Keith Stroup and Casper Leitch take Time 4 Hemp

In this 1991 video, marijuana pioneer and founder of NORML, Keith Stroup, talks to Time 4 Hemp's Casper Leitch about the marijuana culture and the diabolical attempt to prohibit the plant.

Keith shares the history of the organization's inception and evolution. Founded in 1970 during the height of the anti-war movement, NORML aimed to challenge the unfair treatment of law-abiding citizens for marijuana use, which resulted in approximately 650,000 arrests per year. Struggling to gain funding and recognition, NORML secured funding from the Playboy Foundation and merged with a West Coast legalization group called Morphia, expanding its reach and becoming the leading organization for marijuana law reform in the United States.

Stroup reflects on NORML's early days, where they provided legal assistance to those arrested for marijuana-related offenses and raised awareness about marijuana cases in local and national media. However, as the political climate shifted in the late 1970s and early 1980s, NORML faced opposition and was labeled as too radical.

Keith believes that the country's stance on drugs changed, and the laws became more restrictive during this time. He also touches upon his association with Ralph Nader and the influence he had on public interest law.

Stroup discusses the progress made in the marijuana issue, particularly in regards to medicinal uses, and expresses his delight in the growing discussion about the economic and ecological benefits of hemp. He currently works for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and encourages younger generations to follow their passions and take risks when they are young, as he did when founding NORML.

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