NORML Chapters around the country are currently organizing efforts to engage their representatives on the issue of marijuana law reform during the upcoming congressional recess where members of the House and Senate will host town hall meetings in their districts. In addition to providing unique opportunities for face-to-face interactions with congressional representatives, town hall meetings provide our volunteers the chance to promote NORML’s message of ending the federal prohibition of marijuana to an audience of politically engaged voters.
With the help of Town Hall Project, a nonprofit organization that’s focused on empowering constituents across the country to have face-to-face conversations with their elected representatives, we have identified almost a dozen town hall meetings taking place in cities with strong NORML representation. To take advantage, NORML leadership is focused on mobilizing our supporters to ask specific questions and encourage their representatives to support legislation that will: protect consumers and businesses in legal marijuana states, expand access to medical marijuana for veterans, stop civil forfeiture and end the federal prohibition of marijuana.
Below is a list of town hall meetings that NORML Chapters will be targeting. We will continue to update the list as new town hall meetings are announced:
(Updated: 8/14/2017)
Rep. Ruben Kihuen (Democrat, NV-4)
Tuesday Aug 1, 2017 at 09:00 AM
Walnut Community Center
3075 N Walnut Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89115
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Republican, CA-48)
Tuesday Aug 1, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Aliso Niguel High School Gym
28000 Wolverine Way, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Rep. Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL-1)
Thursday August 3 2017 at 3:00 PM
Gulf Shores City Hall
1905 W 1st St, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Rep. Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN-9)
Saturday August 5, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Memphis College of Art
1930 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Rep. Will Hurd (Republican, TX-23)
Sunday August 6, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Horizon City Dairy Queen
800 N Zaragoza Rd, El Paso, TX 79907
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (Democrat, NC-1)
Tuesday August 8, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Bertie High School
716 US-13, Windsor, NC 27983
Rep. Donald Norcross (Democrat, NJ-1)
Wednesday August 9, 2017 at 7:30 PM
Carmen Tilelli Community Center
820 Mercer St, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Rep. Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA-5)
Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 8:00 PM
WPSU
100 Innovation Blvd, University Park, PA 16802
Rep. Adam Smith (Democrat, WA-9)
Saturday August 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Foster High School Performing Arts Center
4242 S 144th St, Tukwila, WA 98168
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA-6)
Sunday August 13, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Aberdeen High School Auditorium
410 N G St, Aberdeen, WA 98520
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA-20)
Monday August 14, 2017 at 6:00 PM
California State University Monterey Bay World Theater
5260 6th Ave, Seaside, CA 93955
Senator Maria Cantwell (Democrat, Senate)
Tuesday August 15, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Gonzaga University, Cataldo Hall, The Boone Room
502 E Boone Ave, Spokane, WA 99258
Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (Republican, NC-9)
Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Cleveland Community College – Mildred Keeter Auditorium
137 S Post Rd, Shelby, NC 28152
Rep. Gary Palmer (Republican, AL-6)
Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 6:30 PM
North Highlands Baptist Church
4851 15th Street Rd, Hueytown, AL 35023
Rep. David Scott (Democrat, GA-13)
Saturday August 19, 2017 at 09:00 AM
Mundy’s Mill High School
9652 Fayetteville Rd, Jonesboro, GA 30238
Rep. Trent Franks (Republican, AZ-8)
Tuesday August 22, 2017 at 7:00 AM
The Colonnade
19116 N Colonnade Way, Surprise, AZ 85374
Rep. Tom Rice (Republican, SC-7)
Chapin Memorial Library Meeting Room
Tuesday August 22, 2017 at 10:00 AM
400 14th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Rep. Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL-1)
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 3:00 PM
John L. LeFlore Magnet High School,
700 Donald St, Mobile, AL 36617
Rep. Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL-7)
Thursday August 24, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Oak Park Village Hall
123 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302
Rep. Rodney Davis (Republican, IL-13)
Friday August 25, 2017 at 8:30 AM
Litchfield City Hall
120 E Ryder St, Litchfield, IL 62056
Rep. Ami Bera (Democrat, CA-7)
Tuesday August 29, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Folsom Public Library
411 Stafford St, Folsom, CA 95630
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (Republican WI-5)
Saturday September 9, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Elm Grove Village Park
13600 Juneau Blvd, Elm Grove, WI 53122
To support these efforts, NORML has prepared a guide to town hall meetings, as well as a list of questions specific to each representative. If you would like to participate or want a copy of either document, please email chapters@NORML.org.
