HR 5842 NORML is pleased to announce that Representative Ron Paul has been joined by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Sam Farr (D-CA) in introducing H.R. 5842, the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act”, which seeks to enact legal protections for authorized medical marijuana patients, in the House of Representatives. Now is the time to contact your House member and urge him or her to support this important legislation.

H.R. 5842 will help to ensure that medical marijuana patients in those states where medical cannabis legislation has been approved will no longer have to fear arrest or prosecution from federal law enforcement agencies. However, this proposal will only receive serious consideration if your elected officials hear an unmistakable message of support from their constituents.

Currently, twelve states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington -- have enacted laws protecting medical marijuana patients from state prosecution. It’s time that we allowed our unique federalist system to work the way it was intended, and permit these states’ citizens and their representatives to enact laws permitting the medical use of cannabis, free from federal interference.

HR 5843 NORML is pleased to report that H.R. 5843, an "Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults," has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul. 

This measure, if passed, would strip the federal government of its authority to arrest responsible adult cannabis consumers.  NORML founder and Legal Director Keith Stroup worked extensively with Frank’s staff to write this important legislation, which represents the first cannabis decriminalization measure introduced in Congress in 24 years.

Under current federal law, the penalty for cannabis possession is up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.

Please call 202 224 3121 and urge your Congressional Representative to cosponsor and vote YES on HR 5842 and HR 5843

The medical cannabis bill SB 2865 should be voted on by the Illinois Senate after the election in November.  Last year we were only a few votes short of getting the bill out of the Illinois Senate.  If the bill passes the Illinois Senate it will go to the Illinois House of Representatives and will need to be approved by that chamber before going to the governor's desk for his signature.  We need everyone who supports reforming cannabis laws to contact Illinois state legislators and ask for their support on this issue.

Please take a few moments to contact your legislators and urge them to support Senate Bill 2865 and protecting medical cannabis patients from arrest in Illinois.  For more info on finding out who your state legislators are go to the Illinois General Assembly Website at:  www.ilga.gov Call 217 782 2000 and tell your legislators Yes on SB 2865