cannabisnews.com: NORML Heads Work To Ignite The Troops NORML Heads Work To Ignite The Troops Posted by CN Staff on October 13, 2007 at 16:23:19 PT By Chris Durant, The Times-Standard Source: Times-Standard California -- The 2007 National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws conference started Friday with pep talks from some of NORML's top marijuana legalization advocates. NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre thanked the crowd that filtered into a conference room at the Universal City Sheraton Hotel before trying to spark the activist inside everyone in the room. He said marijuana advocates need to stop hiding. ”I'm work 70 hours a week at NORML because I'm an adult, I smoke cannabis and I don't want to be a criminal,” St. Pierre said. He said that .1 percent of marijuana smokers get involved with decriminalization efforts and challenged the crowd to imagine what would happen if a whole percent of marijuana smokers got involved. ”We need to come off that mountain top ignited for change,” St. Pierre said. “Not united, ignited for change.” Rick Steves, PBS travel show personality and the author numerous travel books, was the featured speaker for the conference's first morning. ”I think it (travel) is like marijuana,” Steves said. “It's different, it's refreshing. When you travel and get high it's like travel squared.” He said his travels have given him the opportunity to see the views on marijuana from a global perspective, including the first time he smoked marijuana, in Afghanistan. ”Everyone gets off the bus, sits around watching a goat get slaughtered and passing around a bong,” Steves said. Steves said that it's hard to understand how some of public in this country perceives marijuana, and that they can take a lesson from other cultures around the world. ”It's no big deal, it's just there,” Steves said. Steves has been able to use his travel guru status to take advantage of discussions with politicians from his home state of Washington. ”They want to talk travel, I want to talk to talk pot,” Steves said. A room to the side of the conference hall was full of vendors. ”I'm probably the only one here that doesn't smoke,” said a woman going by “Philleen,” with nojailforpot.com. “But I believe in the decriminalization of all drugs.” Jacob Roland, outreach director for Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said his organization is working for change in the policy on students losing financial aid due to a drug conviction. ”We're working on getting (a chapter at) Humboldt State,” Roland said. The afternoon panel was called “The Straight Dope: You've got questions, we've got answers.” ”It's not so much our questions that, frankly, worry me, it's the questions of those out there that are misinformed about marijuana,” said Marsha Rosenbaum, director of the San Francisco office of the Drug Policy Alliance. Rosenbaum then talked about one of the more popular question topics she receives at the DPA: Potency. She said reports that marijuana today is more potent or dangerous than marijuana in the past are exaggerated, citing a 20-year-long University of Mississippi study that showed modern marijuana has an average THC level of 8 percent. ”There's nothing remotely or uniquely dangerous to health by consuming weed that's 8 percent THC,” Rosenbaum said. Mitch Earleywine, an associate professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at Albany, spoke about the relationship between marijuana smoking and mental health. ”In all honesty, without marijuana I wouldn't have mental health,” Earleywine said. He said that some questionnaires looking into the link between schizophrenia and marijuana smoking are misleading, like linking “sometimes using strange expressions” to schizophrenia. ”What a surprise, pot smokers said yes to that one,” Earleywine said. “One of my critics said, 'They were probably high when they took the questionnaire.' Good.” He also talked about the link between depression and marijuana smoking. ”The depression data is depressing,'' Earleywine said. Earleywine cited data that showed people who smoke pot weekly or daily are less depressed than people who never use marijuana. The conference continues today, with a critical analysis of the drug war from Matthew Robinson of Appalachian State University and a look at what marijuana-friendly initiatives are upcoming on ballots around the country. Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)Author: Chris Durant, The Times-StandardPublished: October 13, 2007Copyright: 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: editor times-standard.comWebsite: http://www.times-standard.com/Related Article & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/ Marijuana Conference Draws Crowdhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23403.shtmlCannabisNews NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #32 posted by fight_4_freedom on October 16, 2007 at 11:24:53 PT: I'm a norml member I believe it's like 25 bucks a year. I think mpp costs some money to become a member as well. [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by whig on October 16, 2007 at 11:17:16 PT Hope I dunno. Someone here oughta know about that kind of thing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by whig on October 16, 2007 at 11:15:09 PT Dankhank Yeah, TimesSelect went away. I actually met their blog master, and told him why I thought it was a bad idea, and he agreed and said he'd go back and tell his bosses. It was reported within a few days it was going to come down, and then down it came. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by Hope on October 16, 2007 at 07:03:24 PT Whig I'm saying that I think it would be worthwhile to check to see if they, NORML or MPP, have a free membership. I haven't checked. Some organizations allow such, though. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Dankhank on October 16, 2007 at 05:27:24 PT whig you talkin' 'bout NYTimes Select?I knew that had recently gone away, I think I actually tried it a few years ago when it started, but somehow they stopped charging me and I let it go ... missed a lot of columns from some good columnists, but got over it. NYTimes is probably the first site I registered with many moons ago, back in the day ... 