Open Meeting on September 9

Rick — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:57:28 +0000

Please join Pittsburgh NORML for our next open meeting, taking place at Ava (part of the Shadow Lounge complex at 5972 Baum Blvd.) on Thursday, September 9 at 6:30pm. We look forward to seeing lots of new faces! This meeting is open to all of the public and media, and all are invited and encouraged to attend. Topics to be covered include the recent HB 1393 hearing in Pittsburgh, the fundraiser coming up on October 9 at Shadow Lounge, and the rally in support of HB 1393 and SB 1350 that we are currently organizing. This is a very exciting time for marijuana law activity in PA, and we’d love to have your help. See you there!

Video from Hearing Last Week

Rick — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:55:11 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/user/PA4MMJ

Press from Public Hearing Last Week

Rick — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:46:48 +0000

Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Pgh NORML Camping Trip Announced!

Rick — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:41:16 +0000

The folks at Pittsburgh NORML are organizing a camping expedition for the weekend of September 24-26. All are welcome to attend. Here are the details:

Laurel Hill State Park
1454 Laurel Hill Park Road
Somerset, PA 15501-5629

September 24-26, 2010

Cost is $30.00 per person — Children 12 and under are free.

***PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED, REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 17, 2010***

Please see the registration form below, or visit www.pittsburghnorml.org to download one. For additional assistance please call the Pittsburgh NORML High Line at 724-237-0015.

Activities for all ages:

Tie-dying (1 cotton tee provided, but ok to bring more)
Tons of bike and hike adventures…all levels
Scavanger Hunt
Horse Shoes
Water Balloons
Bubble Painting
Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Informative videos
Lecture/Discussion on current MMJ happenings

Bring your own food

“POT” Luck Dinner– Campfire Goodies provided, bring your favorite “campfire” side dish.

Come join Pittsburgh NORML in a family atmosphere and learn more about our fight to legalize medical marijuana and end prohibition.

Please download your registration form using the following link. Click here for registration form

Live Feed for Public Hearing on HB1393

Rick — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:04:12 +0000

AT 3:00PM ON 8/19/2010, YOU CAN VIEW THE PITTSBURGH HB1393 HEARING LIVE HERE (requires Flash)

Hearing this THURSDAY on HB1393!

Rick — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:48:08 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana PA4MMJ

www.pa4mmj.org

CONTACT: Pittsburgh: Patrick Nightingale pknlaw@mac.com 412 225 7959

Philadelphia: Derek Rosenzweig or Chris Goldstein media@phillynorml.org or 215 586 3483

Doctors, Police will support medical marijuana in Pittsburgh
Public hearings this week on Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana bill HB 1393 will feature powerful testimony in favor of legal access. The House Health and Human Services Committee will meet Thursday in Pittsburgh to address the topic.

The Committee will hear from medical doctors, retired police, a former Assistant District Attorney and medical professionals.

- Dr. Cyril Wecht, one of the nation’s most respected forensic pathologists, will testify at he hearing. Wecht said today, “I have personally performed approximately 17000 autopsies during my 50 year career as a forensic pathologist. I have reviewed, supervised or signed off on 36000 other autopsy reports, many of which have emanated from jurisdictions throughout the United States. I have never diagnosed as a cause of death ‘acute cannabinoid toxicity’, nor, in all the other cases that I have reviewed have I ever seen such a post-mortem diagnosis.”

- Patrick Nightingale Esq. is a former Assistant DA in Pittsburgh. He is on the Board of directors at Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana PA4MMJ and co-founded PittsburghNORML. He commented today, “We are honored to add to the Legislative Record the testimony of such a renowned group of individuals.”

“We believe Dr. Wecht’s testimony will provide compelling evidence that marijuana can and is used safely and does not pose the risks of overdose and death commonly associated with opiate based medications such as oxycontin, fentanyl, vicodin and percoset.”

- Dr. Lester Grinspoon is Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Grinspoon has written extensively on medial marijuana including the book Marijuana: The Forbidden Medicine. Grinspoon will appear at the hearing to testify via internet video conferencing.

- Jack Cole spent 26 years with the New Jersey State police. He worked for 14 years in narcotics, much of it undercover. Cole went on to found the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and will testify in favor of medical marijuana.

- Sgt. Matt Wright is a 22-year-old Iraq war veteran. Ready to re-deploy with his unit, he was given a general discharge after testing positive for THC. The federal Veterans Affairs Administration recently addressed medical marijuana use. If vets are registered in a state authorized medical marijuana program they will face no internal sanctions.

In addition to the live testimony dozens of Pittsburgh area residents will submit written testimony to the HHS Committee.

Representative Mark B. Cohen introduced HB1393 and the first public hearings took place in Harrisburg last December.

A Franklin & Marshall poll conducted this year showed that 80% of PA residents support the medical marijuana legislation.

Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (PA4MMJ) is a statewide non-profit advocacy group promoting passage of the bill.

PA4MMJ welcomes the opportunity to put legislators and the media into contact with local patients and cannabis experts.

www.pa4mmj.org

CONTACT: Pittsburgh: Patrick Nightingale pknlaw@mac.com 412 225 7959

Philadelphia: Derek Rosenzweig or Chris Goldstein media@phillynorml.org or 215 586 3483

Additional Info on HB1393 Hearing

Rick — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:05:40 +0000

Public Hearing on PA House Bill 1393

Rick — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:04:00 +0000

Date/Time: August 19 · 3:00pm – 6:00pm

Location: University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 130 DeSoto Street, Room G-23, Pittsburgh, PA Room G-23, Pittsburgh, PA 15320

More Info: Rep. Frank Oliver, chairman of the Pennsylvania House Health and
Human Services Committee, announced today that a hearing on House Bill
1993, Pennsylvania’s Compassionate Use Act. The hearing is open to the public. Pittsburgh NORML and Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana strongly urge all those who support medicinal cannabis to attend!

For directions and maps please visit:
http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/interior.php?pageID=67

View Larger Map

Hike and Ride for Awareness Events Announced!

Rick — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:27:47 +0000

We are proud to announce our Hike & Ride for Awareness Series! All hike & ride treks will have NORML information, fruit cups, and water for refreshments at beginning, half way and all turn around points. People are encouraged to ride or walk at your own pace and only go as far as you are comfortable. WE ARE HERE FOR NORML PRIDE! All information can be found in the flyers below.

Click here to see the flyer in jpg format
Click here to see the flyer in pdf format

Pgh NORML “East” Meetings Announced

Rick — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:34:22 +0000

In addition to our monthly meetings at Ava/Shadow Lounge on the second Thursday of every month, we are now adding Pittsburgh NORML “East” meetings on the last Wednesday of every month at Scooby’s Lounge in Greensburg! Please look at the flyer below, thanks!