cannabisnews.com: Fair's Rejection Leaves NORML Doing a Slow Burn Fair's Rejection Leaves NORML Doing a Slow Burn Posted by CN Staff on August 10, 2002 at 13:38:27 PT By Will Higgins Source: Indianapolis Star The people at Indiana NORML, a branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, for several years had thought how nice it would be to be part of the Indiana State Fair: all those people, all those potential converts.This year NORML went for it. It applied for a booth in the Exposition Center. It was no sale. Fair Director Bill Stinson explained in a letter that booth space was already taken. NORML bought the explanation, too, until one of its members came upon a later e-mail from the fair seeking booth operators.NORML pressed for an explanation. The State Fair now says the e-mail was a mistake -- "it said we were accepting applications when we weren't," Stinson's spokesman, Andy Klotz, said Tuesday. "It was a computer deal, something about the folder being full."Further, Klotz went on, NORML shouldn't have been told it was a space issue but, rather, the truth: "We don't feel comfortable having a booth promoting an action that is illegal in the state of Indiana. That was Bill's (Stinson's) call, and he stands by it." Stinson stands by it through his spokesman, at least; he himself declined to be interviewed. In any case, NORML was out, and its directors miffed. Steve Dillon, a NORML board member (who is also a well-known Libertarian), said a lawsuit may be coming. "Somebody is politically chicken," he said. "It would have been an interesting booth.""We were going to limit our discussion to industrial hemp," said Neal Smith, another NORML board member, explaining that farmers could grow the stuff not to sell to stoners, but rather for use in building materials, paper, even fuel. "Indiana could supply the vast majority of the nation's energy needs with hemp fuel," Smith said.For now, though, it's against federal law to grow hemp for any reason. For now, the State Fair's exposition hall looks pretty much like it always looks.There are booths hawking sewing machines. And political candidates. And recliner chairs that jiggle relaxingly. Pills that help you "lose weight, feel great." Photos of Dale Earnhardt. Decorative license plates depicting cocker spaniels, smiley faces, Confederate flags. And toys -- stuffed animals, rubber balls, simulated dog doo.Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.indystar.com/article.php?will09.htmlSource: Indianapolis Star (IN)Author: Will HigginsPublished: August 09, 2002Copyright: 2002 Indianapolis Newspapers Inc.Contact: stareditor starnews.comWebsite: http://www.starnews.com/NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/CannabisNews Articles - NORMLhttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=NORML Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Shai Schwan on August 10, 2002 at 14:18:24 PT It's Indianapolis, what more can be said I've been to Indianapolis, it was very scary. It was very homogenous, it's like the family tree never branched. The KKK had it's largest organization in Indianapolis. They make Mississippi, look progressive. You can't buy beer on sundays in Indianapolis. The clock stopped at 1937 in Indiana. Sorry this rant has been so mundane, but it's what happens to me whenever I think about Indiana, a little part of my brain dies. So to make it up to you here's an interesting link: http://www.voxnyc.com/ a pretense to terror [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by overtoke on August 10, 2002 at 14:15:07 PT: Generosity This would be a good time for someone with a booth to transfer their privs to NORML. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment