DRCNet
DRCNet Activist Guide 5/94


State Reform

ALABAMA | ALASKA | ARIZONA | ARKANSAS | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO
CONNECTICUT | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | FLORIDA | GEORGIA | HAWAII
IDAHO | ILLINOIS | INDIANA | IOWA | KANSAS | LOUISIANA | MAINE
MARYLAND | MASSACHUSETTS | MICHIGAN | MINNESOTA | MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI | MONTANA | NEBRASKA | NEVADA | NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY | NEW MEXICO | NEW YORK | NORTH CAROLINA | OHIO
OKLAHOMA | OREGON | PENNSYLVANIA | RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH DAKOTA | TENNESSEE | TEXAS | UTAH | VERMONT
VIRGINIA | WASHINGTON | WEST VIRGINIA | WISCONSIN


ALABAMA

Michael Hess has applied to start a chapter of ALABAMA NORML.
You can contact Mr. Hess at:

123 Holiday Dr.
Titus, AL 36080
(205) 567-9051
(205) 567-9310 (BBS News BBS)
Email: [email protected]

See ONLINE, above, for a description of Mr. Hess's project to educate our elected officials.

F.A.M.M.
Shirley Wilson
P.O. Box 55
Stapleton, AL 36578
(205) 937-3362

F.E.A.R.
Michael Seibert, Esq. 4802
Westwood Dr. Huntsville, AL 35810
(205) 852-3592 (office)
(205) 859-0002 (fax)
(205) 720-2668


ALASKA

F.E.A.R.
Jack Keane
2152 Dawson St.
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 279-5208

Anchorage NORML.
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


ARIZONA

Arizona's Initiative for Marijuana and Hemp Industries (AIMHI) needs 105,000 signatures by July 7th inorder to get on the state's 1994 ballot. For information, contact AZ4 NORML in Phoenix, at (602) 491-1139.

OTHER GROUPS:

F.A.M.M. 
Ellen Sax (federal)     Marilyn Krausch (state) 
P.O. Box 18313          4129 San Patricio Place
Tucson, AZ 85731        Tucson, AZ 85705 
(602) 885-3443          (602) 887-0907

F.E.A.R.
Rosanne Marie Sbrocca
3703 E. Indian School
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(602) 957-0089

N.A.U. NORML, Flagstaff, AZ (provisional or newly forming)
A.S.U. NORML, Tempe, AZ (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


ARKANSAS

F.A.M.M.
Judy Glasco
23435 Col. Glenn Rd.
Little Rock, AR 72210
(501) 821-5310

Little Rock NORML
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


CALIFORNIA

The bulk of this information was provided by:
California NORML
Dale Gieringer
State Coordinator
2215-R Market St. #278
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 563-5858 (310) 652-8654 (LA)
Email: [email protected]

SMOKE A JOINT, LOSE YOUR LICENSE
Say NO to Gov. Wilson's Ripoff - Stop A.B.79x / S.B. 2006

Gov. Pete Wilson is asking the California legislature to pass a "Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License " law, requiring a mandatory six-month driver's license suspension for ALL drug offenses, regardless of whether they are driving -- related -- including personal possession of pot in your home, purse or pocket. Federal law requires the state to either pass OR reject a "Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License" law or else lose $50 million in federal highway funds. Two years ago, the legislature voted unanimously to opt out of Smoke a Joint, but Gov. Wilson vetoed the bill.

"Smoke a Joint Lose Your License" is an attack on California's successful marijuana decriminalization law, which has saved taxpayers $100 million per year in unnecessary enforcement costs. "Smoke a Joint" would undo these benefits by clogging our courts with minor offenders seeking to save their licenses. "Smoke a Joint" would send the wrong message by punishing harmless, off-the-road drug use more harshly than speeding, reckless driving, or driving with open liquor bottles. 28 states have voted to opt out of "Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License."

NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP. The Assembly is considering a "Smoke a Joint" bill, AB 79x, which was passed by the Transportation Committee and is now headed for the Ways and Means Committee. In the State Senate, the Judiciary Committee has blocked a "Smoke a Joint" bill, SB 2006, but is expected to reconsider the issue this session.

WRITE OR PHONE the legislature now:
Tell them to oppose "Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License" (SB 2006/AB 79x) and pass an "opt-out" resolution instead.

WHOM TO CONTACT:

Your Assemblymember and State Senator:
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (S.F.)
Assemblyman John Vasconcellos (San Jose)
Chairman, Ways and Means Committee
(916) 445-4253

Sen. David Roberti* (Van Nuys)
Chairman, State Senate Judiciary Committee
(916) 445-5957
(818) 901-5588

Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer* (Hayward)
(510) 582-8800.

