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Could Pot Drive Turnout In Key Elections?

A survey making the rounds among strategists, which has yet to be made public, indicates that pot could be just the enticement many reluctant voters need to get to the polls. Support for marijuana legalization has been ticking up over the past decade as residents of states with legal medical marijuana realize that the sky hasn't fallen. And backing has surged more recently amid deficit hysteria and a declining economy, as voters are less inclined to spend tax dollars on a drug war when instead marijuana could itself be taxed and used to create jobs.

Mexican drug lords enforce censorship

Reporters in Nuevo Laredo avoid coverage of drug prohibition violence due to death threats from drug gangs. It's a matter of self-preservation -- since December 2006, more than 30 journalists have been killed or have disappeared since President Felipe Calderon launched an ineffective war against drug trafficking organizations.

The 39th Annual National NORML Conference: Just Say Now!

The 2010 NORML Conference will be held in beautiful Portland, Oregon...please join us!

Panel Topics:

  • Just Say Now! The Case For Taxing And Controlling Cannabis
  • NORML's 2009-2010 Legislative and Political Round-Up
  • NORML Women's Alliance Presents: Stiletto Stoners? Not! Women, Cannabis And Respect
  • Ask The Experts: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Cannabis But Were Afraid To Ask
  • Lessons From The 'Dry Decade': What Cannabis Law Reformers Can Learn From Alcohol's Reformers
  • High Times' Cannabis Cultivation: Ready, Set and Grow!
  • Cannabis Activism, Social Networking and Community Building To Affect Legal Reforms
  • Industrial Hemp: Why? How? When?
  • Cannabis As An 'Exit', Not An 'Entry' Drug
  • Cannabis and Mental Health: A Medical and Research Discussion About Schizophrenia, PTSD, Bi-Polarity and Abuse
  • Cannabis Legalization and Medicalization: Working Together!
  • Medical Cannabis and Employment Law: Legal Discrimination?
  • Medical Marijuana: The New Jim Crow?
  • NORML Legal Committee: Overview of State Medical Cannabis Laws
  • Reefer Movie Madness: A History of Cannabis in the Movies

Medical Cannabis-only day

  • Saturday, September 11
  • Join America's top doctors, researchers, and lawyers as they discuss the latest developments in medical marijuana science, policy and the law.

For more information and to register, see: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8125.

For general questions, please contact 1-888-67-NORML or [email protected].

Medical Marijuana To Treat Tourette’s?

A patient approached the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in March armed with research that suggests Tourette’s patients may find relief with medical marijuana. Now, pending approval this fall, people with Tourette’s Syndrome may be able under state law to use medical marijuana to help quell symptoms of the disorder.

Kingpin's death could mean more violence in Mexico

Now, for yet another lesson in futility from the class Economics of Drug Prohibition 101. The death of Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, No. 3 of the gang led by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, during an army operation will likely will mean more violence as factions fight for the cocaine and methamphetamine empire that he left behind.

Police, event planners to meet over Silverdome pot convention

Since April 2009, it has been legal in Michigan for card-carrying patients to use marijuana for various ailments. But with the International Cannabis Convention coming to Pontiac, law enforcement and city government officials are concerned illegal use of marijuana and sales of smoking-related paraphernalia at the Silverdome. Edmund Kresty of the Saline-based Holistic Health and Educational Center, an event organizer, stressed all city and state laws will be followed and there will be "no sales or trading" of marijuana.
National Mall, Washington, DC
National Mall, Washington, DC

Big Week in Washington

We are publishing a lot of stuff on our new web site -- read about it here -- but it was a really big week for drug policy reform in Washington, and we want to make sure that the very latest big news does not drive the really really big news too far down on the screen for people to notice. And so, a brief wrap-up of the biggest news of the week:

Seattle Hempfest

Join us! Admission to Seattle Hempfest is free!

The event spans three Seattle waterfront parks: Elliott Bay Park (North Entrance), Myrtle Edwards Park, and Olympic Sculpture Park (South Entrance).

To beat the crowds, use the north entrance by crossing the Amgen Pedestrian Bridge off of W Prospect Street. It has an elevator and is wheelchair accessible, placing the avid attendee just north of Seattle Hempfest's north entrance. There is very little parking at W Prospect Street. So your best bet is to walk, bike, or take a metro bus to that location. For example, take metro bus 18 to north entrance, and 15 to south entrance. Between downtown Seattle and Leary Way. There are many other Metro buses routes that can drop you at either entrance too. Downtown Seattle has several parking garages. Bicycles should enter through the North entrance in Elliot Bay Park to utilize the bike racks. Attaching bikes to the fence at Olympic Sculpture Park is not allowed.

Park Rules:

  • No Pets (Dogs, Cats, Birds, etc.) Please do not leave your pets in your car!
  • No Alcohol
  • No Narcotics
  • No Weapons
  • No Camping
  • No Unauthorized Vending
  • Note: It is an enhanced felony to sell marijuana, marijuana food, or other drugs in a city park

For more information, see http://hempfest.org/drupal/attendees

Mexican Drug Cartel Allegedly Puts a Price on Arizona Sheriff's Head

It seems drug prohibition violence has been spilling over from Mexico with increased frequency. Now, outspoken Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is in the news for something other than prison or immigration policy -- there's a contract out on him. Drug traffickers are supposedly offering $1,000,000 for his head.

US closes its consulate in Ciudad Juarez

Drug prohibition violence is constantly taking its toll on the safety of American interests. Now, subsequent to a "credible threat", the US has closed indefinitely its consulate in Ciudad Juarez, the Mexican city worst affected by the drugs war being fought by rival gangs.
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