Q: Are you still on the board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)?MAHER: "You know, that’s a good question. I haven’t had much contact with them in recent years. I was a little disillusioned. I’ve always said, one of the reasons there’s been so little progress on the marijuana front is that what the movement needs more than anything is some kick-ass, take-no-prisoners, Karl Rove-type lobbyist, you know? And that just never happens, because it’s all a bunch of stoners. You got to get up for that 8 a.m. breakfast meeting with the congressman on Capitol Hill!"
Bill Maher is “disillusioned” with NORML
Let me to be the first here to tell Bill Maher to grow a set. Here he is with this platform and not once have I heard that this guy has shown up to lobby any legislator or public official. If I can find the time to do it and do it well, how can't a successful guy like this do more? I am so sick of hearing people complain about the lack of work of other people. Do it yourself. Just like NORML gets so many to do. I guess in the MPP world that Bill Maher lives in, he prefers the money to do all the work.
I also want to point out how Russ at the Audiostash rules. And that Steve Bloom is the man. I respect the voice of both of these guys and it seems often that they remind me of it. Read their responses.
Here's my response to both Bill Maher and Todd McCormick (who also posted at the link above).
"I say thank God we still have NORML to speak out for the rights of medical patients to grow their own for instance! MPP doesn’t care but to get a win. Doesn’t matter if it’s a good bill or bad. That’s why NORML is so important in my opinion.
I think both Maher’s and McCormick’s comments are counter-productive. New ideas? Really. Because I don’t like the ones I’ve seen. Bad ideas, more like it. Taxation without the option to grow your own? Is that one of the new MPP ideas?
I’ve never made a dime off of this, am a professional, former athlete, attend the hearings and promote them.
Without NORML, there is no local movement in MA. But for a few paid MPP people.
MPP’s great because they have money? Isn’t that really what you are saying Todd?
Discounting all the work of local chapter volunteers, folks like myself. That’s the only way I take this. MPP doesn’t want volunteers. They want people to sign confidentiality agreements. To sign over their free speech for what? For small money. NORML never ever pulls that crap. That’s why I respect NORML much more than MPP. No matter how many paid people say how great MPP is.
Who’s holding MPP accountable? One guy. Rob Kampia? Oh and his couple of funders. George Soros. Funny you brought up accountability. Tough to have that in the model you support." Share on FriendFeed
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