So you want to “get involved”. Easy right? Unfortunately not when the movement is eating its self alive! I am the scheduler for NORML Arizona. NORML stands for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. It is an incredible organization that is pushing the Marijuana initiative forward on a political level. The role honestly kind of found me and it really has been a hell of a ride ever since I decided to actually get my hands dirty.
When your unique skill set is talking to people on the phone, I guess it was a natural thing for me to start picking up the phone and setting appointments for the State Director of NORML, Mikel Weisser. I send him all over the State of Arizona to do what he does best, Politic. Now I have never been in politics my entire life.
So understandably on the car ride down to the State Capitol to meet with Mark Cardenas the State Representative for LD 19, I was kind of freaking out because I really had no clue what I was getting myself into. In my head I expected to meet this stuffy guy in a suit wearing some sort of white powered wig on his head.
The first thing I saw when I stepped into his office was the chucks on his feet and the warm, genuine smile on his face. There were pictures of his family, times in the military, and various recognition plaques all over the walls. Luckily I came prepared with two time Congressional Candidate Mr.Weisser who walked around that Capitol like a freaking rock star. I met so many people and honestly had never heard of most of them.
Mikel began the discussion discussing HB 2006 which is Cardenas initiative to decriminalize marijuana in our State. As a registered patient you can have up to two ounces on you at any given time. A gram over two ounces and we have the strongest penalties in the country. His bill is trying to get that changed so the penalties make a little more sense. In my own opinion I think he is going for the one thing he has any hope of actually getting, and maybe the most important issue as well.
He also took a look at the CREMLA and the AZFMR initiatives. MPP is backing the initiative CREMLA which is to regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. AZFMR is backing the initiative Arizonans for Mindful Regulation. Both have similar structure however one is a grass roots for the people by the people movement and the other is a highly funded dollars for signature campaign. We talked about medicinal refugees, Veteran Suicides decrease in legalized States, and the potential for the job market.
I left the Capitol scratching my head thinking, what the hell did we just do? Mikel kind of gave one of those dear sweet child how you have much to learn kind of chuckles and said, “59 to go kid!” Thats when the light came on. The point is to change the mind and potentially educate the people in this State who can actually make this plant legal.
From bud trimmers, bud tenders, cultivators to lawyers, high paid executives in and out side of the industry, we need to have a voice. We are living proof that the stoner stigma is based on lack of education. Most people against marijuana have no idea what a cannaboid system is! Start telling your stories, go bang on some doors. We the People can make a change!!