GROUPS DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

While downtown Columbia was in commotion Saturday over a rally by an
extremist political group, MU played host to a more peaceful gathering
for two groups representing a different side of the political spectrum.

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and
Students for Sensible Drug Policy, both of which are national drug law
reform groups, held their annual conference for Missouri last weekend
at the Arts and Science Building.

NORML is a non-profit lobby group that advocates for the legalization
of marijuana for medicinal and recreational use.

SSDP is a network of student activist groups that advocates for
changes in drug policy from more than 90 colleges in the United States
and Canada.

The conference featured lectures on Friday and Saturday by
representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union, SSDP and NORML.

The lectures covered topics including drug policy reform, alternative
uses of marijuana in industry and medicine, the state of drug laws in
the country and information students can use to become more
politically active.

The conference also featured Keith Stroup, NORML founder and former
executive director, who now serves as the organization's legal council.

"We're trying to make sure our own advocates are as informed as
possible," Stroup said.

Stroup said the conference was held not only for educational purposes,
but also as a chance for drug reform advocacy groups to refresh
relationships.

"Some people think when you get together with people that agree with
you, you're wasting your time, but it isn't," Stroup said. "I think if
I didn't periodically get together with like-minded people, I would
wear out. I would get beat down so often I would say aEfuck this
thing, I'm going to do something else.'"

NORML President Sean Randall said the purpose of the conference was to
discuss serious political issues, not to encourage attendees to use
drugs.

"We don't endorse drug use," Randall said. "We endorse drug policy
reform."

Freshman Kellie Smith, who attended lectures by Stroup and SSDP
Executive Director Kris Krane, said she attended the events to meet
Stroup and get more involved with NORML.

"It really pumped me up," Smith said. "It made me want to get more
involved and change this drug policy."

In his lecture, Krane discussed the importance of student involvement
in drug policy reform.

"I guarantee there's never been social movement in the history of the
United States that's been very successful without a strong student
component," Krane said. "Students are not the future of drug policy
reform, students are the present of drug reform."

Randall said Krane's student-oriented lecture was "absolutely
incredible."

"He makes the good point that we really are the future, and if
anything is going to change, it's going to be done by the students,"
Randall said.