Key legislators - Senate: 
Art Torres (San Gabriel)                (213) 620-2529
Charles Calderon (Whittier-Norwalk)     (213) 724-6175 
Diane Watson (Venice)                   (213) 295-6655 

Assembly: 
Juanita McDonald (Carson)               (310) 518-3324 
Valerie Brown (Santa Rosa)              (707) 546-4500
Deidre Alpert (San Diego)               (619) 234-7878 
Robert Campbell (Martinez)              (510) 372-7990
Jim Costa (Fresno)                      (209) 264-3078 
Martha Escutia (Huntington Park)        (213) 582-7774 
Bob Epple (Long Beach)                  (310) 984-0779
Barbara Friedman (Sherman Oaks)         (818) 783-1976 
Tom Hannigan (Fairfield)                (707) 429-7383
Jack O'Connell (Santa Barbara)          (805) 966-2296 
Andrea Seastrand (San Luis Obispo)      (805) 549-3381 
Richard Polanco (L.A.)                  (213) 255-7111 
Charles Quackenbush (Campbell)          (408) 369-8170
Tom Umberg (Garden Grove)               (714) 971-1757.

THANKS for opposing Smoke a Joint, Lose Your License to: Sen. Roberti, Sen. Lockyer, Sen. Milton Marks (S.F.), Sen. Nick Petris (Oakland); Assemblyman Dan Hauser (Arcata); Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (Oakland).

NO THANKS TO
Gov. Pete Wilson
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 95814
FAX (916) 445-4633

Sen. Tim Leslie (Roseville - sponsor of SB 2006)
(916) 445-5788

Ass. Robert Frazee (Carlsbad - sponsor of AB 79x)
(619) 438-6620

OTHER LEGISLATION

California's forfeiture sunset last 12/31, forcing prosecutors to resort to Federal law. The following new bills are being considered in a conference committee:

AB 114          Assembly John Burton (D-S.F.), reforms some aspects of state's forfeiture law, 
                though a conviction is still not required.
SB 1158         Senator Ken Maddy (R-Fresno), Attorney General Lungren's bill to make 
                the forfeiture law even worse.

Write to the following conference committee members: Assemblymembers Bob Epple (D-Long Beach), Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills), and John Burton (D-S.F.); State Senators Ken Maddy (R-Fresno), Nick Petris (D-Oakland) and Gary Hart (D-Santa Barbara). Address to: State Capitol, Sacramento 95814.

SB 1364         State Senators Milton Marks (S.F.) and Nick Petris (Oakland), would reclassify 
                marijuana as a Schedule II prescription drug in CA. Productionof medical 
                marijuana would still be illegal under federal law. Bill is a follow-up to last 
                year's non-binding medical marijuana resolution, SB 8, by State Sen. Henry Mello. 
                SB 1364 has been endorsed by the California Medical Association.
AB 2948         Assemblyman John Vasconcellos, would set up a drug and alcohol abuse task force 
                to study the state's drug policy. A similar bill last year was vetoed 
                by Gov. Wilson.

Address letters to: State Capitol, Sacramento, 95814.

CANDIDATES:

LA NORML director Bruce Margolin, Democratic primary for State Assembly in District 42, including Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Westwood.

In West Los Angeles, John Rappoport, running against Rep. Henry Waxman in the 29th U.S. Congressional District.

In Santa Cruz, Ed Frey, opponent of marijuana prohibition, running against Art Danner for district attorney.

In Berkeley, drug reformers are backing Municipal Judge Jennie Rhine for deputy DA, over Ronda Theisen, who is aggressively prosecuting needle exchange activists.

In Monterey Countey, probation officer Carl Cieslikowski, a drug reform supporter, is running for Board of Supervisors.

Call the Kathleen Brown Campaign: Tell her what you think about her support for forfeiture and mandatory jail time for first-time drug offenders. Brown for Govenor -- (310) 207-7600 or (415) 626-5100.

CALIFORNIA HEMP INITIATIVE 1994

This initiative would decriminalize hemp/marijuana possession, distribution and cultivation for people 21 years of age and older. Signature gatherers needed. To volunteer call (800) 425-HEMP in Northern California or (818) 988-6210 in Southern California (email: "[email protected]").

OTHER GROUPS:

F.A.M.M.
Virginia Resner
P.O. Box 170375
San Francisco, CA 94117

F.E.A.R. 
Bill Panzer                     Brenda Grantland
370 Grand Ave., Suite 3         265 Miller Ave. 
Oakland, CA 94610               Mill Valley, CA 94941 
(510) 834-1892 (office)         (415) 380-9208 (fax)


California NORML:                                       
        (415) 563-5858  Meetings in SF 1st Friday of each month 
California Drug Policy Reform Coalition:        
        (510) 653-5173  (East Bay), or (415) 369-0330 (peninsula) 
LA NORML:                                                       
        (310) 652-8654
8749 Holloway Dr., West Hollywood 90069 
San Diego NORML:        
        (619) 571-0088 
Santa Cruz Hemp Council:        
        (408) 425-3235 
Hayward NORML:  
        (510-JET-WEED) 
Bakersfield NORML (Doug McAfee):        
        (805) 397-0766 
Marin Hemp Renaissance (Lynette Shaw):  
        (415) 721-1936 
San Luis Obispo (Alan McAfee):  
        (805) 546-9242 
Orange County Hemp Council:     
        (714) 760-7828 
Civil Liberties Monitoring Project, Humboldt County (Ed Denson): 
        (707) 926-5312 
Cannabis Action Network:       
        (510) 486-8083
442 Haight St., San Francisco 
Californians for Medical Marijuana (Dennis Peron):      
        (415) 864-1961 
Southern California ACLU ad hoc drug policy committee (Bob Shafer):     
        (213) 977-9500


