Nearly my entire career as a public servant, I’ve been proud to work with NORML to build understanding and consensus on the need for cannabis reform since 1973. While I was serving as a state legislator, my home state of Oregon became the first in the nation to decriminalize simple possession.
Today, I am happy to report that our movement is cresting.
As many of you know, two years ago we launched the Cannabis Caucus, a first of its kind to create a forum for elected officials to collaborate on ways to address our outdated federal marijuana laws and two weeks ago, we were proud to add Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and David Joyce (R-OH) as co-chairs to our growing group.
But we still have a long way to go and with your help, we will continue to expand our ranks and achieve tangible reform in this Congress.
Congress is out of step with the American people on cannabis when national support for federal marijuana legalization is at an all-time high. We saw that clearly with several states moving toward legalization last November and a midterm election that resulted in the most outspoken and anti-prohibitionist group of freshman representatives in our nation’s history.
In the last session of Congress, NORML hosted a number of events in cooperation with our Cannabis Caucus, including regular policy briefings and bringing in unique perspectives such as travel writer Rick Steves, former US Attorneys Barry Grissom and Bill Nettles, and victims of criminalization as part of the inaugural Caucus event entitled “The Faces of Prohibition.” Additionally, in a strong demonstration of grassroots advocacy, hundreds of NORML members who traveled from all around the country to meet with their federal officials moved us ever closer to our goals.
I have always been able to count on my friends at NORML to be there through thick and thin and that is why I need you to contact your member of Congress and ask them to join me in finding sensible solutions to end marijuana criminalization.
Then take the next step and share the tool for your friends and neighbors to add their voice to yours on Facebook and Twitter.
We still have much work ahead of us but together we will win, of that I am certain.
Courage,
Earl
Congressman Earl Blumenauer
