On April 20th 2009 PhillyNORML and NORML-NJ joined together for 4/20- International Cannabis Awareness Day. These are the two local chapters of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
The NORML Freedom Forum presented speakers and videos promoting a serious discussion about ending marijuana prohibition at the National Constitution Center's Kirby Auditorium in Philadelphia.
Georgine DiMaria
at a public event on the topic of medical marijuana, and for the first time revealed her use of medical marijuana to ease the symptoms of her asthma. An accomplished violinist and Miss New Jersey 2006, Georgi has appeared on MTV programs and in hundreds of public appearances as the titleholder for the Garden State. She has also spoken with thousands of New Jersey residents as a health advocate focusing on the struggles of asthma. She called on NJ elected officials and residents to stand up and voice their support for safe medical marijuana access and to pass A804.
New Jersey is in the legislative process for a state authorized medical marijuana program. S119/A804 The New Jersey Compassionate Use Marijuana Act passed the state Senate on February 23rd 2009. NJ Attorney General Anne Milgram told the Associated Press on 4/20 that the medical marijuana bill was "workable" and that she sent her recommendations for the program to Governor John Corzine, who has already stated that he would sign the bill.
Major Neill Franklin of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) gave a
about his years as an undercover agent in Maryland. Franklin spoke about a fallen colleague, the futility of prohibition and how women were instrumental in ending alcohol prohibition seventy years ago.
Derek Rosenzweig spoke
(QIK.com video)|
on behalf of Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana and PhillyNORML. Rosenzweig has been working hard to answer many questions from PA legislators. Medical marijuana legislation is slated to be introduced into the General Assembly of Keystone State this week. PA Rep. Mark B. Cohen, chair of the Democratic Caucus, had enthusiastically sponsored the bill, and the Philadelphia Inquirer has already endorsed the measure.
New Jersey Attorneys
,
, and
are members of the NORML Legal Committee and spoke at the Freedom Forum about how prohibition laws are detrimental to all of society, not just marijuana consumers.
Ken Wolski and Jim Miller presented information from the Coalition for Medical Marijuana in New Jersey (CMMNJ). Wolski
about the history of American medical cannabis and the civil liberties aspect of prohibition.
Miller
about his wife Cheryl, an MS patient who was the catalyst for medical cannabis access in NJ. Cheryl challenged the legislature, law enforcement and residents to consider medical marijuana. She died of MS complications in 2003. Cheryl Miller's wheelchair remained on the Constitution Center stage throughout the NORML freedom Forum.
Charles Kwiatkowski, an MS patient who testified before the Senate Health Committee, spoke about his own experience living with MS and the benefits of medical cannabis. Chuck represents a group of patients in New Jersey who have shown incredible courage in testifying before elected officials on the issue.
Video, audio and still photos from the event are also available at
http://www.phillynorml.org.
Images copyright 2009 C. David Freitag.
Social Networking