The greatest harm associated with marijuana is its criminal prohibition. No one should ever be arrested or jailed for the responsible use of cannabis.
Yet every two minutes, someone in America is arrested for violating marijuana laws. Most of them are put in handcuffs. Many others spend time in jail. All face the discrimination, stigmatization, and collateral consequences that come with a criminal record.
For over 50 years, NORML has fought to end these senseless arrests and to ensure that those with criminal records have them cleared. Slowly but surely, we are succeeding. As more states enact adult-use legalization, and as more localities in prohibition states adopt municipal decriminalization policies, annual marijuana-related arrests in the United States have fallen precipitously. And in recent years, over 2.4 million Americans with past cannabis convictions have had those records vacated by the courts.
Your generous financial support of NORML has helped foster these life-changing policy changes.
But NORML’s work is far from done. In some jurisdictions, like Idaho, lawmakers are reimposing harsh criminal penalties, even for low-level marijuana violations. In others, like Texas, legislators are using the courts to strike down decriminalization ordinances — leading to thousands of senseless arrests. And in states like Ohio, lawmakers are seeking to recriminalize marijuana-related activities — either by rolling back voter-approved legalization laws or by imposing arbitrary bans on the types of cannabis products permissible under the law.
NORML is leading the charge to keep and secure the freedoms of responsible cannabis consumers. But we face uncertain times ahead and we need your support to keep fighting for your rights. We stand with the interests of consumers, not commercial enterprises, and we rely on your donations to do our important work. Our goal is that responsible consumers no longer face the indignities and hardships that come from a marijuana arrest, and to ensure they have access to high quality products that are safe, convenient and affordable. Help us help you — and the tens of millions like you — who believe wholeheartedly in the cause of cannabis freedom. Please make a generous donation to NORML today.
Related
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in these blog posts is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The use of any information provided in these blog posts is solely at your own risk. The authors and the website do not recommend or endorse any specific products, treatments, or procedures mentioned. Reliance on any information in these blog posts is solely at your own discretion.
