Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders to Present Award to U.S. Rep. Sam Farr at MPP Gala May 4
TV Host Montel Williams, Supreme Court Medical Marijuana Plaintiff
Angel Raich Also To Be Honored; Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Linda
Sanchez to Speak As New Drive Kicks Off
Washington, D.C. — Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders - - a strong supporter of laws permitting seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana — will present U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) with the Legislative Leadership Award at the Marijuana Policy Project's 10th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C., on May 4. Television talk show host Montel Williams and Supreme Court medical marijuana plaintiff Angel Raich will also be honored, just hours after they help kick off a new congressional drive to protect medical marijuana patients. Also speaking will be U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA).
Earlier in the day, Williams and Raich are expected to join U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and other members of Congress to launch a new drive to stop federal government attacks on medical marijuana patients. Frank is also expected to attend the gala.
In addition to honoring Williams, Farr, and Raich, the gala-hosted by Emmy Award-winning comic, actor, and writer Rick Overton-will celebrate MPP's 10 years of progress toward marijuana policies based on science, compassion, and common sense. The group's latest victory was the overwhelming passage of MPP's medical marijuana initiative by Montana voters last November.
The gala will be held at the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 4, with a reception at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m. Regular tickets are $250 and VIP tickets (which include a special VIP reception and preferred seating) are $500, and can be purchased online at /galas or by calling 202-462-5747, ext. 122. A limited number of student/limited income tickets are also available for $150.
INTERVIEW NOTE: Dr. Elders, Montel Williams, Angel Raich, and Rick Overton are expected to be available for interviews between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Members of Congress may be available if schedules permit. Please call MPP Director of Communications Bruce Mirken at 202-543-7972 for further information.
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.
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