Erik Altieri

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Erik Altieri was the executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). [1] [2] He assumed the role in November 2016. Altieri departed the role in March 2023 to work on broader criminal justice efforts, [3] He was the ninth executive director since NORML's founding in 1970. [4] Previously, he was also the organization's Communications Director, PAC Manager, and Federal Lobbyist. He was the youngest person named executive director in the organization's history, an accomplishment recognized by Forbes Magazine when he was named one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 for Law and Policy in 2017. [5] Altieri is currently based in Washington, DC at NORML's national headquarters where he oversaw the organization's federal efforts and orchestrates the strategy for NORML's 165+ state and local level chapters across the country.

Biography

Altieri was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia and spent the later part of his childhood residing in South Jersey. He became deeply interested in politics and was drawn into advocacy work by the anti-war activism of the early 2000s over the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. [4] He attended American University in Washington, DC.

After college, Altieri became NORML's Communications Director and ran their federal and state lobbying efforts and legislative out-reach, administered NORML’s social media networks and served as a spokesman to the press from 2007-2015. During this time period he also became the manager of NORML PAC, and worked to elect marijuana reform-friendly candidates at all levels of government. In 2015, he left NORML to explore other political issue activism including campaign finance reform and tax policy. He returned to NORML as executive director in 2016 and presently continues to serve in that role. [4]

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The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is a social welfare organization based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for the reform of marijuana laws in the United States regarding both medical and non-medical use. According to their website, NORML supports "the removal of all penalties for the private possession and responsible use of marijuana by adults, including cultivation for personal use, and casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts" and advocates for "the creation of a legal and regulatory framework for marijuana's production and retail sale to adults". NORML also has a sister organization, NORML Foundation, that focuses on educational efforts and providing legal assistance and support to people affected negatively by current marijuana laws. NORML maintains chapters in a number of US states as well as outside the US in countries such as Canada, France, New Zealand, and South Africa.

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References

[6] [7] [8] [9]

  1. ↑ "POLL: As Chicago contemplates pot legalization, Decatur officials still skeptical". herald-review.com. Herald & Review. Archived from the original on 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  2. ↑ "John Boehner was a longtime opponent of marijuana reform. Here's what changed his mind". The Washington Post .
  3. ↑ "As Legalization Spreads, NORML Evolves Under New Leadership". Marijuana Moment. October 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  4. 1 2 3 "NORML's New Executive Director Erik Altieri". Freedom Leaf. 2017-02-21. Archived from the original on 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  5. ↑ "Erik Altieri, Forbes 30 Under 30, Law and Society". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  6. ↑ "It looks like Jeff Sessions is kicking off his war on legal weed". news.vice.com. Vice News. Archived from the original on 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  7. ↑ "Canada just became the second country in the world to legalize marijuana". businessinsider.in. Business Insider India. Archived from the original on 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  8. ↑ "Studying the marijuana effect: New bill calls for research where pot is legal". mynews13.com. News 13. Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  9. ↑ "John Boehner joins cannabis dispensary board: Report". washingtontimes.com. The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
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