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POT PROHIBITION...?
JUST SAY...
NORML
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE REFORM OF MARIJUANA LAWS
The government claims you have no right to use pot, NORML
disagrees. The Constitution guarantees rights to the
people, not the Vice Squads.
Did you know that:
. Over 350,000 Americans a year are arrested on
marijuana charges?
. Marijuana eradication has cost California's economy
over $450 million a year?
. Marijuana decriminalization, in the past, has saved
Californians $100 million a year?
. The primary cause of drug accidents and violence is
alcohol, not marijuana?
. Urine tests register positive for marijuana 1-4 weeks
after smoking?
STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT
OF HAPPINESS. DON'T JUST TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER!
For free information on marijuana, marijuana laws, and
drug testing contact:
NORML
8749 Holloway Dr.
West Hollywood, CA. 90069
(213)652-8654
NORML
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE REFORM OF MARIJUANA LAWS
WHAT IS NORML?
NORML is a non-profit, tax exempt educational organization
supported by tax-deductible contributions from the general
public.
NORML provides the public with up-to-date, verifiable
information about marijuana, the laws relating to
marijuana, and the effects they have on American society.
We respond to requests for information about marijuana
from students, reporters, legislators, researchers,
lawyers, health professionals, members and the general
public every working day.
ARE THERE LOCAL CHAPTERS?
At the local level, NORML chapters work to educate the
public and publicize the services NORML offers. Active
members pass out educational materials, post notices,
donate publications to libraries, hold public forums,
write letters-to-the-editor, monitor court proceedings,
and stage local demonstration.
Working with a chapter, or alone, NORML members help raise
public consciousness on the marijuana issue locally by
participating in public affairs in their community.
NORML ON DRUG ABUSE
NORML is an outspoken critic of federal policy calling for
harsh punishment for marijuana users. NORML favors a
system of legal civil regulation and control of marijuana.
Some who support the current system mislabel this position
as "pro-drug".
NORML does not advocate the use of any drug, not even
marijuana. At the same time, NORML supports a system under
which marijuana may be legally obtained. NORML
distinguishes between the use and abuse of drugs, and
notes it is only possible to discourage abuse if there is
some legitimate control over distribution.
(CONTINUED)
NORML ON DRUG ABUSE - (Continued)
We believe that consistency is a true mark of integrity.
Marijuana is less dangerous than many commonly used
substances. It is hypocritical to ban marijuana, while at
the same time selling alcohol and tobacco.
WHAT NORML DOES
NORML's primary function is to serve the public. We
respond to dozens of phone calls and letters every day
requesting information on:
. MARIJUANA AND HEALTH
. MARIJUANA LAWS
. THE LEGALIZATION DEBATE
. URINALYSIS
. REFERRALS TO LOCAL ATTORNEYS
. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
. LOCAL MARIJUANA REFORM ORANIZATIONS
. RESEARCH CONCERNING DRUGS
. LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
. EFFORTS TO CHANGE PENALTIES
. AND OTHER RELATED TOPICS
Our national staff is aided by hundreds of volunteers
across the country in the effort to inform the American
public on topics relating to marijuana.
Volunteers also help us distribute publications prepared
by our staff. Last year NORML distributed thousands of
brochures and magazines about marijuana to the general
public, including donations to schools and local
libraries.
NORML works with people. We counsel individuals, providing
them with information and advice or referring them to
people who can. We work with individuals to help them
accomplish goals - whether they want to prepare for school
assignments, or organize their friends to work for reform.
The most important of all our activities is NORML's
ongoing effort to record the stories of Americans whose
lives have been damaged by Marijuana prohibition. The pain
of a jail sentence, a false urinalysis test, and the
inability to obtain marijuana for its medicinal
properties, are measures of the profound effect marijuana
prohibition has had on American society. NORML preserves
the record of this tragic injustice, a record best
expressed in human terms.
HOW NORML REACTS
When people started to question the logic of
criminalizing marijuana in 1970, NORML persuaded the
public to agree that adults shouldn't go to jail for
marijuana use. NORML helped 11 states decriminalize
marijuana possession, and works to keep those laws in
place.
In 1972, when research indicated that marijuana possessed
potential medical value, NORML filed a lawsuit to compel
the government to recognize marijuana's therapeutic uses.
