Conference 2009 – Friday Agenda

2009 Marijuana Mitzvah
NORML’s Executive Director Allen St. Pierre

A record number of state legislatures debated marijuana law reform in 2009; a nationwide panel of experts discusses our progress.

Moderator: Keith Stroup, Esq., NORML, Federal Legislation

• Chris Goldstein, Director, Penn. For Medical Marijuana
• Rob Kampia, Executive Director, Marijuana Policy Project
• Dan Linn, Executive Director, Illinois NORML
• Madeline Martinez, Director, Oregon NORML, member of NORML’s board of directors
• Jesse Stout, former Director of RIPAC
• Ken Wolski, RN, Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana NJ

According to national polls, public support for legalizing marijuana has never been higher. Why now? And how do we mobilize this public support into political change? Leaders in the drug law reform movement discuss these trends, and what they portend for future reform efforts.

Moderator: Dave Fratello, Coast Campaign Group

• Dale Gieringer, Ph.D, Director, CA NORML; member of NORML’s board of directors
• Rich Lee, Proprietor of ‘Oaksterdam University’ and Campaigner for ‘The Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010’
• Harry Levine, Ph.D, Queens College

Critics of marijuana law reform allege that liberalizing cannabis laws will inevitably lead to an explosion in marijuana use.  Yet, according to the World Health Organization, the United States presently enjoys the world’s highest levels of marijuana use despite enforcing some of the world’s most stringent anti-pot laws.  A panel of experts compare and contrast the use of cannabis across the globe and try to make sense of it all.

Moderator: Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D, State University of New York/Albany

• Paul Armentano, Deputy Director, NORML
• Robert MacCoun, Ph.D, University of California/Berkeley
• Craig Reinarman, Ph.D, University of California/Santa Cruz

Talking to your kids about pot isn’t easy. Let these experts advise you on how to begin the discussion, and on how to keep your children safe and informed.

Moderator: Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D, Director Emerita, Drug Policy Alliance

• Ngaio Bealum, West Coast Cannabis
• Jessica Corry, Esq., Fellow, Independence Institute
• Robert Corry, Esq.
• Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D, NORML Advisory Board
• George Rohrbacher, NORML Board of Directors
• Rick Steves, NORML Advisory Board