cannabisnews.com: Legalize Marijuana Attorney Explains Why We Should





Legalize Marijuana Attorney Explains Why We Should
Posted by CN Staff on September 13, 2006 at 21:23:22 PT
By Laura Novetzke, Special To The Sun
Source: Gainesville Sun
Florida -- Keith Stroup entered the room at the Hilton hotel in a suit with a gold marijuana leaf pinned neatly on his chest. He adjusted his green tie and watched as people poured into the room. The Dogwood Room was filled past its 78-person capacity. People sat on the floor in the back and in the aisles. Many adorned brightly colored orange stickers displaying their own five-pointed leaves.
Stroup is a Washington, D.C., public-interest attorney who founded the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in 1970. He got his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where he first smoked marijuana as a freshman. "I'm the world's oldest pot smoker," the 62-year-old said. His light-hearted humor supported his overall argument. Stroup encouraged students to "come out of the closet" with their marijuana habits in order to change the laws. "We need to get up, stand up, light up and let America know," Stroup said. One way he suggested was by asking everyone in the room to refrain from voting for any candidate who "treats them like a criminal" by supporting marijuana prohibition. Stroup said marijuana is not an immoral habit but rather a recreational activity. He said Americans should be given the right to buy marijuana from a controlled market and grow it for recreational and industrial purposes. "Smoking is not immoral," Stroup said. "It makes food taste better, music sound better and sex better," he said. "That's not a bad thing." Stroup said he believes the negative stereotype given to marijuana smokers is the biggest reason keeping marijuana from becoming legal in the United States. Stroup said people feel like they are alienated. NORML's mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of pot by adults is no longer subject to penalty. Stroup said more than 26 million Americans smoked last year and of that 16 million are regular smokers, meaning they smoke at least once a month. "We're just average Americans that happen to smoke marijuana," Stroup said. The event was sponsored by NORML UF, which claims to have 30 to 40 active members. The group is led by UF junior Jaylen McGrew. "I saw (the movie) "Grass" at the Reitz Union a few years ago and decided to get involved with NORML," McGrew said. Source: Gainesville Sun, The (FL)Author: Laura Novetzke, Special To The SunPublished: September 13, 2006Copyright: 2006 The Gainesville SunContact: voice gvillesun.comWebsite: http://www.sunone.com/NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/NORML UF http://www.normluf.comCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 15, 2006 at 18:36:45 PT
Wayne
This link gives a little information on the vote at least for medical marijuana. I remember originally there were two links and I hope I found the correct one.http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll333.xml
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Comment #3 posted by Wayne on September 15, 2006 at 17:53:39 PT
whig
Unfortunately, his website says bupkus about drugs. I'll have to do some digging...maybe Marc Emery's site will have some useful info.
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Comment #2 posted by whig on September 15, 2006 at 15:37:09 PT
Wayne
What does the Democrat running in your district say about cannabis prohibition?
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Comment #1 posted by Wayne on September 15, 2006 at 12:56:58 PT
one more Republican dinosaur will bite the dust
"One way he suggested was by asking everyone in the room to refrain from voting for any candidate who 'treats them like a criminal' by supporting marijuana prohibition."My Congressman has just officially lost my vote. He finally wrote me back, two months after the fact. He says, and I quote, "I am proud to have been involved in the creation of the ONDCP in 1988 as a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Select Committee on Narcotics, Drug Abuse and Control. Legislation I introduced became part of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, which created the ONDCP."His name is E. Clay Shaw (R), and if you live in Florida's 22nd District, DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS MAN! He has been representing our district since 1980, and his time for the big ugly axe is LONG overdue. He actually has a formidable Democratic challenger this year. I don't know his particular stance on the Drug War, but it can't be as bad as this guy.
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