Cannabis in California: Ending the 100-Year War

All are invited to California NORML’s conference marking the 100th anniversary of marijuana prohibition in California.

This two-day event, held January 26 & 27 at Ft. Mason Conference Center in San Francisco, will explore the history, causes and costs of the war on cannabis, and strategies for ending it.

Following up on Cal NORML’s “Next Steps” conferences of 2011, we will discuss concrete measures to reform California’s cannabis laws, both medical and otherwise, through legislation, litigation and ballot initiatives.

Speakers at this historic conference will include leading experts on cannabis, reform movement leaders, public officials, attorneys, scientific and medical experts.

Conference attendees will receive a 15% discount at SPARC, 1256 Mission St., SF on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the conference. SPARC will host a fundraising party for attendees on Friday night starting at 7:30 PM. Also a “Centiversary” gala party will be held on Saturday night.

DAY ONE OF CONFERENCE

Ft. Mason Conference Center, San Francisco

DOORS OPEN: 8:45

THE 100 YEAR WAR ON CANNABIS IN CALIFORNIA
(9:15-9:45)

Ellen Komp, CalNORML- Cannabis before prohibition
Author Mike Gray – The US goes Drug Crazy
Dale Gieringer, CalNORML – Prohibition in California

PIONEERS OF CANNABIS LAW REFORM
(10:00-11:00)

Michael Aldrich, Amorphia
Michelle Aldrich, CMI
Gordon Brownell, original CalNORML director
Debby Goldsberry, Cannabis Action Network co-founder
Dennis Peron, Prop. 215 author

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MARIJUANA REFORM?
(11:00-12:00)

Stephen Gutwillig, Drug Policy Alliance
Rob Kampia, MPP
Paul Armentano, NORML

LUNCH BREAK 12:00-1:00

PROP 215: STATE OBSTACLES (1:15-2:15) 
Senator Mark Leno – Legislative solutions
Michael Levinsohn – Child Protective Services issues
Omar Figueroa – Criminal defense strategies
James Anthony – Cultivation rights and local ordinances

RESPONSES TO FEDERAL INTERFERENCE (2:30-3:30)
Moderator: Bill Panzer, California NORML
Supervisor John McCowen –
Federal Sabotage of Mendocino’s Ordinance
Henry Wykowski – Taxation and federal law
Betty Aldworth, NCIA – Lobbying strategies from the states
Joe Elford, ASA – Rescheduling lawsuit and federal focus
Khurshid Khoja, Emerald Growers Association – Challenges to regulation of cultivation

THE STATE OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY (3:30-4:30)
Moderator: Liana Held, Liana Limited
James Slatic, MedWest – The investor perspective
Troy Dayton, The ArcViewGroup – Funding cannabusinesses
Steve DeAngelo, Harborside Health Center – Standing our ground
David Lampach, Steep Hill Lab – Setting industry standards

7:30-10:30 CENTIVERSARY FUNDRAISING PARTY AND AUCTION, SAN FRANCISCO $100

Sunday, January 27, 2013

DAY TWO OF CONFERENCE
Ft. Mason Conference Center, San Francisco

DOORS OPEN 9:00

LESSONS FROM WASHINGTON, COLORADO, & PROP 19 (9:30-10:30)
MODERATOR: Lauren Vazquez, Fired Up Lawyer
Alison Holcomb – Winning in Washington
Mason Tvert – Colorado’s Success Story
Graham Boyd – Polling in CO & WA and what it means for the future
Richard Lee – Language lessons from Prop 19
Tamar Todd, DPA – Likely federal responses to WA and CO

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY REFORM (10:30-11:30)
Rep. Tom Ammiano – Medical marijuana legislation in 2013
Dan Rush, UFCW – Lobbying & legislation
Larry Bedard – The CMA and legalization
Don Duncan, ASA – 2013 opportunities
Kristin Nedeval, Emerald Growers Association –
Regulation of distribution; opportunities after legalization

LUNCH BREAK 12-1

THE NEXT CALIFORNIA INITIATIVE (1:15-2:30)
Beau Kilmer, RAND Corporation
Dale Sky Jones, Oaksterdam University; CCPR – Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform
Joe Rogoway – Drafting Issues; A Legal Perspective
Amanda Reiman, DPA – Key components; managing the federal response to WA and CO
John Gilmore – A funder’s perspective

GROWING OUR MOVEMENT (2:30-3:30)
Marsha Rosenbaum, DPA – Meetings parents’ concerns
Deborah Small, Breaking the Chains – Cannabis legalization as a path to racial justice
Ann Lee, RAMP – Helping conservatives to embrace legalization
Kyndra Miller – Women’s role in future elections
Nate Bradley, LEAP – Winning over law enforcement
Stacia Cosner, SSDP – Bridging the gap between movement leadership and grassroots activists

ACTIVIST STRATEGIES FOR REFORM (3:30-4:30)
Lanny Swerdlow – Starting Brownie Mary Democratic Clubs
Robert Jacob – Running for local office
Kandice Hawes – forming NORML and NWA chapters
Mikki Norris & Chris Conrad – Tell Michelle campaign, Legalizing Industrial Hemp, Pot POWs
Ed Rosenthal – Green Aid, The Medical Marijuana Legal Defense and Education Fund

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