FLORIDA STATE U. STUDENTS HELP LEAD THE WEED CRUSADE

(U-WIRE) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Millions of Americans have smoked
marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes, despite its illegality.

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws hopes to
end marijuana prohibition and is getting help from students on
campuses all over the country, including Floriday State University.

NORML was founded in 1970 and has since become the principle advocate
for marijuana decriminalization in the country. Throughout its 30-year
history, the organization has relied on college students for support
and manpower.

"There are around 35 NORML chapters on U.S. campuses," said Allen St.
Pierre, executive director of the NORML Foundation.

Since NORML's founding, marijuana legalization for both medicinal and
recreational use has become an important political issue. Last year
over 700,000 people were arrested for marijuana possession in the
U.S., according to the national NORML website.

This mass incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders and the cost it
incurs have brought the marijuana legalization debate to the forefront.

Marijuana legalization initiatives have appeared in several states,
including California and Arizona as reported by the ACLU.

Politicians, however, have been reluctant to embrace decriminalization
for many different reasons.

"NORML isn't going to get pot legalized anytime soon," senior John
Whitney said. "There hasn't been enough long-term research."

The FSU chapter of NORML is an active campus organization with a
significant following and strong leadership. According to FSU NORML
head Chris Mulligan, the group has over 500 students on its mailing
list and an attendance rate of about 200 students at its major events.

Because of rules governing student organizations, NORML largely limits
its activities to educating students. Through petitioning, protesting
and circulating pro-legalization literature, the group has worked hard
to change minds among Florida officials and FSU students.

"I think they're very active on campus," junior Robert Raymond said.
"I've seen them around a lot."

However, the group acknowledges that it has a long way to go in its
quest for marijuana legalization. There are four levels of drug
classification in the United States. Each classification measures the
potential for medical use, the potential for abuse and any other
safety problems. The highest level of classification is Schedule I.

The Drug Enforcement Agency has classified marijuana as Schedule
I.

According to the DEA's website, this means that the drug has a higher
potential for abuse, the drug has no currently accepted medical uses
as a treatment in the United States and there is a lack of accepted
safety for use of the drug under medical supervision. LSD, heroin and
cocaine are also classified as Schedule I drugs.

Enforcement of marijuana laws has beefed up recently, according to the
NORML website. According to the group, years of government
misinformation and persecution surrounding marijuana use has led to an
adverse image of the drug among some Florida voters.

"I don't think (legislators) will legalize it because it would be the
gateway to the legalization of all drugs," sophomore Neil Potter said.

While obstacles like an anti-marijuana media bias and a lack of
support among politicians hamper legalization, NORML remains confident
about the demise of federal marijuana prohibition. The group claims
that upwards of 70 percent of FSU students favor decriminalization, at
least for medicinal purposes. This is consistent with a 1998 CNN poll
which showed 96 percent of Americans favored medicinal marijuana
legalization.

"I think it will eventually be legal for personal use," sophomore
Kirsten Dahlquist said. "Granted, there will be binge users as with
alcohol, but just like alcohol it shouldn't be illegal."

Still, St. Pierre refuses to put a concrete date on when this will
happen. Support for decriminalization has ebbed and flowed frequently
since the group's formation. However, it is more committed to its
goals, despite this constant shift in the political climate.

"I think legalization is inevitable, because I know there are people
who have dedicated their lives to this cause," graduate student Toni
Latino said.