Dear Friends and Supporters of Pittsburgh NORML: I am writing you this morning to talk briefly about the direction of your Chapter in 2012 and the state of Marijuana Prohibition Repeal in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.. Lets start with the bad news.. The two medicinal marijuana bills that have been sponsored by Rep. Mark Cohen and Sen. Daylin Leach have been killed in committee. In our Commonwealth, the only mechanism by which legislation becomes law is via the PA House and PA Senate. A bill must be sponsored by a member of either body. It is then referred to the appropriate committee. It is ultimately the decision of the Committee Chair whether the bill has hearings or is brought before the Committee for a vote. Sen. Patricia Vance's Office made it painfully clear this summer/fall that the Senator had zero interest in bringing Sen. Leach's bill up for a vote before the Committee. Her office rejected our call for additional hearings. Former Governor Ed Rendell would have signed medicinal marijuana legislation but current Governor Tom Corbett has towed a "typical" law enforcement line of no compromise. This comes against the background of medicinal marijuana enjoying widespread public support and recreational use cracking the 50% barrier for the first time ever. So what's an activist in Western PA to do? Give up? One direction for us is to energize our "base." We plan to do this by using volunteers to table at friendly events and street team volunteers to distribute flyers. Sounds simple and time honored, but we need volunteers willing to give up a Friday or Saturday night here and there or meet up outside of a concert venue or Pens game to distribute flyers. If you are interested in an active volunteer role with Pittsburgh NORML please email Patrick at pknlaw@mac.com or attend the upcoming movie night on January 26, 2012, at the Sphinx Hookah Bar on East Carson Street where we'll be screening "Busted" followed by a Q & A with criminal defense attorney and Pittsburgh NORML Executive Director Patrick Nightingale. From your friends at Pittsburgh NORML
