STUDENTS START DRUG LAW REFORM GROUP

The Group NORML Will Work With SSDP to Push Forward on Drug Law
Reformation.

Claude Laude, a sophomore philosophy major, and Tyler Markwart, a
senior organic agriculture and philosophy student, have spearheaded a
new effort at WSU to reform drug laws.

The two students are the respective presidents of the WSU chapters of
the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and
Students for Sensible Drug Policy, national organizations who share a
general goal of decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana.

The organizations were formed this year and have been growing and
gaining recognition at WSU. They will host public events to gain
support of pro-legalization of marijuana legislation in Washington.

Laude said the group began forming with the "Heads vs. Feds: The
Debate on the Legalization of Marijuana" event in February. The SSDP
group, which deals more generally with drug use laws, was formed
before NORML, and the two groups joined together.

One of the group's current objectives is to gather signatures for
Initiative 1068, which relates to the decriminalization of marijuana
in Washington. Markwart said the group has more than 2,000 signatures
from Pullman for the initiative.

"(We're) basically trying to gain support of students," Markwart said.
He also said they would like to work with local religious
organizations and law enforcement.

Many members expressed concerns at a group meeting about current laws
and regulations regarding marijuana.

"The worst thing about marijuana laws is its effect on families," said
Stacey Ann Hall, a senior accounting and information systems major who
is active in the groups.

Laude also said students can lose school loans if they are charged
with marijuana-related crimes, hindering their ability to gain an education.

FUTURE EVENTS:

A big priority for the group has been celebrating "Green Week," this
week, Laude said. NORML and SSDP's plans include a "Grass is Greener"
event on Friday, featuring the band Civilized Animal from Spokane and
The Corduroy Shorts from Pullman, among others. The group hopes to
find more bands for the concert. They also said they hope to have
information on marijuana at the event and artwork on display.

Laude said nothing else has been set in stone for the group this week,
though they would like to host lectures.

Check out The Grass is Greener, Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. on the Glenn
Terrell Mall.