Save the Date: May 4, 2005 -- MPP 10th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C., to Honor Montel Williams, U.S. Rep. Sam Farr Second Event in Los Angeles to Honor Tommy Chong WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), America's largest marijuana policy reform organization, will celebrate its 10th anniversary with galas in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles on May 4 and 9, respectively. The Washington gala, at the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill, will honor two Americans who have worked tirelessly to protect medical marijuana patients: U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and television talk show host Montel Williams. Farr has spearheaded efforts in Congress to curtail U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration attacks on patients and caregivers using and growing medical marijuana legally under the laws of their states. Williams, who uses medical marijuana to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, has advocated energetically for protection of patients on his television show, in personal visits to Capitol Hill and the New York Legislature, and in a Feb. 14 column in the Chicago Tribune. MPP led the successful campaigns that enacted medical marijuana laws in Montana and Vermont in 2004. The Montana initiative won with a massive 62% to 38% margin, even outpolling President Bush by three points in this "red state." MPP is gearing up for new efforts in Congress to protect patients from arrest, and is also leading a campaign to establish a system of marijuana regulation in Nevada. "It is clear that the tide is turning in favor of sensible and humane marijuana laws, and we are honored to stand with leaders like Congressman Farr and Montel Williams who have done so much to make this progress possible," said MPP Executive Director Rob Kampia. "We are proud of our achievements during our first decade, but this is just the beginning." A second gala will take place in Los Angeles on May 9, at which actor/comedian Tommy Chong will be honored. Further details on both galas, which will feature appearances by an impressive array of notables in both politics and entertainment, will be announced next month. With more than 17,000 members and 150,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana -- both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use. MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is imprisonment. For more information, see http://www.MarijuanaPolicy.org. Link to article: http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr20050225-1.html