News Release
1001 Connecticut Ave, NW - Ste 710 - Washington, DC 20036 Tel. 202.483.8751 - Fax 202.483.0057 - E-mail foundation@norml.org - Internet www.norml.org

April 25, 2002

NORML Declares 2002 Conference "A Smashing Success"

Nearly 600 Gather For NORML's Largest Ever National Conference

San Francisco, CA: An overflow crowd of more than 550 marijuana-law reformers jammed the halls of San Francisco's Crown Plaza Hotel to attend last week's national NORML Conference, and call for an end to America's criminal pot laws.

"We attracted a wonderful group of supporters this year," said NORML's Keith Stroup, who noted that this year's conference was the largest in the organization's 32-year history.  "The energy level and the mood of the attendees were extremely high.  This was the first time NORML had held our conference in California since 1992, and we were delighted at the reception we received from our supporters on the west coast, and the local media."

News stories on the NORML conference were featured on the front page of The San Francisco Examiner, and prominently in The San Francisco Chronicle and on several local television news programs.

Stroup praised the strength and variety of speakers at this year's conference. "From the opening speech on Thursday by San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan, to the inspirational talk about the state of the Constitution by legendary California criminal defense attorney Tony Serra, to the 'call to action' by Politically Incorrect's Bill Maher on Saturday afternoon, we were privileged to hear from many of the leaders of the marijuana law reform movement," he said.  "It was impossible to attend this conference without leaving with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment."

Additional speakers at this year's conference included California State Senator John Vasconcellos; San Francisco Supervisor and soon-to-be State Assemblyman Mark Leno; legendary hemp activist Jack Herer; former Shafer Report Commissioner, Dr. Tom Ungerleider; NORML Foundation Board Chair Dr. John P. Morgan; best-selling author Barbara Ehrenreich; Nevada State Assemblywoman Christina Giunchigliani; David Boaz of the CATO Institute in Washington DC; and a special welcome message from Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura.

NORML and the NORML Foundation offer our sincerest gratitude to everyone who attended and helped make the 2002 conference our most successful ever.

Photos and highlights from the 2002 NORML conference will be available shortly on the NORML web site at: http://www.norml.org.

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