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Marchers press for legal marijuana
JAKE NAUGHTON/Herald photo
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Nearly 300 people gathered on Library Mall this weekend for the 2007 Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival and parade to the Capitol. Harvest Fest has been put on by the Madison chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws for the past 37 years. "The purpose of the Harvest Festival is to celebrate the harvest of marijuana, to keep lobbying for the legalization of this medically beneficial substance and to keep the tradition of the festival alive," said Gary Stork, director of Madison's chapter of NORML. "This is like a family — you come to the festival year after year and see the same people and get to know them." The event kicked off Friday night with the fifth annual benefit for "Is My Medicine Legal YET?" — an organization promoting the legalization of medicinal marijuana — at the Cardinal Bar in downtown Madison. The event had blues-roots music by The Whiskey River Band and special guests speaking about the benefit of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The festivities continued Saturday with speakers and live music from six Wisconsin bands including Logarythm, Pistols at Dawn with Harissimo, Elf Lettuce, Tate and the 008 Band, Baghdad Scuba Review, and Nama Rupa. Harvest Fest came to a close Sunday with more than 300 people marching to the Capitol to listen to music and hear more speakers. NORML was founded in 1970 by Keith Stroup, with the goal of removing criminal penalties for the adult use of medical and recreational marijuana. Since then, the group has been lobbying for reform in marijuana laws across the country. "The organization feels that marijuana should be legal because it is unconstitutional to prohibit the use of a natural substance, and the government should not have the right to tell adults what they should or should not put in their bodies," Stork said. "Also, it provides a safer alternative to alcohol and does not encourage violence the way alcohol does." While there were many at the festival praising the use of cannabis, there remains strong opposition to the drug, including from some UW students. "If they were to legalize marijuana, I feel that it would open the door to the legalization of all other drugs, and that would not be good," UW freshman Amber Rassbach said. "There are enough problems with drugs now while they are illegal; if they were to legalize them they would be much more prevalent, and it could lead to more problems with drugs."
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IP hash: e7846a7f
Should marijuana be legal? I’m going to trust the government to tell me the right answer. They never make mistakes. Besides what would it matter if it was legal, Madison has a smoking ban at all the cool places…curses foiled again! - Germain E. Stemme
IP hash: faeee2de
Pot more medical benefits and can relieve more symptoms that almost any other plant. Why is pot illegal? Because the people who make decisions filled the publics eyes with lies like “Reefer Madness”. Alcohol kills more people every minute than pot has killed in lets see…ever? Plus, the government could control it if it was legalized and then make money off it. Everyone thinks that just because it is illegal it should stay that way. Well that could have happened with alcohol with prohibition. Look at Denmark?? Look at the autobahn in germany with no speedlimit and a mortality rate less than the US’ highway system. We need to be open to change America!!!
IP hash: 7da4f215
I consider myself a conservative. However I am a pro mariujauna person. Not just pro medicine. I mean pro marijuana and advocate its use for all mature all adults. A true conservative belives in less goverment. I belive it should be as legal as growing a tomato plant and harvesting its fruit. Also if it is being bought for medical uses it should not be taxed. I think Republicans and all conservatives alike realy should take the pro marijuana stand because there current position is not a true conservative stance. I also don’t take the lieberal stand who belive we should legalize so they can regulate and tax. plaese liberate the fruit!
IP hash: 89b0a246
Why is marijuana illegal? As an 18 year old high school student I have been acquainted with marijuana. Although as everything i choose to educate myself on the issue. I learned that it was legal until the 1940’s when it was banned due to use by mexicans. The hemp plant is the 8th wonder of the world with an incredible growing rate it would put much more oxygen in our atmosphere than even well…. the rain forest. Our countries neglegance towards this is down right stupid. Why is tobbacco legal what medicinal benefits does it hold? What medicinal benefits does alcohol have? The fear that the government would legalize more drugs is irrational as well. They haven’t legalized marijuana for so far 68 years; what do you think they will legalize next? Why is it common that most liberals push the legalization of pot… well no offense republicans but studys show that liberals on average have a higher I.Q.
IP hash: 89b0a246
Why is it that marijuana is illegal? The hemp plant is the most amazing plant in the world. The hemp plant has the most medicinal benifits of any plant,as well as the fastest growth rate of any plant. This plant should be considered the eigth wonder of the world, but getting back to the first question. The reason marijuana is illegal is due to the lack of knowledge and technology that was present when they banned it in 1940. The plant is good enough for chemo patients but doesn’t meet the qualifications that alcohol and tobbacco do. What benefits do we recieve from these two gateway drugs, and why is the only one with benefits illegal? It was banned because of the use by mexicans. Pretty good reason i suppose considering that the government could tax it and regulate it better than it is today. Not only would the plant help the enviroment by replenishing the air as well as producing the best quality paper known to man, as well as help our current budget deficit by producing another taxible income. I know research reports that it kills brain cells yet most people that push for the legalization are liberals, and research shows that Liberals, on average have a higher intillect quota. As an 18 year old student in high school i will continue to push hard for those who need the medicinal benefits that this plant provides.
IP hash: ccfaa7d0
is marijuana legal in denmark?
IP hash: 097b0e5c
alright now, all you little lame ass “adults” that have commented about this article that say marijuana should be illegal, your a moron. honest to god you are. “the people that dont smoke marijuana are the people that have never been high”. Any person that says it should be illegal, or compares it to any other drug saying that they’re similiar should just go die. because no drug even COMPARES to sweet mary jane.