NORML E-Zine
Volume 5
Issue 31
August 14, 2002

The NORML E-Zine is a free weekly compilation of major news items
regarding marijuana policy. Text of archived stories is available on
NORML's website at:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3442

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TOP STORIES

* World's Largest Marijuana Legalization Rally To Be Held This Weekend
In Seattle
* Initiative To Decriminalize Pot, Expand Medicinal Marijuana Law
Qualifies For Arizona Ballot

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World's Largest Marijuana Legalization Rally To Be Held This
Weekend In Seattle

Seattle, WA: More than 100,000 people are expected to show their support
for ending marijuana prohibition at this year's annual Seattle Hempfest,
taking place this weekend at Myrtle Edwards Park in downtown Seattle. The
two-day event will feature more than 100 speakers, musical acts and DJs on
six stages, as well as the world's largest hemp expo.

Last year's event drew over 150,000 attendees, making it the largest
marijuana-law reform event ever held.

NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup, who will be speaking at the event,
says that this year's Hempfest promises to be the most successful ever.
"The Seattle Hempfest is the world's largest annual rally calling for an
end to marijuana prohibition," he said. "It is both a wonderful
celebration of personal freedom and a powerful statement to end the war on
responsible marijuana smokers."

This year's event has added importance because organizers will be
collecting signatures to qualify Seattle Initiative 75 for the November
ballot. Initiative proponents need to collect an additional 4,000 valid
signatures at this year's event to place I-75 on the city ballot. If
approved by the voters, I-75 would mandate city police make enforcement of
marijuana laws their lowest priority.

Stroup, NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre, and NORML
Affiliate Coordinator Kris Krane are among dozens of prominent speakers at
this year's gathering. Other speakers include:

Sandee Burbank - Executive Director: Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse
Nora Callahan - Executive Director: The November Coalition
Chris Conrad - Author: Hemp: Lifeline to the Future
John Conroy - Attorney; Canada NORML; Free Renee Boje
Diane Fornbacher - Executive Director: Tri-State Drug Policy Forum
Debby Goldsberry - Founder: Cannabis Action Network
Jack Herer - Author: The Emperor Wears No Clothes
Dominic Holden - Director: Seattle Hempfest; Sensible Seattle
Kyle Kushman - Cultivation Reporter: High Times Magazine
Nick Licata - Seattle City Council Member
Ann McCormick - Compassionate Moms
Joanna McKee - Founder: Green Cross
Vivian McPeak - Executive Director: Seattle Hempfest
Elvy Musikka - Federal Medical Marijuana Recipient
Lee Newbury - NORML of South Puget Sound
Bob Newland - Executive Director: South Dakota NORML
Mikki Norris - Executive Director: Cannabis Consumers Campaign
Ed Rosenthal - Author: "Ask Ed"
Jeffery Steinborn - Attorney; NORML Board of Directors
Don Wirtshafter - President: The Ohio Hempery
Kevin Zeese - Executive Director: Common Sense for Drug Policy

For a complete listing of speakers and performers, please visit:
http://www.seattlehempfest.com .

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Initiative To Decriminalize Pot, Expand Medicinal Marijuana Law
Qualifies For Arizona Ballot

Phoenix, AZ: State officials announced this week that proponents of a
statewide initiative which seeks to decriminalize small amounts of
marijuana and establish legal protections for medicinal cannabis patients
turned in sufficient signatures to qualify for this November's electoral
ballot.

If approved by Arizona voters, Proposition 203: "The Drug Medicalization,
Prevention and Control Act of 2002" would reduce existing pot penalties on
the possession of up to two ounces of marijuana and/or two cultivated
plants from a felony offense to a non-criminal, civil violation punishable
by a $250 fine. Twelve states have similar marijuana decriminalization
laws.

In addition, the measure - sponsored by Arizona's The People Have Spoken
- would amend the state's existing medicinal marijuana law to allow
state-registered patients or their caregivers to legally possess up to two
ounces of medical pot and grow two marijuana plants. Non-registered
patients or those who possess greater quantities of medical pot would be
permitted to raise an affirmative defense of medical necessity in court.
Eight states have similar laws protecting medicinal marijuana patients.

Proposition 203 also requires the state to establish a medicinal cannabis
distribution system to qualified patients. Medical marijuana distributed
by the state would either be supplied free-of-charge by the federal
government or from pot seized by local law enforcement.

Additional provisions would increase penalties for violent criminals,
while expanding alternative sentencing for non-violent drug offenders.
Arizonans previously approved similar sentencing provisions in 1996, and
then again in 1998.

NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup praised the intent of the Arizona
initiative. "Voters in Arizona have the opportunity to stop the arrest of
responsible marijuana smokers and re-focus law enforcement resources on
serious and violent crime, while implementing legal protections to
safeguard qualified medicinal marijuana patients," he said. "According to
national polls, the American public strongly supports both policies and we
expect that Arizona voters will as well."

Separate drug-law reform initiatives will likely be voted on this fall in
Michigan, Ohio, Nevada, South Dakota, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

For more information, please contact Keith Stroup of NORML at (202)
483-5500 or Sam Vagenas, spokesman of The People Have Spoken at (602)
222-6639. An analysis of Prop. 203 by the Arizona Legislative Council is
available online at:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/45leg/I112002DMPCA.pdf .


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