For the past 10 years or so, I have made it a point, or perhaps a pilgrimmage, to get to the annual National NORML Conference. Beyond mere “preaching to the choir”, it informs and invigorates and challenges attendees from around the country.

Here’s a quick rundown of highlights from my notes.

Thursday, Sep 24th:

• Paul Armentano gave a fascinating presentation on the medical benefits of marijuana. Pretty much everyone knows that marijuana can alleviate various symptoms of serious diseases, but he presented compelling medical evidence that it also possesses curative properties, applicable to ALS, MS, Alzheimers, and yes, CANCER.
• A panel  on caregivers and collectives asserted that keeping track of how many plants a patient has makes about as much sense as guessing the total weight of some dogs, when all you know is how many dogs are in the house, but not their size, breed, or age.
• Reasons not to talk to the police: 1) they are trained in deception tactics, and 2) it is a crime to make a false statement.
• “Doc-in-a-box”, a California physician who signs all recommendations, regardless of medical merit.
• Heads up for caregivers regarding taxes: you cannot claim federal deductions of any expenses related to medical marijuana. (Didja hear? Pot’s illegal.)

Friday, Sep 25th:

• Russ Bellville gave a great talk which explained “how we got here”. Look for a Youtube version in the coming weeks.
• Rob Kampia of MPP and Madeline Martinez of Oregon NORML (among others) gave presentations about new cannabis policy reforms in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, DC, New Jersey…
• A “Field Poll” recently found that Californians are ready to tax and regulate marijuana!
• Medical marijuana has played an important role in this change in perception over just a few years; people are seeing people go to a respectable place to acquire cannabis, using it peacefully and in some cases with great benefit, and the world has not come to an end as a result.
• Incredible recent media coverage lately!
• “Decrim” is a half-solution not worth pursuing. It protects many people, sure, but leaves in place the big problems: the black market and criminal syndicates that run them. Tax & regulate is the only way.
• But even “tax and regulate” is a wide-open question.  Start thinking about the details…
• “Busted” is now available online for free. Awesome!
• When states and decriminalized in the past, and when other countries have legalized, the evidence is that use does NOT go up, contrary to what many believe.

Saturday, Sep 26th:

• The marijuana arrest investigator.
• Oakland recently established a marijuana tax. It was proposed by the city council, endorsed by the dispensaries, and approved by 80% of voters and will raise millions for the cash-strapped city.
• There are 14 million monthly cannabis consumers in the US. This number is probably a little low since it’s a government survey asking people if they break the law. As with alcohol, it’s likely that the top 10% of users consume 50% of all the cannabis consumed.
• A “typical” user might only use 10g/year.
• We heard (via Skype) from Dr Lester  Grinspoon, who says marijuana is useful in three categories: recreational, medical, and enhancement (of food, sex, creativity, music, art)
• We heard from Mark Stepnoski and Rob Van Dam and Toby Grear about their use of cannabis as atheletes. (Only Van Dam said he’d smoke minutes before performing.)

On Saturday night, we attended a fundraiser for NORML, sponsored by Harborside, which lived up to its name as an “extravaganza”, that’s for sure.

Fantastic conference, kudos to the NORML staff and volunteers for making it happen!