Everyday NORML affiliates and chapters around the country pour countless hours into contacting representatives, hosting events, and talking to voters, all with the hope of passing meaningful marijuana reforms on the local, state and federal level! In an effort to highlight their hard work and accomplishments, we will feature their stories on NORML.org and promote the content through our social media channels.
State and Local
Without a citizen initiative process, Virginia NORML is forced to rely on their state legislature to change state law; therefore, volunteers have been working hard over the past few months to unseat Virginia’s most anti-marijuana politician this November!
Action Alert: Help Virginia NORML Oust A Marijuana Prohibitionist
Days before the 2015 General Election, marijuana advocates In North Carolina held a rally to remind candidates that marijuana is, and will continue to be an important issue for voters. The group is also asking law enforcement agencies to make marijuana arrests their lowest priority.
Charlotte NORML Supports Marijuana Reform
Sharon Ravert, executive director of Peachtree NORML shared her thoughts about law enforcement getting involved in health-related matters such as medical marijuana.
Commission Hears Sheriff’s Objections to Medical Cannabis in Georgia
Wyoming NORML remains determined after Campbell County representatives announced their opposition of an effort to put medical marijuana on the ballot in 2016.
County Commissioners Back Anti-Pot Campaign
Close to 1,000 marijuana advocates took to the streets of Texas to educate community leaders about the need for a more comprehensive medical marijuana bill for suffering Texans!
Hundreds Join ‘Marijuana March’ in Dallas
Now that Mr. Mizanskey has been released from prison, he has found his calling as the Show Me State’s most vocal opponent against the federal government’s War on Drugs and the negative impact it has had on American families.
Jeff Mizanskey Spent Over a Third of His Life in Prison
Josh Chittum, executive director of Mid-Missouri NORML continues his work to change local laws regarding marijuana. He’s focused on changing the penalties associated with the cultivation of marijuana in Columbia, Missouri from 15 years in jail to a municipal fine.
Local Groups Asking for Signatures on Marijuana Legislation
Northwest Ohio NORML recently endorsed Mike Ferner for Toledo Mayor citing his support for a voter-approved ordinance that aimed to reduce criminal penalties for marijuana crimes.
Northwest Ohio NORML endorses Ferner for Toledo mayor
Dale Gieringer, executive director of California NORML shares his thoughts on Operation Golden Flow, a drug test aimed at finding heroin users among returning Vietnam veterans and the profits that help fuel the failed War on Drugs.
Operation Golden Flow: America’s Urine is Liquid Gold for Drug War Profiteers
Pittsburgh NORML recently avoided a long court battle with the NFL over a dispute related to the pro-marijuana group’s popular logo and one used by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers Threaten NORML Chapter
Members of Virginia NORML met to discuss their strategy to expand on HB 1445, a severely limited medical marijuana bill that was passed by the state legislature earlier this year.
Proponents of Legalized Pot Plot Strategy
With plenty of snowy months ahead, Wyoming NORML remains optimistic as they continue their work to gather roughly 25,000 signatures to put medical marijuana on the 2016 ballot.
Signatures Still Needed to Get Medical Marijuana Up for Wyoming Vote
Pamela Novy, executive director of Virginia NORML recently met with community leaders to discuss an effort to decriminalize marijuana in the city of Roanoke, Virginia.
VA NORML Works With Local Lawmakers on Decriminalizing Marijuana
Federal
Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML pushed back against claims that marijuana is more harmful and dangerous than alcohol by citing a government-funded study that took place between 2012 and 2013.
Americans’ Marijuana Use Has Doubled in the Past 10 Years, Report Finds
Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML shared his concerns about major GOP candidates not taking a more definite position on the issue of legalizing marijuana on the federal level.
Marijuana Industry Advocates Find GOP’s Lack of Pot Talk a Major Bummer
Events
Missouri NORML Fall Conference, November 7, St. Louis
Marijuana Business Conference & Expo, November 11-13, Las Vegas
High Times Cannabis Cup, November 12-15, Jamaica
Denver NORML Holiday Potluck & Silent Auction, November 21, Denver
NORML’s Legal Seminar, December 3-5, Key West
not a word about Ohio which is big news right now simply because of the nature of the initiative? Hoping stoners across Ohio will get their a**e* off the couch and vote today, and make sure you get it straight 2=No 3=Yes 🙂
Any exit polling to share from Ohio?
[Editor’s note: By custom and agreement, news agencies in all 50 states do not release exit polling until the polls close. In OH, the first set of exit polling is expected at 7:30PM (eastern); sometime soon after, a prediction of #3’s success or failure will likely be broadcast from OH media outlets based on extrapolations calculated from actual released vote counts/percentage of reporting precincts.
NORML’s staff will be monitoring and blogging about tonight’s results from OH, CO (where a cannabis tax rebate is before the voters) and some municipal decriminalization ballot measures in MI.]
Yes Wyoming activists need 26,000 signatures to qualify medical marijuana for the ballot in 2016. Wyoming activists should be commended, working these rural areas is not easy, you can put a lot of miles on a car for one thing. But beyond that please Wyoming activists be careful. I’m sure that there are lots of very nice people in Wyoming, however you may also encounter those who will get ugly with you. Consider also that being an marijuana activist puts a target on your back with local law enforcement. Hide your stash, and leave the kids at home.
If Ohio legalizes, that ought to give some momentum to the movement on the east coast.
Also, Barry signed the federal budget into law. A while back I remember reading something about how something in the budget might allow DC to move forward with its adult recreational seed to sale regulation.
What does the federal budget do to untie the hands of DC to move forward with adult recreational?
INTELLIGENCE LEVELS
Among VOTING Ohio cannabis legalization advocates…
–
SMART:
(END illegality of cannabis NOW!!!
Don’t impede initiative process, either)
Yes on #3, No on #2
–
CONCERNED:
(Doesn’t like #3’s form of “legalization”,
BUT doesn’t want to hurt FUTURE efforts, either)
No on BOTH #2 and #3
–
SOMEWHAT IMBECILIC:
(NAIVELY thinks #2 will only “amend” #3 if both pass)
Yes on BOTH #2 and #3
–
ABSOLUTE IDIOTS:
(Hindering present AND future legalization)
No on #3, Yes on #2
– – – – –
35% FOR Issue #3,
52% FOR Issue #2
(80% of precincts reporting)
–
So how much could the results really swing
FAVORABLY at this point?!?! LOL!!!
(i.e. Yes on #3, No on #2, or AT LEAST, NO on #2).