APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY BOARD
At the recently concluded Annual Meeting and in conjunction with ‘National Medical Marijuana Week‘, the NORML Board of Directors condemned recent and unjustifiable federal law enforcement efforts against medical cannabis providers in America.
The Board continues to endorse the reform of cannabis laws nationally, as well as the progressive medical initiatives inaugurated and carried out in California and other states.
We remain thoroughly supportive of cannabis freedom fighters and the medical cannabis community and its citizens, whose cause is just.
Since its founding in 1970, NORML has continued to support, and has never abandoned, the righteous efforts of freedom fighters, responsible consumers, and the medical cannabis community.
We have supported decriminalization measures, medicinal users, patients’ rights, student alliances, and a wealth of progressive reformers who all share the ultimate common goal of an end to Cannabis Prohibition.
We will never back down in these efforts.
Great Article! Hey, we need help in Tennessee too! The bill comes up for a vote this year, though I’m sure it’s at the bottom of the pile and NOBODY here even seems to know about it!! It’s common knowledge that it’s being repressed by our conservative Governor, Bill Haslam. The word out is, he will not let it pass while HE is governor! Help us please!!
The government sayes its a schedule I , that is to say it has no medical use . But the synthetic form of THC, the main chemical ingredient in the cannabis plant is curently classified as schedule III, a prescribed pill trademarked as marinol. Medical Marijuana has now been decriminalized in 16 U.S. states & in Cannada.The American Medical Association & American College of Physicians have both called on the federal government to review cannabis as a schdule I substance. The National Cancer Institute, a part of the National Institute of health, added cannabis to its website last year as a Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), & recoginzed that,”Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years prior to its current status as an illegal substance.” It also hes a 80% approval rating among Americans according to several polls. EDUCATION IS TRUTH,. GET EDUCATED ,. GET IT DECRIMINALIZED,!!!!
As a patient, I thank you for all that you do NORML.
If you live in Connecticut and want to end marijuana prohibition in our state, please take a minute to visit http://www.ctprimaryproject.com.
Please pass this on to anyone you know in Connecticut!
You think it MUST stop? What are you going to do? Write them a strongly worded letter? Look angrily at them?
we need a WIN in november. Nothing else will cut it. It is do or die time for this movement.
Unfortunately, Kim, it is unlikely that the TN Safe Access to Medical Cannabis bill will come up for a vote here this year. In 2010, that bill passed EVERY committee in the House side of our General Assembly (including a 20-4 vote in the House Health and Human Resources committee) and the bill secured 14 House co-sponsors (all Democrats) during that session. However, we were not able to get a single hearing in the Republican-controlled Senate side of our General Assembly, so the bill died. In 2011, after our unverifiable voting machines also gave control of our House to the Republicans (who seem to have stopped representing people in favor of serving only their corporate masters), we did not get a single hearing in either house. There is really no reason to expect anything different this year, which is unfortunate for all Tennesseans (regardless of their political affiliation) who will be diagnosed with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other serious diseases this year and who will have no recourse for safe (and legal) access to medical cannabis here in our state.
I’m with Ms. West, NORML! We need help in TN! I knew the mayor’s daughter and her father will not let that bill be signed into law! We don’t have the money to advertise the education of cannabis and the harm its prohibition causes to the people of this country. We could really pull up our unemployment if we could get hemp legalized here, too. We have plenty of great, farm able land.
Hey, everyone in Mississippi needs to call and E-mail your Senator and Representatives to pass SB 2252 for MMJ in MS…
[Paul Armentano responds: You can send a pre-written letter to your state elected officials in support of SB 2252 here: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=60974581.%5D
Let’s spend alittle less time telling ourselves this and alittle more telling those who don’t support! I wanna hear about how you guys are gonna help California get regulate like wine act on the ballot, or Colorado get more signatures! We know you condemn the current administration! Duh
I’d like to see peoples contributions going toward change instead of tables and free gifts at the medical cannabis joke, uh I mean cup! How much does it cost us to preach to the choir!