I’d like to know why there isn’t one for the triad. Greensboro,High Point and Winston Salem. I really would like to know if there’s going to be a meeting in the up coming months..
I guess it’s up to you to agitate for such a meeting, meanwhile what brazen bravery it’ll be to challenge Big 2Whackgo right in their namesake home town. Well for sure a trillion more bucxks have been spent advertising the Winston/Salem $igarettes than any town of that name.
All of the Marijuana seized by drug raids and border patrol should be donated to medical marijuana clinics across the US.
The consumer outlet can still make money and the consumer personally can get it free or at a drastically reduced price.
Sympathizing with your dream but for sure the tobacckgo-funded Repub lawpassers are also trying to shut down the medical marijuana clinics and want all captured weed pitilessly destroyed.
I’m not sure I like the idea of incentiving the ceizure of more cannabis for any reason whatsoever. If we were talking about kidneys I don’t think anyone would make that suggestion, and as far as I’m concerned I have a right to my own cannabis no less than I have a right to my own kidnies.
In any event, good for you for fostering discussion and being involved in this movement. We’re all brothers and sisters in this fight and I hope we can strengthen one another’s ideas.
I like the strategy. In the face of injustice, without a strategy, it is easy to move from apathy and indifference, right through activism, and straight into the jaws of despair.
Expressing yourself is a good thing; but actually making yourself heard is another trick altogether!
If I may say so, well done all!
Too bad Rep. Will Hurd is too early before Slayer performs in Albuquerque or I’da been all over that.
I love getting stoned in New Mexico.
On another note, I dont usually watch cable cuz it sucks but Im on vacation (again) in Rockport and I happened upon the one and only channel that was worth a $#!+:
“Adam Ruins Everything” covers the failed drug war then segueys into failed private prisons.
“Failed drug war” and “failed private prisons” makes for good slogans but you know very well the point is they “succeeded” in making a ton of money for a few rich oligarchs.
Ok, Mexweed, how do you like “Made-to-fail”?
You got me going, I found the answer, “Made to fear!” The prohibition and crackdown smears Fear all over the populative unconscious and when Johnnie tries a toke this implanted Fear is what then emerges as “paranoia” in the cannabinoidal uprush of emotion and memory which otherwise should have brought creativity and inventions.
Julian,
I enjoyed your linked video. Wish that shows like that were listed on my local PBS station.
My mom, who’s still alive, is from that late ’30s, ’40s generation. And it took forever to convince her that legalization would actually eventually lower pot use, and seriously wound the cartels. The notion wasn’t intuitive to her, thanks I’m sure to the steady propaganda drumbeat she endured during those decades, as well as the next several decades.
The assholes did a good job in their propagandizing. I’m sure Goebbels would’ve been proud.
PS–you’re right about NM being a good place to get high. The mountains are always a great place. It’ll be even better if they decriminalize and even legalize here! I’m counting the days until Susanna Martinez is outta office.
Thanks Bud,
We have to remind ourselves that whats important, inspiring or influencing on us may not have the same effect on others. In many ways we are products of the information we consumed during our teenage years, a subject I highlight in the IQ blog from watching Morgan Freeman yelling “it kills ya brain cells” slapping a joint out of “sloppy slavenly” boy’s mouth in the movie “Lean on Me.” Its so important that older generations in public… and parents in the privacy of home…. provide a better role model for our youth as responsible marijuana consumers by showing support for lab-tested, clean, state legalized marijuana.
