CANNABIS ACTIVISTS PUSH ISSUE ON HASH WEDNESDAY

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) will celebrate the 7th Annual Hash
Wednesday today on the Quad. The event, which advocates the legalization of
cannabis, also known as marijuana, will include speakers, brownies,
contests and teach-ins.

"Drugs are not evil, I am not evil -- Yes, I smoke weed, but who cares?"
said Danielle Schumacher, senior in LAS and president of NORML and SSDP.
"We want to get the truth out about drugs and raise awareness about the
issues."

Frank Nardulli, graduate student and the event's organizer, said he wants
more people to know about the benefits of marijuana -- mostly medicinal
marijuana and industrial hemp.

"We have certain rights to do what we want to do," Nardulli said. "The
government doesn't have a right to turn something that isn't a criminal act
into one."

Schumacher said much of the opposition toward drugs started in the '80s,
with the "War on Drugs."

"It's been going on for so long. People are not taught the truth -- I don't
blame them," Schumacher said.

Nardulli said students on this campus don't know enough to formulate a real
opinion. That is why his main goal is education.

"I think the majority of campus is misinformed," Nardulli said. "The way
you can change the law is to change people's opinions."

University Police Department Crime Prevention Coordinator Tony Ortiz said
he has facts that many students are unaware about.

"If you get convicted, student aid, loans and grants could be stripped away
from you," Ortiz said.

Ortiz said students know the law, and they should follow it. If students
break this law, he said they might be prone to breaking the law again.

"You are basically disrespecting the rules and regulations of the
University. If it's against the law, it's against the law. Until it is
legal, it is illegal," Ortiz said.

Schumacher said it is going to be interesting to see what people attending
the event will do. She said if people choose to smoke weed, that is their
choice. The event is simply put on to inform and educate.

"If people get arrested on Hash Wednesday, it's their own fault. That is
their choice," Schumacher said.

Hash Wednesday is rumored to have started in the '70s, when people showed
resistance to marijuana laws.

"Everyone has conflicting histories on it," Schumacher said.

Schumacher said the event was more popular in the '70s, gathering about
1,000 people on the Quad.

This year, NORML and SSDP sponsored a benefit show at Cowboy Monkey, 6
Taylor St., Champaign, to raise money for the event. They also had four
bake sales and have raised funds through sales of T-shirts, Schumacher said.

Schumacher said that by advertising all over the campus and community, she
hopes there will be a bigger turnout this year than in years past.

"If this is successful, it can only get better," Schumacher said.

Andrew Wong, sophomore in applied life studies, said he will attend today's
events and said marijuana should be legal.

"I guess weed will always be around regardless, so it might as well be
legal, to generate tax revenue and be regulated-- plus its not like coke or
heroine," Wong said.