COLORADO

The Colorado Hemp Initiative Project is leading the petition drive to get their Hemp and Cannabis Re-legalization Amendment on the state ballot this November. Help is urgently needed to collect the 80,000 more signatures that are needed by July 16th. To volunteer, call:

Boulder                 (303) 784-5632 
Denver                  (303) 575-1318 
Colorado Springs        (719) 389-8053

or stop by one of COHIP's petitioning headquarter:

Hemp Haven              (303) 429-7985 
7253 Lowell Blvd. 
Westminster, CO 80030   (Denver area)
Alternative Access      (303) 786-7287 
1731 15th St. (across from Liquor Mart)
Boulder, CO 80302

(or email "[email protected]")

Donations may be sent to:

The Colorado Hemp Initiative Project
P.O. Box 729
Nederland, CO 80466

Other groups:

F.A.M.M.
Nancy Richardson
21990 WCR 62
Greeley, CO 80631
(303) 353-3062

Denver NORML, Denver, CO
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.

CANDIDATES:

Jack Woehr, Democrat for Congress, Colorado 6th District. Opposes the War on Drugs and supports H.R. 3100 calling for a National Drug Policy Commission.

For more information, contact:

Jack Woehr for Congress
P.O. Box 51
Golden, CO 80402-0051
(303) 277-9574
Email: [email protected]


CONNECTICUT

F.A.M.M.
Mary Taylor
97 Head Meadow Rd.
Newtown, CT 06470
(203) 426-0787


DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

D.C. Metro NORML
Washington, DC
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


FLORIDA

F.A.M.M. 
Denise Jimenez          Leah Rodriguez                  Martha Bugella (new chapter) 
P.O. Box 374            300 NW 128th Ave.               13161 McGregor Blvd., Suite C 
Marathon, FL 33050      Miami, FL 33182                 Ft. Meyers, FL 33919 
                        (305) 552-5239                  (813) 481-1852
Mildred Reese           Tena Aiello                     Regina Davenport
207 N. Jefferson Dr.    P.O. Box 22561                  9008 Larkerwoods Rd. 
Coral Gables, FL        Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33335        Navarre Beach, FL 32566 
(305) 446-6570          (305) 527-4903                  (904) 939-9038

F.E.A.R.
Savanah Wims
1709 N.E. 15th Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32609
(904) 372-7307

Florida Legalization Organization (FLO) -- works for marijuana legalization
P.O. Box 350
LaCrosse, FL 32658-0350


GEORGIA

OPPOSE H.B. 1338 -- This bill, introduced by state Representative Roy Barnes, would impose a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence and $100,000 fine on any Georgian convicted of growing 25 or more marijuana plants (including seedlings). Georgian NORML under the direction of Theresa Yarbrough, is conducting a petition and letter writing campaign in hopes of defeating the bill.

F.A.M.M.
Juanita Henson          Marie Stewart
P.O. Box 1081           P.O. Box 52599 
Ellijay, GA 30540       Atlanta, GA 30355
(706) 276-7717          (404) 767-8910

Georgia NORML, Rockmart, GA
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


HAWAII

Dr. Joseph McNamara, former police commissioner and currently with Stanford's Hoover Institution, will making several presentations in Hawaii during the week of June 13, under the auspices of the Hawaii Drug Policy Options Group. He will speak at the University of Hawaii at Manoa on June 16 on "New Strategies on the War on Drugs" and "The Drug War Hysteria: Is There a Better Way?" While in Honolulu, he will be meeting with the Law Enforcement Coalition. And on Saturday June 18, Dr. McNamara will be speaking at the University of Hawaii at Hilo on the topic "Why We Should Call Off the War on Drugs".

The Hawaii Drug Policy Options Group sponsored a resolution to form a task force to study Hawaii's drug policies, which was recently passed by the state's legislature. Work on that should begin in late May or early June. The Hawaii Drug Policy Options Group is a roughly 100 member "town-gown" group formed about a year ago by Don Topping, Director of the Social Science Research Institute at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In addition to their resolution, Dr. Topping's group has held a number of meetings and public fora, and will be holding a state-wide conference on Harm Reduction this October.

To contact the Hawaii Drug Policy Options Group, write to:

Don Topping
Director, Social Science Research Institute
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2424 Maile Way, Porteus Hall 704
Honolulu, HI 96822

Other Groups:

F.A.M.M.
Gloria Silva
Integrated Travel
33 S. King St. #517
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 524-7724


IDAHO

See lead article "Nightmare in Idaho", for information on the Daniel Billingsly case and how to help. Write to your legislators and the media about this case; tell them that "Drug-Free-School-Zones" don't keep drugs out of schools and that they punish the wrong people, too severely. Ask your legislators to work on repealing the "Drug-Free-School-Zones" legislation.

The Idaho state ACLU is staging a drug policy forum as part of it's statewide conference on the weekend of July 16 and 17th in Moscow, Idaho. Drug Policy Foundation President Arnold Trebach is an invited speaker (attendance unconfirmed at this printing); the forum will include the defense attorneys of some of the more prominent drug cases, including Billingsly counsel Timothy Gresback, as well as Dr. Rebert, a prominent anti-prohibitionist medical authority.

