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Reform activists from around the country get all fired up at SF conference |
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Written by Justin Baker
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Monday, 08 August 2005 |
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws:
The smell of freedom hung heavy in the air at the National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Law’s well-attended annual conference when
it came to San Francisco in March.
The group’s new executive director Allen St. Pierre
said this “marks NORML’s return to the Bay area, which was host to our
highly successful 2002 and 2003 annual gatherings, and gave attendees a
unique opportunity to network with other marijuana law reformers.”
 New Hand on the Helm ? NORML?s new national director, Allen St. Pierre, welcomes attendees to the voter initiative panel that covered recent electoral measures in more than six states. Susan Stephenson of Oakland is at left. Photo: Chris Conrad
Sure enough, hundreds came to hear best-selling author and TV travel
guru Rick Steves describe how using cannabis is like going on a travel
adventure with new sights, sounds and sensations. “High is a place you
might want to go sometimes,” he quipped to an appreciative audience.
 A place you might want to go ? TV travel host Rick Steves encouraged activists to keep up their efforts to gain equal rights for cannabis consumers.
Much of the networking activity took place around the display
tables and booths in the hallway, or at the aromatic and dry-mouth
inducing parties that kept people up and talking into the wee hours,
only to get up early for the next day’s presentations.
The packed agenda included talks and workshops focusing on the nuts
and bolts of political organizing, from the many electoral initiatives
that were being pursued around the nation to educating the community to
structured legal challenges and how to be more effective in lobbying
officials.
Panels ranged from the federal/ state schism over medical marijuana
to cultivation tips and changing the image of cannabis users to reflect
their mainstream nature. Women activists were prominently featured, and
in higher numbers than in past years, as St. Pierre had promised its
members.
NORML holds its annual convention and awards ceremony each spring
and hosts a legal seminar for attorneys in December. For more
information on its activities, visit www.norml.org.
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Justin Baker |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 August 2006 )
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