NORML Foundation
1001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Ste. 710
Washington, DC 20036
202-483-8751 (p)
202-483-0057 (f)
www.norml.org
foundation@norml.org

Today's topics:

* Zogby Poll: Majority of Americans Oppose US Marijuana Policies
2/3 Oppose Feds' Closing of Medical Pot Clubs; 3/5 Oppose Arresting Pot
Smokers

* Congressmen Urge Legalization of Medical Mj., Condemn Crackdown on CA
Pot Clubs

December 6, 2001

-Zogby Poll: Majority of Americans Oppose US Marijuana Policies
2/3 Oppose Feds' Closing of Medical Pot Clubs; 3/5 Oppose Arresting Pot
Smokers-

Washington, DC: Americans oppose federal efforts to close California
medical marijuana providers, and reject the notion that recreational
users of the drug should face arrest or criminal prosecution, according
to a national poll of 1,024 likely voters by Zogby International and
commissioned by the NORML Foundation.

Two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents oppose the use of federal law
enforcement agencies to close dispensaries that supply medical marijuana
to patients in California and other states that have legalized pot for
medical use.

Of those, a full one-half (50 percent) say they "strongly oppose," 17
percent say they "somewhat oppose" and six percent are undecided. Only
27 percent of those polled say they support the government's actions, and
fewer than one in five (15 percent) voiced strong support.

In addition, 61 percent of respondents said that in light of the
increased attention to the threat of terrorism since September 11, they
oppose arresting and jailing nonviolent marijuana smokers.

Of those, 39 percent "strongly oppose" arresting smokers, 22 percent
"somewhat oppose" and six percent are undecided.

Only 33 percent of those polled say they support arresting and jailing
marijuana offenders, and fewer than one in five (18 percent) voiced
strong support.

The poll is the first to gauge the public's support for marijuana
decriminalization since the September 11 tragedy.

"From opinion-makers like The Washington Post's David Broder and The New
York Times' Anthony Lewis to the general public, there is a consensus
that America's 65-year war on marijuana smokers needs to take a back seat
to the current, substantive war on terrorism," NORML Executive Director
Allen St. Pierre said.

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Foundation
Executive Director, at (202) 483-8751.

-Congressmen Urge Legalization of Medical Marijuana, Condemn
Crackdown on California Pot Clubs-

"We do not believe that there is widespread support in the Congress for
the use of federal law enforcement officials to override state law in
this regard," Reps. say

Washington, DC: Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX)
are intensifying their efforts to rally Congressional support for House
Bill 2592, the "State's Rights to Medical Marijuana Act," which would
allow physicians to legally prescribe marijuana under federal law and
permit state legislatures to establish distribution systems for the drug.

In a "Dear Colleague" letter distributed to House Representatives
Wednesday, Frank and Paul said that recent actions taken by the federal
government against California's medical cannabis providers underscore the
need for Congress to back HR 2592 and respect the rights of states to
follow their own medical marijuana policies.

"We do not believe that there is widespread support in the Congress for
the use of federal law enforcement officials to override state law in
this regard, and we note that no one has pointed to any pattern of abuse
that has resulted from these state policies," they state.

"But with the Supreme Court having ruled that the supremacy clause of the
US constitution allows the Executive Branch to override state policy on
[the] matter [of the manufacture and distribution of medical marijuana,]
and since the Executive Branch has shown a willingness, if not an
eagerness, to do exactly that, the Congress is the only branch of the
federal government that can act to preserve the rights of states to make
their own decisions."

They continue: "The regulation of medical practice has long been a state
matter, and we think that, in this instance, it should remain so.

We therefore ask that you join us in sponsoring legislation which has the
sole purpose of allowing states which decide to reclassify marijuana so
that it may be prescribed for medical purposes the ability to do so."

Presently, 20 members of Congress are signed on to the bill, which awaits
action from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on
Health.

For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup or Paul
Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500.

To learn more about the "State's Rights to Medical Marijuana Act," please
visit: http://www.norml.org/ laws/fedleg2001.shtml.

Full text of the bill is available at: http://thomas.loc.gov.

RECONSIDER Tidbits