SPOTLIGHT ON ORGANIZATIONS: NORML

Marijuana often evokes images of the dregs of society, clothed in
tattered tie-dye, unwashed and unmotivated, everything our parents
have warned us about. Recently a small group of students opened a KU
chapter for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws, or NORML, to challenge these stereotypes and the laws that
reinforce them. Meeting Times

What: NORML meetings

When: 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday

Where: Room 412, Lindley Hall

NORML is a 30-year-old organization whose ultimate goal is the
decriminalization of cannabis. Reid Calver, a sophomore from Overland
Park, and the director of communications for KU's chapter, explained
the club hoped to garner support to ultimately change marijuana
legislation.

"The truth is, other legal drugs like alcohol and cigarettes are much
more dangerous than marijuana. Here at KU we had several
alcohol-related deaths last year alone and while there have been no
marijuana-related deaths, law enforcement is more lenient with alcohol
violations. The members of our group want these laws to change,"
Calver said.

President and founder of the KU campus chapter, Thomas Deacon, a
freshman from West Lafayette, Ind., fully supports NORML's ultimate
goal of legalization.

"Marijuana is a non-toxic plant that people have used for thousands of
years. There are many other uses for cannabis besides getting high.
People should have the right to decide to use marijuana like they have
with alcohol and tobacco," Deacon said.

The group meets every Tuesday to answer questions about cannabis,
discuss possible fundraising and watch documentaries that support
marijuana usage and law reform.

"On a local level we would like a referendum at KU to lower marijuana
penalties to the same level as alcohol. Right now, the University
encourages the use of the deadly drug alcohol over marijuana. We
believe that if students would like to use a safer drug in their own
time, they can without fear of more punishment," Deacon said.

The group is working toward hosting a concert in the spring to raise
awareness and funds, but the main focus of NORML's agenda is to pass
Project SAFER. Project SAFER is a movement on college campuses across
the nation to enact rules that make alcohol and marijuana penalties
equal in college housing.

"If we can pass the Project SAFER referendum at KU, people in Kansas
will take notice. The larger amount of supporters we can get can help
in influencing actual state legislation to ease cannabis laws," Deacon
said.

Deacon is trying to reach out to the student body for their support
and involvement.

"You don't have to smoke to support expanding people's rights and safe
access to a safer drug. People who want to be involved politically in
their community should join. It is a unique issue in the US because
both people on the left and the right support its legalization,"
Deacon said.