A young Keith Stroup in the NORML office When I founded NORML over 50 years ago, only 12 percent of the public supported legalizing marijuana. Today, according to just-released polling data compiled by Gallup, a record 70 percent of US adults agree with NORML’s core principle: That the responsible use of cannabis should no longer […]
I am saddened to report that one of the most prominent pillars of NORML, going back to the earliest days of our organization, has died. John Kenneth Zwerling, known as “JZ” to his friends, was a nationally respected criminal defense attorney based in Alexandria, VA. He was committed to progressive political causes and always willing […]
Ironically, the marijuana legalization issue, which was a “hot button” political issue for decades, the discussion of which could almost be guaranteed to destroy a Thanksgiving dinner with extended family, may now become fertile common ground where those of us who may not agree on some other important issues, nonetheless can congregate and begin to rebuild a sense of community.
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It is a good time to be alive if you are a marijuana smoker and it’s only going to get better!
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As we approach the 2020 Presidential election, it is fair to ask what this election means to marijuana consumers. Will the outcome of this Presidential election impact marijuana policy moving forward; and if so, in what way? Elections have consequences, and this election will surely have consequences for the marijuana smoking community.
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This long slow trudge to overcome the misinformation and exaggerated fears about marijuana smoking, and to convert citizens from prohibitionists to legalizers, did not happen on its own. It was the result of the effective public advocacy and lobbying efforts of hundreds of dedicated individuals who made this issue a priority in their lives and refused to accept the status quo, even in a difficult political environment.
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Rick was both a principal sponsor and a major financial supporter of the successful Washington state marijuana legalization initiative approved by the voters of his state in 2012, making Washington, along with Colorado, the first two states to end criminal prohibition and replace it with a legal regulated system.
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There have been many dedicated activists who have contributed significantly to our efforts to end marijuana prohibition over the last five decades. I want to focus this week on a couple of the folks who played a crucial role during the 1970s.
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Just as the government makes a distinction between the responsible use of alcohol and alcohol abuse, we began to insist that they make that same distinction about marijuana use and abuse.
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Only when marijuana is finally legalized in New York state, hopefully very soon, will we see the end results of our efforts to convince New Yorkers that “It’s NORML to Smoke Pot.”
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