Where are the Reps for Illinois, we need town hall meetings in our communities all over the state.
Also in Iowa, every time I send the letters from norml to our Congress I get the same negative ‘ITS A SCHEDULE 1DRUG AND VERY BAD!” Also I’d like to know how to get it on the ballot in Iowa because they didn’t include that!
Also in Iowa, every time I send the letters from norml to our Congress I get the same negative ‘ITS A SCHEDULE 1DRUG AND VERY BAD!” Also I’d like to know how to get it on the ballot so we can vote it in because they didn’t include that!
Representative Joe Moody introduced HB334 to decriminalize marijuana in Texas just a few days ago late during the special session;
https://www.marijuana.com/news/2017/07/bill-introduced-to-decriminalize-marijuana-in-texas/
But Im not seeing a link on the Texas NORML site. I know Jax is busy flying back and forth to DC meeting with Federal legislators. Anyway we can help get a legislative link going?
Moody Chairs the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee meaning he can assure this bill gets heard in committee even though it was introduced late.
Follow up: The medical financing bill already passed through the Special Session in Texas. It appears that the House did not qualify the marijuana bills as “germain.”
Mmj would create millions in revenue for the state budget and its not “germain” to the medical budget?
Update-update for Texas:
(Copied from Heather Fazio, MPP)
Chairman Joe Moody’s House Bill 334 would replace criminal penalties for marijuana possession with a simple ticket. This proposal would allow at least three opportunities for an individual to avoid arrest, jail time, and a criminal record for the possession of up to one ounce.
Today, the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee will discuss the bill and consider testimony. You can watch online now.
http://tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&event_id=3402
Do you have personal or professional experience with our state’s current marijuana laws? If so, please consider sharing it with the committee.
Submit informal written testimony via email to the committee clerk, Rachel Wetzel:
Rachel.Wetzel_hc@house.texas.gov
1) Attaching a PDF file to your email is best. Try to keep it to one page, including all your contact information.
2) The title of your file and subject of your email should be as follows: “First and Last Name — Supporting HB 334”
During the regular session, this version of Chairman Moody’s civil penalties bill passed out of committee and was scheduled for a vote in the Texas House. Unfortunately, the clock ran out before representatives could cast their votes. Tomorrow’s hearing offers us an opportunity to keep this important issue alive and on the table for discussion.
Thank you for your support. Please share this email with friends or family members who might be interested.
I contacted Heather about a mailer daemon and found it was a typo:
rachel.wetsel_hc@house.texas.gov
Its “Wetsel” with an “s” not a “z”
Final update:
The Special Session has closed today… but only after the Texas legislature was given a chance to rewrite the district maps. While it is discouraging that no marijuana legislation was reformed, more encouraging judicial decisions were made:
https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/15/federal-court-invalidates-part-texas-congressional-map/?utm_source=Texas+Tribune+Master&utm_campaign=6b635970f6-trib-newsletters-breaking-alert&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d9a68d8efc-6b635970f6-101235045&mc_cid=6b635970f6&mc_eid=b54ed21e31
“In a unanimous decision Tuesday, a three-judge panel in San Antonio ruled that Congressional Districts 27 and 35 violate the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act. The judges found that Hispanic voters in Congressional District 27, represented by U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, were “intentionally deprived of their opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.”
This means that State Republicans are on call in Texas over marijuana policy like never before. Not only could Blake lose his seat in next year’s elections, (A threat that had Republican Rep. Will Hurd answering marijuana questions in Town Halls with sweat on his brow)… but the threat of Judicial oversight on redistricting the voting maps is REAL now that the Special Session is over and the Republican dominated Texas legislature just gave their right to draw the district voting maps to three latino Democratic Judges out of San Antonio.
This means that Texas will vote on decriminalization and/or medical marijuana in 2019.
How about getting busy in Kansas. No NORML here and it still seems we have to stay under the radar. No choice but to buy whatever is available on the streets.
What can we do in GA?
Email chapters@norml.org for more details!