayer bailout money while their companies tank and 3.6 million jobs have disappeared. Â No matter where you stand, conservative, liberal, or politically independent, there is some issue where you can no longer stand the hypocrisy. Â No matter where you vote, Democrat, Republican, or Other, there is someone in your own party representative of another hypocrisy.
Another thing that makes this story different than other athletes-caught-with-weed stories is that Michael Phelps, more than just about anyone in any sport you can name, is the Greatest Ever (sorry, Ali).  Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burris may be stoners who caught the last two Super Bowl winning touchdowns, but nobody is confusing them with Jerry Rice (yet).  Ricky Williams runs good, but nobody’s forgotten Emmitt Smith or Walter Payton.  Josh Howard is pretty good on the court, but he’s no Michael Jordan (or, perhaps, LeBron James… in a few years…).  When these guys are caught, somebody can always play the “I wonder how good they might have been” card with respect to weed smoking.  What do you say to the pot smoker who follows up 6 gold, 2 bronze at age 19 with 8 gold and 7 world records at age 23?  (”Don’t get caught!”)
And to follow this story up with a macho sheriff going after eight people for the bong misdeeds and another Major League Liar admitting to steroid use? Â Please, Universe, keep it comin’
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With one week left before Election Day, we here at the Stash are keeping you informed on all of the federal, state, and local initiatives, questions, measures, propositions, and bills you need to know about. Â All this week our interviews will feature the top drug law reformers giving you the news on the ground in important cannabis reform legislation.
Today we bring you two panelists from the NORML Convention last weekend in Berkeley, California (and check out the ever-growing archive). Â Keith Stroup, Founder of NORML, gives a presentation on the federal bills addressing cannabis in the next Congerss. Â Then Rob Kampia, Executive Director of Marijuana Policy Project, presents a look at the two big state initiatives, Question 2 (decrim) in Massachusetts and Proposition 1 (medmj) in Michigan.
Monday, October 27th, 2008 at 7:51 pm | By: Radical Russ
This was the opening panel on Friday morning of the NORML Conference in Berkeley, October 17, 2008.
Pot Politics 2008 and Beyond Moderator: Keith Stroup, Esq., NORML, New Federal Decriminalization Legislation
Rob Kampia, MPP, Massachusetts and Michigan Initiatives
Madeline Martinez, Oregon NORML, Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2010
Joe Elford, Esq., Americans for Safe Access, CA Attorney General Guidelines
Ethan Nadelmann, Drug Policy Alliance, CA Proposition 5 (NORA)
Becky DeKeuster, Berkeley Patients Group, Measure JJ in Berkeley
Ryan Denham, Sensible Fayetteville, Fayetteville Initiative
Sudi Pebbles Trippet, Mendocino, CA Initiative
Friday, October 17th, 2008 at 11:13 am | By: Radical Russ
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. Â MPP’s Rob Kampia described the efforts in Michigan and Massachusetts. Â Oregon NORML’s Madeline Martinez outlined the 2010 Oregon Cannabis Tax Act proposal. Â Joe Elford from Americans for Safe Access talked about the new California Attorney General guidelines on medmj. Â 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. Â Finally, Ryan Denham of Arkansas NORML and Sensible Fayetteville explains his lowest priority initiative for Fayetteville.
RevRayGreen: I'll post a pic of me and my son....gimme a minute
Missippi Hippy: Guess what... I'm gonna be a new... ummmmm well, my pet piggie Ganja is in labor and they ain't mine in the same sense. See what your wife [...]
RevRayGreen: days they didn't talk back..or act disrespectful..
RevRayGreen: feel so lucky my son is 18 going 19 and my daughter 16 going on 17..relish the days that can't talk back
Urb Age: Congrats Spof thats awesome. My little Clara is about to hit 20 months. Im not the activist I used to be, but its made me a better man.
Urb Age: Heck I was gonna go up there, but just not feeling well this weekend..Dang it, I hate it when that happens..
RevRayGreen: wishing I was hanging at NORML cafe...
JohnH: Just a quick comment about tokin' and sperm motility....been tokin since age 14 and have 8 kids ranging in age from 30 to 9...(what can I say, I found 2 [...]
slash5city: really ..oprah 35 yr or more in the closet toker ...outed ....o my god !!
SneakerPimp: that would be huge news just imagen the headline
RevRayGreen: maybe Oprah smokes and keeps it on the DL...
SneakerPimp: and good afternoon
mr reuben: I could do without seeing Rob K. on tv. But Bruce and Eithan get a big thumbs up from me.
SneakerPimp: waitn for NSL and congrast for spofett.
mr reuben: I don't respect her opinion bluzguy.
Missippi Hippy: Something about the last year in a contract... folks become more ballsey... and Oprah has big ones.
American Medical Association Calls For Scientific Review Of Marijuana's Prohibitive Status; Dutch Marijuana Use Lower Than European Average, Study Says […]
"Truth In Trials Act" Reintroduced In Congress; Maine: Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Measure; Colorado: Breckenridge Voters Overwhelmingly Decide To End Pot Penalties. […]
Some of the nation’s top athletes discuss why today's pros are turning to cannabis — and away from alcohol and painkillers — off the field, and question why pro sports leagues are continuing to sanction those who do. Moderator: Steve Bloom, Author, Pot Culture; editor, celebstoner.com * Toby Grear, MMA fighter * Sean Neumann, Documentary Filmm […]
Cannabis Law Reform's Missing Link: Law Enforcement Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper; LEAP and NORML Advisory Board; Author of Breaking Rank Putting the Mexican Cartels Out of Business Mexican drug cartels now employ over 100,000 soldiers and are responsible for nearly ten thousand deaths per year. Their largest source of income is marijuana. […]
NORML SHOW LIVE for three days at NORML CON 2009
waitn for NSL and congrast for spofett.
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