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Community Corner

First Annual Virginia NORML Cannabis Conference

The conference will feature nationally-known expert Virginians in cannabis law and policy, as well as longtime Virginia marijuana activists. Topics will range from racial bias in marijuana arrests, to how tobacco policy is relevant to changing marijuana laws, to the Drug War in Mexico, to lobbying our elected officials. Fee is only $30--go to virginianorml.org. Plus after-conference party at Bon.

This is a great event for anyone who understands the necessity of marijuana law reform, and even better for those who are undecided or even opposed, because you would see the real face of reform. Just look at the speakers:

Richard Bonnie Professor and former Dean at the University of Virginia School of Law; assistant director of President Nixon's National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse (Shafer Commission)

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Dr. Jon Gettman - marijuana researcher; former director of NORML; leader of the Coalition to Reschedule Cannabis; Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Shenandoah University

Robert Sarvis Libertarian Party Candidate for Virginia Governor

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Jamie Haase - former Special Agent of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); speaker for LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition)

Michael Krawitz - founder of Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access

Al Byrne - co-founder of Patients Out of Time

Lennice Werth - founder of Virginians Against Drug Violence

Sabrina Fendrick - founder and coordinator of the NORML Women's Alliance; member of Board of Directors of Virginia NORML

Erik Altieri - NORML Communications Director and Northeastern/Central US Chapter Coordinator

Dave Norris - member of Charlottesville City Council and former mayor

Shirley Ginwright - President of Fairfax County NAACP

Schedule

9:00-10:00 Registration
10:00-10:15 Ed McCann opening
10:15-10:45 Ice Breaker [downtown mall/talk board]
Presidential Marijuana Commission of 1970 and Modern Regulation Parallels 
10:45-11:15 Dr. Richard Bonnie
Racial Arrest Disparities
11:15-12:00 Dr. Jon Gettman
12:00-12:30 Shirley Ginwright
12:30-1:30 - Lunch
1:30-1:45 Law Enforcement - Motives & Impact
Jamie Haase

1:45-2:15 Keynote Address
Robert Sarvis (VA Gubernatorial candidate, Libertarian)
2:15-3:15 Local Politics & Lobbying - Roundtable
Lennice Werth & Dave Norris, Ed McCann
3:15-3:30 Federal Reform Efforts
Erik Altieri
3:30-3:45 Break
3:45-4:45 Veteran's Medical Treatment By Geography - Roundtable
Mike Krawitz & Al Byrne
4:45-5:15 Outreach & Coalition Building
Sabrina Fendrick 
5:15-5:30: Closing Remarks
5:30-6:00 Tools for Taking Action & Creating Change

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