TALKING TREE WITH THE FOUNDERS OF NORML

Chances are you've done it. Or if you haven't, chances are you know
someone who does. Chances are your mom and dad did it back in the
day-maybe they still do.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, it's the country's
most commonly used illegal substance. And chances are, you still
don't like to discuss it-but there's a new student organization in
town that wants to change the way we talk about pot.

The new UNH chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Law is setting out to educate students about their rights,
and to work from the ground up on reforming marijuana law.

In 2007, 31.8 percent of college students in a Department of Justice
survey reported using marijuana in their lifetime-but it's still an
illegal substance that many people are uncomfortable discussing. Jenn
Hall, a sophomore and one of the founders of NORML, emphasized that
while the drug itself might be illegal, talking about it isn't.

"We realized marijuana wasn't something that was talked about," she
said. "We're off-base in the way we think about it. Our first goal is
to get a discussion going and educate people about their rights."

Hall and fellow sophomore Nick Murray started a chapter of NORML at
UNH this year, and have already received an overwhelming response.
Their first meeting drew 18 people, and by the second meeting that
number had more than doubled.

"There was a need for a group like this," Hall said. "It's something
people want to talk about."

NORML is a national non-profit organization that was founded in 1970.
According to NORML's mission statement, the goal of the group is to
lobby against the prohibition of marijuana and against arresting
users of the drug. UNH NORML is the only chapter in the state. Many
other colleges, including Boston University and Suffolk University,
have chapters of NORML on their roster of student
organizations.

This fall, Murray applied to NORML to form an official chapter and
went to Student Organization Services for official
recognition.

"Everything went really smoothly," Murray said. "We got recognition
from both NORML and the university without any trouble."

In July, Governor John Lynch vetoed House Bill 648, which would have
legalized medical marijuana in New Hampshire, and at the end of
October the New Hampshire General Court narrowly failed in overriding
the veto.

"I understand and empathize with the advocates for allowing medical
marijuana use in New Hampshire. However, the fact remains that
marijuana use for any purpose remains illegal under federal law,"
Lynch said in a statement made after the veto.

It was a tremendous letdown for the founders of NORML.

"I was so disappointed in democracy," Hall said. "The legislature
passed it, the house passed it, and then the governor vetoed it."

Murray was also disappointed in the veto, but is looking to the
future.

"It's going to come up again," he said. "There will be another bill,
and when there is, we'll be ready to help."

In addition to lobbying lawmakers, the members of NORML are planning
a push for education in the upcoming semester. Plans for films,
speakers, open forums and ultimately a "smoke-out"-a mass gathering
of civilly disobedient pot smokers-are all in the works.

"We don't believe marijuana is morally wrong, and we want people to
know it's not socially wrong to talk about it," said Hall. "And it
absolutely needs to be talked about."

UNH NORML meets on Thursday nights at 8 p.m. in MUB Room 334.