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St. Cloud State University
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NORML holds on-campus events
By Nissa Billmyer
Published:
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Media Credit: Adam Masloski
Jason Samuels from NORML Minnesota and University of Minnesota Twin Cities NORML speaks in the Atwood Brickyard Tuesday as part of �Stay on the Grass II.�
Typically, green is associated with spring, but for the National Organization for Reformation of Marijuana Laws (NORML), green is celebrated year-round. This week it has organized a series of events, calling the week "Stay on the Grass II."
In kiosks and the Atwood Mall, members of SCSU NORML members aim to educate and facilitate discussion for students and faculty alike about the negative light drawn by the prohibition of marijuana. All week they have been hosting events, movies and speakers, including a benefit concert next week.
"We want to promote awareness," said Holly Santiago, spokesperson for NORML. "It's good to have a visual presence."
NORML kicked off the week with "Grass," a humorous documentary account of marijuana's history and prohibition in the United States. The film was directed by Ron Mann and Woody Harrelson.
Tuesday, speaker Jason Samuels spoke about the history of marijuana's prohibition during his speech "Drug Abuse is Bad, the War on Drugs is Worse." Samuels is a NORML member from Minnesota and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities chapter. Samuels drew a crowd of interested students with various questions surrounding marijuana and marijuana laws.
"It's good to see the interest on campus," Santiago said. "We want to make our membership grow."
Wednesday proved a busy day with a pair of movies illustrating two drastically different views on the use of marijuana. The first film, "Reefer Madness," is a dated propaganda film made by the government in 1938. This film shows stereotypes of marijuana use and its users.
"I like the fact that they're (NORML is) opening our eyes about the facts about what's going on in the hemp and marijuana culture," junior Dorian Myers said.
The second movie of the day was "Hemp Fest," chronicling the annual festival held in Seattle, Wash. The festival is a large component of NORML.
The movie highlighted the behind-the-scenes efforts to make Hemp Fest a safe, smooth running and efficient event, while providing additional information on drug policy. It showed the people who put their time into something they love and believe in.
"I think a lot of our generation is a lot more open-minded," Myers said. "We are willing to look at the facts. It's going to be up to us (to change the laws)."
Hemp Fest originally started in 1991 with about 500 people and has grown to attract nearly 200,000. Hemp Fest is about promoting the freedoms associated with marijuana.
Besides videos and speakers, NORML has been sitting in Atwood over the week handing out information, flyers, selling hemp goods, clothes, stickers, buttons and promoting awareness of marijuana legislation.
The week will culminate in a large celebration on April 24. "Hemp 'n Harmony III: Growing in St. Cloud," a benefit concert for SCSU NORML will be held at the Tavern on Germain. The concert will feature performances by Friends of Yoder, Hydrophonics and the Stearns County Pachanga Society. It begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open for ages 18 and older. Cover will be $2.
"Before you pass judgment, take time to know me," Myers said. "Find out about it first, before you pass judgment."
"'Stay on the Grass' is a clever saying, it's a form of speaking out," Santiago said. "It's taboo to talk to people (about marijuana) and we want to allow people to feel free. It's something the drug war has done, it's pushed marijuana to the underground."
Students are encouraged to attend NORML meetings if they would like to become part of the effort to reform the marijuana laws. Meetings are held every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Croix room.
"We support marijuana legalization," Santiago said. "It's good to see that a lot of people know what NORML does, they come to these events. It's good to talk about it."
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