WILL WE SEE YOU AT A CONFERENCE? PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE DrugSense FOCUS Alert #302 - Wednesday, March 2, 2005 As an internet based organization DrugSense folks - the volunteers and activists who make us what we are - seldom meet unless it is at a conference. This year there are two superb conferences. We hope to see you at one, if not both. Below is a message from Keith Stroup about the NORML conference as well as an agenda. The second conference is: The 2005 International Drug Policy Reform Conference "Building a Movement for Reason, Compassion and Justice" November 10, 11, & 12, 2005, Beginning with a reception on the evening of November 9. Westin Hotel, Long Beach, California More details on this conference will be available in the months ahead. We have been told that there will be a limited number of scholarships available. The web link about this conference is http://drugpolicy.org/events/dpa2005/ 2005 NORML Conference: Register now ... rooms going fast! Dear NORML Supporter, Hurry up! Do not delay in booking your room and pre-registering for the 2005 NORML conference in San Francisco, March 31 - April 2, 2005. NORML's staff informs me that we've already sold 150% of the organization's allotted discounted room block at the Cathedral Hill Hotel. If you don't want to miss out staying at the conference hotel, call 1-800-622-0855 (use the code: 'NORML'). We've still got great nightly deals on hotel rooms in downtown San Francisco at $99/standard and $109/deluxe! To learn more about NORML's 2005 conference, checkout: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6437 What can you expect at NORML 2005? The wider world knows Rick Steves as one of America's most successful travel authors and a popular TV show host. This year's NORML conference keynote speaker aptly serves as NORML's world ambassador, passionately advocating for a sane cannabis policy encompassing legal and responsible adult use. Rick is a generous, funny, famous and deeply moving speaker. I'm so very glad that he's accepted the director's invitation to speak at NORML 2005. Expect speakers such as: NORML's new executive director Allen St. Pierre, Drug Policy Alliance's Drs. Ethan Nadelmann and Marsha Rosenbaum, medical marijuana activists Angel Reich and Diane Monson (the 'dynamic duo' whose pending US Supreme Court decision in their landmark case has the marijuana law reform movement waiting on pins and needles); also featured at NORML 2005 are numerous and informative panels for cannabis consumers highlighting physicians, lawyers, medical and health researchers, representatives from medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation experts, young and seasoned activists, High Times Magazine editors and members of NORML's staff and national board of directors. Over two dozen drug policy reform organizations are represented, including: Drug Policy Alliance, Canada NORML, Efficacy, Americans for Safe Access, Vancouver Island Compassionate Club, Marijuana Policy Project, MAPinc, DrugSense, ReConsiDer, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, CHEAR, DRCNet and many others. Since 1972, NORML's annual conferences have become THE central place for the marijuana law reform movement to meet, build community and strategize on the ways and means to successfully bring an end to marijuana prohibition. Pre-register online for the conference by visiting: https://secure.norml.org/conference/ Also, you can call 202-483-5500 and register over the phone. I look forward to seeing many old friends and making new acquaintances at NORML 2005 in San Francisco(one of America's most cannabis friendly cities. Regards, R. Keith Stroup, Esq. Of Counsel (and NORML founder) p.s. The entire NORML staff just booked flights from the Washington, DC-area to San Francisco for under $200/person. Very affordable flights still remain into San Francisco and Oakland from all over the US and Canada. If you're driving to the NORML conference from CA, WA, OR, NV or from wherever, and staying at the Cathedral Hill Hotel, parking is free. Bonus! NORML Conference Agenda as of 2 March from http://www.norml.com/index.cfm?Group_ID=6440 Wednesday, March 30 6:00 - 8:00pm Early Conference Registration and Happy Hour Thursday, March 31 First Day 9:00-9:90am Welcome - Steve Dillon, Esq., Chair, NORML board of directors 9:20-9:40am Cannabis Convocation - Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director, NORML 9:40-11:00am 2004 Pro-Cannabis Initiatives: The Review Alaska (TBA) Oregon/Lee Berger, Esq. Montana (TBA) Massachusetts/Steve Epstein, Esq. Columbia, MO - Med Mj. Initiative/Sterling Neeb - Decrim. Initiative/Dan Viets, Esq. Detroit and Ann Arbor, MI/Timothy Beck Oakland - Judy Appel, Esq. Moderator: Dominic Holden, WA NORML/ Sensible Seattle 11:15-1:00pm Drug Policy Reform: Taking it directly to the people Jack Cole, LEAP Roger Goodman, Esq., Voluntary Lawyer Comm. Nick Eyle, ReConsider Mikki Norris, Cannabis Consumer Campaign Keith Saunders, Ph.D, MassCANN/NORML Moderator: Clifford Thornton, Efficacy/ NORML national board of directors 2:00-2:30pm Teens and Drugs: Reports from the Field Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D, Deputy Director, Drug Policy Alliance 2:30-4:00pm Cannabis Prohibition Victims: Recent, Current and Prospective Diane Munson, Raich/Munson v. Ashcroft) Valerie Leveroni Corral, WAMM, national NORML board of directors Angel Raich, Raich/Munson v. Ashcroft Brian Epis Todd McCormick Marissa Garcia Moderator: Steph Sherer, Executive Director, Americans for Safe Access 4:00-6:00pm Breakout Sessions Student Activism: Stoking the Reefer Revolution Christopher Mulligan, CHEAR/national NORML board of directors Scarlett Swerdlow, SSDP Abby Bair, SSDP Josh Manning, Univ. of FL NORML Matt Jones, Univ. of FL NORML Moderator: Kris Krane, Associate Director, NORML Police Tactics: Don't Become a Statistic Anthony Feldstein, Esq. Omar Figaroa, Esq. Peter Vilkelis, Esq. Vaporizers & FDA Research: The Future of 'Smoking' Cannabis Rick Doblin, Ph.D, MAPS Moderator: Dale Gieringer, Ph.D, Director CA NORML 6:30-9:00pm NORML/High Times Annual Art Auction and Activist Awards Friday, April 1 Second Day 9:00-9:45am Challenges and Opportunities in Drug Policy Reform - Ethan Nadelmann, Ph.D Executive Director, Drug Policy Alliance 9:45-11:00am In the Cross Hair: Medi-pot Docs Tod Mikuriya, M.D. Frank Lucido, M.D. David Bearman, M.D. Mollie Fry, M.D. Claudia Jensen, M.D. David Hadorn, M.D. Phil Denny, M.D. Moderator: Fred Gardner, California Medical Marijuana Research Group 11:15-1:00pm Marijuana and Good Health: Who Knew? Robert Malamede, Ph.D, University of CO Donald Abrams, MD, University of CA, SF Mitch Earlywine, Ph.D, USC Greg Carter, M.D.,University of Washington Moderator: Dale Gieringer, Ph.D, Director CA NORML national board of directors 1:00-2:30pm Luncheon and Keynote Speaker: Rick Steves, Best selling travel author, TV show host and NORML Advisory Board member 2:30-3:15pm Cannabis Arrest Report and Use Analysis Jon Gettman, Ph.D. Former NORML Director; Fellow, George Mason Univ. 3:15-4:00pm High Times' History of The 'Bud' Shot: A Pictorial and Cultural Anthology Steve Bloom, Senior Editor Richard Cusick, Senior Editor David Bienstock, Senior Editor 4:00-6:00pm Breakout Sessions Cannabis Cultivation: The How, Why and for What Kyle Kushman, High Times Moderator: Chris Conrad,ChrisConrad.com Medical Marijuana: State of the Law From the Pros William McPike, Esq. Lee Berger, Esq. David Michaels, Esq. Moderator: William Panzer, Esq. Hemp: A Fruitful or Frightful Future? Eric Steenstra,Votehemp.com Jack Herer, The Emperor of Hemp Moderator: David Bronner, Dr. Bronner's Soaps, HIA 8:00-10:00pm Cannabis-oriented Entertainment Saturday, April 2 Third Day 9:00-10:00am Registration Desk Open and NORML Product Sales 10:00-11:15am Drugged Driving Tests: The Science and Policies What You Need to Know-Right Now! Dale Gieringer, Ph.D, CA NORML Ed Orlett, Drug Policy Alliance of Ohio Caren Woodson, Drug Policy Alliance Moderator: Paul Armentano, Senior Policy Analyst, NORML 11:15-12:00pm Drug Policy: Then and Now Arnold Trebach. Ph.D Founder of the Drug Policy Foundation, Trebach Institute 12:15-2:00pm Oh Canada! Separating Myth From Reality Richard Cowan,marijuananews.com Moderator: Phillipe Lucas, VICS, Canada NORML 3:00-4:15pm Lessons Learned: Cannabis Prohibition and Censorship Michael Gray, Common Sense for Drug Policy Michael Aldrich, Ph.D Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D, Deputy Director, Drug Policy Alliance Debby Goldsberry Mikki Norris, Cannabis Consumer Campaign Moderator: Keith Saunders, Ph.D, MassCANN/NORML 4:15-6:00pm The Future is Now: Growing Grassroots Online Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director, NORML Dave Borden, Executive Director, DRCNet Steven Heath, MAPinc Matt Elrod, MAPinc Moderator: Richard Cowan, former NORML Director,marijuananews.com 8:00-??? $75/person private benefit for NORML and the NORML Foundation Prepared by: Stephen Heath http://www.mapinc.org/resource/maf_bio.htm =

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