Contact the Idaho ACLU for more information:
P.O. Box 1897
Boise, ID 83701
(208) 344-5243

GROUPS:

F.E.A.R.
Robert Nuckols
P.O. Box 279
Riggins, ID 83549
(208) 628-3503


ILLINOIS

DRCNet CHAPTER STARTING:

Gale Stafford, a senior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is founding the first local chapter of the Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet). You too can get in on the ground floor of this new organization! Contact:

Gale Stafford
806 S. Lincoln #1
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 384-0013
Email: [email protected]

The city of Chicago is considering an ordinance which would limit penalties for possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana to a maximum $250 fine and no prison record. Write the Chicago City Council and Illinois media to support this step.

GROUPS:

The Quad City Hemp Coalition is working for passage of Don Edwards' H.R. 3100 and sponsors the following petition:

Return signed petitions to:

Quad City Hemp Coalition
P.O. Box 3592
Rock Island, IL 61021

Other Groups:

F.A.M.M. 
Marilyn Lopez           Jayme Taylor 
1643 Estate Circle      700 Bacon 
Naperville, IL 60565    Pekin, IL 61554 
(708) 416-9602          (309) 353-3828

S.I.U.C. NORML, Carbondale, IL
Normal NORML, Normal, IL (provisional or newly forming)
Rockford NORML, Rockford, IL
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.

CANDIDATES:

Robert Moldenhauer, of the Quad City Hemp Coalition, is running for Illinois' Lt. Gubernatorial office on the Libertarian Party ticket. Moldenhauer opposes the Drug War and criminalization of consensual acts; he is a member of the ACLU, Freedom from Religion Foundation, and Americans United for Separation of Church & State.
For more information call (309) 786-1550.
Contributions may be mailed to 2725 6 Ave., Rock Island, IL 61201.


INDIANA

F.A.M.M. 
Andrea Strong                   Tillie Delak (state)
496 San Carlos Dr.              867 N. Estate Route 49
Greenwood, IN 46142             Chesterton, IN 46304 
(317) 888-6612                  (219) 926-7448

Indiana NORML, Bloomington, IN (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


IOWA

The bulk of the information for this section was provided by Carl Olsen of Iowa NORML. Mr. Olsen is also the director of Iowans for Medical Marijuana, and is the Iowa Libertarian Partycndiate for Governor of Iowa in 1994. Mr. Olsen has a petition to reschedule marijuana pending before the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Last December, the United States Court of Appeals ordered the DEA to respond to his petition within 90 days of the ruling on the rescheduling case involving the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics, and the Drug Policy Foundation (that ruling was made on February 18, 1994). The DEA ruled on his petition, negatively, this May 16.

Iowa NORML publishes a quarterly 20-page newsletter, and can provide you with information on the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church and on Judge Young's decision in NORML v. DEA, DEA Docket No. 86-22, Sept. 6, 1988. For more information, contact:

Iowa NORML
P.O. Box 4091
Des Moines, IA 50333
515-243-7351
515-243-7351 (fax - call first)
Compuserve: 73043,414 ([email protected] from internet)

LEGISLATION:

The Iowa Legislature will not be in session until January of 1995. Old bills which failed to pass during the 1993-1994 session are dead. New bills will have to be introduced during the 1995 session. We are supporting resolutions calling upon the federal government to allow access to marijuana for medical purposes. In 1994, these resolutions were H.J.R. 2004 and S.J.R. 2001.

Persons interested in lobbying for these resolutions should write or call:

Brent Siegrist (Republican)
House Majority Leader
714 Grace Street
Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503
(712) 323-1098 (Home)
(712) 642-4149 (Office)

Wally E. Horn (Democrat)
Senate Majority Leader
116 2nd Street, S.W.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
(319) 366-4949 (Home)
(319) 398-2331 (Office)

For more information, contact:

Carl E. Olsen
Iowans for Medical Marijuana
Post Office Box 4091
Des Moines, Iowa 50333
(515) 243-7351

RALLY! Support the Iowa Medical Marijuana Resolutions -- High Noon, August 6th, on the West Steps of the Capitol Building. Iowans for Medical Marijuana hope to have at least three of the eight patients who are receiving marijuana legally attending (they had two at the last rally in April, which attracted fairly widespread media attention).

CANDIDATES:

The Iowa Grassroots Party will be fielding candidates for U.S. Congress in the 2nd (Al Schoeman), 3rd (Derrick Grimmer), and 4th (William Oviatt) districts this year.

Carl E. Olsen, who was the Iowa Grassroots Party candidate for U.S. Senator in 1992, will be running as the Iowa Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Iowa in 1994. (Schoeman also may run as a Libertarian). 1,500 signatures are needed on nomination petitions to place Olsen's name on the ballot for the office of governor. 300 signatures are needed on nomination petitions to place candidates' names on the ballot for the U.S. Congressional seats.

State Representative Ed Fallon (Democrat), who worked very hard in lobbying for the medical marijuana resolution, is our outstanding favorite candidate for re-election this year. Fallon is a peace activist. He calls himself a socialist (economics) and a libertarian (civil liberties). Persons interested in contributing to Fallon's re-election campaign may send donations (no more than $100 per individual) to Ed Fallon for Citizens Committee, 1321 8th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314. Fallon can be reached at 515-243-8828.

The sponsors of the medical marijuana resolution, Rep. Tom Miller (Republican) and Sen. Linn Fuhrman (Republican), will not be running for re-election. The resolution was cosponsored by four Republicans and five Democrats in the Iowa Senate, and was approved on February 1, 1994, by a vote of 13-0 in the House Committee on Human Resources.

OTHER GROUPS:

F.A.M.M.
Linda Jones
134 Miller Ave., SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 366-0914

University of Iowa NORML (Mike Hamm)
219 S. Riverside Court
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 354-8749

Ames NORML (Tom Collison)
Room 37, Student Memorial Union Building
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50010
(515) 296-4248

Iowa Grassroots Party (Derrick Grimmer)
Post Office Box 1136
Ames, IA 50014
(515) 233-6081

Northern Iowans for Cannabis Education (Craig Howard)
P.O. Box 1912
Mason City, Iowa 50402
(515) 696-5755

Students to Legalize Hemp (Joel Pargot)
Grinnell College
Box 9-87
Grinnell, Iowa 50112
(515) 269-3412


KANSAS

F.A.M.M.
Dan & Julie Martin
5460 Taylor's View Rd.
Manhattan, KS 66502
(913) 537-0283

Southcentral NORML, Andover, KS Lawrence NORML, Lawrence, KS (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


LOUISIANA

F.E.A.R.
Cameron Totten
6440 S. Claiborne Ave., Apt. 415
New Orleans, LA 70125
(504) 866-3980

Cannabis Action Network
4428 S. Carrollton
New Orleans, LA 70119


MAINE

F.E.A.R.
Rose McDermott
19 Roosevelt Trail
Windham, ME 04062
(207) 892-8911


MARYLAND

F.E.A.R.
Tammie Johnston
19038 Partridge Wood Drive
Germantown, MD 20874
(301) 540-7661

Baltimore NORML Baltimore, MD (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


MASSACHUSETTS

LEGISLATION

The address for all state Representatives, Senators, and the Governor, is:

The State House
Boston, MA 02133

For Senate telephone numbers, call 722-1276
For House telephone numbers, call 722-2356

Governor Weld: 727-3600

H. 3911         Hutchins Medical Necessity Defense Act -- named after U.S. veteran
                Joe Hutchins, would make medical necessity a valid reason for acquittal
                in marijuana growing and possession cases.

H. 3936         Bertonazzi Medical Marijuana Extension Act -- Extends the Bertonazzi
                Medical Marijuana Act passed in 1992 to apply to more medical conditions.

H. 4493         Forfeiture Protection Act -- Requires that asset forfeiture
                take place only after the property owner has been convicted of the corresponding
                crime.

H. 3453         Forfeiture Reporting Act -- Requires agencies conducting civil
                forfeitures to report the total value of all property seized and give a
                detail accounting of how they spend the money.

H. 4106         Limiting Drug Testing in the Workplace. To support, call or
                write House and Senate Commerce & Labor Committee Chairs, Rep. Daniel
                Bosley (722-2030) and Senator Lois Pines (722-1639), and your own state
                reps and senators.

H. ____, S. 471         Legalizes clean needle purchase by prescription.

H. 2987, S. 472         Authorizes the Department of Public Health (DPH) to
                        create clean needle exchange programs. Currently, only two programs exist,
                        in Boston and Cambridge, on a trial basis.

ACT UP/Boston has been instrumental in working for passage of needle- exchange legislation, and is currently participating in the implementation of needle exchange in the Commonwealth under contract from DPH. For more information, contact:

ACT UP I.V. League
P.O. Box 483
Kendall Square Station
Boston, MA 02142

GROUPS:

The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (MASSCAN) is a marijuana legalization group with ties to NORML and the Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. MASSCAN published a bi-monthly newsletter, Mass Grass, and maintains a "rapid action network" phone tree. MASSCAN was a sponsor of the Harvard Drug Conference/Debate this May 21st, featuring U.S. "Drug Czar" Lee Brown. Annual MASSCAN dues are $15, or $6 for subscription only. Contact:

MASSCAN
One Homestead Rd.
Marblehead, MA 01945
(617) 944-CANN

Those in western Mass. might want to get in touch with the:

U-Mass Cannabis Reform Coalition
S.A.O. Box #2
415 Student Union Building
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

OTHER GROUPS:

F.A.M.M.
Dominica Piscitelli
29 Abruzzi St.
Revere, MA 02151
(617) 286-3959

Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts
Drug Policy Task Force, John Holmes, Chairman
99 Chauncy St., Suite 310 Boston, MA 02111
(617) 482-3170

Metro West NORML, Framingham, MA
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


MICHIGAN

The Michigan Hemp Coalition is leading the petition drive to get the 1994 Michigan Voters Initiative to Legalize Cannabis on the ballot. Several organizations have been working hard in Detroit, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Battle Creek to gather valid signatures, of which 250,000 are needed by July in order to make the Nov. 94 ballot. For information on volunteering for the petition drive, contact Tom Ness (Jam Rag & MI Hemp Coalition) at (810) 542-8090 or (810) 542-9826 (fax), or email "[email protected]".

