BU LIBERTARIANS SELL 'POT' BROWNIES FOR LEGALIZATION

While the Boston University Libertarian Society's "Pot Brownie" bake sale
at the George Sherman Union Wednesday did not physically involve marijuana,
the group hopes their funds will someday contribute to the legalization of
actual special brownies.

The political group gave out pro-legalization pamphlets and sold the $1
baked good to raise money for the Marijuana Policy Project and for the
Liberty Conference, according to Libertarian Society member Carina Cilluffo.

"We're trying to get the government to leave people alone when they are not
harming anyone, which most illegal substances fall under, especially
marijuana," the College of Arts and Sciences senior said.

Cillufo said the group sold hundreds of brownies within a couple hours,
attributing the sale's popularity to their sign, which was adorned by a
large marijuana leaf.

"We wanted to hold a fundraiser and get attention," she said. "A lot of
people thought it was false advertising, but they were just reading the
sign wrong."

CAS senior James Stanco said the sign sparked his curiosity.

"Technically the sign has a disclaimer saying they don't have marijuana in
them," he said. "But there's a big pot leaf on it."

According to CAS senior Elizabeth Moss, the sign was legitimate in the name
of marketing.

"The sign is great," she said. "That's what you do when you advertise."

Libertarian Society Member Timothy Jordan, a CAS senior, said the
opposition was minimal.

"A few people gave us dirty looks," he said. "We had a person argue because
they opposed marijuana as an abusive substance and felt it shouldn't even
be prescribed."

Cillufo said she had a "heated debate" with two students.

"One of them called his mom, a Glaucoma surgeon, and said marijuana impairs
your ability to drive," she said.

CAS sophomore Diana Gonzalez, who nabbed the last brownie, said while she
was in favor of marijuana legalization, she did not find it a pressing issue.

"In a sense I think it should be allowed," she said. "But if it's legalized
I think it will be more regulated than it is now. Now people can smoke and
just not tell anyone."

However, Cillufo argued the legalization was crucial for judicial and
medicinal reasons.

"700,050 people went to jail last year specifically for cannabis," she
said. "We do have the word of doctors, specialists, saying it is the most
effective source of pain relief for patients."

Cilluffo said while their initiative is morally based, there are economic
benefits to marijuana legalization.

"It's a principle thing," she said. "But empirically the argument holds up."

Although the group is working to change other federal laws, including the
drinking age, marijuana is their central focus, Cillufo said.

The group's advisor - professor Randy Barnett - is a legalization activist,
appearing in front of the Supreme Court to defend a California couple
caught using marijuana for medicinal purposes.

"The Barnetts have been very supportive," Cillufo said. "His wife helped us
bake the brownies."

Cillufo said she was pleased with the group's success, noting a $10
donation given to the group.

"Overall there's been a very positive response, that people are buying
brownies and just coming over to say 'I love that [expletive deleted],'"
she said.