Nick “Turbo” Raines took over as president of Kansas City NORML in November. He filed a liberal marijuana legalization petition in December. National NORML revoked his group’s charter in January.
“It’s kind of sad,” Raines says, “people are worrying more about what they think will pass instead of just trying to knock out a whole legalization process.”
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) scrapped its Kansas City, MO chapter in January. Raines’ proposal failed to meet the organization’s standards, says Dan Viets, NORML’s Missouri Coordinator. Concerns about offensive posts on Facebook and “anti-social conduct” contributed to the decision.
Dan Viets
“There were a lot of complaints,” Viets says, “about Nick and his activities in the name of KC NORML.”
Read Full Article from MarijuanaPolicyNews.org
Some believe in the miracle of cannabis and some don’t. It is a damn shame Norml does not believe in total legalization. But none the less we will not be detoured in our efforts to bring cannabis back to Missourians. It is simple really. Prohibition Versus Freedom. Whom ever would of thought Norml would be on the prohibition side. But thanks to Dan Viets it looks like Norml really is trying to crush there competition out. Who would of thought with all the money people have donated to Norml they would be the one’s to say yes to prohibition? It is absolutely crazy but the truth speaks for it’s self.
Thanks for the feedback!
The REPEAL of PROHIBITION is the only way that cannabis will be restored. It is so far beyond the “medical” & “recreational” issues clouding the atmosphere – holding out for increasing regulations does very little. The industrial cannabis sector in Canada remains under the choke hold of Health Canada.
And this is the exact thing we here in Missouri are trying to eliminate with THE MISSOURI CANNABIS RESTORATION AND PROTECTION ACT 2016-013. Say a prayer for us Reverend Ryan because we are going to need it!
the repeal of Prohibition 2.0 will result in an industrial revolution.
Missourians want a way to smoke cannabis WITHOUT GOING TO PRISON. Your initiative is not going to pass – if you live in Missouri, you know that. Continually fighting for ideals (marijuana for everyone – even kids dude!) instead of making progress of any kind puts people’s lives in jeopardy. You are playing tug of war with NORML – not representing the interests of Missourians who want to responsibly and legally smoke marijuana without incarceration.
Why won’t an educated cannabis based policy pass? Children can buy tons of sugar but thats ok. Sugar will kill them with enough consumption. And as for children, tell your reasoning to the hundreds of thousands of mothers with epileptic children. So when you say “marijuana for everyone even kids dude” is absolutely correct. No where in our initiative does it say we want children smoking weed. Thats the prohibitionist in you talking. THE MISSOURI CANNABIS RESTORATION AND PROTECTION ACT 2016-013 Represents every Missourian not just lawyers and the rich. It makes an even playing field for the average joe and big corporations alike. So yes i truely believe once people are educated then we may begin a complete conversation about parental responsibility and personal responsibility when it comes to cannabis.
For the same reasons it won’t pass in other states – if you have an issue with sugar, take up legislation to address it. Missourians will vote for sensible regulation; much like the citizens in Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska did. Missouri is not your social experiment (and yes, your primary backing is coming from Colorado activists); it’s a place where people are still going to prison for smoking marijuana. I do not, as a lifelong Missourian, believe your bill has a chance of passing (if it even makes the ballot without the support of NORML) – ignoring political realities is the recipe for making ZERO change. The future of marijuana legislation (here comes the reality) will be decided by voters outside of KC and St. Louis.
Well with your vague response as to why it won’t pass i seem to be at a road block with this discussion. It won’t pass just because you believe it will not pass is not enough evidence to myself or my team. We believe we are running on the truth. A truth that up till now has never been proven wrong. I understand about being afraid something won’t pass but to bring ill concieved notions on an attempt at freedom is a very communist point of view and one no one on our teams believe. I’m cool! I feel hella free! Free to accomplish a feat so monumental that 40 year veterans of cannabis prohibition has failed at even seeing a glimmer of hope this awe-inspiring. I understand the dog that has been beat down time and time again. I honestly fathom something greater! I truly feel sad for the ones that can’t. In my personal opinion.
Yes, anyone who doesn’t agree with you is a communist. (These sorts of statements are the reason you are no longer part of NORML).
ROTFL. Well thank you for your insight! I am a free thinker that is for sure!
Conforming my beliefs to just fit into a group has never been one of my strong suits. I do have a question. If this initiative (in your opinion) had an age limit would you support it?
PS. I am the primary backer of this initiative. I reached out to someone so “I” could personally bring a comprehensive Educated Cannabis based policy for “MY” total legalization initiative to bring the people of Missouri. One choice is all “I” am offering. So when you say this is coming from Colorado Activist know matter what you say, this is an absolute untrue and very misleading thing to say.
And i have lived in Kansas City Missouri my whole life.
Missouri Cannabis Reform does not support the Show Me Cannabis bill at all. Aaron ,from SMC, told me that their bill will free all non violent cannabis offenders but in reality it does not since their bill has plant and possession limits. Plus It allows cops to harass us in even more ways so it really does not end this stupid war on the people. Plus its also funny how Show Me Cannabis gives money to cops in their bill, but yet they turn around and file lawsuits against I think 3 divisions of law enforcement. The MCRPA does end the war and all this nonsense.
I also would like to point out that the MCRPA does not prevent any of the current field sobriety tests. We have already enough laws on the books to protect against drugged driving. So to have more added is just crazy its just moves this war on the people to a new front and that’s one of the biggest reasons Missouri Cannabis Reform does not support the SMC bill. Please lets stop harassing the good Missouri people over a non toxic plant.
Its time we do what is best for the people not what is best for big biz like what Show Me Cannabis is doing. Plus do you really want your kids to have a criminal record over a non toxic plant? Shoot your kids can huff paint and other crap that’s actually harmful. Do I think kids should be using cannabis? no unless there is a medical need. But I also believe we should give parents back the power on how they wish to raise and punish kids. The punishment should be up to the parents when they catch their kids smoking not up to the state. We have enough state interference as is. I would also like to let every one know Missouri Cannabis Reform is gathering volunteers to help gather signatures. If you would like to help join https://www.facebook.com/groups/407826009376872/
I find it very interesting that they fail to mention the Nick was given an altimatum by stroup. Stop advocating for baby Autumn (a 3 yr old little girl with severe epilepsy ) and keep your presidency, or continue to advocate for this child and lose your charter. Yet you see in recent articles by high times stroup advocating for epileptic children. Truth be told viets stands to make a lot of money with the show me cannabis initiative and can’t with the cannabis restoration and protection act. They want to profit and not save patients. Stroup had even sabotaged his own organization in the 70’s to profit. Looks like he is again. Smh
My sources for this article were Dan Viets, Nick Raines and Keith Stroup. None of them mentioned Autumn to my knowledge. However, I know through researching NORML’s policies for this article that they are not opposed to medical use at any age. They only require general age restrictions, with exceptions for medical.
As a Missourian – this is good news. We would like legal and medical marijuana – the people here are not interested in being a trophy to see who can bag the most liberal marijuana law in Missouri. This is not Colorado, California, or Oregon; I enjoy smoking marijuana but many in Missouri are very opposed to it. The taxes garnered from a legal marijuana system are enough for these folks to reconsider … I have no clue why outsiders think Missouri wants absolutely no regulation in terms of minors buying/smoking or DUI provisions. If you didn’t get the crazy shit passed in your state – don’t come to Missouri and try it, PLEASE.