Russ Belville is the Outreach Coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). NORML is America's oldest non-profit organization fighting for an end to adult marijuana prohibition and is based in Washington DC.

Russ lives in Portland, Oregon, working with NORML by internet. As Outreach Coordinator, he writes The NORML Stash Blog, hosted at stash.norml.org, a daily news and commentary blog for all topics concerning cannabis.

Russ also hosts NORML’s daily live internet podcast, NORML SHOW LIVE. As his radio persona, “Radical” Russ, he streams a one hour show every weekday at 4pm Eastern at live.norml.org. The show features the day’s cannabis-related headlines, music from independent artists, and informative “Radical Rants” about the history, science, and politics of cannabis. Every show also features an interview with important figures in marijuana law reform, including figures as disparate as Rep. Barney Frank, comedian Doug Benson, medical marijuana pioneer Dr. Lester Grinspoon, and actor/musician Tommy Chong.

Russ began his work in marijuana law reform by volunteering with Oregon NORML back in 2005. Within three months he was producing and hosting their cable access TV program. By 2007 he was elected Associate Director. In 2008 NORML contracted with Russ to record their daily podcast, NORML Daily Audio Stash. In 2009, NORML hired him on full time to continue the podcast and to take on Outreach Coordinator duties.

Russ also has experience in the progressive blogosphere. In 2003 he began blogging at his own site, radicalruss.com, and in 2006 was invited to be a front page blogger at the influential LGBT blog, Pam’s House Blend. In 2007, Russ won a nationwide talk radio contest, The Search for the Next Great Progressive Talk Radio Star, hosted by Washington’s Bill Press (The Bill Press Show) and judged by talk radio pros including MSNBC’s Ed Schultz, which led to a two-year show on XM Satellite Radio, The Russ Belville Show. In 2008 Russ was a credentialed blogger for Pam’s House Blend at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Russ also contributes currently to Daily Kos and The Huffington Post.

Major Franklin, a 33-year law enforcement veteran, retired from the Maryland State Police in 1999 where he held the position of commander for the Education and Career Development Command and the Bureau of Drug and Criminal Enforcement. During this time, Major Franklin instituted and oversaw the very first Domestic Violence Investigative Units for the Maryland State Police. After 23 years of dedicated service to the Maryland State Police, he was recruited in 2000 by the Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department to reconstruct and command Baltimore’s Education and Training Section. After serving one year, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and later promoted again to Chief of Human Resources.

After leaving the Baltimore Police Department in 2004, Major Franklin was appointed to serve as the commander of Special Operations for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Police Force, covering criminal, narcotics and internal affairs investigations in addition to an array of Homeland Security related initiatives. He was then appointed to design and implement the very first Office of Professional Standards encompassing EEO, loss prevention and fraud for the entire MTA. After the completion of this assignment, he assumed the position of Chief of Patrol. He currently holds the position of Executive Director for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, which is a non-profit international organization spanning 80 countries with a clear mission of educating people on the harmful effects of drug prohibition and why our drug policies must change. Major Franklin says, "It pains me to know that there is a solution for preventing tragedy and nothing is being done because of ignorance, stubbornness, unsubstantiated fear and greed."

Additionally, Major Franklin volunteers his time by serving on many boards that include, Children 1st (child advocate organization), Faith Based Community Council on Law Enforcement and Intelligence, the Place of Grace Church, Anne Arundel Community College Criminal Justice Advisory Board and past board president for TurnAround, Inc. (domestic violence, sexual assault victim advocate providing counseling and shelter services).

Stephen Gutwillig is California Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, the nation's leading organization advocating alternatives to the war on drugs. He oversees DPA’s statewide legislative agenda, “model city” initiative in San Francisco, and other projects across California. Based in Los Angeles, Stephen primarily focuses on marijuana reform, including advocacy on behalf of Proposition 19 on the November ballot. He recently supervised the production of “Targeting Blacks for Marijuana,” a report on racist enforcement of possession laws throughout the state. He has appeared on CNN, NBC Nightly News, Telemundo, and Fox as well as in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, and dozens of other media outlets.

Stephen has worked for cultural and social change organizations in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. Prior to joining DPA, Stephen served for eight years as executive director of Outfest, the L.A.-based nonprofit devoted to nurturing, exhibiting and preserving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media. At Outfest, Stephen oversaw the launch of the only LGBT people of color film festival and the only LGBT film preservation program in the world. Stephen also previously served as director of development and communications for the Labor/Community Strategy Center, the L.A.-based social and environmental justice organization best known for organizing low-income, transit-dependent bus riders. Stephen’s experience includes work as a nonprofit organizational development consultant. He currently serves on the Community Funding Board of the Liberty Hill Foundation, the leading social change grantmaker in Los Angeles County.

Jill Harris is managing director of public policy for the Drug Policy Alliance, the nation's leading organization promoting alternatives to the war on drugs. Based in New York, Harris oversees the program efforts of the Drug Policy Alliance’s state-based offices around the country, as well as the offices of Legal and National Affairs.

Before joining DPA, Harris worked as a political campaign manager in New York, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio; she was the Ohio Field Director for America Coming Together in 2004 and the Ohio Early Vote Director for Barack Obama in 2008. She also spent 13 years as a public defender with the Legal Aid Society in New York City, including two years as the attorney in charge of the Manhattan Criminal Defense Division, the country’s largest public defender office.

Harris is originally from Eugene, Oregon.

Jon Walker is a writer for the progressive blog Firedoglake. He writes on the topic of political elections, health care policy, government reform, and marijuana policy.