NORML Over Reacts In Dropping Connecticut Group

OK, a Connecticut NORML Vice President over reacted in an email sent to an elected official, stepped over a line that should not have been crossed...said Vice President has resigned. So why is the National NORML now abandoning the folks in Connecticut, effectively trashing the organization, disowning them in full. One person makes a mistake so you throw and entire chapter under the bus? NORML, you greatly disappoint me! To the folks in Connecticut NORML...we would gladly take all of you into our fold, would love to have everyone of your members as Budding Bloggers. On a day when a sleaze bag, tighty whitey New Canaan Republican deliberately killed the bill that would have decriminalized Marijuana, NORML choose to throw your chapter under the Political Correctness bus instead of growing a set of balls and standing by you in your time of need...they should be ashamed of themselves.

Join NORML In New York To Present IRS With $14 Billion Dollar Check!

Do you live in the New York Metro area? Are you a Medical Marijuana advocate, or perhaps just a 420 Stoner working/grass rooting for Legalization? If you fit any of these descriptors, head down to the General Post Office in Midtown Manhattan and be a part of NORML's festivities as they present a ceremonial TAX check for $14 billion to the US Treasury Department. Here is their press release on the events of the day...one at eight in the morning, and the other at four in the afternoon.

From NORML.ORG:

Marijuana Consumers Demand to Pay Taxes!
$14 billion dollar check presented to US Treasury represents "tax and regulate" boost to economy

New York, NY: On April 15, better known as Tax Day, at 8:00 AM representatives and supporters of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), including the organization's national director Allen St. Pierre, will stand on the steps of the General Post Office in Midtown Manhattan and present a check for $14 billion to the US Treasury Department.

The check total is an estimate of what American taxpayers spend every year to maintain marijuana prohibition. According to the report "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States", Americans spend some $6 billion on law enforcement costs related to enforcing marijuana laws. Taxing and regulating the production and sale of cannabis like alcohol products would reduce these costs while raising an estimated $8 billion in new tax revenue. That's according to Nobel Prize Winner Milton Friedman and over 500 other accredited economists.

"On a day when so many Americans lament having to pay state and federal income taxes, we're representing America's millions of otherwise law-abiding cannabis consumers—as well as supportive non-consumers—who're ready, willing, vocal and able to contribute this huge sum to our struggling economy, while providing truly 'green' jobs and allowing police to focus on more important priorities," says Allen St. Pierre, NORML's Executive Director. "All we ask in exchange for our $14 billion is the right to smoke our pot responsibly and in peace—just in the same way as the millions of daily consumers of alcohol products in our country."

WHO
Representatives of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, including NORML's national director Allen St. Pierre

WHAT
American cannabis consumers and anti-prohibitionists present a $14 billion check to the US Treasury.

WHEN
April 15th, 2009 at 8:00 AM (press conference with mock check) and 4:20 PM presentation of check with NORML supporters.

WHERE
The steps of the General Post Office in Manhattan
441 Eighth Ave
New York, NY

CONTACT FOR INTERVIEWS:

• Allen St. Pierre, NORML, 202-483-5500, media@norml.org


• Ruth Liebesman-Martinuk, Esq., NY NORML, 212-804-5740, NewYorkNorml@aol.com


• David Bienenstock, author of 'The Official High Times Pot Smoker's Handbook' and a senior editor at the magazine, 212-387-0500

References regarding the economics of cannabis legalization:

• http://www.canorml.org/background/CA_legalization2.html


• http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr4/exec_summ.html


• http://www.cantaxreg.com (See: Revenue Potential and Economic Analysis, and Background Materials.

Scholarship Opportunity...Aspen Conference!

OK, I cannot afford to go...even with the scholaship money, but thought I would share this information with my readers.

Medical Marijuana News

Scholarship Available...

Just found compliments of NORML's twitter account...a great scholarship opportunity for someone that can afford airfaire and a rental car, but not the hotel fees in Aspen! I spent some time years ago just up the road from Aspen, and June is a WONDERFUL time to be in the Aspen area. Don't miss the hot springs in Glenwood Springs. Here's the information you need to apply.

Free Scholarship: NORML Seminar In Aspen For Marijuana Activists And Attorneys

April 4th, 2009 By: Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director

Colorado NORML is pleased to announce the second annual Hunter S. Thompson Scholarship to attend the NORML Aspen Legal Seminar!

The NORML Legal Committee’s Annual Aspen Conference (which is a continuing legal education seminar for practicing lawyers) is scheduled for June 4th and 5th, 2009, at The Gant. Colorado NORML, is presenting the scholarship, which covers three nights lodging and the conference registration fee, to an attorney or cannabis law reform activist who, by written submission, demonstrates 1) a desire to improve public advocacy and/or trial skills related to representing cannabis consumers in the courts (criminal, medical, and more), 2) a demonstrated need for financial assistance to attend this year’s Aspen Legal Seminar.

The value of the scholarship is approximately $1000.00.

Some of the finest defense attorneys (and cannabis law reform activists) in the United States have been coming to NORML’s Aspen seminar for many years to learn, enjoy the inspired environs of beautiful Aspen in early summer–and to do so at VERY reasonable rates. This year’s seminar focuses on state and federal medical marijuana laws, and is a MUST educational opportunity for medical marijuana patients, providers, cultivators, as well as for criminal defense attorneys (and public defenders, who receive a discount to attend).

Check out this year’s informative and interesting schedule here. The social events, including a great, private dinner catered by Cache Cache’s Chris Lanter, are included with the scholarship.

Criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, cannabis law reform activists, medical marijuana patients and their providers from the 13 states with medical cannabis laws are strongly encouraged to attend (HI, AK, WA, OR, CA, NV, NM, CO, MT, MI, RI, VT and ME).

Submission for this year’s Hunter Thompson Scholarship is by fax, mail or email. The scholarship is awarded by the CONORML board of directors, please direct your submissions ‘Attn: Steve Wells’ at: swells@conorml.org, (303) 725-0774 (f) by April 15, midnight Rocky Mountain High time–and we hope to announce the recipient of the scholarship on April 20th, 2009.