A person stands in a field, reaching up to touch tall, green hemp plants. The plants are significantly taller than the person, who is wearing a light-colored shirt, pants, and a hat. The sky above is clear with a few scattered clouds, reflecting the progress since the California Senate passed the Hemp Bill. CA Norml

California Senate Approves Hemp Bill

UPDATE 9/27/2013 – Governor Brown signed the bill into law. SACRAMENTO, Sept 11th – The State Senate unanimously passed Sen. Mark Leno’s industrial hemp bill, SB 566. The bill would exclude hemp with THC content

Attorney General Eric Holder speaks at a podium with "Prison Sentencing Guidelines" displayed, addressing the SF ABA Meeting. The event, broadcast live on C-SPAN with an ABA logo in the background, focuses on mandatory minimum drug-crime sentences. "1:16 pm ET" is shown at the top right corner. CA Norml

AG Holder Calls for Rethinking Mandatory Minimum Drug-Crime Sentences at SF ABA Meeting

UPDATED 8/14/2013 August 12 – US Attorney General Eric Holder was aware that coming to California’s Bay Area meant encountering drug policy reform advocates. His May appearance at UC Berkeley law school saw him greeted by medical marijuana advocates, including a banner in the sky saying, “Holder: End RX Cannabis War” In advance of his …

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Black and white side profile portrait of an older man with short, white hair and a full beard and mustache. The man is wearing a dark suit and a bow tie. The background is dark, emphasizing his facial features and formal attire, reminiscent of California's dignitaries who saw the 100-year-old ban on marijuana. CA Norml

California’s 100-Year-Old Ban on “Indian Hemp” (aka Marijuana)

By Dale Gieringer, CalNORML director One hundred years ago, on August 10, 1913, an obscure law banning the possession of “Indian hemp” took effect in California. Also known as cannabis indica or hasheesh, Indian hemp had long been available in drugstores without causing any evident problems; hemp was also grown as a fiber crop in …

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Writers, Starlets and Mexicans: The History of Hollyweed

Angelinos awoke to art student Douglas Finegood’s interpretation of the Hollywood sign on January 1, 1976, the day marijuana was decriminalized in California. Another “vandal” altered the sign in the same way on January 1, 2017 to celebrate the passage of Prop. 64, legalizing adult recreational use. Los Angeles has had a remarkable relationship with …

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Two men are posing for a photo in a room at the US/Mexico Summit. One is wearing a light shirt, patterned tie, dark jacket, and name badge. The other man is in a dark jacket, light shirt, red tie, and light-colored pants. They are both smiling and standing side by side. CA Norml

US/Mexico Summit Looks At Legalization, Research

CalNORML Director Dale Gieringer with former Mexican President Vicente Fox at the Summit San Cristobal, Mexico, Jul 18-20. This past weekend former Mexican President Vicente Fox hosted a symposium at Centro Fox, where delegates from the US, Mexico and Europe discussed legalizing and regulating marijuana as an alternative to Mexico’s bloody drug war. The symposium …

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Close-up of a person holding and using an electronic cigarette. The device emits vapor that clouds the area around their face, with a blue light glowing from the tip. Their mouth is slightly open, suggesting an inhale or exhale of the vapor, potentially highlighting concerns addressed in CA Bill Against E-Cigarettes (SB 648). CA Norml

CA Bill Against E-Cigarettes Harmful to Consumer Health: SB 648 Would Restrict Use of Medical Marijuana Vaporizers by Prop 215

Also see: Blowing smoke about e-cigarettes By Dale H. Gieringer Sacramento Bee Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 UPDATE AUGUST 14: We’re happy to report that the author has pulled SB648 over concerns about its impact on medical marijuana patients. Thanks to the many NORML members who wrote or called their representatives. UPDATE 7/31/2013: The hearing on …

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PROTEST A.G. HOLDER VISIT TO BERKELEY – SAT MAY 11 @ 8:45 AM

May 10 – Join us in protesting Attorney General Eric Holder’s visit to Berkeley this Saturday, May 11th, 8:45-11am. Holder has been invited to address the commencement of Berkeley Law School at the Hearst Greek Theater. Just days ago, Holder’s Dept. of Justice

A group of men and women stand together on the steps of a building. One woman, speaking at a podium with microphones, has Cal NORML supporters standing behind her. A sign in front reads "END FEDERAL INTERFERENCE." The backdrop includes banners from the Berkeley Patients Group Medical Cannabis Dispensary. CA Norml

Cal NORML Denounces Federal Forfeiture Suit Against East Bay’s Oldest Medical Cannabis Dispensary: BPG

HIV patient Robin Bishop speaks at a rally in support of Berkeley Patients Group. BERKELEY CA, May 8th. Medical cannabis advocates rallied today to protest the Obama administration’s latest assault on medical marijuana: the U.S. Dept of Justice has filed a property forfeiture lawsuit against the landlord of the East Bay’s oldest operating medical cannabis …

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