Pubdate: Mon, 08 Apr 2013
Source: Rolla Daily News (MO)
Copyright: 2013 Rolla Daily News
Contact:  http://www.therolladailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1189

CANNABIS LAW CONFERENCE TO BE HELD SATURDAY

Participants will include members of law enforcement, legislators, 
progressive, and conservatives

ST. LOUIS -- On Saturday, April 13, Show-Me Cannabis will host a 
statewide conference on cannabis law reform at the Crowne Plaza 
Downtown at 200 N. Fourth Street in Saint Louis. The conference will 
be held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. will attract participants from across 
Missouri and nearby states. The event is co-sponsored by Missouri 
NORML and Greater Saint Louis NORML.

The conference will feature panel discussions with individuals who 
approach cannabis policy from a variety of different perspectives, 
but all agree that the laws prohibiting marijuana have failed and 
require immediate reforms. In addition to cannabis law reform 
activists, speakers will include members of law enforcement, notable 
progressives and conservatives, and local and state legislators.

Lieutenant Tony Ryan, who retired from the Denver Police Department 
after 36 years as a police officer, will deliver the keynote address. 
During his career, Lieutenant Ryan earned the Denver Police 
Department's Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Merit Award, and Community 
Service Award. He is now a member of Law Enforcement Against 
Prohibition (LEAP), and last year, he helped promote the passage of 
Colorado's Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana in Colorado and 
creates a structure for its regulated use, sale, and production.

Other notable speakers include Missouri state Representatives Mike 
Colona (D - Saint Louis, tentatively), Paul Curtman (R - Pacific), 
and Rory Ellinger (D - University City), Saint Louis Alderman Shane 
Cohn, Riverfront Times founder and Donnybrook co-host Ray Hartmann, 
Bill Hennessy and Sergeant Gary Wiegert of the Saint Louis Tea Party, 
and former U.S. Assistant Attorney David Rosen.

"I am extremely pleased with the political diversity of our 
speakers," said Show-Me Cannabis Regulation Executive Director John 
Payne. "We have law enforcement and legislators, conservatives and 
liberals, and Democrats and Republicans. This just goes to show that 
people of all backgrounds can see the absurdity of cannabis prohibition."

Tickets are $10 for general admission or $5 for students. If you are 
disabled or a member of the media and would like your admission fee 
waived, email John Payne at To see the full schedule or purchase tickets, go to 
show-me-cannabis.com/events. Please note that the names of the 
institutions speakers are affiliated with are for identification 
purposes only and do not indicate institutional endorsements of the 
speaker's views.

Show-Me Cannabis Regulation is an association of organizations and 
individuals, who believe that cannabis prohibition is a failed 
policy, and regulating and taxing cannabis in a manner similar to 
alcohol would better control the production, distribution and 
consumption of cannabis than the current criminal market system does. 
The group seeks to engage Missourians in a serious, public discussion 
about the issues associated with marijuana consumption, including 
medical cannabis, industrial hemp, public safety, and financial 
analysis in order to address problems associated with the current policy.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom