MARIJUANA ACTIVIST GROUPS HOLD CONFERENCE AT MU

Students, Activists And Professionals Discuss How To Change Drug Laws.

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and
Students for Sensible Drug Policy held their 2007 state conference at
the MU Arts and Science building Friday and Saturday.

About 35 people attended to hear professionals and activists discuss
how to change drug policies at the university, city and statewide
level. The conference schedule included educational sessions on
industrial and medical marijuana use, lobbying and strengthening
student activism and social events like dinner at the Grand Cru restaurant.

Chris Peterson, treasurer of the Truman State University SSDP, said
the conference serves a dual purpose.

"It allows us to take in the views of experts in Missouri and
national organizations, and it's a chance for Missouri chapters for
drug policy reform to network," Peterson said.

Members of NORML share a common awareness that current drug policies
need to be changed, but they have different takes on how to approach
the issue, said Sean Randall, president of the NORML chapter at MU.
Through the conference and NORML, Randall said students can plan ways
to deal with drug policy issues.

For this year's conference, Randall said an important focus is to
raise awareness of a Missouri bill in the House of Representatives
that calls for the medicinal use of marijuana to be legal on a
statewide basis with doctor's approval. In Columbia, since two
propositions on the November 2004 ballot passed, possessing 35 grams
or less of marijuana is legal if a person receives approval from a
doctor. The other proposition passed on the ballot decriminalizes the
possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana, allowing a maximum fine
of up to $200, but no jail time. The charges are handled through the
municipal court, rather than the state and federal courts.

Dan Viets, criminal defense attorney and a National NORML board
member, said: "Ninetynine percent of prosecutions are in the state
courts, so it's really important to focus on changing state laws."

Eleven other states have already passed a bill allowing a limited
amount of marijuana to be legal with approval from a doctor. Viets
said a statewide bill would be more significant because it would
allow a person to "grow and distribute through licensed and regulated
dispensaries."

Douglas McVay, editor of Drug War Facts, spoke for the session titled
"Drug War Facts: How to Argue Legalization and Piss Off
Prohibitionists." He said one reason he attended the conference was
to prompt students to speak out and equip them with education. McVay
said he views students as having the potential to influence the
decision making for drug policies.

"Before we have a social revolution, we need a cultural evolution,"
he said. "Adults rationalize stupid ideas; young people still
question them and ask why.