POT-SMOKING, PROTEST-MARCHING, ALEX CITY MOTHER OF TWO, WANTS TO BE YOUR NEXT SHERIFF

In a feature article published by The Birmingham News Loretta Lynn Nall was
described as " an unlikely political activist.

With her at-home candle business, Stevie Nicks hairdo, and kitchen-table
computer, the mother of two is truly grassroots, especially the grass part."

You see, Mrs. Nall is the founder of The United States Marijuana Party, an
organization whose literature proclaims it to be "a motivated group of
Americans who are tired of living in fear of their government because of
marijuana prohibition. " Much of her support comes from Canadian activists.

Shortly after this interview Mrs. Nall was on her way to British Columbia to
appear on a TV show there and to attend meetings with her supporters. But
make no mistake; she is a local girl.

" I grew up in Ashland and moved to Alexander City in 1997 when my husband
got out of the army," Nall said during an April 24th interview. " We moved
here because this is where all our family is; I am big mouthed with big
opinions but I have a sense of humor, too," she laughed, "However, I'm not
joking about this: The reason I asked you to give me this interview is
because I am going to run for sheriff of Tallapoosa County in the next
election.

I've got 4 years to get out and meet people and tell them about my platform
and all the things I intend to do if I'm elected," she said. "I'm still
learning how to do it but I intend to spend a year doing a lot of research
and the other three out campaigning, shaking hands and kissing babies.

My platform is to stop the arrests of folks for smoking marijuana."

Nall will run as the candidate of the Alabama Marijuana Party, a party
founded by her in October of last year. " We're a political action committee
trying to loosen marijuana laws and raise awareness about the plant's
medicinal benefits," she said, " I think prohibition causes more problems
than marijuana ever will. No one wants their kids to grow up and do drugs
but we must face the fact that some of them are going to grow up and do them
anyway, therefore we must make them as safe as humanly possible."

When asked how she felt her radical platform would be received in Tallapoosa
County, Mrs. Nall replied, " Who knows?

I think a lot of people will support what I'm trying to do-maybe more than
some might think-I've been well received so far. I haven't had but one or
two people tell me I'm an absolute lunatic. And I'm not a lunatic-I'm just
like everybody else, I've got a husband, kids, I've got geese, chicken and a
dog. I'm a common country girl but I do have big ideas and opinions," she
says," I've always wanted to speak out-and you can believe that I'm going to
keep saying that marijuana users are not criminals who rob, steal or
other-wise cause harm to the fabric of society, and it is time to stop
treating us as if we were," Nall said.

In a recent interview with The Birmingham News, Loretta Nall said that her
views on marijuana were shaped, in part, by her brother's experience. An
alcoholic, Randy Sapp, 35, has been in and out of jail for alcohol-fueled
crimes. "For work release, they put him to loading Budweiser trucks," Nall
said.

That didn't work out so well.

Sapp, back home in Ashland, is frank about his addictions. "If marijuana was
legal, I would never pick up another drop of alcohol," he said.

While voters in California and Nevada have tried to legalize marijuana for
medical use, or in small quantities, Nall is dangling on the outer edge of
the fringe in Alabama.

"Loretta's been far more vocal in the middle of the desert," said Ben Power,
53, president of the Florida Marijuana Party.

Power, who suffers from congestive heart failure, said he uses marijuana to
dilate his blood vessels.

His son is a sheriff's deputy, and drug agents have never targeted his West
Palm Beach home.

"I just think it's a lot easier in places like Miami, West Palm and Key
West, where ideas might be a tad more progressive than in Alexander City,"
Power said.

At one time, Nall had considered moving to Montgomery but decided that the
family would hate to leave their two acres, the chickens, guineas, geese,
St. Bernard and cat named Catfish.

Whether they agree with Loretta Nall or not most people are impressed by her
energy and zeal. In fact, Mrs. Nall seems unable to contain her
proselytizing; even trying to persuade law enforcement officers that
marijuana is harmless.

In the midst of one such pitch, a black deputy reminded her that harmful or
not, marijuana is still illegal in the state of Alabama. " True," snapped
Loretta, "but at one time it was illegal to help a slave to freedom in the
state of Alabama." When asked by The New Week for a statement she would like
to leave with the people of Tallapoosa County, Nall asked for some time to
think about it. Minutes later, as the interview ended, Nall said, "Here's my
statement: We're Americans and we don't have to p-in a cup for anybody."