Missouri NORML will be hosting the Fall 2025 Conference, 1:00 Noon to 5:00 pm on Saturday, November 22, 2025. This conference will be streamed live on Facebook.com/MissouriNORML
Conference Agenda
Saturday, November 22, 2025, 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Streaming Online FREE
Streaming at Facebook.com/MissouriNORML
AGENDA Details
1:00 pm: Dan Viets, J.D. National NORML Board Secretary, MO NORML Coordinator
“Welcome and Opening Remarks”
1:15 pm: MO NORML “Chapter Reports”
- Greater St. Louis NORML Chapter – Abrahama Keys/Cecil King
- Mid-MO NORML Chapter – Lance Lenau/Dan Viets
- NORML KC Chapter – Molly Kopczynski/Jamie Kacz/George Biswell
1:30 pm: Alice O’Leary, co-founder of the medical marijuana movement and partner of Bob Randall, America’s first medical marijuana patient.
“The Continuing fight for medical marijuana access in America”
2:15 pm: Loren Siegel, formerACLU and Drug Policy Alliance staff person.
“Building a history of the drug law reform movement”
3:00 pm: Jon Schmid, Missouri ACLU.
“Fighting to enforce the Missouri Constitution regarding expungement and probation and parole”
3:30 pm: Erica Ziegler, Deputy Director of the MO Division of Cannabis Regulation and Tara McKinney, Public Outreach Director of the MO Division of Cannabis Regulation.
“Micro licensing, Reference Lab Testing, Vitamin E contamination”
4:15 pm: Joe Bondy, J.D., National NORML Board Chair.
“Fighting for the Second Amendment rights of cannabis consumers in the US Supreme Court”
5:00 pm: Adam Smith, J.D., Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director.
“Fighting for legalization in congress and 26 more states”
5:45 pm: Closing remarks, Dan Viets, J.D.
This event is hosted by Missouri NORML. The schedule of speakers, time slots, and topics are subject to change. Check the MONORML facebook page for video of the last conference at Facebook.com/monorml.
Here’s our scheduled speaker lineup at-a-glance:
Loren Siegel, former National ACLU staff person and former staff of the Drug Policy Foundation;
Alice O’Leary, co-founder of the modern medical marijuana movement;
Jon Schmid, Missouri ACLU;
Erica Ziegler, Deputy Director, DHSS Division of Cannabis Regulation;
Tara McKinney, Public Outreach Director, DHSS Division of Cannabis Regulation.
Detailed Speaker Bios:
Loren Siegel – is a public health expert and policy advocate known for her work on drug policy reform, HIV/AIDS, criminal justice, and reproductive health. Her career has focused on the intersection of public health, civil liberties, and the criminal justice system. Siegel served as a prominent figure at the Drug Policy Foundation (DPF) before its merger with the Lindesmith Center to form the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA). Her work there focused on advocating for humane and effective drug policies that prioritize public health over punishment. at the ACLU, Siegel worked on critical civil liberties issues. Her advocacy often involved challenging policies that infringe on individual rights, particularly those related to the “War on Drugs.”
Alice O’Leary – founder of the Modern medical marijuana movement. Randall has dedicated more than forty years to the medical cannabis movement that was founded by her late husband, Robert C. Randall in 1976. She and Robert were arrested for marijuana (cannabis) cultivation in 1975 after Robert accidentally discovered that smoking the plant helped treat his glaucoma. They convinced the court and the federal government that marijuana was the critical medication in treating Robert’s potentially blinding disease. Publicity in the case was enormous and a movement was born.
Jon Schmid, J.D., the Missouri ACLU – Schmid is the Communications Director and Policy Counsel, for the ACLU of Missouri. He is involved in advocacy, legal research, and strategic initiatives related to civil liberties and justice in Missouri. He serves as a primary spokesperson for the affiliate, working to advance the ACLU’s mission of protecting civil liberties through strategic communications.
Erica Ziegler, Deputy Director DHSS Division of Cannabis Regulation – Ziegler plays a critical role in the oversight and management of Missouri’s medical and adult-use cannabis programs. She is involved in implementing regulations, managing licensing processes, ensuring compliance by licensees, and assisting the Director in all operational aspects of the division. Ziegler has been involved with Missouri’s cannabis program from its inception. As a founding member she joined the team in the spring of 2019 as one of the original employees of Patient and Application Services. She built the patient services side of the operation from scratch and ensured the program met its initial constitutional deadlines. Ziegler played a significant role in the transition to an official division and the subsequent implementation of the adult-use cannabis program. She has been a vital part of developing the microbusiness program, which aims to ensure eligible individuals have the opportunity to participate in the growing Missouri cannabis economy.
Tara McKinney, Public Outreach Director, DHSS Division of Cannabis Regulation – In this role, she is a primary liaison to the public, licensees, and other stakeholders, focusing on education, information, and collaboration. She also co-hosts the DCR’s monthly podcast, a resource launched to provide information about cannabis regulation and the industry.
Conference Mediator Dan Viets, J.D.
Our mediator for the Missouri NORML Fall Conference is Dan Viets, J.D., He is a prominent criminal defense attorney based in Columbia, Missouri, known for his lifelong advocacy for marijuana law reform. Viets is a key figure in state and national drug policy reform movements. He has been practicing law for several decades specializing in criminal defense with a focus on drug-related cases. He has represented numerous clients facing marijuana charges, using his legal expertise to challenge drug laws and protect his clients’ rights giving him extensive experience in Missouri courts. As Missouri NORML Coordinator, Viets has been heavily involved in drafting ballot initiatives and legislative proposals, working closely with state lawmakers to introduce and pass cannabis reform laws. His advocacy played a crucial role by serving as President of New Approach Missouri and Chair of the Board of Show-Me Cannabis Regulation in the passage of Amendment 2 in 2018, which legalized medical marijuana, and Amendment 3 in 2022, which legalized adult-use marijuana in Missouri. Past advocacy work includes serving on the Washington DC based National NORML Board of Directors. He is currently the Secretary of the national NORML Board of Directors and also serves as the Chair of the NORML Foundation Board of Directors.
This is a free online conference streaming on Missouri NORML’s Facebook page. We hope to see you here. Be sure to share this event with your friends and indicate your interest on our Facebook page.