CannabisLegalization By Melinda Bie
A Return to NORML
With the United States possibly on the precipice of marijuana legalization…the return to NORML may be the just the thing we need, in more than the way you might think. And no, that’s not a misspell.
• Successfully lobbied the state legislature to pass the Moscone Act of 1975, which “decriminalized” marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor, with a maximum $100 fine for 1 ounce or less.
In this case, we are referring to NORML, as in the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. For 51 years NORML has advocated for the reform of marijuana laws in the United States, both medical and non-medical use.
• Successfully sued to force CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting) helicopters to respect a 500’ flying ceiling.
NORML was founded in 1970 by Keith Stroup, an attorney who was inspired by the work of consumer activist Ralph Nader, to create a consumer group for cannabis users. With $5,000 in seed money from the Playboy Foundation, Stroup founded NORML. At one point during the mid-70s, Hugh Hefner was donating $100,000 a year to NORML, making it the premier decriminalization advocacy group. Erik Altieri is now the organization’s 7th Executive Director, and its chairman of the Board of Directors is none other than travel writer, Rick Steves. California NORML originally was founded as Amorphia, which organized the 1972 California Marijuana Initiative, Prop. 19. The initiative, which would have repealed laws against adult use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana, received 33 percent of the vote. Amorphia became the California branch of NORML in 1974 and over the past 47 have been at the forefront of cannabis advocacy. “So”, you ask, “great history report, but what the heck does NORML do and why should I care?” If you live in California, you can thank the folks at Cal NORML for a lot of the cannabis freedoms that you enjoy today: 12
Cannabis by the Sea Fall 2021
• Led the opposition to Gov. Wilson’s “Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License” law, imposing a six-month driver’s license suspension for pot possession, which was killed as of July 1, 1999 and have continued to successfully fight yearly against bad DUID bills in California. • Were one of the original sponsors of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, Proposition 215, the nation’s first medical marijuana law and have continued to support the legal battle to uphold Prop. 215 against federal and local intrusion. CBTS reached out to Dr. Dale Geiringer, executive director of Cal NORML to get a better picture of the current situation: NORML celebrated its 50 year anniversary last year. Albeit significant changes have been made in the cannabis industry, but hurdles still exist. In your opinion, what have been the largest failures and successes in the past 50 years? The biggest failure is the government’s failure to make any changes in our bankrupt federal marijuana laws. NORML sued the DEA back in 1971 to reschedule marijuana for medical use, and we’re still fighting that battle.
