Chronicle AM: NORML's Allen St. Pierre to Step Down, Push for Stronger Dem MJ Plank, More... (7/8/16)

It's all marijuana policy today, with pressure on the Democratic platform committee, the long-time NORML head stepping down, organized opposition to legalization rumbling in California and Massachusetts, and more.

Allen St. Pierre will resign as head of national NORML. Thanks for everything, and good luck. (www.normlucf.com)

Congressman, Drug Reformers Urge Democrats to Firm Up Marijuana Reform Plank. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and several national drug reform groups sent a letter Friday to the Democratic National Committee Platform Committee urging members to strengthen the party's lukewarm position on marijuana reform by adding one simple sentence: "We support ending the failed federal marijuana prohibition." Blumenauer was joined by Clergy for a New Drug Policy, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, Drug Policy Action (the lobbying arm of the Drug Policy Alliance), Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, the Marijuana Policy Project, the National Cannabis Industry Association, NORML, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. The platform committee is considering language Friday and Saturday.

Allen St. Pierre to Step Down as Head of NORML. After nearly a quarter-century as the group's executive director, St. Pierre is calling it quits. He's now a husband and a new father, and paying for a family lifestyle "is not possible while working for NORML," he said. Thank you, Allen, and best of luck in the future.

Alaska Regulators Give Preliminary Approval for Take-Away Marijuana at Cannabis Clubs. The Marijuana Control Board has amended its draft regulations for on-site consumption at pot retail shops to allow customers to purchase pot, consume some on-site, and then leave with the rest of the purchase. Before the amendment was accepted, previous language said customers "may not" leave the premises with any unused product. These are still just draft regulations.

California Prosecutors Announce Opposition to Prop 64. Now there's a shocker. The board of directors of the California District Attorneys Association has voted unanimously to oppose Prop 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) legalization initiative. The DAs warned of "dangerously impaired drivers getting behind the wheel and injuring or killing innocent Californians" and said the initiative would allow "drug dealers" to "infiltrate" the legal marijuana industry by not barring people with previous marijuana convictions.

Massachusetts Legalization Opponents Kick Off Campaign. Some of the state's leading politicians, including Gov. Charlie Baker (R), Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (D), and House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D) Friday formally launched their campaign to defeat the legalization initiative sponsored by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. The kickoff was set for a "recovery high school" Friday afternoon.

Washington State Recreational Pot Sales At Billion Dollar Mark. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Friday that sales have surpassed $1 billion since weed was legalized in in 2014. The official state website said sales were only $979,937,722, but whatever the precise figure, marijuana is now Washington's billion dollar baby.

Medical Marijuana

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment Supporters Hand in Signatures. Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment to allow medical marijuana turned in more than 106,000 signatures to state officials Friday, the last day for turn-ins. They need nearly 85,000 valid voter signatures, so this is going to be a nail-biter. Earlier this week, a competing medical marijuana initiative from Arkansans for Compassionate Care qualified for the ballot.