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Though it was held in Portland, Oregon, NORML's 39th annual conference had California on its mind. Numerous speakers during the three-day event referenced Prop 19, which would legalize marijuana if passed by California voters in November.
 "If Prop 19 wins, it will be revolutionary," DPA head Ethan Nadelmann told the crowd of more than 300 legalizers at the Governor Hotel. "It will shake things up. It will be big."
"We have to pass Prop 19," exclaimed Alice Huffman, president of the California NAACP. "Can you believe what's going to happen across the nation when we pass Prop 19? It will be a brand new day."
"Let's end this insanity," former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson said Friday night at the fundraiser on the rooftop terrace at the Red Lion Hotel. "We've got to push this over. Let's doit! Let's just plain do it!"
Stuck at the Dallas airport, Johnson missed his scheduled keynote speech on Friday morning. He arrived late in the afternoon and surprised the smoked-out partiers at the Red Lion soiree.
NORML's executive director Allen St. Pierre (above right, with Rick Steves) asked for all of the NORML board members present to join him and Johnson on stage for a photo op, which included a huge lit joint. The Governor, who said just minutes before, "I don't smoke marijuana, but I have smoked marijuana," abstained. But afterwards he seemed a little red-eyed and dazed by the impromptu sesh on stage. Check out the photo here.
St. Pierre calls Prop 19 a "wobbler," meaning that it will win or lose by two percentage points.
Huffman voiced concern over lack of donations for Prop 19. "It is so close, but the money's not flowing," she stated.
"I am committed to doing everything I can to help Prop 19 win," Nadlemann added. "I think the money can be raised to put this thing seriously in play. Let's try to win Prop 19, Measure 74 and the medical marijuana initiatives in Arizona and South Dakota."
Measure 74 would expand Oregon's medical-marijuana law to allow for dispensaries.
On Thursday night, awards were given to Steph Sherer, David Nott, Marsha Rosenbaum, Harry Levine, Craig Reinerman and Lee Berger. Ngaio Bealum, Chief Greenbud and Los Marijuanos performed at the Friday fundraiser.
To donate to Prop 19, go here.
Also see:
Tommy Chong: Vote Yes on Prop 19
California's Tax-Pot Proposition
NORML: High in Times Square
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Looks to me like prohibition (read: jailing people for pot) has managed "to spread drug use around the country" lots already. Most U.S. "dope" markets are saturated now, under total prohibition.
But let me guess: drug war camp followers (most police, prosecutors, judges, prison unions, privatized for-profit prison corporations, the testing industry, the treatment racket, etc.); those who have a vested interest in perpetually continuing their make-work drug war pork-barrel boondoggle, don't like the idea of their taxpayer-funded gravy-train might come to a halt?
Oh my lord! Better pump up the fear mongering. And don't forget to try to scare parents as much and as often as possible about their kids.
Marijuana is one of the top three cash crops in 30 states (it's the biggest in California). It's estimated at $35 billion in the US, which makes it the largest. Corn is only $23 billion.
That takes a lot of gang members to meet that distribution demand.
Now, can you imagine what positive effect it will have on communities in California when the demand for many new gang members dries up?
Now when we arrest someone, there won't be a need for someone to take his place. And we all get safer.
This link is an investigative report into the true intent of California's cannabis initiative on the 2010 November ballot. Learn about the history of the international push to bring patented GMO terminator cannabis strains into the U.S. market.
ARTICLE states, "Can you believe what's going to happen across the nation when we pass Prop 19?"
The other states can smuggle marijuana from CA and the CA people can smuggle marijuana to the other states for millions of dollars. That is what's going to happen across the nation.