History of NORML Awards

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 and Kevin Zeese, Esq.
2011	Richard Evans, Esq.
2010	Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D
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, Ph.D.
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, Roc NORML Madisen Saglibene, Nevada NORML
2018	Jeff Riedy, Lehigh Valley NORML
2017	Jamie Kacz, KC NORML
2016	Kevin Oliver, WA NORML
2015	Randy Quast, MN 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, and 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, CA

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, NJ 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	U.S. 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 at Leafly.com
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 and Loren Siegel
2011	Gerald Goldstein, Esq.
2010	Harry Levine, Ph.D and Craig Reinarman, Ph.D
2009	Donald Abrams, MD, USF Medical School
2008	Tony Serra, Esq.
2007	Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D.
2006	Tod Mikuriya, M.D.
2005	Dale Gieringer, Ph.D.
2004	Melanie Dreher, Ph.D., R.N., Dean, University of Iowa School of Nursing
2003	Nadine Strossen, Esq., President, ACLU and Woody Harrelson
2002	Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D, Drug Policy Alliance
2001	Ira Glasser, Director, ACLU
2000	Lynn Zimmer, Ph.D and John Morgan, M.D.
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, CA NORML
2012	Diane Fornbacher, NORML Women’s Alliance
2011	Anna Diaz, OR 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, R.N., 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, M.D.
2010	Richard Bayer, M.D.
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	State Rep. Chris Giunchigliani, (D-NV) State Sen. 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	U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, (D-OR)
2018	U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, (D-HI)
2015	DC Councilperson David Grosso
2011	Congressman Jared Polis, (D-CO)
2010	U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, (D-OR)
2009	Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, (D-CA)
2008	US Rep. Barbara Lee, (D-CA)
2007	Judge James Gray
2006	SF Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, (D-CA)
2002	State Sen. John Vasconcellos, (D-CA)
2001	Gov. Gary Johnson, (R-NM)
1999	Doug Mickelsen