NORML aims for marijuana legalization on 2012 ballot

The organization will be distributing weekly fliers around campus.

By Lauren Bale

Published Sept. 10, 2010

MU's chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws held its first meeting Wednesday to introduce new and old members and inform participants of the group’s plans for the year.

NORML President Lyndsey Garza said the organization has many goals to accomplish and wants to start by educating MU students on NORML’s beliefs. Garza is also a columnist for MOVE Magazine.

“For me personally, I really want to educate the MU community,” Garza said. “I feel we have some stereotypes that just aren’t true.”

In order to clarify common misconceptions about cannabis and increase awareness of NORML’s activities, Vice President Spencer Pearson said the organization plans to provide fliers to MU students. Pearson also serves as a Maneater staff member.

“We’re going to have weekly fliers displayed on bulletin boards around campus with facts about marijuana to educate students and increase awareness of our cause,” Pearson said.

In addition to educating the community, NORML also hopes to legalize medicinal marijuana by 2012.

“As medicine, marijuana can reduce nausea in cancer patients, stimulate appetite in AIDS patients and ease patients with neurological disorders,” Garza said. “There are so many people who are suffering and marijuana could replace some of their medications.”

Pearson also said marijuana for medicinal purposes needs to be made legal in the state of Missouri as soon as possible.

“There is no reason people shouldn’t have access if it makes them more healthy," Pearson said. "It should be a basic human right."

NORML feels the drug should be legalized for recreational purposes as well.

“The government should have no say in what people put in their own bodies,” Pearson said.

Another goal for the organization is to change campus laws in order to equalize the punishments for charges of alcohol and marijuana possession.

“If you get caught with marijuana there are such severe consequences,” Garza said. “But if you get caught with alcohol, it’s a slap on the wrist.”

NORML said the current MU laws are unfair, after taking into account that there are 100,000 alcohol related deaths per year and 0 deaths related to marijuana.

“Marijuana is categorically more safe then alcohol,” Pearson said. “Little to no harm can come from marijuana use alone, however, alcohol can be extremely dangerous.”

Garza and Pearson will both be flying to Portland, Ore., Thursday to participate in a NORML conference focused on legalizing medicinal marijuana across the country.

Pearson said he became a member of NORML because he felt strongly about issues surrounding legalization.

“It’s a fun group of people who are passionate about a good cause,” Pearson said.

Freshman Emily McNutt attended NORML’s first meeting in order to meet new people and learn more about the organization.

“I definitely want to become part of NORML,” McNutt said. “I think they’re a really cool group of people with similar beliefs as me.”

McNutt is excited to become a part of the organization, and see what the group accomplishes over the next few years.

“I hope the group grows and can make an impact on laws in the future,” McNutt said.

Garza said she began volunteering for NORML as a freshman because she felt the organization could have an impact on the country.

“This is the time to be in NORML because it is such a big organization,” Garza said. “I feel like I really get to be a part of the movement and (that) its something that’s going to change the nation.”