Beginning this May, the Michigan Hemp Coalition is sponsoring the Michigan Cannabis Crusade, a two month tour consisting of a Medical Marijuana presentation, a Dramatic Performance, and a Musical Performance. This tentative itinerary for the MI Cannabis Crusade has been set:

MAY: 
18-22           DETROIT 
23-24           PORT HURON 
25-27           FLINT (LAPEER) 
28-6/3          MIDLAND, BAY CITY, SAGINAW, (OWOSSO, ALMA)

JUNE: 
4               LANSING 
5               MT. PLEASANT 
6               CADILLAC 
7               TRAVERSE CITY, (MANISTEE, LUDINGTON) 
8               BIG RAPIDS 
9-11            GRAND RAPIDS, (IONIA) 
12-13           MUSKEGON, GRAND HAVEN 
14              HOLLAND 
15              BENTON HARBOR, ST. JOSEPH, (NILES) 
16-19           KALAMAZOO, (THREE RIVERS, STURGIS) 
20-21           BATTLE CREEK, (ALBION, MARSHALL, COLDWATER, HILLSDALE) 
22-25           LANSING 
26-27           JACKSON 
28              ADRIAN 
29              MONROE 
30-7/3          ANN ARBOR, YPSILANTI, (HOWELL, BRIGHTON)

JULY: 
4-10            DETROIT 

11              LANSING (TURN IN PETITIONS TO STATE)

TELEPHONE CONTACTS for the MI Hemp Coalition:

DETROIT METRO AREA:     (810) 542.8090          TOM NESS-JAM RAG 
                        (313) 563.3192          BRUCE CAIN-NEW AGE PATRIOT

FLINT: PAGER            (810) 812.8779          AMY HEDDY-FLINT HEMP SOCIETY

WEST MICHIGAN:          (616) 327.7395          KCAN 
                        [email protected] 
                        (616) 968.2550          BATTLE CREEK H.E.A.

LANSING:                (517) 333.3617          H.E.A./The P.A.A.! 
                        [email protected]


NORTHERN MICHIGAN       (616) 922.0933          NORTHERN MICH. NORML

LEGISLATION:

The Michigan House of Representatives is currently considering passing Senate bill 234 to drastically increase cannabis penalties in the state. Some new/increased penalties of SB 234 include:

  1. $500.00 minimum fine statewide for possession of any amount of cannabis.
  2. The legal right for police to sell cannabis (and other controlled substances) and then arrest the buyer(s).
    Police call this "reverse sting operations".
  3. Major increases in fines and prison time for cultivation, possession, delivery, and almost all existing cannabis penalties in Michigan.

The Lansing, MI based PROGRESSIVE ACTION ALLIANCE! has given testimony at several state legislature hearings on SB 234. The majority of the legislature as totally ignored the call for rational cannabis policy in Michigan. Please write to members of the legislature to voice your opposition to SB 234.

GROUPS:

The PROGRESSIVE ACTION ALLIANCE!
POB 6032
East Lansing
Michigan 48826-6032
(517) 372-168

F.A.M.M. 
Marilyn Genoa (federal)         Sandy Youngblood (state) 
P.O. Box 423                    P.O. Box 715 
Royal Oak, MI 48068             Royal Oak, MI 48068 
(313) 547-2014                  (313) 541-1267

F.E.A.R.
Tom Flook
7935 Coyle Rd.
Whitmore Lake, MI 48189
(313) 449-2831

G.V.S.U. NORML Allendale, MI
Traverse City NORML Traverse City, MI (provisional or newly forming)


MINNESOTA

GROUPS:

F.E.A.R.
Rose & David Hanson
6040 Wentworth Ave.
South Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 861-4901

The Institute for Hemp
P.O. Box 65130
St. Paul, MB 55165
(612) 222-2628 (voice/fax)
Email: [email protected]

Works for re-establishing cannabis hemp as a commercial crop for a source of raw materials in the production of consumer products. Sells hemp products and educational materials, and will send you hemp-related flyers for free. Ask for a free catalog.

Grassroots Party of Minnesota -- has candidates on the ballot,
P.O. Box 8011 will send list upon request.
St. Paul, MN 55108
(612) 822-3396

Minnesota NORML
P.O. Box 80522
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 822-3396

Mankato NORML Mankato, MN (provisional or newly forming)
U. of Minn. NORML Minneapolis, MN
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.

Call GRASSNET (612) 773-9682, for all the latest information and updates on marijuana/hemp activism and events, including forfeiture information.


MISSISSIPPI

F.A.M.M.
Lisa Hale
Rt. 3, Box 393 B
Datesville, MS 38606
(601) 563-1610


MISSOURI

S.C.R. 14       A resolution which calls on the federal government to make
                marijuana medically available, was passed unanimously by the state Senate
                in March. It now needs to pass the Missouri House of Representatives in
                order to become law.

