Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About Cougar print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1976-1977 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1976)
NORML: decriminalize marijaum Editor's note: This article is the first in a series on background information and the possibility of forming a chapter of NORML on the CCC campus. "In 1972, the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse (Shafer Commis sion) issued its report to the President and Congress, "Marijuana: A Signal of Misunder standing." By Jerry Wheeler Staff Writer After an exhaustive examination of the health and social impact of the marijuana laws, the thirteen-member bi-partisan com mission was unanimous in its central recom mendation: possession of a small quantity of marijuana for personal use should not be a crime." This is an excerpt from the pamphlet, "Marijuana -- The Facts," issued by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML),a chapter of which Charlie Bennett, ASG Vice President, is trying to organize on campus at Clackamas Community College. Despite rumors to the contrary, NORML is not advocating the use of marijuana or any other drug. The proposed constitution of the NORML club states: "While NORML fully supports a discouragement policy towards the recrea tional use of all drugs, including alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, NORML supports the removal of all criminal and civil penal ties for the private possession of marijuana for personal use." Supporting the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession and use of marijuana include such notables as the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse, the American Bar Association, the National Council of Churches, William F. Buckley, Art Linkletter, Ann Landers, and Dr. Robert L. DuPont, National Institute on Drug Abuse. So far eight states have effectively de criminalized marijuana - Oregon, Alaska, Maine, Colorado, California, Ohio, South Dakota and Minnesota. The maximum a- mount possessed varies from one ounce in Oregon, Colorado, California and South Da kota, to any amount in private for personal use or one ounce in public in Alaska. The maximum fine imposed is $100 in all states listed except Maine, where the maximum fine is $200, and South Dakota, where the maximum fine is $20. NORML played the leading role in de criminalizing marijuana in Oregon (the first state to successfully decriminalize marijuana), Alaska, Maine, Colorado, California and Ohio. An excerpt from a pamphlet published by the American Civil Liberties Union states: "During 1972 the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse submitted its long-awaited official report on marijuana to the President and the Congress. Among its findings were: that the use of marijuana does not lead to the use or abuse of other drugs; that marijuana is not addic tive; that its moderate use does not pro duce psychological or physical harm. The commission recommended abolition of penalties for the possession in private of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, and for the distribution in private of small amounts for no or insignificant renumer ation. Public possession, nonrenumerative distribution, and use would be punishable by fines, not jail." NORML has also assisted hundreds of individuals arrested on marijuana-related charges in finding legal counsel. The ACLU pamphlet lists several exam ples of sentences passed for offenses, such as the case of a Louisiana man sentenced to 50 years in prison for selling a matchbox of marijuana to an undercover agent; a youth in Minnesota given an indeterminate 20- year maximum sentence for possession of 1/2800 of an ounce of marijuana, the police vacuuming the lining of his jacket to get it; a California case several years ago where a woman was sentenced to sterilization for being present where someone else was smok ing marijuana; however, a higher court re versed the decision; and a young Ohio couple who received 20 to 40 years for selling $5 worth of marijuana to a neighbor. One of the judges who sentenced them said, "They're providing a lesson for others," and the sheriff who arrested them thought the sen tence wasn't stiff enough. In a pamphlet entitled "Marijuana: Q & A", the drug abuse council states: "Until 1942 marijuana had officially recognized medical uses in this country. It was pre scribed as an oral medication for such varied complaints as rheumatism, cough, pain, men strual cramps, and migraine headaches and as an inhalant for asthma. Because of its classification under federal law, marijuana can no longer be used in carefully super vised research." This is unfortunate, for at a recent sem inar sponsored by Research to Prevent Blind ness, Dr. Keith Green, of the Medical Col lege of Georgia, told a national eye research conference in Reston, Va., that tet cannabinol (THC) from marijuana si greatest potential for treating glau leading cause of blindness in the States. NORML, is currently engaged ii to reschedule the classification of m under the Controlled Substant NORML v. the Drug Enforcement stration (DEA), No. 75-2025, U.S. ( Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Petit Review filed Oct. 22, 1975. Free workshops Early American foods and Thanl decorations will be the subjects of ti workshops to be offered at Clackama munity College, Wednesday, Nov. 10.1 First Thanksgiving Foods will be by Lillian Pierce from 10 a.m. to n| the Community Center, room 117, al show how to prepare foods such as pudding and quick breads in the old Thanksgiving Crafts will be tauJ Dianna Shaffer from 12:30 to 3:31 in the Community Center, room 101. Information about the workshopsi| able from the college's home ecol department, 656-2631, ext. 350. OK TIRES * OK new tires * Winter tires * Commercial tires Radial & bias belted tires > ( *Convenient tel ZERNS 1400 S.E. McLoughlin Blvd. Gladstone , ______________ X........ r Come early for the best selection! Limited time -- < limited quantity green stanf On sale NOW! HILLTOP ROCKS'N GIFTS Lapidary Equipment and Supplies Metal Smithing tools Hand-crafted jewelry 125 Molalla Ave. Oregon City, Oregon 97045 655-3225 Page 12 ^¿LAÇKAMASjÇOMMIJNjTYœLLEGE ANDll Thursday, October 28,1!