cannabisnews.com: Store is Hardly Normal for Lodi Store is Hardly Normal for Lodi Posted by FoM on November 23, 2001 at 10:16:25 PT By Carl Chancellor, Beacon Journal Staff Writer Source: Akron Beacon Journal Stepping through the front door of this tiny storefront on Lodi's town square is like being transported back in time more than 30 years.The sweet and pungent smell of burning incense, the otherworldly glow of black lights, psychedelic posters, lava lamps, tied-dyed shirts and music from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead -- a heady combination of sensations that call back the 1960s and '70s for visitors to the newly opened NORML ``retail boutique and information center.'' NORML is the name of the store, which the green neon sign in the front window proclaims. It is also the name of the nonprofit political action group -- the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws -- that has been working to decriminalize the use of marijuana since its founding in 1970.Since its opening in Lodi less than a month ago, the NORML store, which sits directly across the street from Village Hall, has been a town curiosity.``A lot of people have been stopping in and walking by to see what we are all about,'' said Cher Neufer, who manages the store. She also goes by Cheryl, the name she used when she ran unsuccessfully as the Libertarian Party candidate for the 22nd District Ohio Senate seat in 2000 and this year for Harrisville Township trustee.Dressed in a loosely fitting tie-dyed T-shirt that reads ``Legalize Freedom,'' the good-natured Neufer, 54, describes herself as one of Medina County's original hippies.``Overall, I think we have gotten a good reaction,'' she said. ``People are always waving to us through the window, or giving us the thumbs up.''``Us'' refers to Neufer and assistant store manager Alice Higgins.``This is the best thing to happen to Lodi,'' proclaimed Higgins, 41, who calls herself a ``rebel and free spirit.''Not everyone in Lodi is as sure as Higgins that Haight-Ashbury meets Mayberry is the perfect mix.``We have had a few inquiries,'' said Lodi Mayor Tom Longsdorf. ``At this point, I don't quite know what may or may not happen.'' The late '60s ``summer of love'' novelties that the store sells -- clothing, backpacks, American flags made from hemp, patches honoring marijuana, love beads, black-light posters -- remind one of what was once euphemistically called a ``head shop.'' But there is one big difference.``We don't sell any drug paraphernalia,'' said Neufer, noting the absence of pipes, bongs and roach clips on store shelves.What Neufer and Higgins push in their little shop of cannabis is a political agenda that supports the removal of all penalties for the private possession of marijuana by adults, the cultivation for personal use, the casual not-for-profit transfer of small amounts and the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana.One of the main features of the store, in addition to the dozen pamphlets dealing with marijuana and marijuana use, are several clipboards stuffed with petitions.One petition urges Ohio Gov. Bob Taft to support the medical use of marijuana.Another calls for repealing a federal law that strips financial aid from students convicted of a drug-related crime.``And this one is for NORML membership,'' said Neufer, holding up a yellow legal pad filled with more than two-dozen names.Neufer, who is a graduate of the University of Akron, said she never drank or smoked cigarettes, but did get into marijuana while in college in the '70s. ``I smoked pot and I don't see how pot has hurt me,'' said Neufer, who refuses to buy into the argument that smoking marijuana leads one to harder drugs.Higgins, who also works as a bartender, stressed that alcohol consumption has caused countless deaths and is much more dangerous than pot smoking.``You don't hear of people getting killed from smoking pot,'' she said.The drug debate aside, it seems that most town folk are taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the store.``There are a few people who are excited. I think there was an initial shock when people heard it was coming, but I don't see that now,'' said Owen Yoder, owner of Western Auto, the combination automotive and hardware supply store two doors down from NORML.Yoder, who has operated his store on the square for 35 years, visited his new neighbor recently and indicated that what he saw in the store was interesting.``But I don't see how they are going to sell enough to make a go of it,'' he said.Neufer said most of the business people have been supportive, although she said that the local newspaper refuses to carry the store's advertisement.Still the lack of advertising hasn't seemed to hurt business.Deborah Hargrove, 50, was just one of a half-dozen people who came into the store during a 20-minute period one recent Friday afternoon.``I just love it. This place is cool,'' Hargrove declared.The store is open six days a week. On Monday through Friday, the hours are noon to 7 p.m.``On Saturday we are here from 11 to 4:20 (p.m.),'' said a smiling Neufer, staying true to her nonconformist nature.Note: Small town residents aren't sure what to make of shop that pushes for legalizing marijuana.Source: Beacon Journal, The (OH)Author: Carl Chancellor, Beacon Journal Staff WriterPublished: Friday, November 23, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Beacon Journal Publishing Co.Website: http://www.ohio.com/bj/Contact: vop thebeaconjournal.comNORMLhttp://www.norml.org/CannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by FoM on November 25, 2001 at 19:18:36 PT Hi Jean and lookinside I have no idea where so many places are. That's why I was kidding about a zippy car. I could see that in my mind and had to chuckle. