Author Archives: ushempmuseum
Marijuana Prohibition Turns 80
Eighty years ago, on October 2, 1937, House Bill 6385: The Marihuana Tax Act was enacted as law. The Act for the first time imposed federal criminal penalties on activities specific to the possession, production, and sale of cannabis – thus ushering in the modern era of federal prohibition. “The ongoing enforcement of marijuana prohibition … Continue reading
On The Passing of Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner, or “Hef” as he preferred to be called, played a crucial role in the early days of NORML. At a time when most Americans were accepting the government’s “reefer madness” propaganda, Hef, through the Playboy Foundation, provided NORML with our initial funding in early 1971, and became our primary funder all during the … Continue reading
Let’s Get Registered! #WeCannaVote
It’s time to exercise your civic duty and ensure that you are registered to vote! 2018 is a critical midterm election year, and NORML is partnering with the National Cannabis Festival and HeadCount for the #WeCannaVote Voter Registration Drive. The goal is to register thousands of new voters before the 2018 National Cannabis Festival on … Continue reading
Massachusetts High Court: Field Sobriety Tests Are Not Valid Measures For Determining Marijuana-Induced Impairment
Standard roadside field sobriety tests (FST) are not reliable indicators of marijuana-induced impairment, according to a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. Justices determined that there is a lack of scientific consensus as to the validity of FSTs for determining whether a subject is under the influence of cannabis. They opined: “There is ongoing disagreement … Continue reading
College Medical Marijuana Policy Leaves Many Students Unable to Legally Consume
What’s a medical marijuana card-holding college student to do when they are required to live in on-campus housing but their medicine is banned from the premises? Apparently, choose between suffering from their illness or face disciplinary action, at least according to the majority of University policy. In Washington DC, marijuana is legal to for those … Continue reading
Marijuana Arrest Data Absent From Latest FBI Uniform Crime Report
Tabulations calculating the percentage of annual marijuana arrests nationwide are absent from the 2017 edition of the FBI Uniform Crime Report, which the agency released today. The table,’Arrests for Drug Abuse Violations: Percent Distribution by Region,’ had for decades appeared in the section of the FBI report entitled ‘Persons Arrested.’ It was one of over … Continue reading
The Loss of an Activist, the Passing of a Friend, James Bell
Awful News My friend Stephen Bradley called me on Friday, September 14th and asked if I was sitting down. I knew it couldn’t be good news, but when he told me our mutual friend James Bell had died suddenly, I experienced several moments of simple denial. This just can’t be true, I thought. Then the … Continue reading
Washington State Releases Update On Legalization Findings – High Hopes Are Rewarded
In their second formal assessment on the impact of legalization in the wake of the implementation of I-502, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) issued the next regularly scheduled report – and suffice to say, the news was very positive, unless you are still relying on tired and debunked prohibitionist talking points. Key takeaways … Continue reading
Study: Perceived Marijuana Access Declining Among Youth
The percentage of young people who believe that they can readily access marijuana has fallen significantly since 2002, according to data published online ahead of print in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. A team of investigators from Boston University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of North Carolina, and St. … Continue reading
NORML Canada Testifies In Parliament On Impending Legalization
When Trudeau announced his decision to legalize marijuana in Canada (set to take effect in 2018), Trump-fearing Americans vowed to seek refuge with our Northern neighbors. So what brought Trudeau to his decision to repeal prohibition? You know what they say: behind every great man there’s even greater, weed-loving woman. In November of 2012, two … Continue reading