S.B. 493        Would establish the "medical necessity defense" as
                legitimate grounds for acquittal of marijuana possession charges in Missouri.
F.A.M.M. 
Carol Smith             Pat Gustin 
RR8, Box 1085           603 Noeleen Place 
Lebanon, MO 65536       Lees Summit, MO 64063 
(417) 532-7406          (816) 246-4615

F.E.A.R.
Michelle Monahan
3800 Cooper #11
Columbia, MO 65201
(214) 449-0471

Missouri NORML Columbia, MO
S.M.S.U. NORML Springfield , MO
St. Louis NORML St. Louis, MO
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


MONTANA

F.A.M.M.
Jo Mae Drake
46 East Nicklaus
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 752-0816

Kalispell NORML Kalispell, MT
Missoula NORML Missoula, MT (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


NEBRASKA

U.N.L. NORML Lincoln, NE
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


NEVADA

F.A.M.M.
Phil Copeland
P.O. Box 3053
Reno, NV 89505
(702) 677-8466

F.E.A.R.
Karon Munnerlyn
4500 Cinderella Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89102
(702) 876-8064
(702) 876-3835

Las Vegas NORML Las Vegas, NV (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


NEW HAMPSHIRE

F.A.M.M.
Nancy Brown
333 Bartlett St.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-7861


NEW JERSEY

LEGISLATION

A-627   Requires state to convict as a necessary prerequisite to forfeiture.
        Copy of bill for free from: Office of Legislative Services, Bill Room,
        CN 068, Trenton, NJ 08625. Contact NJ legislators and ask them to cosponsor
        this legislation.

GROUPS

F.A.M.M.
Cassandra Savoy
141 S. Harrison St.
East Orange, NJ 07018
(201) 678-1515

F.E.A.R.
John T. Paff
P.O. Box 5424
Somerset, NJ 08875-5424
(908) 873-1251
Email: [email protected]

New Jersey NORML Navesink, NJ (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.

CANDIDATES:

The following candidates have all pledged to abolish or strictly limit asset forfeiture:

Ben Grindlinger
Candidate for U.S. Senate
(609) 585-0165

Herb Roselle
Candidate for U.S. Congress
NJ 2nd District
(609) 825-0510
Email: [email protected]

Roger Bacon
Candidate for U.S. Congress
NJ 5th District
(908) 454-1083


NEW MEXICO

F.E.A.R.
Ken Brown
P.O. Box 13634
Albuquerque, NM 87192
(505) 298-9310


NEW YORK

LEGISLATION:

State Senator Joseph Galiber, board member of the Drug Policy Foundation, has several decriminalization bills in the state Senate, S. 411, S. 1461, S. 1471, S. 1474, and S. 2059. Contact Albany NORML for further description of these bills; however, you can support them by writing to your state Senators and the following committe chairs:

Senator Roy Goodman
Committee on Inv., Tax, and Gov. Operations
Legislative Office Building, Rm. 913
Albany, NY 12223
(518) 455-2211

Senator Dale Volker
Committee on Codes
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12223
(518) 455-3471

Senator James Wright
Committee on Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12223

GROUPS:

Albany NORML            The Hemp Coalition 
P.O. Box 2124           P.O. Box 2382 
Albany, NY 12220        Albany, NY 12220

Publishes 'Almost a Newsletter' four times a year free.

Organizer Tim Case should have both phone and fax numbers for both these organizations in the near future. Mr. Case would appreciate newspaper clippings on marijuana or court related material.

March on the Capitol! June 5, 1994, from 12 - 6. Info from either of the above organizations.

F.E.A.R.
Steven Susser, Esq.
450 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-4128

SUNY-Bing. NORML Binghamton, NY (provisional or newly forming)
Buffalo NORML Buffalo, NY
NORML in Schoharie Howes Cave, NY
NYC NORML New York, NY (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


NORTH CAROLINA

F.A.M.M.
Laura Hight
Rt. 3, Box 245
Louisburgh, NC 27549
(919) 496-3849


OHIO

H.B. 628 is a mixed bag -- this bill would decrease marijuana cultivation penalties but increasing penalties for "dispensing", and act which would include sharing marijuana with a friend. Ohio NORML is opposed to the bill in its current form; contact Ohio NORML for info.

F.A.M.M.
Melissa Whaley
P.O. Box 946
Athens, OH 45701
(614) 592-2234

Ohio University NORML Athens, OH
Cincinnati NORML Cincinnati, OH (provisional or newly forming)
Northcoast NORML Cleveland, OH
Miami Valley NORML Dayton, OH (provisional or newly forming)
Sandusky Cty. NORML Fremont, OH
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


OKLAHOMA

S.B. 738
OPPOSE This bill would allow the state to conduct marijuana eradication campaigns with the use of a dangerous, cancer-causing pesticide. This bill has already passed the state Senate, and is currently in a conference committee. Contact Oklahoma NORML for info.

F.A.M.M.
Connie Myort
1213 Plonka Ave.
Enid, OK 73703
(405) 234-3362

Univ. of OK NORML Norman, OK
OK NORML Oklahoma City, OK
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


OREGON

F.A.M.M.
Lorraine Heller
8600 SW Leahy
Road Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-5364

F.E.A.R.
Bill Vosburgh
P.O. Box 219115
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 291-7439


PENNSYLVANIA

F.A.M.M.
Stacey Allen
107 Dudley Ave
Narberth, PA 19072
(215) 660-0376

F.E.A.R.
Roy Timpe
366 Blandon Meadows Pkwy
Blandon, PA 19510
(215) 939-3517 (work)
(215) 926-5989 (home)

Erie PA NORML Erie, PA
Pittsburgh NORML Pittsburgh, PA
Penn State NORML University Park, PA
York NORML York, PA (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.