98 or so. CN was probably the second.glad "select" went away ...thanks for the up. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by whig on October 16, 2007 at 03:09:18 PT Hope What organization has free membership? NORML?Btw, to Dankhank and whoever wants to use the NYtimes website now, the paywall was taken down. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Hope on October 14, 2007 at 21:47:23 PT A large membership counts more than money. The NRA has many, many members. That means a lot when you're dealing with politicians.If we had as many members in our organizations as they do in that one... we'd be paid more attention to.The reform organizations need money, of course, but they need a large member count more than anything. That large membership makes the pols take considerably more notice, I think.I may be wrong, but I think you can join them as a member, without having to give money... if you can't. If you can, that's even better. I may be wrong, but I think you can put your name on their membership rolls for free. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by taylor121 on October 14, 2007 at 20:34:10 PT what's so bad What's so bad about giving money to pay for signatures to change laws directly and education? You can give the to the educational fund and avoid lobbying if you feel it is wrong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 15:41:34 PT Dankhank I agree with you. We all should do what we feel we should. That's all we can hope for. Organizations are fine but they do what they want and not necessarily what others might want. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Dankhank on October 14, 2007 at 15:08:20 PT activism ... can be done on many levels.From Keith Stroup ... is that his name? ... to those here who merely hold the candle high ... merely? ... not hardly ...can't or won't do more than lurk, here?Copy and paste articles from here or the source and E them to newspapers and politicians ... one page articles are best ... or E some stories from websites ... I find plenty to send from sites such as ...NYTimes requires registration, so obfuscate if you must.CNNMSNBCAlternet.orgslate.comsalon.comeven find an occasional zinger from Fauxnews.com ... my spelling ... may not get you there, but you know what to do ...google Fauxnews.com and click "I'm feeling lucky"we all do what we can ... or not ... peace to all who share knowledge ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 14:35:17 PT Taylor121 I'm sure you are right about that. Lots of people just don't care. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Taylor121 on October 14, 2007 at 14:15:45 PT FoM I think there are many people who don't want the law changed. Some people depend on the high prices that prohibition causes and they don't want to lose their only income. "A small minority of marijuana consumers depend upon it for their income. The real reason why only .1% of marijuana consumers have donated is they are apathetic about the situation. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 12:30:32 PT Dankhank All I can think to say is Thank You! [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Dankhank on October 14, 2007 at 12:19:29 PT Republicans ... have sucked life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness from this country, and most of the world.One reason that the Federal Government got so busy-body is that states couldn't be trusted to do well for ALL the citizens of their respective states.Imagine no Federal civil rights effort ... what would Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi ...et al ... be like today? Many politicians in those states and those states like them would like to return to the "good old days." FTARoe vs Wade ... I don't like the number of children aborted before enjoying the blessings of liberty, but imagine what life would be like for a woman and her ability to choose if ... wait, don't have to imagine ... see Mississippi and South Dakota ... in those and like-minded places even saving mother's lives isn't good enough. FTAI can't think of a single thing that a republican has done for the less-fortunate, 'cept to cut back on virtually every program for these folks, while waging an unwinnable war on people who have the misfortune to live atop millions of barrels of oil. would I be happy if RPaul or, gasp, some other republican ended the drug war? Yes, but at what cost everywhere else?RPaul is a one-issue man for many in this forum ... I don't think he's worth it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 10:23:20 PT OverwhelmSam That's so funny. Good luck on that one. LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 14, 2007 at 10:21:09 PT FoM I'm still trying to find out what color a Smurf turns when you choke it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 10:02:47 PT OverwhelmSam If I am wrong and, if you decide to do some research, please let me know. I don't like being wrong and will correct what I said. If you find links that can help me to know the truth please post them too. Thanks. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 08:19:29 PT OverwhelmSam Now all of the Democrats have answered in a positive manner but not back then. Change comes when an issue gets a lot of media attention and since that time we have advanced and popular support is higher then ever for medical marijuana. Dennis Kucinich was for changing the laws on marijuana for as long as I can remember.I can compare it to the Gay issue. People are way more tolerant of alternative life styles then they were. Time changes perception but we must give divisive issues time. I remember when people got upset over a person getting an organ transplant. Now we don't hear anything about it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 14, 2007 at 08:09:47 PT FoM I hear a lot of candidates promising to leave medical marijuana enforcement up to the states, I just don't know for sure which ones are lying. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 08:06:24 PT OverwhelmSam As best as I can remember Bush was the only one in that election. We aren't where we were back then and now we see more positive then negative at least within the Democrats. