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| Key West To Host NORML Seminar |
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Posted by CN Staff on November 28, 2006 at 06:13:34 PT By Christine Braden, Florida Keys Keynoter Source: Bradenton Herald 
Florida -- The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is not your typical organization and its legal tutorials are not part of your typical seminar. But then again, Key West is not your typical city.NORML, a lobbying organization that advocates legalizing the responsible use of marijuana, is holding its 24th annual legal seminar at the Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa in Key West next week. "Key West has been enjoyed as a place that values personal freedom," Keith Stroup said. Stroup founded the organization in 1970 and currently acts as legal counsel for the group. Throughout the 1990s, several people ran medical-marijuana distribution centers within the city, though many of the quietly run clubs found themselves shut down by federal agents for their still-illegal operations. According to the NORML news archive, one such Key West closure occurred when a medical-marijuana club founder Zvi Baranoff faced felony drug charges in 1997. Prosecutors dropped the charges after then-Circuit Court Judge Richard Payne acknowledged that marijuana sales could be called a "medical necessity," and legal analysts claimed the find was groundbreaking. NORML's Key West legal seminar brings down close to 130 lawyers, most of whom have expertise in criminal defense, from across the country. Those who attend earn continuing-education credits, required by most states. "By coming to NORML's seminar in Key West, they will get the same number of credits as they would for going to a bar-association conference, but it's also a vacation," Stroup said. Those attending will hear lectures on important cases over the past year, suppressing evidence, defending against malicious prosecution and wrongful imprisonment. The seminar takes place from Thursday to Dec. 2. Source: Bradenton Herald (FL) CannabisNews NORML Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #9 posted by whig on November 30, 2006 at 15:11:59 PT |
| California is a big state, different counties have different circumstances. The truth is unless you are involved in distribution of substantially large quantities of cannabis, the feds don't much care and don't have the resources to bother you. I don't feel remotely at risk of persecution here, but I acknowledge that others are not as fortunate and that needs to change. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by global_warming on November 30, 2006 at 07:43:05 PT |
| It is true about MSM periodicals, was thinking, next time I have to go see a doctor or a dentist, while sitting in the waiting room, looking through all those magazines, maybe I will drop off a recently printed copy of cannabis news (MPP-NORML), so the next person may have a chance to look at it...
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| Comment #7 posted by unkat27 on November 30, 2006 at 06:20:56 PT |
| Okay, good point. Of course, the feds still go about harassing pro-cannabis clubs and people, making raids, wrecking things, stealing stuff (including cannabis and money), and prosecuting people like Rosenthal and others that grow and provide cannabis to clubs, etc... while the California cops lay back and let them, sometimes even providing support, because they haven't got the balls to go up against the feds. It's a funny kind of legality in California, from where I watch. They should make a reality tv show about it, I'm sure it would be very popular. Feds bullying private citizens in a state embracing the sovereign revoltionary spirit, "Don't Tread on Us!" while the cops sit back and let the feds have their way, when they should be "protecting and serving" the citizens, not lending support to their persecution and humiliation. I'd love to see a reality-based show that covers every angle of the California cannabis wars with the feds. It could be a learning experience. I dunno exactly, but my guess is the reason why California managed to get a popular vote in favor of marijuana legalization before any other state has something to do with the number of Woodstock generation artists that made out quite well after Vietnam and gave into that California dreamin thing. If only we were all so lucky, we might not have to move to the west coast, we could just build something like it anywhere and everywhere. California is, from what i understand, the numero uno "Vacation state". Legal cannabis is probabaly good for tourism and the market, including home-sales. Maybe if my animation flies well enough, i'll see ya'll soon. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by whig on November 29, 2006 at 10:41:05 PT |
| Out here on the West Coast, we've already changed the law. So don't think it can't be done. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by unkat27 on November 29, 2006 at 08:48:45 PT |
| But my point is the MSM DOES REACH MORE AMERICANS than something like a NORML newsletter, and so long as it has a wider audience, more and more Americans are being dumbed-down by it. Mags like Time and Newsweek, just to name the most prominent, are literally everywhere in public places like that community medical facility, libraries, schools, etc... we can't say the same about NORML publications, or any of the pro-cannabis orgs publications. Why? Because the corporate pigs that are mostly prohibitionists prohibit even the public circulation of the pro-cannabis agenda via printed and televised publications. I once saw a PBS documentary that was somewhat sympathetic towards pro-cannabis orgs and people, but it was just as understanding towards the cops and DEA that fight the war. Nowhere on either PBS or any other channel have I ever seen anything pro-cannabis, short of Cheech and Chong's adventures, and those are sold as zany comedy/fantasies. On the other hand, I have seen tons of anti-cannabis propaganda on all the major networks and Cable tv. I have to wonder, when the MSM is so dominated by the wrong messages, the anti-cannabis prohibitionist BS, despite all that the pro-cannabis orgs are doing, it seems that the MSM is putting just enough if not more than enough doubt in people's minds about the cannabis issue to keep it illegal and ensure that the drug war fiasco and the DEA will continue to waste billions of tax-payer dollars every year and marginalize while persecuting cannabis users forever without end. The MSM prohibitionist propaganda creates doubt, and as long as there is that doubt, there may always be too many dumbed-down Americans for the pro-cannabis orgs to make any real difference. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by whig on November 28, 2006 at 21:16:45 PT |
| If we had to rely on the corporate mainstream media, you'd be right. We don't, and they are only discrediting themselves. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by ekim on November 28, 2006 at 19:50:18 PT |
| in fact i wonder how many will see what you said about the story compaired to how many will read the mag itself. here in MI over at Lansing today a Med Cannabis Hearing was held by Rep LaMar Lemmons III. it was packed and i was out in the hall. i believe that Irv Rosenfelt from FL was speaking i could see him holding the Golden Tin and waving a dubee saying that it does not kill. How he has been getting govt swag for 24 years and has been married for 33 the guy was so good i was proud to hear him refute all the bs of the drug czar. well all i mean is thanks for all you are doing [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by unkat27 on November 28, 2006 at 18:57:15 PT |
| The one with the Pope's story about going on a middle east peace mission? I saw it at the community medical facility today and it had a section in the letters called, "This Bud's Not for You", which included three anti-cannabis letters, apparently all written by Americans opposed to marijuana legalization, and not one in favor of it! The only letter that even comes close to pro-cannabis is from a college student that claims he hangs with a bunch of students that use it but doesn't use it himself because he doesn't like the effects. It makes it sound like he thinks they're all stupid for using cannabis at the saem time as condoning it as their freedom of choice. Talk about one-sided biased journalism! And you people thought the dems taking back congress would change things. Fat chance! The corporate pigs rule all! They say what is printed and aired by the MSM, not the people! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by global_warming on November 28, 2006 at 14:31:13 PT |
| Now that you have a new governor, might I take a moment to say good-bye, that is also spelled good riddence, hope that Charlie Crist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Crist will be a better leader. [ Post Comment ] |
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