STUDENTS RALLY AGAINST MARIJUANA LAWS; LIGHT UP ON NORLIN QUAD

Organization Capitalizes on Day to Spread Message

The closing of Farrand Field did not stop the celebration of cannabis
culture on April 20.

CU students relocated on Friday to Norlin Quad, where many students
celebrated the tradition of civil disobedience. Although Norlin was
not the location in past years, the word spread quickly through
Facebook groups and on-campus sidewalk messages.

The CU public-interest lobby known as NORML (National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws) had booths set up at the Quad from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. There, the group sold T-shirts, brownies and
sunglasses. NORML also hosted a concert at noon at the UMC Fountain
area where attendees were asked to donate laptops for Zimbabwean
college students.

The event was also a means for education about marijuana support
groups like SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation)
According to their Web site, SAFER has been involved with the CU and
CSU campuses to pass administrative measures for alcohol and marijuana
penalties on campus to be equal to one another.

"Students at 50 universities around the country, including many NORML
chapters, will be using the traditional marijuana holiday to flood
their campuses with flyers including information about marijuana and
the fact that it is SAFER than alcohol," SAFER's Web site reads.

Last year's celebration got media attention when some students were
photographed and punished on charges of trespassing on the closed
Farrand Field. According to CU Spokesman Bronson Hilliard, the
administration found photographing to be non-effective and decided not
to use that method this year.

According to the Daily Camera, only a handful of tickets were issued
to students who were caught smoking.

The Camera also noted that the CU Police Department felt that students
could have showed their support in a different way, such as a public
gathering to rally for marijuana legalization.

"Make your point, but don't break the law," he said

At 9 p.m. many students headed over to the Fox Theatre on the Hill to
hear Zilla, a band from Boulder that plays improvisational jam music.
Zilla also played at the same venue last year on 4/20.

NORML's next informational meeting will be held on May 1 at 7 p.m. in
Humanities 250.