NORML 68th Year of Marijuana Prohibition

October 3, 2005

Washington, DC: Can a state legally prosecute minor marijuana offenders for
failing to pay "sin taxes" on their contraband? Can failing a urine test
after an auto accident land you in jail? Can possessing cannabis near
school grounds result in 20 years in jail? In many states, the answer is
"yes." The details may be found in NORML's 2005 Guide to State-By-State
Marijuana Penalties.

-Cutting Edge Cannabis Law Reform-
Also today, NORML announces the launch of its NORMLcast, a weekly Podcast
for NORML supporters and the general public.
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6685

NORML's updated report, available online at:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4516#updates, is the most
comprehensive guide available to the marijuana laws and penalties in all 50
states. This year's expanded edition also includes:

-Comprehensive state-by-state information regarding tax stamps;

-State drugged driving penalties;

-The latest and most accurate information regarding civil and criminal
penalties for marijuana possession, cultivation, sale and/or trafficking;

-Detailed information on states that impose mandatory minimum sentences for
specific cannabis offenses as well those that employ non-criminal and/or
alternative sentencing for minor marijuana offenders;

-Comprehensive breakdown of industrial hemp laws;

-State-authorized medical cannabis programs.

NORML's 2005 Guide to State-By-State Marijuana Penalties is being released
in conjunction with the 68th anniversary of the enactment of federal
marijuana prohibition (October 3, 1937).

NORML's Executive Director Allen St. Pierre remarked "there is today
undoubtedly a groundswell of support for reforming marijuana laws in many
parts of the U.S. and, since 1970, NORML serves as the primary hub of useful
up-to-date, credible and verifiable information that today's consumers of
marijuana need to know, and can only find thanks to NORML.

According to recent government data, nearly 26 million Americans enjoy
marijuana and each and every one of them should know what their state's
marijuana laws and penalties.

NORML and other drug policy law reform groups are working hard to reform
today's marijuana laws and end this misguided and unwise government
prohibition on marijuana that began 68 years ago today. Since 1937, hundreds
of billions of taxpayer resources have been wasted arresting, prosecuting
and incarcerating otherwise responsible citizens for using marijuana in a
manner indistinguishable to that of legal and taxed drugs like alcohol,
tobacco caffeine and pharmaceutical products."

According to FBI criminal justice data, at the end of October 2005,
approximately 16.7 million citizens since 1965 will have been arrested on
marijuana-related charges, 88% for simple possession charges.

St. Pierre concluded, "until such time that marijuana is a legal and taxed
product for adults to responsibly consume, every one in the U.S. who
currently uses marijuana needs to do two important things before they go to
bed this evening:

1) Download NORML's new, state-by-state marijuana laws and penalties guide
(NORML's updated report, available online at:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4516#updates

2) Join and support NORML's important work to end marijuana Prohibition at:
https://secure.norml.org/join/

NORML/NORML Foundation
1600 K St., NW
Suite 501
Washington, D.C. 20006
http://www.norml.org
media [at] norml.org
202-483-5500

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