NORML Launches First Video Blog (Vlog) Cash Prize Contest On Free Community Sites.

Washington DC - NORML, The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, announced today the NORML Video Blog Cash Prize Contest with YouTube.com, a free video hosting community, and Veoh, the first Internet Television Peercasting Network.

To acknowledge that October Third, 1937 is the first day of marijuana prohibition in America, “Prohibition” is the theme of the October contest with $500 in prize money.

To participate in the NORML “Prohibition” Video Blog Cash Prize Contest, individuals must become members of either YouTube or Veoh (membership is free), upload their videos (not longer than 5 minutes) and tag their entries:

-norml
-prohibitioncontest
-marijuana
-hemp
-cannabis

The “Prohibition” theme relating to marijuana’s prohibition can include:

-Being told to do something you don't want to do
-Being told to NOT do something you want to do
-Analogies and comparisons to alcohol Prohibition
-Marijuana Prohibition
-Absurdness of banning industrial hemp along with marijuana

Undesirable content:
-Children using marijuana
-Irresponsible use of marijuana (i.e., consuming marijuana and driving or use in the workplace)
Contest videos will be showcased throughout the month of October 2005 on the NORML Video Blog: http://normltv.blogspot.com

NORML’s former Executive Director Richard Cowan (1992-1995) is quick to provide a two word answer on why marijuana Prohibition has lasted nearly six times longer than America’s last great (and failed) social experiment, alcohol Prohibition: Bad Journalism.

In my 15-year tenure working at NORML, my public advocacy experience for marijuana law reform is one of pre and post Internet. Unfortunately, mainstream and corporate media have not only largely been cheerleaders for marijuana Prohibition, in many circumstances they are active and paid partisans in maintaining the status quo regarding marijuana. The billion dollar, taxpayer funded Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) commercials serve as a prime example.

Community building and peer-to-peer communications via the Internet are sure fire ways to help educate, organize and mobilize the tens of millions of marijuana consumers in the US (and around the world) to demand that marijuana be taxed and legally controlled like alcohol and tobacco products.

NORML thanks and appreciates the participation and support of communication technology companies YOUTUBE.COM and VEOH.COM for supporting NORML’s videoblog contest and cognitive liberties. Also, this project would not be possible without the vision, help and volunteer energy of Jack Olmsted.

"We are pleased to be working with NORML in exploring new ways in utilizing the YouTube technology to power and serve user-generated videos within a community environment,” explains Steve Chan, YouTube Founder. “This is the first public video contest backed by YouTube and we're thrilled to be sharing this experience with NORML."

While the mainstream media chooses to maintain the status quo regarding issues that some may consider politically charged, Veoh embraces these issues, allowing proponents of change to have an open forum for their ideas, able to reach the world to educate, inspire, and liberate.

Veoh changes the dynamics of television, by allowing anyone with a computer and a broadband Internet connection to broadcast full-screen television to the masses. Because Veoh delivers television programming over the Internet, it is unencumbered by the restrictions imposed on traditional broadcasters by various regulating bodies.

Veoh is proud to be the television-broadcasting medium of free speech and the catalyst for liberties of all kinds.

About NORML

NORML's mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.

Since its founding in 1970, NORML has provided a voice in the public policy debate for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition and favor an end to the practice of arresting marijuana smokers. A nonprofit public-interest advocacy group, NORML represents the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly. http://www.norml.org

About YouTube

YouTube is a new service that allows people to easily host and browse personal video clips. As digital cameras and cell phones continue to add on video taking capabilities, YouTube will fill the need for people to share these personal clips. By visiting, http://www.youtube.com, a user can upload and share their personal videos within minutes after signing up.

About Veoh

Veoh is the first Internet Television Peercasting Network, taking advantage of broadband internet connections to deliver TV-grade video programming, directly from producers to consumers. Veoh allows anyone with a PC/Mac and a broadband internet connection to broadcast a television show, or a channel full of shows, and lets consumers easily find the video programming they are looking for. Veoh does for television what the Web did for print publishing…think of it as Television 2.0. Veoh’s services are free of charge to both broadcasters and viewers and can be found at http://www.veoh.com

Contact:

NORML
1600 K St., NW
Suite 501
Washington, DC 2006
202-483-5500
www.norml.org
media@norml.org

YouTube
Brent Hurley
brent@youtube.com
www.youtube.com
Palo Alto, CA

Veoh
7220 Trade Street
Suite 115
San Diego, CA 92121
www.veoh.com
pr@veoh.com