cannabisnews.com: NORML Hopes To Reform MU's Marijuana Policies





NORML Hopes To Reform MU's Marijuana Policies
Posted by CN Staff on September 11, 2007 at 06:27:30 PT
By Gwen Daniels, Reporter
Source: Maneater
Missouri -- The group to target the campus policy against marijuana. MU NORML is hoping to make some changes on campus this year. MU NORML, which is the campus chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, met Sept. 6 to discuss plans and potential changes for the upcoming school year. Almost 60 students attended.
The national organization advocates responsible recreational and medicinal use of marijuana, and supports the growth of industrial hemp, the fibrous non-psychoactive strain of cannabis used in canvas, rope and cloth, according to its Web site. “To put it very plainly, we want to end the prohibition of marijuana,” MU NORML treasurer Paul Weber said. This year, MU NORML plans to target the campus policy against marijuana. According to the M-Book, MU’s list of its policies and rules, a student found with marijuana can face disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. The smell of marijuana is considered sufficient evidence for disciplinary procedures. The police can also be called to search individuals and their residence hall rooms. If arrested, a student can face criminal penalties including fines up to $20,000 and imprisonment, the M-Book stated. MU NORML seeks a marijuana policy that is “identical to alcohol policy,” Weber said. Students found in possession of alcohol are asked to pour it out and attend an alcohol responsibility course. “With pot, you could dump it out and step on it, or flush it down the toilet,” Weber said. MU NORML president Scott Lauher said he believes the negative effects of alcohol are greater than the negative effects of marijuana. “It’s silly that people who are vomiting in the dorms are getting slapped on the wrist, but the people who are just playing video games are getting arrested,” Lauher said. The group plans to work with the Department of Residential Life and the Missouri Students Association, and it plans to introduce a bill in the MSA Senate. Members said they hope to hold a demonstration in the Speakers Circle to garner support, Weber said. Weber said he expects encouragement from the town of Columbia, which has backed marijuana law reform in the past. In 2004, the City Council and Columbia voters approved Proposition 1, which allows seriously ill adults to use marijuana under the supervision of a physician, and Proposition 2, which decriminalizes marijuana so that those found in possession of less than 35 grams incur only fines, community service or counseling. Columbia is the only city in Missouri with medical and decriminalized marijuana laws, Weber said. MU NORML also sponsors education-based “Know Your Rights” events twice a semester. At these meetings, students can watch the educational film “Busted,” which outlines the rights and responsibilities of the accused and attend a question-and-answer session with an American Civil Liberties Union attorney. In addition, MU NORML expects to host a one-day conference featuring marijuana-reform activists later in the semester. MU NORML member Evan Groll said he encourages interested students to get involved. “An important key to NORML’s success is the open environment of ideas and resources,” he said. “As an organization, we don’t preach ‘what to do’ or ‘how this is going to be.’ NORML is big on providing an open forum for discussing ideas on ways to combat the drug war and other related issues.” For meeting times and other information, visit the MU NORML Web site at: http://www.students.missouri.edu/~norml/index.htmlNote: The group to target the campus policy against marijuana.Source: Maneater, The (Uof Missouri - Columbia, MO Edu)Author: Gwen Daniels, ReporterPublished: September 11, 2007Copyright: 2007 The ManeaterContact: forum themaneater.comWebsite: http://www.themaneater.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by ekim on September 11, 2007 at 12:48:29 PT
a little Leap info
Sep 20 07 Waiting to Inhale: Screening and ... James Gierach Chicago
Illinois
 Film Row Cinema, Columbia University 1104 Wabash Ave 8th Floor Sponsored
by Illinois Humanities Council & the Columbia College Television Department
Moderator Gordon Quinn with Jed Riffe, producer of Waiting to Inhale;
Melanie Dreher, Dean of Nursing Rush Univerity and LEAP
http://www.leap.cc/events LEAP on the Hill Stories from September 7, 2007 On Wednesday I attended a breakfast at the Leadership Institute in order to hear a presentation by the most widely known Drug Warrior in Congress, Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN). He is infamous for authoring the law which denies any college student monetary aid, if they are convicted of any drug offense…and much, much more. During his speech he talked about the many failures and disappointments of the War on Drugs. He took questions and I was able to ask mine. ‘Congressman, I am a retired police officer. In the past 3 ½ decades my profession has spent a trillion tax dollars and arrested some 38 million Americans for drug offenses. Despite that, drugs are cheaper, stronger and much easier for our teens to find and buy. Do you ever doubt the wisdom of the policy of drug prohibition and its strategy of war on drugs?’ His answer was, ‘Taking drugs is immoral. I will never change my point of view.’ After the speech, I was able to engage him for about 4 minutes, one on one. I won’t bore you with the details. Suffice to say that he claimed that the US has spent 2 trillion on treatment and other non truths. I told him about LEAP and that we are now part of the loyal opposition on Capitol Hill opposing prohibition. I asked him about the morality of the policy creating a job option for teens to become drug dealers at 15 and that over 900,000 are now employed. He did not respond to the question.  I finished by asking him to do all he could that would allow my profession to focus on drunk drivers and child predators, not Willie Nelson and not Rush Limbaugh. He did not respond to my request. We shook hands and I went on to chat with other conservatives who expressed an interest in why there are police officers who oppose the WOD.  
Howard J. Wooldridge 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 11, 2007 at 12:06:13 PT
Spinning a Failed War on Drugs
By Bruce Mirken, AlterNetSeptember 11, 2007http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/61842/
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on September 11, 2007 at 08:18:57 PT
Pot and alcohol
There's something going on that, for sure, isn't even considerate of "Right or Wrong", much less, "Safer or not safer".That much we know.Prohibition, greed, and ignorance are undoubtedly the culprits.
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Comment #2 posted by tintala on September 11, 2007 at 08:09:28 PT:
Where i live a college kids die of alcohol poison 
Annualy, i hear it on the news every year how some students die by overdosing on alcohol, but never, ever have you heard f someone dying from cannabis poisoning, strange how alcohol and it's effects are totally and absolutely LEGAL and our government sorta "pushes" this substance with ads, tv commercials etc. They call this a democracy....
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 11, 2007 at 07:56:43 PT
San Mateo County May Regulate Pot Dispensaries
September 11, 2007http://origin.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_6860212
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