Mass cann
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| Founded | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public Education Organization |
| Focus | Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana in Massachusetts |
| Location |
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Area served
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Massachusetts |
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Key people
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Steven S. Epstein, Esq., Bill Downing, Keith Saunders, PhD. |
| Website | Official MassCann/NORML Website |
The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (MassCann), the state affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (MassCann/NORML or MC/N), is a non-profit public education organization working for the moderation of marijuana laws. MassCann/NORML organizes the Freedom Rally on Boston Common every third Saturday in September. The MC/N newsletter, Mass Grass, is published six times annually. Membership is open to the public and leadership is democratically elected at the annual winter membership meeting, usually held in March.
MassCann/NORML was founded October 21, 1990, by Steven S. Epstein, Linda Noel, John Hardin, Madelyn Webster, Gary Insuik, Christopher Perron, John Miqliorini, Therese Slye and Ron Massad. Linda Noel was the first president and was also active with the High Times Freedom Fighters. Steven Epstein was the first clerk and Madelyn (Maddy) Webster was the first treasurer. In 1991 Dave Getchell was elected president, but after just a few months Dave handed the job to Bill Downing who served as president until 2004. Steven Epstein, an attorney, was elected treasurer in 1991 and remained treasurer through January 2012.
MassCann/NORML seeks to raise public awareness about Cannabis sativa's use and potential in Massachusetts To those ends MC/N leaders and members have written, published, spoken, debated, marched, rallied, organized, donated, illustrated, and otherwise volunteered in numerous ways.
The group organizes the Freedom Rally held on the third Saturday in September on Boston Common. It is traditionally the second largest annual gathering demanding marijuana law reform in the United States, after the Seattle Hempfest. MC/N has successfully sued the City of Boston for permits for the Freedom Rally three times.
Other MC/N events include:
MC/N has virtually no overhead costs, with neither personnel nor offices. Every action of MassCann/NORML is done by volunteers.
The MassCann/NORML board of directors and officers were honored as High Times Freedom Fighters of the Month. March 2012 saw many long-term directors stepping down and first-time directors coming in. A women's group was formed that intends to inform the Massachusetts public of benefits for women's issues such as premenstrual stress. Co-founder attorney Steve Epstein has departed. Bill Downing is among long-term directors remaining on board.
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Wikipedia