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 14, 2007 at 07:54:59 PT FoM Was he the only one? [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by mai_bong_city on October 14, 2007 at 07:54:36 PT not guilty. i am definitely not guilty. i wish i could do more than i have but poverty and illness etc. take many good activists away. it's a stressful job. there is a good article on slate mag regarding laws, 'illegal drugs' and pharmaceuticals.....worth a look perhaps.http://www.slate.com/id/2175730/entry/0/peace, mbc [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 07:50:32 PT OverwhelmSam I might not remember correctly but as far as I know Bush was the only one who said anything about state's rights and we sure know what he has been doing in California. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 14, 2007 at 07:38:50 PT If All You See Is The Word Republican I see a man who will put an end to the fascist federal government and income taxes. All of those programs will be rightly taken over by the states where the People have more control. Ron Paul is the best bet for our cause.It's doubtful that Obama or Clinton will end the war on medical or recreational marijuana users. Other presidential candidates have promised they would leave it up to the states, and lied too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 14, 2007 at 05:41:21 PT Dankhank Thank you so much for your comment. Sometimes I feel all alone in not wanting anymore Republicans in power. They don't seem to care for anyone but big business. I would accept a Clinton Obama ticket but would prefer a Obama Edwards but I'll take whatever combination happens. Even a Gore Obama ticket would be fine. How can anyone not see? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Dankhank on October 13, 2007 at 23:50:15 PT RPaul ... "He can beat the Democratic Nomination and will put an immediate end to the persecution of not only medical marijuana consumers, but recreational cannabis consumers as well. Fascists government and law enforcement will be at an end."and end the Department of Education, welfare, minimum wage, government support for the poor, Roe vs Wade, likely SCHIP, and any of the many items on the Libertarian hitlist that he can.He's against the drug war, not out of compassion but as a Libertarian.I'm glad he's against the Drug war for any reason and gets the topic out in the open, but to hope that ANY republican gets elected for any reason is to say that the last six years were unimportant and the Republicans shouldn't be held accountable.I don't believe he can get the nomination, and don't believe he could win against likely Democratic candidates ...I forsee Clinton/Obama and think it will be unstoppable.Hey all that and a buck will get you a coffee ... at McD's, not starbucks, a peculiar example of the culture of excess grown under Republicans ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 13, 2007 at 21:29:06 PT Taylor121 I think there are many people who don't want the law changed. Some people depend on the high prices that prohibition causes and they don't want to lose their only income. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by RevRayGreen on October 13, 2007 at 21:12:16 PT We would have the other 99%. If Ron Paul is elected POTUS. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 13, 2007 at 20:52:11 PT I'm Supporting Ron Paul He can beat the Democratic Nomination and will put an immediate end to the persecution of not only medical marijuana consumers, but recreational cannabis consumers as well. Fascists government and law enforcement will be at an end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onmPgMMLVU0 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by RevRayGreen on October 13, 2007 at 20:48:03 PT 1%of the Solution here and he is right on with that...........I'm sure most of you read this from www.norml.org along with the above story on the conference.......FEDS RAID DOWNTOWN L.A. MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY by Stuart Silverstein, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, (Source:Los Angeles Times)California ------- Federal agents seized marijuana and cash Thursday night from a medical marijuana dispensary in the loft district near Little Tokyo, officials said. Twenty agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided the Arts District Healing Center in the 600 block of East 1st Street. DEA spokesman Jose Martinez said the agents searched the two-story building for 3 1/4 hours. There were no arrests. Authorities had not determined as of late Thursday night the amount of cash and marijuana they seized, Martinez said. The affidavit submitted by the DEA to search the offices stated that marijuana is classified as a schedule-one controlled substance, "which under federal law means that is not recognized for having any medicinal value." Steven Schectman, a lawyer for the center, said he wasn't surprised by the raid. Referring to the raid, Schectman said, "Unfortunately, we have anticipated something like this could happen, given our past experience with how the situation has been developing in Los Angeles with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the courts." [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Taylor121 on October 13, 2007 at 20:12:28 PT How many are guilty here? "He said that .1 percent of marijuana smokers get involved with decriminalization efforts and challenged the crowd to imagine what would happen if a whole percent of marijuana smokers got involved."How many reading cnews are guilty of not doing anything, of not donating money and writing letters? How much more powerful could we be if more than .1% of marijuana consumers actually did something instead of ignoring it? To think that we could be running initiatives in 10x the # of states if only 1% of marijuana smokers would actually take action about what they talk about. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 13, 2007 at 16:38:41 PT Politicians Still Clinging To Marijuana Hate We need to free the clinging claws of prohibition from the fabric of Society once and for all. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment