National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws comes to Portland to aid the crusade

A new chapter in National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
(NORML) is opening in Portland. NORML’s Executive Director Russ Belville states
that the new group will complement an existing statewide chapter—Oregon
NORML—but will push a little harder for Portland-specific cannabis issues. “The
state affiliate has to react to statewide issues and rural voters,” Belville told
the Portland Tribune. “It’s going to
be more conservative. We feel we can go a little further in Portland than we
can in other parts of the state. They’re not going to swing for the fences like
we can in Portland.”

NORML, a well-known cannabis concerned nonprofit has been aiding in the
legalization efforts and patient rights fights for over 40 years in the U.S. The
organization’s Portland chapter is its first in this city. Belville says that
even though Oregon approved of commercial cannabis legalization with the
greatest margin of any state, over 56 percent, Portland’s representatives and
executives are trying to limit and constrict access and use, completely out of
touch of the will of the voters.

According to Belville, the local chapter is hiring a lobbyist to work
with lawmakers in Salem. The group also hopes to meet with city officials to
discuss regulations and taxes on coming cannabis retail shops. Most lobbying
efforts will focus on maintaining the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program registry
card system. They also hope to aid integration all commercial cannabis
production and sales into Measure 91’s framework; establishing places were
adults can smoke or vape cannabis (vapor lounges or coffee shops); keeping
taxation low so it doesn’t drive up the price of the legal bud; maintaining
laws that affirm cannabis consumers’ right to work; establishing cannabis
consumers’ equal rights; and, expanding personal cultivation rules, according
to Belville.

Belville took an active role in the beginning stages of Colorado and
Washington’s legalization processes, hoping to learn what to do and what not to
do, and now aims to implement those lessons for Oregon’s benefit. “I’ve seen
what’s working and not working in Seattle and Colorado, and we learned from
that,” Belville said. “Portland can be the place that stands as the gold
standard for how American cities can successfully regulate adult marijuana use
and commerce in the future. We look forward to working with the city, the
Legislature and other stakeholders in crafting that reality.”