I know that everyone is trying but I think a major problem is that if you don’t go out of your way to find it we hear nothing in the media about the whole issue. I tell my family and friends and they have no idea what is going on with cannabis and if they don’t smoke they don’t care. I live in Illinois and have never seen a true rally here for the cause. People everywhere need to set up more events that make the news so they can’t keep up to date. Yesterday I asked my parents to please vote on any measures on the ballot for it this year and they said the last they heard is it was becoming legal in California. Everyone needs to push the whole issue or it will continue to be ignored
WOW! Cannabis freedom fighters!
Right On!
When the gov knocks us down, we need to fight harder and stronger, protest against this wrongdoing the federal government is doing! The question that someone must ask Obama, while he is giving questions out at rallies is this. “If marijuana is one, helping people with many cancer and other medical problems people suffer through and has been scientificly been proven to help in these areas. Two it says in the bible that every seed should be used by man and three it works better than any man made drug”. That is what Obama needs to be questioned. We must barade the gov with these kind of questions more and more. The truth shall set you free.
I gather that the government has sent nasty messages asking you to cease your efforts ergo prompting this statement?
Um – not for anything NORML but I think your opinion regarding recent Federal intrusion is, well, ussumed? Im mean Duh. What other opinion could you have? Right?
One way NORML could strengthen their stance is to stop backing the medical marijuana movement (BOGUS) and get back to focusing on personal rights and legalization.
My post perdictions on this subject in the past are perfectly inline with the Feds current actions. It was unavoidable and in my opinion welcome. Lines made up of mostly 18,19, and 20 somethings with the minority being truly ill is laughable…they should be ashamed of themselves.
Get out in the streets NORML; stop relying on the internet so much.
I am tired of the government’s intervention in state matters concerning medical marijuana. Why is the government dictating what I can and cannot do with my body anyway? Why is the government involved in anything I do that does not harm others or interfere with their pursuit of happiness? In Tennessee we must educate others about the benefits of medical marijuana and the repercussions of allowing the government to intervene in every aspect of our lives. I do this regularly and it can make a difference in people’s opinions. Still, they have been fed disinformation about marijuana for so long that the hill is a steep climb.
Taken from the L.A. Times February 4, 2012
Page A 7 .
Romney told some employees of a supply company ” that he would be sensitive ” .” I’ll listen ” he said . ” I will listen to business people & to working people & to folks across the Country to understand what’s going on in their lives ” he said .
Now click this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFJ_iQJeWY0
Cannabis Freedom Fighters!
Remember that “the pen is mightier than the sword.” Now is the time to spread truth all around the internet. It is time to share ‘reason’ with your neighbors. If people stand idle and do nothing, we are headed for dark times.
The government just isn’t attacking medical cannabis patients and marijuana enthusiasts, the government is trying to label everybody who does not fall for “the official line” or questions the government with facts and reason a terrorist. The truth is under attack by the people in charge. ‘They’ want you to only believe them and their news. This is very scary; as freedom of speech in under attack, freedom of religion is under attack, freedom of peaceful expression is under attack, being an independent thinker is under attack, privacy is under attack. The list goes on and on.
We have much more power than the mainstream media and their lies. Bloggers, commentators, everyone has a voice, this all is part of the new “reality.” Whatever you are into, wherever you are on-line, post the truth. Become a peaceful freedom fighter.
We are gonna win. More and more people are not falling for the bullshit. ‘Their’ lies are getting easy to see through and sloppy. The liars and traitors are chasing and not acting tactfully.
If you have a mind that thinks and a heart that beats, now is the time to raise your pen and bring freedom to the people. Logic, reason, peace, balance, love and other great values are far more powerful then physical violence or violent revolution.
USA needs a Renaissance! If our leaders would just be responsible and tell the truth, we could live in a golden age.
When the drug war is over it will be people like you who will be deserving of a noble peace prize.
Seriously!
Thanks guys.
This article has more impact than many realize. Good job NORML for saying what you believe! Keep it up!
I think if we don’t see Ron Paul elected the youth and jobless n this country will bring back civil war within the US. This is almost identical to what happened n history to start thefirst one. States rights and personal freedoms.
