N.O.R.M.L. CANADA Milestones

• SEPT. 1971. FIRST CANADIAN POT RALLY, Vancouver, B.C. A public demonstration in favour of Cannabis reform is turned into a riot by law enforcement (the "Gastown riot"). NORML leaflets were distributed to the crowd.
• FEB. 1972 N.OR.M.L. CANADA IS FORMED TO REFORM THE LAW. Chapters opened across the country.
• NOV. 1974. N.O.R.M.L. CANADA at Senate debates leads to BILL S-19 ; "A call for decriminalization of cannabis."
• JUNE 1978 N.O.R.M.L. CANADA "D DAY RALLY", Toronto, Ont. Decriminalization, a call to politicians to honour the findings of the LeDain Commission of 1974, a five year commission in the making that cost you, the taxpayer five million dollars.
• JULY 1979, REGINA VS HAUSSER ; states and confirms findings that the Narcotics Control Act is a matter of health, not criminal Law.
• MAY 1984, REGINA VS. PERKA ; Edmonton court finds a value for medicinal marijuana under a set criteria.
• 1986, NORML Canada reactivated with Umberto Iorfida as president, Terry Parker assistant president.
  
• OCT. 1988 REGINA VS PARKER ; Marijuana OK for epileptic ; Brampton, Ont. Assist by Iorfida/N.O.R.M.L. Canada.
• MAY 1989 ; N.O.R.M.L. CANADA asks government to put hemp on the importable goods list. It is added to the Textiles and Tarriffs guide.
• JULY 1990 SAFE DRUG POLICY DAY, Toronto, Ont. ; N.O.R.M.L. Canada declares surrender to the "DRUG WAR". No more P.O.W.'s. No more criminal records for law abiding citizens exercising their right of choice and autonomy of the person.
• DEC.1991 N.O.R.M.L. CANADA attends FIRST MARIJUANA CONFERENCE hosted by Marc Emery, at London Regional Art Gallery, London Ontario.
• early 1992 - 1995, NORML Canada Internet Bulletin Board (BBS) operational. Maintained by University of Toronto student volunteers.
  
• JULY 1992, N.O.R.M.L. CANADA holds 20TH ANIVERSARY MARDI-GRAS RE-UNION at Toronto City Hall.
• MAY 1993, MP JIM FULTON WITH N.O.R.M.L. CANADA's help tables Bill C-420, a call for decriminalization of cannabis.
• JULY 1993 "HEMPOLOGY 101" ; BURNABY, B.C. With Professor Neil Boyd, NORML CANADA Prez. Iorfida lecture at first hemp/cannabis seminar, Simon Fraser University.
• AUGUST 1993 "THE GREAT CANADIAN HEMPENING" RALLY at Toronto City Hall to declare the start of hemp farming in Canada.
• OCTOBER 1993 ; James Burton forms First European Medical Marijuana Distribution Organization : Stichting Institue of Medical Marijuana (SIMM)  in Rotterdam, Holland ; Announcement video-taped and distributed in the public domain (through advertisements in High Times) by NORML Canada web-maintainer Bill Carroll.  The stories of Terry Parker, James Burton, and Umberto Iorfida are showcased at the NORML Canada website's medical page beginning in 1996.
  
• JUNE 1994, JOE STROBEL, farmer ends 54 years of hemp prohibition with N.O.R.M.L. Canada's help in Tillsonberg Ontario.
• OCT. 1994/Sept. 1995 ONTARIO COURT OF JUSTICE (WITH THE CROWN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IN THE LOOP) VS IORFIDA/N.O.R.M.L. CANADA. "Drug Literature Law", a portion of Section 462.2 of the Criminal Code of Canada deemed unconstitutional in Toronto ,Ontario. (provincial, maybe Federal victory, maybe not.)
• Sept. 1997, Umberto Iorfida, president of NORML Canada, is given the Freedom Fighter of the Month award by High Times magazine.
• 1995-2000 : Continued to influence the public opinions of Canadians regarding government marijuana policies,  both through  direct contact with the general public, through media interviews, and by using the world wide web and internet.   NORML Canada's President Umberto Iorfida was one of the first legalization reformers to encourage a more discriminating and  restrictive policy in drug policy, specifically warning against the casual use of "hard" or dangerous drugs.  NORML Canada early on pointed out that marijuana is not a true narcotic like Heroin, Seconol, or other absolute sleep producers.  The relaxation which often accompanies marijuana usage is a byproduct of ordinary relaxation, and is not directly caused by any ingredient in marijuana.

The four year battle against the literature ban, at a cost of many thousands of dollars, was an obstacle towards the true objective of the reform of the cannabis laws. N.O.R.M.L. Canada can now continue in that direction.

Donations are welcome and continue to trickle in, but are far from the mark. Have you made your contribution? If not, please do so today. If you have, we wish to thank you.

This list initially compiled by Umberto Iorfida, pres. NORML Canada, and Norman Hale, web maintainer. Edited/added to by Bill Carroll, web maintainer.