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Students stay on the grass
By Nyssa Dahlberg
SCSU NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) tried to make their cause to reform marijuana laws heard loud and clear during their third annual "Stay on the Grass Week," celebration.
"The U.S was kicked off the U.N drug council because of our ridiculous ways of handling drugs in our country," read a poster displayed near Atwood mall.
"Stay on the Grass Week is where we really try to have a presence on campus; 4:20 week is a week for marijuana smokers and we want to inform people about how marijuana laws need to be reformed," said Amie Stockholm president of SCSU NORML.
Stockholm said NORML exists because many people believe marijuana should be legal for industrial, recreational and medicinal purposes.
Legal daze panel
Monday, legal expert Thomas Gallagher spoke in Atwood Theatre about what police officers can and can't do in accordance with constitutional rights.
"You should never let a cop know you're under the influence, make them prove it," Gallagher said. "A cop can testify they smelled alcohol on your breath but if you don't come right out and say you're drunk it makes it much harder to be convicted."
Gallagher said a cop can't make you blow into a breathalyzer if you are not driving a motor vehicle. Gallagher added most underage drinkers do not practice their legal rights when faced with police.
Day of music
A bald man with a ponytail dressed in bright orange stood in front of Atwood, pounded on a drum and chanted.
"I'm originally from the spirit world," said Arya Siddhanta Dasa. "This is a special ancient sound vibration to liberate us and it enables us to connect ourselves with God."
Dasa was not originally part of NORML's day of music.
"We had this huge free space so we got him up in front. It kind of brought diversity to the campus," Stockholm said.
Stockholm said all the bands playing in Atwood mall, Tuesday, volunteered so it was a matter of finding people who know people who were in a band.
"Music is a part of the marijuana culture so I think it's important to have a day of music," Stockholm said.
Marijuana speakers
At 11 a.m. Wednesday in Atwood Theatre Holly Lenarz, an anthropology student at SCSU, spoke about the nutritional values of hemp.
"Hemp seed is one of the best nutrients for you, and it has a lot of amino acids in it," Stockholm said.
After Lenarz spoke, Jason Samuels spoke 1 p.m. in Atwood about marijuana reform and the stereotypes of pot smokers.
Samuels said the Bush administration has spent over $100 billion each year to stop drug abuse with all this money and effort Bush has yet to make a difference.
"This movement is about stopping the government from treating people like criminals for a private decision that only affects the user," Samuels said.
Samuels said that in order to lessen these laws, young people need to start voting to voice what they believe in. People also need to stop placing stereotypes on pot smokers.
"The problem with drug reform is that people think we are all a bunch of stoners who don't know what we are talking about," Samuels said. "Once we show people we are educated and successful people, we have taken a step in the right direction."
Samuels said we can't be racist or sexist anymore but it's okay to discriminate against someone if they smoke a joint. Being a pot smoker is like being a second class citizen according to Samuels.
"This movement is not about getting high. It's about stopping these unjust laws as they ruin the lives of many," Samuels said.
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