The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws presents awards at NORML events, legal seminars and conferences in recognition of extraordinary activism, academic study or political and cultural leadership in the field of marijuana and marijuana policy reform. The awards are named in honor of the lifetime work of their namesake.
Note: Each year there are some awards that are not given. Please scroll down to see the latest recipients.
| NORML’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Grateful Recognition of A Lifetime Dedicated to Reforming Unjust Marijuana Laws and Advancing the Cause of Personal Freedom | |
| 2018 | Dale Gieringer, California NORML, NORML Board of Directors |
| 2017 | Keith Stroup, NORML Founder |
| 2016 | U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, (D-OR) |
| 2015 | Eric Sterling, Criminal Justice Policy Foundation |
| 2012 | Steve Hager, High Times Magazine Kevin Zeese, Esq |
| 2011 | Richard Evans, Esq |
| 2010 | Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD |
| 2009 | Steve Dillon, NORML Board of Directors |
| 2008 | Michael Stepanian, Esq |
| 2007 | Ed Rosenthal |
| 2006 | Dan Viets, Esq, NORML Board of Directors |
| 2005 | Michael Aldrich, PhD |
| 2004 | Paul Kuhn, NORML Board of Directors |
| 2002 | Jack Herer, Author, Emperor Wears No Clothes |
| 2001 | Richard Cowan |
| 1998 | Arnold Trebach |
| NORML’s Outstanding Cannabis Advocate Award for Advancing the Cause of Marijuana Law Reform | |
| 2020 | Alan Robinson, Wisconsin NORML |
| 2019 | Mary Kruger, Rochester NORML Madisen Saglibene, Nevada NORML |
| 2018 | Jeff Riedy, Lehigh Valley NORML |
| 2017 | Jamie Kacz, Kansas City NORML |
| 2016 | Kevin Oliver, Washington NORML |
| 2015 | Randy Quast, Minnesota NORML and Portland NORML |
| 2012 | Erik Williams |
| 2011 | Warren Edson, Esq |
| 2010 | Leland Berger, Esq, NORML Legal Committee |
| 2009 | Richard Lee, Oaksterdam |
| 2008 | Seattle Hempfest |
| 2007 | Diane and Bryan Brickner, Illinois NORML John and Heather Masterson, Montana NORML |
| 2006 | Mason Tvert, SAFER |
| 2005 | Stephen Epstein, Esq |
| 2004 | Chris Conrad, Court-Qualified Cannabis Expert Mikki Norris, Cannabis Consumers Campaign |
| 2003 | Elvy Musikka, Federal Medical Marijuana Patient |
| Outstanding NORML Chapter Award in Recognition of the Important Role Of Volunteer Activists Organized as Local and Regional NORML Chapters in the Fight to Legalize Marijuana | |
| 2020 | North Carolina NORML |
| 2019 | Virginia NORML |
| 2018 | Chicago NORML |
| 2017 | Texas NORML |
| 2016 | Florida NORML |
| 2015 | Maryland NORML |
| 2012 | Orange County NORML |
| NORML’s Student Activism Award for Motivating and Empowering Young People to End Marijuana Prohibition | |
| 2020 | Cassidy Crockett-Verba, Virginia NORML |
| 2016 | Chris Thompson, Purdue NORML |
| 2011 | Evan Nison, New Jersey NORML |
| 2010 | Jesse Stout, UC Hastings College of the Law |
| 2009 | Derek Copp, Grand Valley State University, MI |
| 2008 | University of Central Florida Chapter |
| 2007 | John Cleveland Lucy, Chapel Hill NORML |
| 2006 | Lauren Vazquez, University of California, Santa Barbara NORML |
| 2005 | Chris Mulligan, Florida State University NORML |
| 2004 | Richard Bradford, Florida State University NORML |
| 2003 | Shawn Heller, Students for Sensible Drug Policy |
| NORML Board of Directors Special Appreciation Award | |
| 2017 | Ann Lee |
| 2015 | Rep. Steve Cohen, Memphis, TN |
| 2015 | Chris Goldstein, Philly NORML |
| 2011 | Ben Masel |
| 2007 | Hunter S. Thompson (posthumously) |
| 2006 | Tommy Chong, Comedian/Actor |
| 2006 | Jon Nicholson, Musician |
| 2006 | Phil Harvey, DKT Liberty Project |
| 2004 | R. Keith Stroup, Esq |
| 2001 | John Gilmore |
| Earl Blumenauer Trailblazer Award Award in Recognition of Pioneering Lawmakers Who Make a Path Toward Cannabis Legalization for Other Legislators to Follow | |
| 2024 | US Representative Earl Blumenauer, (D-OR) |
| Hunter S. Thompson NORML Media Award for Outstanding Achievement in Advancing the Cause of Ending Marijuana Prohibition | |
| 2020 | Laura Judy, NORML Digital Administrator |
