Today the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) marked 40 years of fighting for an end to prohibition. While the battle has reached a high point, America’s top marijuana advocacy group took a moment to recognize the strength of its grassroots. NORML Executive Director Allen St Pierre said in a release today:
Cannabis law reformers are on the precipice of major social changes in favor of the liberalization of cannabis laws—and the state and federal governments, law enforcement and competitors to legal cannabis all recognize this to be true.
None of this would have been possible for NORML over these many years without the dedicated grassroots support provided by stakeholders.
Recognizing that most of the hardest work that entailed the greatest amounts of personal self-sacrifice are thankfully behind us, we also have to recognize there is still much work left to do before adults can lawfully use cannabis products in a manner and form similar to the way adults can consume alcohol products.
Take a moment to read the full release here: http://blog.norml.org/2011/03/02/norml-america%E2%80%99s-best-known-and-respected-marijuana-lobby-organization-turns-40-years-old/
Steve Bloom at Celebstoner.com also has an excellent overview: www.celebstoner.com/201103025998/blogs/steve-bloom/norml-at-40.html
I am here to tell you, first hand, that National NORML serves as the most important resource for local marijuana activists.
Here are some of the rather priceless tools NORML has provided, for free, to the New Jersey and Pennsylvania medical cannabis efforts:
– Mass awareness: When NORML puts a local campaign into the weekly press release or posts it to Facebook and Twitter the story gets instant attention
– Providing expert testimony to legislative committees: Deputy Director Paul Armentano, one of nation’s leading cannabis experts along with NORML’s network of professionals help us make our case to elected officials
– Providing information that is easy to use and share: Booklets, ready documents, pre-made pamphlets, web banners and research material are all available at norml.org
– The CAPWIZ program: Having local residents contact their elected officials is probably the most essential form of organizing political change. NORML provides a tool to make that citizen-to-legislator interaction possible. The CAPWIZ service is expensive, far beyond the means of most local chapters. But National NORML works with volunteers on the ground to use CAPWIZ, generating vital contact.
NORML’s founder Keith Stroup was interviewed on NORML Show Live today and was asked about the future of the group beyond legalization. Keith hinted that NORML would likely become a powerful consumer protection lobby once cannabis was regulated and taxed, something akin to a sweeter smelling version of Nader’s Raiders.
At 40 years strong NORML clearly owns an important role in the future of American freedom.
Please take a moment right now to donate to national NORML – pot will NOT legalize itself!
