University of Virginia Library

Conceived By ACLU

The Marijuana Civil Liberties
Project (MCLP) was conceived and
formulated by the ACLU when that
organization became alarmed at the
growing number of illegal and unconstitutional
marijuana arrests,
many of which were (and are) used
as thinly disguised excuses for political,
racist and ethnic repression.

The MCLP is designed to utilize
the ACLU's extensive network of
national and local facilities in a
coordinated effort to: 1. contest
unconstitutional marijuana laws 2.
defend people charged with violations
of such laws 3. appeal convictions
under such laws to higher
courts. Because the ACLU has been
most successful in the areas of civil
rights, abortion reform and other
efforts, the Winston Smith society
is confident that the MCLP will
yield positive results.