NORMLizer - Watering the Grass Roots

The movement to change cannabis laws, like all social reform movements, will succeed only when enough concerned citizens get involved and invested at the grassroots level. Nothing’s more inspiring or effective than an individual willing to stake his or her public reputation by volunteering and organizing other like-minded stakeholders to become involved in their own liberation.

When it comes to cannabis-law reform, NORML chapters are at the vanguard of social and political organizing. As the largest grassroots organization involved in this struggle, NORML embraces, identifies and attracts cannabis consumers of all ages, while educating the general public about the crucial need for reform nationwide. It’s no wonder that nearly every pro-cannabis reform confab or “protestival” since the 1970s – from Seattle’s mega Hempfest to Boston’s longstanding Freedom Rally to Portland’s ever-growing May Day celebration – has been supercharged by the support of one of NORML’s 135 state affiliates.

Also, since 1970, hundreds of thousands of college students have learned much more from NORML than simply how to get baked in their dorm room without the RA busting them or where to contact a competent criminal-defense attorney. Rather, three generations of college-bound cannabis consumers have learned about the plant’s myriad uses as a safe, nontoxic therapeutic, as well as it being the most utilitarian, eco-friendly industrial plant known to humans (i.e., the non-psychoactive strains of cannabis historically known as hemp) – all by doing little more than strolling into the Student Union one day and coming upon the NORML booth.

Festooned with cannabis-related iconography, NORML’s beloved logo and a dedicated activist or two, NORML chapter booths and tables serve as a magnet for discussion about the alternatives to cannabis prohibition. More importantly, these crucial exercises in stakeholder and community outreach have many times resulted in the recruiting of outstanding citizens who would go on to a lifetime of involvement as NORML supporters and cannabis-law reform advocates.

In fact, there are few workers, leaders or major contributors in the drug-policy reform movement who didn’t first cut their teeth as NORML chapter members. To maintain this strong connection to the needs and wants of cannabis consumers, at least half the members of NORML’s large board of directors are usually current or former chapter leaders. And now, with the Democrats taking political control in Washington amid a tightening national economy, it’s the perfect time for you to make the leap and “come out” as a cannabis consumer, medical patient, hemp devotee or lover of liberty!

If you’re not a member of your local or state NORML chapter, please visit norml.org and click on “NORML Chapters,” or call the national office toll-free for a listing. If there are no NORML chapters in your area, I strongly encourage you to gather a couple of your like-minded friends, family members and co-workers and found one. Starting a certified NORML chapter is easy, fun, important and – best of all – empowering.

Allen St. Pierre is the executive director of NORML in Washington, DC. You can contact NORML at www.norml.org or 888-67-NORML.

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN THE APRIL 2009 ISSUE OF HIGH TIMES