MPP’s Rob Kampia to Host Press Conference at Seattle Hempfest Saturday

August 15, 2008

Head of Largest U.S. Marijuana Policy Reform Organization to Discuss Progress Across the Country, Future for Washington

(Seattle, W.A.) The executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project will provide an overview of current marijuana policy reform efforts and their implications for Washington in a press conference during a media brunch at Seattle Hempfest, Saturday. He will also introduce a small panel of speakers who will highlight their work.

Rob Kampia said voters and legislators will weigh in on several groundbreaking measures this year. Some of the most important include MPP’s Michigan ballot initiative to become the 13th state to protect seriously ill patients from arrest and jail for using medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation, as well as U.S. Rep. Barney Frank’s (D-Mass.) bill to remove federal criminal penalties for small marijuana violations.

Of particular relevance in Washington may be a Massachusetts ballot initiative to replace criminal penalties for minor marijuana violations with civil penalties, much like a traffic ticket. If Massachusetts voters pass the initiative on Election Day, it would mean the state has the best marijuana law in the country, Kampia said – and could set the stage for Washington to follow suit.

“This November, Massachusetts voters can ensure that adults who use marijuana responsibly never suffer the lifetime consequences of arrest, including lost job opportunities, denial of food stamps and housing assistance, losing access to federal student aid, and even prison,” Kampia said. “If Massachusetts voters pass this initiative, you’ll see a number of other states move forward with similar measures, and Washington will be the first state to do so with a ballot initiative.”

Saturday’s brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the media tent at Myrtle Edwards Park. The press conference begins at noon. Sunday’s press conference is hosted by Douglas Hiatt, a criminal defense attorney who defends Washington’s medical marijuana patients. For more information on Seattle Hempfest, visit http://hempfest.org/drupal/.

With more than 25,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit www.MarijuanaPolicy.org.

Posted by News LI Editor · Edited by Brianna - Filed Under Health