The ONLY real issue to be addressed, publicly is: “Since our government has patented Cannabis-compunds to make medication, via US Patent# 6,630,507-“Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants”-an admission of the medical utility of Cannabis, it should be immediately removed from the CSA and made available to adults,for any reason, age 21 years and older; regulated, taxed and sold in a manner similar to alcohol”-A dangerous and toxic substance with NO medical utility.
We are the foot soldiers. WE must all make appointments with our legislators and talk to everyone we know. When you do this you will feel emboldened. I have been talking to everyone I know and it is very hard to find anyone other than those making money off of Prohibition and Prosecuting it that do not agree. We are at the point that we all have to get organized Nationwide to End Prohibition. We have to join hands and surround Washington D.C. and insist on this “Change”. We have to do this individually and gather people behind us. This is grassroots. I am so thankful that we have NORML to direct us on how to do this, but we have to do it in our own communities. We can’t wait for someone to give us money or help us do it. Change minds daily. Watch news and think of things like….States rights? The 10th amendment..this applies to everything but Medical Marijuana? Listen to talk radio. Call in and bring up the subject. They love talking about it. Write an editorial in your local newspaper. Use your talents to get involved. Watch every documentary on the subject that you can, they are all over netflix. Make sure not to miss Ken Burns- “Prohibition” watch why it happened and how they ended it. This is our road map to ending it. Watch NSL (norml show live) on the web every night and join in the discussion. They are a “Think Tank” and if the time is not good for you there are reruns all day and night long 24/7. Wanna change this educate yourself. Talk to everyone and have passion. We are so close. United We Stand….all 50 states…Divided we fall… Thanks again NORML…One love…
Dr.Ron Paul and Dr. Rand Paul are our perfect hope.One delivers our people.The other helps
our people see.Wouldn’t it be nice to see what a father and son could accomplish in the white house? Both of the Dr.s know the benefits of Marijuana, and they also know the
POTential that Hemp could have on our economy.
4/20/2012 declare our independence!
public referendums are the only way to win this war. what needs to happen is we as a counterculture have to create public referendums in every state, within a year to decriminalize cannabis make it so in every state in the USA you get a fine if you get caught with pot by cops, like a traffic ticket but never arrested. and possible make another referendum for all out legalization like Michigan is doing.
and also good luck to the big 8 states. good luck to Delaware dc NY and Tennessee and any other state fighting the good fight 😉
Thank you NORML board of directors. I’m behind you all the way.
We do need help in Tennessee. We hear nothing in our tabloids or news media regarding any type of reform other than NORML.com. Even our Tennessee chapter remains quite with nothing to look forward to or even a place for us to begin. Please help get our Tennessee Chapter “In Gear” << This might be a start for us.
Supporting till its legal NORML!
To those supporting Dr. Paul and son: how would a President Ron Paul avoid having to appoint Republicans (constituency: twenty points more opposed to legalization than Democrats) to Drug Czar and other posts? What about tobacco $igarette industry links to Boehner (2 gunshots from White House)? Hold nose, vote Barry.
Hello NORML Board,
Would you consider trying this new two-step approach?
First, you could advocate to reform the definition of marijuana so that it actually shows respect for our Constitution.
Then you could advocate to put smoked cannabis in the same schedule (Schedule III) as the other man-made THC drugs.
To start, just take the Peloton Pledge:
I,
state your name,
do hereby pledge that,
“The term ‘marijuana’ means all parts of the smoke produced by the combustion of the plant Cannabis sativa L.”,
shall be the official definition of marijuana.
This federal definition is simple.
The meaning of the term is clear.
The racist ‘marihuana’ is gone.
Cannabis is re-legalized,
and smoking is restricted.
For more information, google Talking Points for the Peloton.
Thanks for all you do.
Everyone reading this should cough up money to support NORML, MPP! and any other cannabis group fighting for our Rights ! Make phone calls to your
local politicians and be sure to VOTE out anyone against OUR cause.
To Mike Randall: I don’t know about you but a number of us here in Tennessee have been in gear for years. The recent Marijuana Education Day in Nashville was very well attended. It featured Keith Stroup, a medical cannabis panel of five patients, a legislation panel featuring a state legislator and well-respected lobbyist and a legal panel featuring both a defense attorney and a former state prosecutor. The Education Day and the fundraising dinner following it were well attended and two different Nashville TV stations covered these events. Channel 4, the leading local newscast, led their evening news with the coverage of the NORML event and that station has been on a roll lately covering marijuana-related issues with our help. I don’t remember if you attended these events or if you’ve helped with our legislative efforts, which admittedly are very difficult these days with the worst legislature that unverifiable voting machines can (s)elect. If not, I would suggest that you get in gear yourself. The more the merrier these days in the Volunteer State.
Kepp fighting these unjust people and their unjust laws and we will continue to support NORML. Big pharma is trying to patent the cannabis plant just like Monsanto has patented the soybean, don’t let them do this, God & nature are the true patent holders not man or his corrupt corporations.
LET ME HAVE MY MEDICATION LEGALY!!!!!!!
Marijuana prohibition has never been legal.
As per the constitution, the government needs to have a compelling reason to prosecute and jail someone. There is no compelling reason, no public safety issue, nothing at all legal about putting innocent people in jail. It is arbitrary; basically saying you crossed a line in the sand so now you’ve become a public menace (rather like how telling the truth in China you makes you a “public menace”), when really the folks who are the public menaces are the ones drawing lines in the sand, dividing people with their bullshit, while they ignore real crimes or threats to public safety.
The folks who wrote the constitution knew all about these kinds of tricks and built protections into our laws just to prevent these kinds of abuses. How is it we just can’t correctly apply the laws we already have that should effectively end the retarded War on Drugs and Everyone Else??? How can one walking into a courtroom and make the claim this crap is a good and sensible policy?
I concur wholly…..
I live in Wi. and i used to get Medical from Michigan ( I’m Parplegic ) and i can no longer get the only Medicine that would help my pain (Cannabis) have you got any suggestions. PLEASE HELP!!!!
Well after many angry bouts with Hal”kickback”Rogers,mitvh Mc Connel and some other state reps here in KY it looks like we are finally going to have medicinal marijuana here in KY,just waiting for the bill to pass which they say that it will,monthly allowance of 5 ounces which I would have been happy with a max of 2,I can’t use 2 ounces a month for medicinal use especially using the vaporiser.This was a great win for this state who said they would never allow it.Looks like we won this one finally.It works a lot better for my constant chronic back pain from a serious injury thats inoperable due to risk factors being to gret and my other war wounds from nam tc and my many mental problems compliments of the military and nam war.It also blows my strong trans and sedatives w away big time as well.Works faster,takes very little using the vap and lasts longer without any of those druggy side effects from the loratab 10’s,pecocet 20’s and the morphine sulfate which I take 90mgs a day/night.It does so much more good for me than all of those other meds and I’m still able to function and do things I do around the property,like taking care of our horses and other stuff I’m not suppose to do but you gotta do it anyways cause it won’t get it’ self done.This is a landmark deal for sure.It will be very limited to who will be eligable to have it such as cancer patints,fybromyalgia chronic permanant pain,PTSD among a few other things but one also has to provide the documentaion from their doctors etc and have copy’s of their MRI’s CT scans etc which I have al of those things.Now if we can get the feds to also allow it at their level then the VA’s could start using it too,I figure I buy 1-2 ounces as soon as I get my card and meanwhile grow 5 plants indoors which can be harvested in around 16 weeks so get then started to and half way thru their grow cycle start 5 more then you will never run out or ever have to buy again.I use clones mostlt but likt to experiment with grafting etc.This is a happy day for many of us here in KY
We will never back down. Believe it.
they should just concentrate on other serious crimes
I see all these people from Tennessee here. Let’s get some events going in Knoxville and Mepmphis and such. Educate our farmers on the viability of hemp farming and production. I’d do my part but I don’t know where to begin. I’ve done my best to educate myself and others, but this is something we need to do on a large scale basis. We need more national news coverage. MSNBC likes to promote us. I’ve seen NORML on there a few times.
God bless you…..and God help Montana!