Pat Fallon, a gubernatorial candidate in the state of Pennsylvania, has pledged to abolish or strictly limit asset forfeiture.
Call (717) 629-0693
Email: [email protected]


RHODE ISLAND

F.A.M.M.
Sandra Feeney
10 Cooke St.
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 272-8269


SOUTH DAKOTA

F.E.A.R.
Marian Zinker
P.O. Box 643
Hill City, SD 57745
(605) 574-4289
(605) 343-6711


TENNESSEE

F.A.M.M.
Paula Poe
P.O. Box 161117
Memphis, TN 38186
(901) 345-0326

F.E.A.R.
Mark A. Nestman
Box 246 Brentwood, TN 37027
(702) 885-2509 (messages)

Nashville NORML Nashville, TN (provisional or newly forming)
Houston NORML Bellaire, TX
Dallas NORML Frisco, TX (provisional or newly forming)
Call the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


TEXAS

F.A.M.M. 
Pamela McCue            Beryl Baker 
P.O. Box 4057           5703 Miami Court 
Austin, TX 78765        El Paso, TX 79924 
(512) 452-1303          (915) 751-3390 
Email: [email protected]

Bill Boman 
P.O. Box 75123 
Houston, TX 77234 
(713) 944-4700

F.E.A.R.
Jim Spurlock
Building N-23 Meacham
Field Fort Worth, TX 76106
(817) 624-8433 (office)
(817) 294-2728 (home)


UTAH

F.E.A.R.
Peter Budnick
P.O. Box 1741
Park City, UT 84060
(801) 649-3910


VERMONT

Vermont Vocals
19 Bay St.
Newport, VT 05855

Vermont Vocals is coordinating the National March Your Capitol Day event at the Vermont State House, Sunday, June 5th from 12:30 - 3:00 PM. Memberships in Vermont Vocals available soon for $20/year.

Vermont Grassroots Party
P.O. Box 537
Waitsfield, VT 05673

Vermont Civil Coalition Against Prohibition
63 George St.
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 864-7107

F.E.A.R.
Dennis Lane
P.O. Box 537
Waitsfield, VT 05673
(802) 496-2387


VIRGINIA

Virginia Tech NORML, a student organization at the largest university in Virginia, is working for drug policy reform through education. NORML tries to be visible in the community, through info-tables and petition drives, and has an "adopt-a-spot" site on Giles Road in Blacksburg. NORML writes letters to local, state, and federal representatives, and presents them with petitions, some with as many as 3,000 signatures.

Contact:
NORML at VPI & SU
P.O. Box 654
Blacksburg, VA 24063
(703) 953-9189

F.A.M.M.
John Bowes
5253 Ashby St.
Norfolk, VA 23502
(804) 853-4862


WASHINGTON

1. Initiative 622 -- This voter initiative would legalize personal-use sized quantities of cannabis as well as all medical and industrial applications of cannabis. The Washington state "Cannabis Movement" needs to gather about 200 signatures a day until June 28th. To find out how to help, call the Initiative 622 Hotline (206) 548-8043
(or email "legal-hemp- [email protected]"). Donations can be sent to:

2. A number of activists from the Cannabis Movement are forming WHEN (Washington Hemp Education Network), to educate groups that are not traditionally legalization supporters. If interested in further information about WHEN, call (206) 589-0635.

3. State Senator Linda Smith of the 18th Legislative District has introduced a measure which would declare the state's sovereignty under the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution and demand that the federal government cease and desist mandates that are beyond the scope of constitutionally delegated powers.

Other Groups:

F.A.M.M. 
Susan Moss                      Nora Callahan 
4038 41st Ave.,                 South 795 
South Cedar Seattle, WA 98118   Colville, WA 99114
(206) 723-7549                  (509) 684-5929

F.E.A.R.
Norm Kroening
4417 South 376th St.
Auburn, WA 98001
(206) 838-8623

W.W.U. NORML Bellingham, WA
Contact the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.


WEST VIRGINIA

F.A.M.M.
Kay Francis
Meade 600 Benoni Ave.
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 366-6447

F.E.A.R.
Robert Gould
Rt. 2 - Box 78
Greenville, WV
24945 (304) 832-6414

Jack Frazier publishes the Hemp Paper Report and works for legalization of low-THC hemp as an agricultural product for commercial use. Mr. Frazier has authored the following petition:

A PETITION FOR A 1990s UNITED STATES HEMP FIBER AND OIL INDUSTRY

WE THE PEOPLE do hereby petition the governor of our state and our elected officials to begin importing low-THC Cannabis hemp seed so that our family farmers can begin competing with the hemp farmers of Europe, Africa, and Asia, where hemp farming is encouraged by law and subsidies.

NAME                                    ADDRESS

Return signred copies of the petition to the governor of your state and any other officials you feel should take action to begin importing hemp seed. Send the original copy to:

Jack Frazier, Editor
The Solar Age
Hemp Paper Report
Box 610
Peterstown, WV 24963


WISCONSIN

GROUPS:

Green Bay NORML Green Bay, WI
Milwaukee NORML Milwaukee, WI (provisional or newly forming)
Contact the national NORML office at (202) 483-5500 for contact info.

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