NORML helped persuade 33 states to adopt laws allowing
marijuana's medical use. On September 6,1988, DEA
Administrative Law Judge Francis Young decided the suit
in NORML's favor making marijuana medically available.
When in became clear that lies were being told about the
health effects of marijuana, such as the case of its
reputed ill-effect on the immune system reported in the
mid 1970's, NORML reacted by gathering facts, analysis,
and research from eminent experts to refute this typical
scare story.
When the government advocated spraying Paraquat on
marijuana in the United States, NORML led the public
outcry which halted the program. NORML demanded and won
an injunction against the spraying until the completion
of proper enviormental study, which established reasonable
safeguards for use of any herbicide in marijuana
eradication, and effectivly shutting down the use of
Paraquat for marijuana eradication in the United States.
When government para-military forces invaded Northern
California, and engaged in improper search and seizure,
harassment, and other illegal tactics in an anti-marijuana
campaign. NORML worked with local attorneys to win a
federal court order restraining the federal Campaign
Against Marijuana Planting (C.A.M.P.) program to ensure
compliance with the law.
When urinalysis testing became widespread several years
ago, NORML became a clearinghouse for legal and technical
information, including information about recent
developments. NORML also launched a lawsuit challenging
the legality of the military's testing program.
(CONTINUED)
HOW NORML REACTS (Cont.)
When misuse of inaccurate urinalysis results became
apparent, NORML successfully petitioned the FDA to prevent
marketing of over-the-counter urine test kits, and to
stiffen the regulatory requirements of kits sold to
laboratories.
As discontent about urinalysis testing grew, NORML has
held protests to demonstrate the opposition of much of the
public to testing. NORML continues to be a leader in the
fight for civil rights and privacy against urine testing.
THE MARIJUANA ISSUE - WHY EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT
The policy of jailing people for marijuana use is based
on the premise that marijuana is a "dangerous" drug. Yet
commissions appointed by the British government in 1898,
the city of New York in 1944, the U.S. government in 1972,
the Canadian government in 1974, the Austrailian
government in 1977, the United States government again in
1982, and the British government in 1982 as well, have
consistently refuted that notion.
Efforts to stiffen marijuana penalties, or recriminalize
marijuana in some states, are based on the claim that
marijuana is more potent today, and therefore more
dangerous. Prohibitionists contend that more potent
marijuana renders previous research, including the work
of the commissions mentioned above, irrelevant.
Yet, the fact is that potent marijuana has always been
around. Prohibition has driven the market to make potent
pot more widely available than before, since it is more
profitable. As with alcohol, however, marijuana smokers
compensate for higher potency by using less.
Unlike alcohol, and most other drugs, marijuana has an
extremely low toxicity - it is impossible to die from an
overdose of marijuana. Marijuana has been used by humans
for thousands of years. Marijuana has not changed in the
last ten years, although the arguments used to justify the
prohibition have changed.
Ignorance about marijuana and its use have been
responsible for the unnecessary and unjust arrests of
300,000 - 400,000 American citizens each year over the
last 15 years. Since 1965, over 8 million people have been
arrested for a marijuana "crime".
(CONTINUED)
THE MARIJUANA ISSUE - (Cont.)
Without public education, our government bases its
policies on discredited information. Without public
education, social leaders disseminate inaccurate and
distorted information. Without public education, failed
policies remain popular. This is why NORML is so important
today. Please, join.
HOW SHOULD YOU REACT
GET VOCAL!!! Tell your legislators, and your Congressmen
you believe marijuana, and marijuana users should be
excluded from the "War on Drugs"
JOIN NORML!!!! Send in the coupon on this page, along with
your $25 annual membership to:
NORML
Suite #640
2001 'S' Street NW
Washington DC, 20009
NORML's activities are funded by Tax-Deductible
contributions from the public. Please give generously.
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NAME:--------------------------------------------
ADDRESS:-----------------------------------------
CITY/ST/ZIP:-------------------------------------
[] Regular Membership: $25
[] Low-Income Membership: $15
[] Family Membership: $35
Contributions: []$250 []$100 []$
Membership includes a subscription to THE LEAFLET, special
product offerings, and more!
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