February 1, 2019
Everyday NORML Chapters from around the country invest countless hours in advocating for meaningful marijuana law reforms on the local, state and federal level! Below is a brief rundown of some of their most recent accomplishments.
NORML Chapters Organized and Energized for State Legislative Sessions in 2019
“That’s why dozens of NORML chapters are organizing citizen lobby days to advocate for the end of marijuana prohibition and other reforms ranging from depenalization and expungement, to workplace drug testing and social consumption.”
Read more from NORML.org!
Follow NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Chicago NORML Continues Push for Diversity in Cannabis Industry
“Recognizing the short window of time available to shape the cannabis industry in Illinois, Chicago NORML and BlackRoots Alliance plan to bring the issues of racial equity and restorative justice in the cannabis industry to the forefront of the public’s attention.”
Read more from In These Times!
Follow Chicago NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Mid-Missouri NORML Hosted Medical Marijuana Panel Discussion
“Because voters approved Amendment 2 in the November general election, the panel will discuss how medical marijuana will work in Missouri, along with what constitutional rights people have when dealing with police.”
Read more from the Missourian!
Follow Mid-Missouri NORML on Facebook and become a member today!
Texas NORML Hosted Advocacy Training for 2019 Legislative Session
“The Texas chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws hosted an advocacy training day on Saturday with Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy and Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition.”
Read more from the Austin Business Journal!
Follow Texas NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Virginia NORML Hosted 2019 Cannabis Conference and Lobby Day
“About 150 people, including health care providers and attorneys, attended the Virginia 2019 Cannabis Conference, held by the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.”
Read more from WTKR News 3!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Washington NORML Continues to Make Home Cultivation a Top Legislative Priority
“Bailey Hirschburg of the Washington chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws contended that all other states with legalized recreational marijuana have allowed home-growing for recreational use.”
Read more from Crosscut!
Follow Washington NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
NORML Leaders in the Media
Ashley Weber, Executive Director, Colorado NORML
“It’s about getting to know your representatives, and writing them daily if something’s important. Make appointments, become an acquaintance with them.”
Read more from NORML!
Follow Colorado NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Brian Seamonson, Deputy Director, Madison NORML
“I think it’s there and people are coming around,” Seamonson said. “They’re not being afraid to talk about it anymore.”
Read more from Wisconsin Public Radio!
Follow Madison NORML on Facebook and become a member today!
Chris Cano, Executive Director, Central Florida NORML
“The method of ingestion for someone utilizing medical marijuana should be between them and their doctor, not the state legislature.”
Read more from WFLA News 8!
Follow Central Florida NORML on Facebook and become a member today!
Cindy Cutler, Board Member, Virginia NORML
“We would certainly like to see other Commonwealth’s Attorneys follow the lead of Greg Underwood and would like to see our General Assembly this year address the decriminalization of marijuana.”
Read more from WTKR 3!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Dan Viets, Executive Director, Missouri NORML
“Boone County voters clearly favor making marijuana possession enforcement a very low priority. It would be very appropriate for our prosecutors to do the same thing that the prosecutors in St. Louis County, St. Louis City and Jackson County have already done.”
Read more from KOMU 8!
Follow Missouri NORML on Facebook and become a member today!
David Phipps, Communication Director, Indiana NORML
“CBD is usually the first step most states take, because it does not have THC in it. Or it has extremely low amounts.”
Read more from My Wabash Valley!
Follow Indiana NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Doug Green, Legislative Director, Empire State NORML
“They are big, basically out-of-state corporations, some of which are publicly traded, and they don’t represent the communities that need to have equity in the industry, not just an opportunity for jobs or job training.”
Read more from Crain’s!
Follow Empire State NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Ellen Komp, Deputy Director, California NORML
“Keeping in place local bans on retail outlets and consumption rooms and keeping the state law allowing employers to continue to discriminate against workers for off the job abuse of cannabis, even for medical use.”
Read more from 790 KABC!
Follow California NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Ellen Komp, Deputy Director, California NORML
“Right now, the money from Measure D could be used for anything. We’re going to have to hold public officials accountable to make sure this happens.”
Read more from The Potrero View!
Follow California NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Ellen Komp, Deputy Director, California NORML
“We’re hearing rumors that there may be legislation in Sacramento this year to put into law a provision to strike deliveries around the state.”
Read more from SF Weekly!
Follow California NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Ellen Komp, Deputy Director, California NORML
“The positive socialization aspect of cannabis use is long-established and forcing people to consume only in their homes (if permitted) separates people unnecessarily.”
Read more from Cannabis Now!
Follow California NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Ellen Komp, Deputy Director, California NORML
“Lowering state excise taxes will help the legal marijuana industry gain a better foothold over the black market in California.”
Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune!
Follow California NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Eric Marsch, Executive Director, Southeastern Wisconsin NORML
“We ask that he include cannabis law reform, ideally in the form of adult recreational legalization, in his upcoming budget proposal so we can finally put an end to the injustices of cannabis prohibition.”
Read more from the Green Bay Progressive!
Follow Southeastern Wisconsin NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Eric Marsch, Executive Director, Southeastern Wisconsin NORML
“They had on average a 25-percent reduction in both opiate overdose deaths and admissions to treatment for opiate addiction.”
