cannabisnews.com: Students Organize Protest To End Drug War





Students Organize Protest To End Drug War
Posted by CN Staff on May 05, 2003 at 23:27:16 PT
By Sarah Snyder
Source: The Lantern 
People driving past the High Street and 15th Avenue intersection on Saturday afternoon might have noticed a group of protesters holding signs with messages like "Legalize Freedom" and "End the Drug War Now." Or they might have heard chants like "one, two, three, four, let's end the drug war." This protest was held by the OSU's chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy for their annual legalization of cannabis march.
"This is a worldwide event," said Russell Selkirk, a senior in political science and member of SSDP. "On May 3, 4 and 5, over 200 different cities internationally march for the legalization of marijuana" Selkirk said. "Some universities also hold educational workshops and video series. We get some help from Cures, Not Wars, an organization that protests against the drug war. They made the posters and advertising fliers we posted around campus. We also have money that comes from our group's fund-raisers."Sean Luse, a senior in political science and a student leader of SSDP, said the main problem is the drug war, not just the prohibition of marijuana. "We have been holding this march for three years," Luse said. "We're working to end the drug war. We believe it is counter-productive and harmful, and drugs need to be controlled but not prohibited. Prohibition creates a black market, where there is no regulation on the age of people buying soft drugs like marijuana or on drugs' purity."Bob Fitrakis, who is running for Columbus city council, took time out to come and speak at the rally. "We all know how absurd it is that if you're caught with a small amount of marijuana, students cannot get federal financial aid. I will work to make these misdemeanors a simple civil infraction in Columbus. It will be the same as a parking ticket," Fitrakis said. Some people are skeptical of how much protests like these will really help. "I don't think what they're doing is going to help anything. The government is not going to do anything just because of this," said Amber Gordon, a junior in microbiology.Although last year nearly 800 people came to the event, this year's attendance amounted to only 100 protesters. The Columbus police followed the march from the corner of 15th Avenue and High Street downtown to Buttles Avenue, where the participants reached Goodale Park and dispersed. Source: The Lantern (OH)Author: Sarah SnyderPublished: Monday, May 5, 2003 Copyright: 2003 ngda - The Lantern Contact: lantern osu.eduWebsite: http://www.thelantern.com/SSDPhttp://www.ssdp.org/Cures Not Warshttp://www.cures-not-wars.org/Million Marijuana Marchhttp://www.millionmarijuanamarch.comMillion Marijuana March News 2003http://freedomtoexhale.com/million.htm CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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