cannabisnews.com: New York Gala Premiere of GRASS to Benefit NORML New York Gala Premiere of GRASS to Benefit NORML Posted by FoM on April 27, 2000 at 13:58:49 PT May 22, 2000 - New York, NY. Source: NORML Years in the making, Ron Mann's feature documentary presents a humorous and surprisingly balanced history of recreational marijuana use in the late 20th century. Those who remain pure will see the degradation they've been missing. Those who have succumbed to temptation will learn how nice people like themselves became dangerous criminals. Narrated by Woody Harrelson, "GRASS" is a disaster movie with a cast of 60 million. Preview screening to benefit NORML7:00 pm AMC Empire 25 Theatres234 W. 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues) A party will immediately follow at:Bar Code1540 Broadway (between 45th and 46th Streets)9:00 - 11:00 pm Tickets are $50 each.To reserve tickets or for more information, please call 1-888-67-NORML. Seating is limited. May Calendar Details: Millennium Marijuana MarchMay 6, 2000. International.For information about the march in your area please visit: http://www.cannabis2000.comBenefit for Todd McCormick at The House of BluesMay 7, 2000. Los Angeles, CA.Spitfire presents a benefit for Todd McCormick.http://content.colleges.com/spitfire/pages/Confirmed Speakers: Bill Maher, Michael Franti, Krist Noveselic, Exene Cervenka, Kennedy, more TBA...Spearhead will perform after everyone speaks, tickets will be $20.All money will go to Todd (venue rental is $7,000). Please come support Todd, he really needs us to get together & raise hell for him.Fifth Annual Thomas Jefferson Birthday CelebrationMay 13, 2000. St. Louis, MO. St. Louis NORML is jointly sponsoring this celebration with the area Libertarian Party and ACLU. The celebration is in St. Louis' Tower Grove Park at the Stone Shelter. In words, music and dance we will celebrate the life of one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, Marijuana Grower and Third President of the United States. Local group MADAM SKY has been the first to donate its musical talents to the modest fest. Libertarian candidates for Federal, State and local offices will be among the speakers. http://www.aclu.org/http://www.lp.org/http://mo-norml.org/ Cal NORML Press Release - Apr 24, 2000Gov. Davis Presses Assembly to Re-Enact "Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License" AB 2595 Approved by Assembly Public Safety CommitteeSACRAMENTO, April 24: In an unexpected revival of the reefer madness of the Wilson-Lungren era, a bill to re-impose California's expired "Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License" law was approved by the State Assembly Public Safety Committee today under pressure from Gov. Gray Davis. The bill, AB 2595, is sponsored by Assemblyman Dean Florez (D-Fresno).To the surprise and outrage of civil libertarians, Gov. Davis made it known that he supports a federal mandate requiring states to impose an automatic, six-month drivers' license suspension for all drug offenses, regardless of whether they are driving related, and that he would refuse to sign a statement agreeing to an "opt-out" provision previously approved by the legislature. Under federal law, the state stands to lose $100 million in highway funds unless either the legislature passes a license suspension bill, or the Governor agrees to sign an opt-out statement.In a compromise with Gov. Pete Wilson, who had sponsored the original federal license suspension mandate, the legislature reluctantly passed a temporary "Smoke a Joint Lose Your License" bill in 1997, together with a permanent "opt-out" bill by Sen. Quentin Kopp, which had been widely expected to take effect once the former expired last July.Gov. Davis' failure to agree to the opt-out measure evoked howls of protest from marijuana rights advocates, who had hoped that the new administration would mark an improvement over its Republican predecessors.In addition to NORML, the bill was opposed by the ACLU, the California AFL-CIO, the Teamsters, the California School Employees Association, the Service Employees International Union, and other labor groups."AB 2595 is an outrage to common sense," said California NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer, "It makes it a worse driving offense to possess a joint in your pocket or purse at home than to be caught speeding, driving recklessly, or with open liquor containers in the car."The "Smoke a Joint Lose Your License" mandate was devised by the Bush administration as an attack on California's marijuana decriminalization law, which has saved the state an estimated $100 million per year in court and arrest costs. By requiring a license suspension for minor pot possession offenses, the law effectively forces California's 46,000 minor pot offenders, whose charges would otherwise be dismissed with a ticket, to come back into court to defend their licenses at an estimated cost to the state of millions of dollars per year.Thirty-two other states, including every state west of Texas, have adopted "opt-out" legislation. A California poll by David Binder found that voters oppose "Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License" by 2-1.Defenders of the license suspension provision cite a DMV study claiming to show that drug offenders have worse driving records. However, the DMV study fails to control for the age and sex of the offenders, who are predominantly young males. Adjusted for age and sex, the DMV data indicate that drug offenders are no worse than other drivers.Concerned Californians should make their view known to Gov. Davis, State Capitol, Sacramento CA 95814: (916) 445-2841; FAX (916) 445-4633; L.A. office (213) 897-0322 FAX (213) 897-0319; S.F. office (415) 703-2218.http://home.igc.org/~canorml/CannabisNews Articles By Dale Gieringer:http://google.com/search?num=10&q=cannabisnews+Dale+Gieringer+site:cannabisnews.comEmail: graydavis governor.ca.govNewsHawk: Jeaneoushttp://homepages.go.com/~marthag1/jeancows.htmCannabisNews Articles & Archives On NORML Related Items:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtmlhttp://google.com/search?lc=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+NORML+site:cannabisnews.com Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by dddd on April 28, 2000 at 05:49:16 PT turncoat Shame on you Mr. Davis!This just verifies the buyable nature of the Republicrat/Democan regime....I'm disgusted....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by fivepounder on April 27, 2000 at 15:08:23 PT our governor Its hard to believe Grey Davis was in Jerry Brown's administration. He's Wilson with a smile just as Lockear is also Lungrun without the hostility. California is the only state west of Texas not to opt out. This is insane. What about Prop 215 and cerfified medical patients? I will never ever vote for Davis again. There needs to be a march to Sacramento about this. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: