NORML Women’s Alliance Foundation: A Dream Comes True

After three years, the NORML Women’s Alliance has created the NORML Women’s Alliance Foundation as a separate entity to promote education and outreach to women.

In January 2010, NORML launched what would become one of the most successful programs in the history of the organization.  The Women’s Alliance has grown far more than anticipated as women realize that the war on cannabis destroys our families in ways that have been ignored for too long.

The Alliance has provided much needed support to the successful legalization campaigns in Washington and Colorado.  They also endorsed Oregon’s Measure 80 and offer continued guidance about ways women can be more effective as a group and individually.

NORML has had a rough year with an internal shakeup that started when Executive Director, Allen St. Pierre made some public comments that were not well received by the cannabis community. The recent board meeting in Washington, DC resulted in a re-arranging of the guard and the addition of some stellar representatives as NORML moves forward besides allowing for the creation of the new foundation.

Norm Kent, who was the Vice-Chair is now the Chair.  Paul Kuhn’s attempts to oust St. Pierre publicly as the head of NORML cost him his seat as Chair.  Steve Dillon, who has formerly served as Chair, was elected as Vice-Chair.  Newly elected members include Diane Fornbacher (Weedist interview) from the NORML Women’s Alliance, Rick Steves, former Advisory Board member, Dr. Mitch Earlywine, Rick Cusick from High Times Magazine and Justin Hartfield from WeedMaps.

The formation of the NORML Women’s Alliance Foundation also came out of this board meeting.  NORML board members Madeline Martinez (Weedist interview), Kyndra Miller and Greta Gaines presented the proposal and will be working with current Women’s Alliance leadership to create the structure for the new foundation and put it into place.

With legalization nationwide on the horizon, it was time for NORML to step up their game to remain the leader they have always been.  The new board members and the creation of this new faction of NORML that encourages women to participate in the end of cannabis prohibition can only speed the process.

NORML’s recognition of the importance of women in this movement by granting autonomy to the Women’s Alliance through the foundation is a huge step forward for us all.  And, NORML is  right where it belongs – leading the way.