| 2019 | Tom Angell, Marijuana Moment |
| 2017 | Chris Goldstein |
| 2016 | Bruce Barcott, Deputy Editor, Leafly |
| 2012 | Dominic Holden, Seattle Stranger |
| 2011 | WestWord |
| 2010 | Reason Foundation |
| 2009 | High Times Magazine |
| 2008 | Media Awareness Project, Inc (in memory of Derek Rea) |
| 2007 | Michael Gray |
| 2006 | Fred Gardner, Editor, O’Shaughnessy’s |
| 2005 | Rick Steves, Best Selling Travel Author and TV Host |
| 2004 | Steve Bloom, Editor, High Times Magazine |
| 2002 | Bill Maher |
| 2001 | Ron Mann, Director, Grass: The Movie |
| Lester Grinspoon Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Marijuana Law Reform in Grateful Recognition of Tireless Dedication to Reforming Unjust Marijuana Laws, the Selfless Devotion to Advancing the Cause of Personal Freedom and the Willingness, Regardless of the Professional Consequences | |
| 2016 | Harry Levine Loren Siegel |
| 2011 | Gerald Goldstein, Esq |
| 2010 | Harry Levine, PhD Craig Reinarman, PhD |
| 2009 | Donald Abrams, MD, USF Medical School |
| 2008 | Tony Serra, Esq |
| 2007 | Mitch Earleywine, PhD |
| 2006 | Tod Mikuriya, MD |
| 2005 | Dale Gieringer, PhD |
| 2004 | Melanie Dreher, PhD, RN, Dean, University of Iowa School of Nursing |
| 2003 | Nadine Strossen, Esq, President, ACLU Woody Harrelson |
| 2002 | Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD, Drug Policy Alliance |
| 2001 | Ira Glasser, Director, ACLU |
| 2000 | Lynn Zimmer, PhD John Morgan, MD |
| 1999 | Lester Grinspoon, MD |
| Michael J. Kennedy Social Justice Award | |
| 2020 | Lester Grinspoon, MD (posthumously) |
| 2019 | Bernardine R. Dohrn |
| 2018 | Michael E. Tigar |
| 2016 | Gerald H. Goldstein, Esq |
| Pauline Sabin Award in Recognition of Exceptional Community Organization Dedicated to Repealing Marijuana Prohibition | |
| 2018 | Cynthia Ferguson, Delaware NORML |
| 2016 | Pamela Novy, Virginia NORML |
| 2015 | Ellen Komp, California NORML |
| 2012 | Diane Fornbacher, NORML Women’s Alliance |
| 2011 | Anna Diaz, Oregon NORML |
| 2010 | Steph Sherer, Americans for Safe Access |
| 2009 | Tonya Davis, Ohio Medical Cannabis Activist |
| 2008 | Alison Chinn-Holcomb, Esq |
| 2007 | Madeline Martinez, Oregon NORML |
| 2006 | Mikki Norris, Equal Rights For All |
| 2005 | Debbie Goldsberry, Berkeley Patients Group |
| 2004 | Mary Lynn Mathre, RN, Patients Out Of Time |
| Peter McWilliams Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Advancing the Cause of Medical Marijuana | |
| 2020 | Lance Lenau, Mid-Missouri NORML |
| 2018 | Dan Viets, Missouri NORML, NORML Board of Directors |
| 2016 | Ken Wolski |
| 2012 | Clint Werner, Author, San Francisco |
| 2011 | David Bearman, MD |
| 2010 | Richard Bayer, MD |
| 2009 | Don Duncan, Americans for Safe Access |
| 2008 | Dennis Peron |
| 2007 | Martin Martinez, Lifevine |
| 2006 | Jane Weirich (posthumously) |
| 2005 | Angel Raich and Diane Monson Jacki Rickert and Gary Storck, I.M.M.L.Y. |
| 2004 | Irv Rosenfeld, Federal Medical Marijuana Patient |
| 2003 | Cheryl and Jim Miller Mike and Valerie Corral, W.A.M.M. |
| 2002 | Representative Chris Giunchigliani, (D-NV) Senator Mark Leno, (D-CA) |
| 2001 | Terence Hallinan, District Attorney, San Francisco |
| Rufus King, Sr. Award for Outstanding Public Leadership in the Field of Marijuana Law Reform | |
| 2020 | Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman |
| 2019 | US Senator Ron Wyden, (D-OR) |
| 2018 | US Representative Tulsi Gabbard, (D-HI) |
| 2015 | DC Councilperson David Grosso |
| 2011 | Congressman Jared Polis, (D-CO) |
| 2010 | US Representative Earl Blumenauer, (D-OR) |
| 2009 | Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, (D-CA) |
| 2008 | US Representative Barbara Lee, (D-CA) |
| 2007 | Judge James Gray |
| 2006 | SF Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, (D-CA) |
| 2002 | Senator John Vasconcellos, (D-CA) |
| 2001 | Governor Gary Johnson, (R-NM) |
| 1999 | Doug Mickelsen |
| NORML Cannabis and Culinary Award | |
| 2008 | Charlie Baggs and Newman (Chicago, IL) |
| 2007 | Chris Lanter (Cache Cache, Aspen, CO) |