Ask NORML: Hemp for Victory?

A new installment of ‘Ask NORML’ is now streaming on NORMLtv. This week’s topic, voted on by our Facebook fans, is marijuana’s non-psychoactive sister, hemp. In this segment, Executive Director Allen St. Pierre discusses hemp’s utility as well as its place in the overall marijuana law reform movement.

Subscribe to NORMLtv and visit NORML’s Facebook page for announcements regarding future ‘Ask NORML’ episodes. Please submit your medical use related questions here and we’ll do our best to answer as many as we can.

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NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up

Marijuana law reform legislation is pending in over twenty states, and liberalization measures have been pre-filed in many more. Below is this week’s edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Round Up — activists’ one-stop guide to the latest statewide votes and happenings relevant to marijuana law reform.

For a listing of all of the pending marijuana law reform proposals that NORML is tracking, please visit NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here. (For a map of pending legislation, please visit here.)

Arizona: The Arizona Department of Health Services last week finalized rules for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Program. Patients may begin qualifying for the program next week, and dispensary applications will be accepted beginning June 1. Program rules, physician certification forms, and answers to frequently asked questions are all available online here. Arizona is the fifteenth state since 1996 to allow for the use of medical cannabis by qualified patients.

Connecticut: On Tuesday, members of the Joint Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly voted in favor Governor’s Bill No. 1015, which seeks to allow qualified patients to use and cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. The Committee is expected to act on separate decriminalization legislation (See NORML’s recent op/ed in favor here) imminently. You can support both proposals via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here and here. You can get involved with Connecticut NORML here.

Delaware: On Thursday, March 30, members of the Delaware Senate voted 18 to 3 in favor of Senate Bill 17, The Delaware Medical Marijuana Act. The measure now awaits action from the House of Representatives. You can contact your House member in support of this effort via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here.

Montana: Members of the Montana Senate last week resurrected and then passed House Bill 161, which repeals the state’s six-year-old, voter-approved medical marijuana law. Senate lawmakers voted 29 to 21 in favor of the GOP-backed measure, which had previously stalled in committee. The bill is now expected to go before Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, who has voiced support for the state’s medical cannabis program. You can contact the Governor and urge him to veto this draconian legislation here. Additional information is available from our allies Montana NORML and Patients & Families United.

North Carolina: Legislation that seeks to legalize the physician-supervised use of medical marijuana has been reintroduced in the North Carolina legislature. House Bill 577 amends state law to “authorize an individual to use marijuana for medical purposes as directed by a physician.” HB 577 would allow patients both the ability to cultivate their own cannabis at home or to purchase it at state licensed distribution centers. This proposal has been referred to the House Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations, but has yet to be assigned a hearing. You can urge your lawmakers to support this proposal here.

Vermont: Senate lawmakers are expected to act this week on SB 17, which seeks to allow for state-licensed facilities to provide medical marijuana to authorized patients. Similar legislation is already in place in several states, including Colorado, Maine, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. You can contact your state Senator about SB 17 via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here.

Announcing The NORML Network – Marijuana Podcasts 24/7

I’m excited to announce the next outreach project from NORML – The NORML Network.

It’s a twenty-four hour internet radio station of news, opinion, interviews, music, and live event coverage for the cannabis community. You can listen live anytime by visiting http://live.norml.org on your browser or by installing the Stickam app for your smartphone.  Our anchor show, NORML SHOW LIVE, airs at 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern and new shows run 5pm-9pm Pacific / 8pm-Midnight Eastern.

For three years I have been the host of NORML’s official podcast, the NORML Daily Audio Stash, founded by longtime NORML activist Chris Goldstein two years before that.  Back then, we were among a handful of people spreading the growing truth about cannabis on the internet.

Now we can bring you shows from all over the country and even one show from England – Cannabis Cure UK who’s fighting for medical marijuana access in Britain.

The Hot Box from Kalispell, Montana, just last month brought us eyewitness coverage of the latest DEA raids.

John Doe Radio and Mile High NORML have been covering the contentious DUID hearings in Denver.

Cannabis States of America fights prohibition in the South from Florida, the toughest region of the country for reformers.

Green Central Station reports from Des Moines, Iowa, the state with statistically the fewest tokers in America.

Three shows, Cannabis Agenda, California Marijuana Report, and Hollywood Hemptress Hour cover the Golden State from north to south.

Cannabis Times Radio takes us bi-coastal with reports from New York City and Los Angeles.

Drug Truth Network’s Cultural Baggage and Century of Lies from Houston interviews the top national figures in drug law reform.

The aforementioned Chris Goldstein’s FreedomisGreen covers the East Coast reform movement.

NORML SHOW LIVE’s co-host also has a show, The Ganja Jon Show, with the acerbic views of a young man who’s survived two transplants and loss of an eye while fighting for medical marijuana in Oregon.

We begin and end the week with music; The Viper Hour starts us off with a dose of reefer jazz and The Irie Island Hour takes us into the weekend with smooth reggae.

Shows are replayed throughout the morning.  Weekends you can catch the entire lineup of new programs plus 24 hours of Daily Toker Tunes, the best podsafe cannabis music from all genres.

Join us at The NORML Network… where the time is 4:20 24/7/365!

NORML Update: Cannabis and Canvas at the Women’s Alliance Art Auction

Philadelphia, PA – On Saturday, March 26th, Friends of the NORML Women’s Alliance descended upon the city of brotherly love to host an art auction organized by Diane Fornbacher, NORML Women’s Alliance Vice-Chair.  The event, sponsored by Greenable Green Building Supply and Design Center of Philadelphia, took place at the Kevin Loreaux Photography Studio.

The auction featured the work of several tri-state artists who showcased a diverse range of creative material, including pastels, whimsical portraits, sculpture, photography, ink drawings, and more.  The event was a great success that raised over $1000.  The funds will go towards a women’s networking luncheon taking place at the NORML National Conference on April 22nd in Denver, CO*.

The event is featured on the newest installment of NORML Update, which is streaming now on NORMLtv. Subscribe to NORMLtv and follow us on twitter for announcements regarding future ‘NORML Update’ episodes and how you can have your group featured.

*If you would like to be a sponsor of the women’s networking luncheon, please contact sabrina@norml.org.

The NORML Women’s Alliance would like to thank the following people who made this benefit possible:

Diane Fornbacher
Karina Ambartsoumian
Mary Kathleen Giannon
Meredith Avakian
Kevin Clough
DJ Tony Montagnaro
Kevin Loreaux
Martine DeCamp
Casona Cuban Restaurant
Treehouse Coffee Shop Audubon NJ
Ever So Sweet Chocolates by Sheila