Longtime medical marijuana activist Heath Poland is taking charge of the Kansas City chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Previous chair and founding member Brandon Ryan left the position because of health problems, says Greg Terry, NORML's communication director.
"Heath had been an activist for a while, and, basically, no one else wanted the job," Terry says.
"Myself, I've been a long time activist and am a medical marijuana
patient," Terry adds. "But it's a lot of work. I used to be the chair of
the Jackson County Libertarian Party, and it's a huge amount of stress.
Especially when you're trying to get activists to get active. So, Heath
wanted to do the job, and I said fine."
As chair of KC NORML, Poland will coordinate volunteer efforts and assign jobs to NORML members. Terry estimates the group has approximately 150 members in the metro area. KC's NORML chapter has only been around officially for a year, being incorporated into the national organization in June 1, 2009.
In the last decade, Missouri has seen five medical marijuana bills introduced, all of which have failed. The latest, introduced this session, didn't even make it to a committee hearing.
"I'm baffled by it," Terry says. "I've been an activist, lobbyist, and a cannabis patient for 35 years. We were really hoping this would be the year. We have 17 sponsors for the bill lined up, and one is even a physician and a Republican. But they won't even let us talk about it."
Photo via Photohound.
Showing 1-8 of 8
My special thanks goes out to everyone working on this with diligence and hard work. There seems to be so much tension in the air over this subject between family members and friends alike. All it takes is a little bit of research on ANY other webpage besides one funded by government organizations to find the truth. The truth is Cannabis laws hurt people more than the plant itself ever could. In fact, The plant could actually save our economy if we would just let go of the past 100 years of lies and propaganda. Buck up ladies and gentlemen, I have a feeling this is our year. Not just as a state, but as a nation.
Once again
Thank you all so so so much.
Heath Poland
WOW, Been awhile since I have commented on this one. Im sure many of you have heard about the current bill that we are trying to get put to a vote. This is way way way, more plausible than many would think. All we need is you,,the people,, to come out of the weed closet. Seriously, come on guys,,,getting arrested for weed is one thing, but what the gay community has been doing for I dont know what? CENTURIES! Is nothing compared to crying over a lousy 500 dollar ticket. So people,,I implore you. Do not be a fraidey Kat chickens. All we need is 300,000 signatures by may the 8th and we are all gravey. Please email us,,,we love you guys stop being a bunch of ,,ehem, wussies. I expect to have at least 500 messages about who and what you can do for us by tommorow. Peace on earth,,,,,we should all go smoke out westport all at once,,,in fact we are already a minute late. C you there!
Good luck Heath, hope things get better. Make sure you keep that Rob Amerine around, he's the best! :) Get in touch with me soon, we'll have lunch.
Giving into the lazy pothead label is like saying all Mexicans are like Speedy Gonzalez. Most "potheads" or as I would like to call them, Cannabis users, are not lazy people at all. Ive been working all my life since I was 15 with a few breaks because of my struggle with Bi-Polar disorder. As many cannabis users are medical patients like myself, perhaps their illness may be mistaken for laziness. But the most likely scenario is that the masses are simply "racist" against cannabis users because they simply follow what the television tells them.
The next thing I would like to address is the reason I have been elusive and not responded sooner. I just got out of a toxic relationship where I got to see first hand the ugly face of alcohol addiction. It got so bad in the end that I had to leave and pretty much couch surf until I got a job and a place to stay. This is the least dramatic version of this story.
I will be getting involved personally in the community and on social networking sites to be more in touch with the people who would like to be activists in our area. I would love to see little sub-urban chapters of NORML pop up so the information could be spread faster about what this plant really can do for our society.
If anyone has any questions, please contact me.
Heath Poland
@OP Realist, being the President/Exec Director of a NORML chapter is very stressful, and there's a lot that one has to do, most people don't want the extra responsibilities that comes with it.
All I can see is: "...and, basically, no one else wanted the job."
You mean to tell me that out of 150 members no body got nominated for a vote? Last meeting I went to was about a year ago and I was givin a copy of bylaws that talk about voting. I tried talking to Brandon about a board job but he said you guys just started so he assigned people already. I would have been interested.
OP Realist, most (if not all) smokers actually work for a living...in legitimate jobs. It's equally as tough to set aside time for church groups or soup kitchens as it is for NORML...only you get sh*t for working for NORML from people as close as your friends and family. The cause is quite large in parts of the country like my native Philadelphia...Kansas City's just getting started.
like
dislike
