My lunch break had begun. I took a few swigs of iced coffee, three bites of a Cliff bar and opened the car door.  Pre-Op physical with my doctor was just a few minutes away. I checked in, and before I could sit down a voice chimes, “Mary Holladay...”

New Virginia NORML member Diane Holladay provided this report of her experience lobbying a staffer of Senator Kaine:

Dressed in black slacks, a Tibetan art T-shirt and sandals, I took a seat in the conference room and watched two very talented ladies patiently explain immigration laws and the “simplicity” of filling out the necessary forms.

Sitting in the back row was a young man dressed in a very handsome vested suit, gazing at the speakers and waiting for his turn.

At 12:05 Gaston Riveros rose from his chair and walking to the front, applauded the two ladies for sharing their vast knowledge and precious Saturday morning.  It was at this time that Senator Kaine’s assistant & caseworker opened the door to “office hours.”

Are you a Republican or conservative with values that include a desire for marijuana law reform?  Maybe you have friends that fit this description?  If so, please read on...

We must elect representatives to the Virginia General Assembly that understand basic things: marijuana prohibition is a failed policy, patients need legal access to medical cannabis, legalization and regulation will keep pot AWAY from more kids... and so on. In order to help Virginia elect the right candidates this November, Virginia NORML is endeavoring to ask each of the state’s incumbent representatives and declared contenders a series of five questions on their positions. 

We are seeking volunteers to set up a short meeting with a lawmaker, ask the questions, and report back to us the results. It's an action that EVERY advocate of reform should take at some point, since building a relationship with our lawmakers is crucial to gaining their support for our cause. If you can help with this effort, please contact our Policy Director, Ed McCann as soon as possible -- policy@virginianorml.org

Win Independence from Marijuana Prohibition by Supporting Virginia NORML Today!
 
Bottom line – Virginia CAN end prohibition within the next 2 years, but we need your help. Click here to accept the challenge!

Virginia NORML is pleased to introduce Pamela Novy as its new Executive Director.

Virginia NORML is not so much a traditional chapter as it is a framework for action that provides support and guidance for the state’s Regional Chapters. Meetings and events in the state happen primarily at the Regional Chapter level, while VANORML itself consists only of a Board of Directors -- a dozen folks from various chapters.  These volunteers lead a variety of Action Teams that engage other supporters from around the state.  If you are truly fired up to change the laws, we hope that you will contact us and join one of these committees -- there are ALWAYS interesting projects available, and the more help we have, the faster we will achieve our goals.

Please take a moment to read this, so you can effectively benefit from Virginia NORML’s social media efforts.

For two rainy and unseasonably cool late May days, 18 dedicated Virginia marijuana law reformers took time off from their personal obligations to learn advanced lobbying techniques and then lobby Congress on behalf of the current slate of federal marijuana reform bills. This was national NORML's Legislative Fly-in, and it attracted activist superstars from around the country to the campus of George Washington University to learn how to lobby more effectively.

On May 13, marijuana reform activists from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC gathered for the second annual Vanguard Awards to celebrate achievements in marijuana policy reform and to honor those who are leading the charge.  It was great to bring so many regional activists together. We can build synergy and enthusiasm in the reform movement by working collaboratively, and the success of this event proves just that!