35th Anniversary of Shafer Report |
Urge Congress to Decriminalize Marijuana!
By Paul Armentano - NORML National
Thirty-five years ago today, a Congressionally mandated commission on US drug policy did something extraordinary: they told the truth about marijuana.
On March 22, 1972, the
National Commission on Marihuana (sic) and Drug Abuse – chaired by former Pennsylvania Governor
Raymond P. Shafer – recommended Congress amend federal law so that the use and possession of pot would no longer be a criminal offense.
The Commission concluded: "[T]he criminal law is too harsh a tool to apply to personal possession even in the effort to discourage use. … It implies an overwhelming indictment of the behavior which we believe is not appropriate. The actual and potential harm of use of the drug is not great enough to justify intrusion by the criminal law into private behavior, a step which our society takes only with the greatest reluctance."
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Take Action!
Law banning the sale of 'blunts' overturned
By William Kenny - Times Staff Writer
A Philadelphia judge has overturned a city ordinance passed unanimously by City Council in December that banned the local sale of a series of products commonly linked to drug abuse.
Citing the ordinance’s conflict with state law regarding drug paraphernalia, Common Pleas Court Judge Gary S. Glazer on March 7 ruled the local provisions unenforceable.
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Ban shows lack of leadership
By Derek Rosenzweig - PhillyNORML Board
Philadelphia's new paraphernalia ban defines a wide spectrum of otherwise lawful products that can potentially be used illegally. Although most of the items included in the bill can be and are used for lawful purposes, business owners are going to be held responsible for individuals' choice in how they use those products. The ban can be read online at the City Council's Web site.
The paraphernalia ban inevitably acts as another barrier to keep business out of Philadelphia, and, just like the Business Privilege Tax, it will drive businesses out of the city. This mainly affects small businesses.
Under this law, the city will have to prove that the store owner knows that the items will be used illegally. Store clerks generally neither care...
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Wikipedia Entry
1/23/2007 - Philadelphia Mayor Street Signs "Blunt Ban" Anti-Paraphernalia Ban! - We will be posting something soon on this so that PhillyNORML members can say something effective to the city council and the mayor. Stay tuned!
NOTICE TO ALL 1/23/2007 - The PhillyNORML Website will be undergoing maintenance as we prepare to re-vamp our entire design, relocate to a new server, and update our functionality. Please be patient as we go through this process.
PhillyNORML is dedicated to the reform of marijuana laws in the greater Philadelphia area according to our parent organization's Principles Of Responsible Use for the industrial, medical, personal, and religious use of Cannabis.
If you would like to become involved in PhillyNORML please visit our "Get Involved" page.
If you would like to receive email messages about PhillyNORML events then please join one of our mailing lists. To participate in discussions, please join our online forum.
CLICK HERE to review Pennsylvania's marijuana laws. CLICK HERE to learn more about cannabis. CLICK HERE to explore alternatives to prohibition.
PhillyNORML Meets Regularly!
When: The first and third Thursdays of every month at 7:30 (February 1st and 15th: March 1st and 15th: April 5th and 19th)
Where: The A-space in West Philadelphia, located at
4722 Baltimore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
215.727.0882
(Click Here for a Map from Google)
