November, 19 2009, 11:47am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Mike Meno, MPP assistant director of communications
202-905-2030 or mmeno@mpp.org
Marijuana Policy Project's 15th Anniversary Gala to Celebrate '15 States in 15 Years'
Celebrity guests and other prominent figures will help celebrate MPP’s remarkable passage of improved marijuana laws in 15 states in 15 years
WASHINGTON
The
Marijuana Policy Project, America's largest marijuana policy reform
organization, will look back on 15 productive years of improving
marijuana laws at a January 13 gala that will feature guest speakers
such as talk show host Montel Williams. The star-studded host committee includes Melissa
Etheridge, Tom Robbins, Bill Maher, Ben Taylor, Steve Buscemi, Susan
Sarandon, Lewis Black, Nicole Atkins, Margaret Cho, Mark Leno, Hal
Sparks, Ani DiFranco, Garry Trudeau, and Medeski, Martin and Wood, along with many other prominent supporters.
When MPP was founded in 1995, medical
marijuana was illegal in all 50 states. Since then, 13 states have
passed medical marijuana laws, with Michigan becoming the 13th state in
November 2008, when Michigan voters passed MPP's ballot initiative by a
63% to 37% margin. By the end of 2010, MPP is hopeful that medical
marijuana will be legal in 15 states (with passage in New York and New
Jersey).
At the same time, marijuana possession is now
decriminalized in 13 states, with Massachusetts becoming the 13th state
in November 2008, when Massachusetts voters passed MPP's ballot
initiative by a 65% to 35% margin. In 2010, MPP is hopeful that
marijuana will be decriminalized in 15 states (with Rhode Island and
Vermont becoming the 14th and 15th states).
WHAT: The Marijuana Policy Project's 15th Anniversary Celebration
WHEN: January 13, 2010. Press Availability from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Reception from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Dinner from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 20001
Tickets cost $250 each, or $2,000 for a table.
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the number one organization in the U.S. legalizing cannabis. We passed 13 medical cannabis laws in the past 15 years, and we ran winning campaigns in eight of the 11 legalization states. No organization in the movement has changed as many cannabis laws, impacted as many patients and consumers, created as many new markets, or done more to end cannabis prohibition in the U.S. than MPP.
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