USA - NORML: A Report

[sterling77]

Just thought everyone (including those that aren't in the USA) would like a heads up on the activities of NORML at swim's university. I won't say where it is for his sake, but it's a major university. For those that don't know, NORML stands for "the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law." The official website is NORML.com.

A quote from the site: "Since its founding in 1970, NORML has provided a voice in the public policy debate for those Americans
who oppose marijuana prohibition and favor an end to the practice of arresting marijuana smokers. A
nonprofit public-interest advocacy group, NORML represents the interests of the tens of millions of Americans
who smoke marijuana responsibly.

During the 1970s, NORML led the successful efforts to decriminalize minor marijuana offenses in 11 states and
significantly lower marijuana penalties in all others.

Today NORML continues to lead the fight to reform state and federal marijuana laws, whether by voter initiative or through the
elected legislatures."

The chapter at swim's university is very active and meets once a week every wednesday (and has been for seven years). The meetings are held in a room in the student union building among the other organization rooms, such as the Student Government Association next door. Around 50-100 people typically show up (many more are part it of though, well over 500) and sit facing a table of the officers. Behind the table are some dry-erase boards, and hanging in front is a large, color banner that reads "Swim's University NORML."

The meetings consist partly of the officers speaking, usually about recent legislature or planning upcoming events. Examples are an annual camping trip (lol got kicked out of the campgrounds last year), the annual hempfest, and a possible trip to Amsterdam this year. There is even a NORML float at the homecoming parade (a sight you should really see). Most of it, however, is something special planned out. The first meeting of this year went over the itinerary for what was planned and expected for this year, new t-shirt designs, et cetera. The second had a NORML lawyer giving a speech on what the laws and penalties for marijuana are and the rights you have in certain situations. Things such as "what to do if you are pulled over in your car" and "what will happen if I get caught with this amount of marijuana?."

The third meeting, the officers showed a slideshow they had made on the history the criminalization of marijuana. This showed everything about why and how it became illegal and the major players that were involved. The next meeting will focus on the medical marijuana issue; hopefully all this gives you an idea of what this NORML chapter is like. Other activites include signing petitions, writing mass amounts of letters to politicians, and learning about the most like-minded people to vote into office.

Every wednesday, clubs, groups and various merchants set up tables in the student union area, which is in the center of the campus. NORML has a table every week right in the middle, which is packed with hundreds of people walking to classes and doing their business. Hundreds of flyers and pamphlets are handed out to passerssby, and the ones manning the table at the time shout out various things to bring attention such as "learn the facts not myth", "you can make a difference", or, in the spirit of the merchants hawking their wares, just "marijuana!." The table has the previously mentioned banner hanging and is littered with various items such as NORML pens and shirt pins, legalization books, eyedrops, sign up sheets, et cetera.

Many people who come also go to Student's for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) meetings. This organization is working to end a law in swim's state called the "Higher Education Act", where a student loses all financial aid if he or she gets a drug conviction. So, you could get caught with 0.1 gram of marijuana (just a misdemeanor) and lose all financial aid, along with your future career if you can't afford school on your own. NORML petitioned to have this abolished last year but wasn't successful.

High Times magazine listed swim's NORML chapter in its top ten activist colleges for marijuana. In the beginning of this article they state that "we need a new generation of dedicated, educated activists ready and eager for a “head-on” collision with our nation’s misguided marijuana policy and with the corrupt system that supports it." NORML is an active and effective organization that is spread all across the USA, and is concentrated in the areas where today's generation is forming. This cause speaks to other countries as well, as the USA has a strong foothold in international drug policy.

Thanks for reading and please add your thoughts to this thread! I'll add pictures later.

[sterling77]

No comments, questions or thoughts?

[DukeofRockinghm1]

That's awesome, keep fighting the good fight.

Why can't you list the university if it was mentioned in high times mag?

[sterling77]

I don't know, maybe it's not that big of a deal but swim just didn't feel comfortable naming the school he goes to on this site. Not for the school's sake if that's what you meant. Many people don't like to give the city they're in, and that info is even more specific.

[DukeofRockinghm1]

Right on man, I did mean for the school's sake but it's totally cool to not name your city, state, country etc.

I'm a subscriber to the norml newsletter & read it every few issues. Sometimes it seems they're not making as good of progress as I'd like out of them. It's hard to contribute money to something that's been around so long & still hasn't accomplished its goal. Love to hear it's in the universities though & there is a grassroots effort for it, that makes me feel more confident in norml & the cause.

Who are you goin for in 08? What does your norml group say?

Personally I'm a Ron Paul fan, He's for limited govt & supports medical marijuana & Hemp industry. That's so badass that he's probably not going to get the nomination for it, but I'm still writing him in on election day. Fuck voting for guliani or hillary or anybody in the norm.

I don't really care if he's republican, he supports medical marijuana and that's more than any party has done, ever. Big issue for me

[sterling77]

Oops, I forgot about this thread for a minute. To answer your question Ron Paul is definetly the suggested candidate to vote for.

Lol I remember the night swim wrote this thread..he had a big organic chemistry test the following day and decided to take the "fuck it" route and get really stoned and surf the drug forums. Then impusively write about his norml group for at least two hours (took so long because he was stoned).

Roll call: who else here goes to a university and attends their school's norml group? How big/ active is the group?