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1. Name: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
2. Medical Marijuana Position: Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
3. Reasoning:

"The power of state governments to enact and enforce state medical marijuana laws is not affected by the Supreme Court's ruling. State laws allowing the use of medical marjuana still offer patients significant protection."
(6/6/05 article posted to the ACLU website by ACLU staff attorney Allen Hopper)

4. Credibility Ranking: Organizations/VIPs/Other
 Those individuals and organizations that do not fit into the other star categories.
5. Organization  
  A. Mission

"The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees:

  • Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state.

  • Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.

  • Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.

  • Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs."
    (11/7/06 website of the ACLU)
  B. Description:

"The ACLU engages primarily in legislative lobbying while the ACLU Foundation carries out most of the litigation and communication efforts." (11/7/06 website of the ACLU)
  C. Structure: The American Civil Liberties Union is composed of two separate corporate entitites: the ACLU Foundation and the ACLU.
  D. Members /
Constituents:		 400,000 members through Dec. 31, 2004
  E. Annual Budget: The ACLU Foundation affiliates had a combined budget of more than $32 million in 2002. The ACLU affiliates had a combined budget of more than $6 million in 2002.
  F. Sr. Executive: Nadine Strossen
  G. Title: President
  H. Contact Info:
Phone: (212) 549-2500 Fax: (212) 549-2646
E-Mail: aclu@aclu.org
Web Site: www.aclu.org
  I: # of offices: 54 offices/affiliates
  J: Staff: 2,100
6. Relevant Affiliations: None
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