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by lookinside on November 25, 2001 at 18:39:27 PT: Lodi, CA original lodi is in austria..enuff.. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by lookinside on November 25, 2001 at 18:36:39 PT: Lodi, CA http://www.grapefestival.com/ http://www.lodiwine.com/ founded by german and italian immigrants...they brought their favorite agricultural crops with them... [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Jeaneous on November 25, 2001 at 18:32:05 PT: FoM Hi FoM,Another one of my "Duh's". Getting pretty normal I guess... sorry....*The More Laws-The more criminals* [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by lookinside on November 25, 2001 at 18:29:08 PT: Lodi, CA lol...that line:And ev'ry time I've had to play while people sat there drunk.i know those guys..if you picked up my ramble on the other thread...that still was in...Lodi...LOL [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 25, 2001 at 18:01:13 PT Hi lookinside So there's a Lodi California and a Lodi Ohio! Creedance Clearwater Revival thanks! I found the lyrics.Just about a year ago, I set out on the road, Seekin' my fame and fortune, lookin' for a pot of gold. Things got bad, and things got worse, I guess you will know the tune. Oh ! Lord, Stuck in Lodi again. Rode in on the Greyhound, I'll be walkin' out if I go. I was just passin' through, must be seven months or more. Ran out of time and money, looks like they took my friends. Oh ! Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again. The man from the magazine said I was on my way. Somewhere I lost connections, ran out of songs to play. I came into town, a one night stand, looks like my plans fell through Oh ! Lord, Stuck in Lodi again. Mmmm... If I only had a dollar, for ev'ry song I've sung. And ev'ry time I've had to play while people sat there drunk. You know, I'd catch the next train back to where I live. Oh ! Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again. Oh ! Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by lookinside on November 25, 2001 at 17:45:41 PT: Lodi, CA scuse me...creedence...nice what you can find online when you look... [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by lookinside on November 25, 2001 at 17:44:23 PT: Lodi, CA creedance clearwater revival...! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by lookinside on November 25, 2001 at 17:38:06 PT: Lodi, CA stuck in Lodi...don't remember the band(a big one)...their tour bus broke down there...several locals remember it..alotta partying went on i understand...70s song... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 25, 2001 at 15:07:04 PT Hi Jean Do me a big favor and don't spend too much time looking because it is in Lodi, Ohio unless you commute everyday! If so you must have one zippy car! LOL!PS: Was Lodi in a song? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Jeaneous on November 25, 2001 at 14:35:18 PT: Lodi I'll have to stop by and check this place out. I go to Lodi every other day. Had no clue this place was there. And it took me years to realize that the song really was about the Lodi I grew up around..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by dddd on November 25, 2001 at 00:16:54 PT the good ol' days ..I remember my teen years,the late 60s/early 70s,,,and there was this "head shop",in Seattle,called The American Dream.....you'd walk in to the smell of incense,,there was a huge magazine rack withh every underground comic,,Mr Natural,,The Freak Brothers,,Zippie,,Zapped Comix..etc... a large selection of pipes,and bongs,,,,,dozens of brands of rolling papers.....it was more of a free country back then,,,I could walk on in there at the age of 14,and procure anything I wanted,or needed..no fear....those were the days.... ....indedddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on November 23, 2001 at 13:13:36 PT It wasn't played ironically He may have written it tongue in cheek but it was played straight on the radio. I think it was too subtle for the times.I think Willie supports me view that it's borderline. It goes both ways.What is the death toll from White Lightening? It must be pretty high, it's not for quiet sipping.I was really surprised that I stopped caring about having wine with my dinner when I started smoking weed. Marijuana really does seem to blunt the desire for alcohol. That's amazing to me. How does it do that? Tobacco makes people drink MORE not less. I saw Willie Nelon on the Roseanne Show and he said that with his diabetes, marijuana is all that's left to him now, he can't even have pork rinds! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by bcg on November 23, 2001 at 12:08:35 PT merle haggard I believe that he wrote this song tongue-in-cheek. Others do too.http://www.pbs.org/americanrootsmusic/pbs_arm_oralh_willienelson.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on November 23, 2001 at 11:14:47 PT Remember this song I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee, a place where even squares can have a ball.We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee, White Lightnin's still the biggest thrill of all.How many people have been killed or disabled by White Lightening? And um it's not exactly legal.This song is kinda sick when you compare the substance they're proud of not using with the one they're proud of using. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment