Feature Article

BACK TO BASICS AT 2003 NORML CONFERENCE

My experience at the 2003 NORML conference was perceived between a pair of
red-eyes.

My flight to San Francisco arrived at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, so I got little
sleep before the conference started at nine. And I knew I faced another
overnight flight back home in just about 60 hours.

But my fatigue vanished as I ran into friends and was warmed by the common
understanding I sensed among everyone at the conference.

The line up was great - speakers included leaders from the worlds of
sports, entertainment, academia, law and even government.

SF District Attorney Terrence Hallinan welcomed the conference to the
city. Hallinan offered the most cheerful greeting NORML could expect from
a district attorney anywhere in the U.S. He also showed he knew what he was
talking about, getting a little choked up as he described visits to medical
marijuana clubs in the city.

Some presenters were well known for their work outside the marijuana reform
movement. They included actor Woody Harrelson; ACLU President Nadine
Strossen; retired NFL star Mark Stepnoski; sex-advice columnist and author
Dan Savage; filmmaker Ron Mann; travel writer and television host Rick
Steves; and Canadian Senator Pierre Claude Nolin.

Each presented a unique perspective on the issue. I particularly enjoyed
the presentation by Rick Steves. Along with comments on the mind opening
value of travel itself ("If everybody traveled right before they voted, we
wouldn't need this organization.") he provided amusing details about his
efforts to open the minds of tour groups traveling in cannabis-friendly
countries.

Other presenters may not have been as famous, but they all offered critical
information. Conference guests heard the latest news about federal medical
marijuana prosecutions in California; the legal status of edible hemp (it's
not against the law yet!); developments in Canada; and clinical trials for
medical marijuana.

There were so many excellent presentations and panels - too many,
unfortunately, to mention them all.

Of special interest to MAPsters and other Internet activists was the
session on the Internet with MAP's Webmaster Matt Elrod, Richard Cowan of
Marijuananews.com, Jeanette Irwin of the Drug Policy Alliance, and Cliff
Schaffer of the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. They discussed the past
and future of online drug reform. Jeanette's presentation included notes of
concern about the web's increasing privatization and attacks on privacy,
trends that could make our job more treacherous and difficult.

More cheerful was the DrugSense/MAP dinner. Volunteers, staff, and friends
joined to enjoy each other's company and talk about the success of our
organization.

Other moments I recall: Sitting up and paying attention when the excellent
panel on "Women and the War on Drugs" (Sheigla Murphy, Pamela Lichty and
Deborah Smalls) chatted about how to discuss drugs with children; being a
bit startled when Eugene Oscapella strung together all the violent rhetoric
coming out of the U.S. regarding efforts to relax cannabis laws in Canada,
even though I'd heard most of it in bits and pieces before; and wondering
why isn't there anyone in the Illinois legislature who talks about medical
marijuana the way California Rep. Mark Leno does.

I had to fly home on the second aforementioned red-eye Saturday evening, so
I missed the party at the end of the conference. It was a small
disappointment, but it couldn't diminish an otherwise excellent experience.

[sidebar]

CULTURAL BAGGAGE INTERVIEWS FROM NORML CONFERENCE

4:20 Drug War News and the Cultural Baggage one hour shows this week
feature interviews with those attending the recent San Francisco NORML
Conference.

3 minute "4:20" news spots on mp3 are available at

http://www.cultural-baggage.com/420.htm

Monday features Dennis Perron. Tuesday has Richard Cowan of
marijuananews.com and Canadian Senator Pierre Nolin. Wednesday Elvy Musika,
one of the 7 federal MMJ patients is online. Thursday, medical patients
William Britt and Jackie Rickert say their piece. Friday has Shawn Heller
of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe
Access.