Search

Recent Articles

Recent Comments


« | Main | »

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and Students for Sensible Drug Policy

By Hempology | February 18, 2008

New Paltz Oracle, NY Edu
14 Feb 2008
Jimmy Petrich

NORML/SSDP is under new management this semester and has many new and annual events planned for this spring.

NORML/SSDP is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and Students for Sensible Drug Policy and it is described on wikipaltz.com as “the comprehensive drug policy reform organization at SUNY New Paltz.” It is also the organization that puts together Rock Against Racism.

NORML/SSDP is now run by co-presidents Stephen Morseman, George Selby and Adam Yellin.  They have put together a comprehensive list of things they wish to accomplish this semester at their last meeting.  They intend to make NORML/SSDP the active force, using the slogan on their Facebook group, “Fight the stoner stereotype and get active!”

The biggest event planned is Rock Against Racism.  The event is planned for April 27, 2008.  The Rock Against Racism Planning Posse, as they call themselves, is working on getting acts such as San Francisco DJ Bassnectar, and hip-hop artist M1.

“There will also be guest speakers speaking on issues involving the drug war and racial issues,” said Morseman a junior political science and international relations major.

Additionally, they are planning a Know Your Rights campaign in which they will be screening “Busted,” a movie that teaches people how to deal with cops in drug related situations.  There will also be a presentation and a Question and Answer session with university police, town police and lawyers.  The event is planned for some time around April 1.

NORML plans to conduct an effective survey of student opinion of the current drug policies on campus.  “This is to give the administration hard empirical information and students’ opinions on the drug policy on campus,” said Morseman.

They hope to show movies, documentaries, and even concerts in the lecture center on a weekly basis.

There is also a large fundraising campaign going on already to fix the pot leaf light displayed in the window of the NORML office room in the SUB and to help fund Rock Against Racism.  Sarah Flamenbaum a junior, was outside the Humanities building last week selling pot leaf shaped cookies to raise money to fix the pot leaf yelling out, “How many of you came to New Paltz because you saw the pot leaf in the SUB window?”

On May 3, NORML will be part of the Marijuana March, which is a march by students all over the world calling out to legalize marijuana.  “Over 200 cities all over the world will be involved,” said Morseman.

NORML will also host many “legal smoke outs” where they will have hookahs and rolled cigarettes.

If you are interested in the group and wish to get involved, you can check out their Facebook group or their page on Wikipaltz.com, www.wikipaltz.com/NORML.  There is no regular meeting place or time, but most meetings are on Wednesdays.

Topics: Articles | Comments Off

Comments are closed.