STUDENTS ORGANIZE PROTEST TO END DRUG WAR

People driving past the High Street and 15th Avenue intersection on
Saturday afternoon might have noticed a group of protesters holding signs
with messages like "Legalize Freedom" and "End the Drug War Now." Or they
might have heard chants like "one, two, three, four, let's end the drug war."

This protest was held by the OSU's chapter of Students for Sensible Drug
Policy for their annual legalization of cannabis march.

"This is a worldwide event," said Russell Selkirk, a senior in political
science and member of SSDP.

"On May 3, 4 and 5, over 200 different cities internationally march for the
legalization of marijuana" Selkirk said. "Some universities also hold
educational workshops and video series. We get some help from Cures, Not
Wars, an organization that protests against the drug war. They made the
posters and advertising fliers we posted around campus. We also have money
that comes from our group's fund-raisers."

Sean Luse, a senior in political science and a student leader of SSDP, said
the main problem is the drug war, not just the prohibition of marijuana.

"We have been holding this march for three years," Luse said. "We're
working to end the drug war. We believe it is counter-productive and
harmful, and drugs need to be controlled but not prohibited. Prohibition
creates a black market, where there is no regulation on the age of people
buying soft drugs like marijuana or on drugs' purity."

Bob Fitrakis, who is running for Columbus city council, took time out to
come and speak at the rally.

"We all know how absurd it is that if you're caught with a small amount of
marijuana, students cannot get federal financial aid. I will work to make
these misdemeanors a simple civil infraction in Columbus. It will be the
same as a parking ticket," Fitrakis said.

Some people are skeptical of how much protests like these will really help.

"I don't think what they're doing is going to help anything. The government
is not going to do anything just because of this," said Amber Gordon, a
junior in microbiology.

Although last year nearly 800 people came to the event, this year's
attendance amounted to only 100 protesters. The Columbus police followed
the march from the corner of 15th Avenue and High Street downtown to
Buttles Avenue, where the participants reached Goodale Park and dispersed.