Read more from the WTMJ TV!
Follow Southeastern Wisconsin NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Jax Finkle, Executive Director, Texas NORML
“I’m going to kick off the night talking about the Farm Bill.”
Read more from Dallas News!
Follow Texas NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Jay Selthofner, Executive Director, Northern Wisconsin NORML
“The best way to combat illicit marijuana coming into your state is to develop a program opposite of prohibition.”
Read more from Fox 11!
Follow Northwest Wisconsin NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Jay Selthofner, Executive Director, Northern Wisconsin NORML
“It is going to be a business that wants to open up within the boundary of a municipality that will be the one willing to spend the resources needed to petition.”
Read more from the Daily Press!
Follow Northwest Wisconsin NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Jenn Michelle Pedini, Executive Director, Virginia NORML
“It’s time for the courts of justice committee in the Senate to advance this legislation. If it doesn’t get a floor vote we can only look to the controlling members of those committees who are not supporting what Virginians are demanding.”
Read more from WHSV 3!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Jenn Michelle Pedini, Executive Director, Virginia NORML
“Cannabis policy will be the loudest it’s ever been on the campaign trail in 2019.”
Read more from the Richmond Free Press!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Jenn Michelle Pedini, Executive Director, Virginia NORML
“Three quarters of Virginians support marijuana decriminalization or ‘fines not crimes,’ and nine out of ten Virginians support doctor-recommended medical cannabis.”
Read more from Alt Daily!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Jenn Michelle Pedini, Executive Director, Virginia NORML
“These members are primarily prosecutors, former prosecutors, former law enforcement, and maintaining the status quo is something that works for them.”
Read more from Public New Service!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Jenn Michelle Pedini, Executive Director, Virginia NORML
“Will Virginia eventually decriminalize personal possession of marijuana? Yes. Will it be in 2019? That’s very unlikely.”
Read more from Southside Daily!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Jenn Michelle Pedini, Executive Director, Virginia NORML
“In 2016, we passed a bill that let us go forth and write a regulatory program that was based on Connecticut’s then-program, which was also low-THC, extraction-based products only and served to a small set of patients.”
Read more from WTVR CBS 6!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Jesse Scaccia, Fundraising Director, Virginia NORML
“The facts and the research are on our side, we are very lucky that there are 10 states ahead of us with adult regulated use so that’s essentially ten case studies.”
Read more from 13 News Now!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Jesse Scaccia, Fundraising Director, Virginia NORML
“Just as every Virginian should be able to enjoy a bourbon or a beer in their home, so they should enjoy marijuana.”
Read more from WAVY TV 10!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Josh Brard, President, Purdue NORML
“Marijuana became illegal not because of what it is but because of the propaganda behind it, and propaganda is just misinformation.”
Read more from The Exponent!
Follow Purdue NORML on Facebook and become a member today!
Katie Clifton, Board Member, Virginia NORML
“We are very frustrated that the General Assembly is not listening to what the majority of voters are saying about marijuana legislation.”
Read more from WDBJ 7!
Follow Virginia NORML on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and become a member today!
Kevin Oliver, Executive Director, Washington NORML
“I believe there will be a home-grow bill this year.”
Read more from the Inlander!
Follow Washington NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Lee Otts, Executive Director, Memphis NORML
“While we’re encouraged by republicans coming forward with it, we’re cautiously optimistic about what it should contain.”
Read more from Local Memphis!
Follow Memphis NORML on Facebook and become a member today!
Matthew Abel, Executive Director, Michigan NORML
“He was one of the first to go public that marijuana should be legal and has stayed with the fight all these many years. It’s great that we have him as a senior leader of the movement.”
Read more from Fox 17!
Follow Michigan NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Matthew Abel, Executive Director, Michigan NORML
“We replaced the governor and Gretchen Whitmer replaced the director of LARA and even in this first month they already have taken action to benefit patients.”
Read more from The Manchester Mirror!
Follow Michigan NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Rick Thompson, Board Member, Michigan NORML
“When these specialty medications are not available, it significantly affects the health and welfare of the people across the state. That should be a cause for concern for everyone involved.”
Read more from the Lansing City Pulse!
Follow Michigan NORML on Facebook and Twitter and become a member today!
Tom Gallagher, Board Member, Minnesota NORML
“A majority of Republican voters support legalization, so it is a bipartisan issue.”
Read more from KARE 11!
Follow Minnesota NORML on Facebook and become a member today!
Tom Gallagher, Board Member, Minnesota NORML
“About 500 people per year have been going to prison in Minnesota for marijuana cases.”
Read more from WCCO TV!
Follow Minnesota NORML on Facebook and become a member today!
Marijuana policy should be evidence based. Help dispel the myths and misinformation with NORML’s Fact Sheets!
For more than 45 years NORML chapters have been the driving force behind policy decisions on the local and state level. Have you connected with your local NORML chapter? If there isn’t one in your community, please email NORML Outreach Director Kevin Mahmalji at KevinM@NORML.org for help with starting your own!
Ready to start a NORML chapter in your hometown? Click here to find out how!
