Category Archives: Marijuana Laws

Inhaled Marijuana ‘Clearly Has Medical Value’ For Hard to Treat Chronic Pain Conditions

[Editor's note: This post is excerpted from this week's forthcoming NORML weekly media advisory. To have NORML's media advisories delivered straight to your in-box, sign up for NORML's free e-zine here.] Inhaled cannabis reduces pain and improves sleep compared to placebo, and is well tolerated by patients with ...

Continue Reading »

NORML Action Alert: Urge California’s Gov. Schwarzenegger To Sign Marijuana Infraction Measure

On Monday, members of the California Assembly approved Senate Bill 1449, which reduces adult marijuana possession offenses in California from a criminal misdemeanor to an infraction, by a vote of 43 to 33. The vote split largely along party lines, with Democrats voting 40 to 8 in favor ...

Continue Reading »

NORML Action Alert: Urge California’s Gov. Schwarzenegger To Sign Marijuana Infraction Measure

On Monday, members of the California Assembly approved Senate Bill 1449, which reduces adult marijuana possession offenses in California from a criminal misdemeanor to an infraction, by a vote of 43 to 33. The vote split largely along party lines, with Democrats voting 40 to 8 in favor ...

Continue Reading »

Prohibitionists Say The Darndest Things

Over the weekend the Christian Science Monitor newspaper published the latest installment of their ‘one minute debates’ series. The subject of the debate: “Should California Legalize Pot?” I authored the ‘pro’ argument, which you can read here, and longtime, professional prohibitionist Calvina Fay penned the ...

Continue Reading »

L.A. Times: Some Facts For The Drug Czar — Marijuana’s Social Costs Are Far Less Than Those Of Legal Intoxicants

Last week I posted a brief response to the Los Angeles Times commentary authored by Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske (along with five previous drug czars) condemning California’s Prop. 19. Today the Los Angeles Times has posted my full rebuttal, which I’ve excerpted below. Some marijuana tax revenue ...

Continue Reading »

NORML Conference: Key Speakers, Agenda and Earlybird Discounts Concluding

Key Speakers At 2010 NORML Conference in Portland, Oregon: Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Best-Selling Travel Author and TV Host Rick Steves There are three important components in this 2010 NORML conference alert: -Key Speakers -Early-bird Pricing For Registration Is About ...

Continue Reading »

BBC Video: Cannabis and Human Evolution

While not necessarily ground-breaking science to longtime observers of cannabinoid research and cultural anthropology, the BBC video below (with about 45 seconds of pro-reform advocacy added), featuring US taxpayer-funded medical research conducted just up the road from NORML’s Washington, DC offices at the National Institute of Mental Health is very well done. Question: When will a ...

Continue Reading »

Your Tax Dollars At Work

Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, along with five previous drug czars (including gambling addict William Bennett), have an op/ed in today’s Los Angeles Times condemning California’s Prop. 19. Given that the Drug Czar is required by law to oppose any and all efforts that would seek to ...

Continue Reading »

Pro-Decriminalization Candidate Ahead in Vermont Gubernatorial Primary

Unofficial vote totals show that marijuana decriminalization supporter Peter Shumlin won the Vermont Democratic primary for governor yesterday by an agonizingly tight margin of fewer than 200 votes. Although votes are in from all 260 precincts, towns and cities have a couple of days to certify official results. Currently president pro tempore of the ...

Continue Reading »

MPP’s Rob Kampia Talks Marijuana Reform on Fox Freedom Watch

MPP executive director Rob Kampia appeared on Fox Business News’s “Freedom Watch” with Judge Andrew Napolitano this weekend to discuss the merits of ending marijuana prohibition in the United States. Joined by John Stossel, Rob debated pundit S.E. Cupp, who claimed that marijuana policy reformers were “confused” about how to treat marijuana. “We’re not confused,” Rob responded. ...

Continue Reading »