I am interning at NORML because I believe cannabis legalization is a public health necessity. 

This belief has been shaped by my studies, volunteer work, and lived experiences. As I work toward my B.S. in Public Health with a focus on drug policy, I have learned how legalization significantly reduces the incidence of EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury). Through volunteering at the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center, I have heard first hand how cannabis has helped people cut back on their use of other substances. And after being diagnosed with cancer, I have reaped the benefits of medical marijuana myself. 

However, these beliefs are not often reflected in policy. The prohibition of cannabis only harms consumers. It  undermines access to safe and regulated products, disproportionately impacts communities of color, and criminalizes people’s personal health choices. Yet, despite growing public support in favor of legalization and regulation  marijuana policy threatens to move backward. By working with NORML I can take steps to move marijuana policy forward to where I believe it belongs.

The beliefs I hold today about cannabis and its legalization would not be possible without the work of organizations like NORML. Thanks to decades of advocacy before me, there is more research and information about cannabis available than ever before, and countless people in medical and adult-use states are able to safely, responsibly, and legally benefit from its use. I am interning at NORML to continue this legacy and so that I too can contribute to a future that prioritizes public health in its cannabis policies.