Oregon NORML members localizii
By Harry Bielskis
News Editor
Clackamas Community College's National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws (NORML) has recently developed a sis
ter club which will operate on an intra
state level.
Oregonians for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws (ORML) was formed by Charlie Ben
nett, Associated Student Government presi
dent and former president of CCC's NORML
club, in the hope of "bringing marijuana
reform closer to home."
Bennett, the only lobbyist in Oregon
working with NORML, talked to many leg
islators about state-wide marijuana reform
but their concern with NORML seemed to
be only on a national level.
Returning from a recent NORML con
ference in Washington, D.C., Bennett said,
"I experienced a lack of interest by other
NORML officers in Oregon marijuana re
form. NORML wanted us to help with re
form in other states before we could be
helped."
Bennett said that NORML did make a
huge breakthrough last month when Missis
sippi became the first state in the south to
adopt decriminalization of marijuana. Linder
the new law, possession of less than one
ounce of "pot" in Mississippi is now a
civil fine instead of a felony.
"This is an important change," said
Bennett. "National laws won't change until
state laws do."
Bennett started ORML in conjunction
with Dennis Ryan, a student at Southern
Oregon State College in Ashland. Although
there are five community colleges in Ore
gon working with marijuana reform, Ashland
is the only four-year college taking a part
in that action. ORML is believed to be the
only organization in the country working
with marijuana reform on a state level.
"One of our biggest problems right now,"
said Bennett, "is faulty drug education in
the public school system." He cited effec
tive drug education in schools from grade
five through college as a means of combat
ting drug abuse.
"There are too many old police chiefs
running around misinforming the public
about all drugs, not marijuana alone," he
said.
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Bikecentennial, the people who created
the 4,500-mile TransAmerica Bicycle Trail,
will host an audio-visual presentation fea
turing "Freewheeling across America" and
an explanation of the recently developed
Oregon Loop Trail.
The free presentation will be held Wed
nesday, May 4, at 8:30 p.m. at 53 Kramer
Hall, Portland State University.
C olony A rmory
113 MAIN STREET*?
AURORA, OREGON 97002
678-5745
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Another priority of ORML is to improve
the standardization of marijuana fines from
judge to judge in Oregon. This limitation,
according to Bennett, would prevent the
law from being stretched or abused in order
to obtain a conviction.
A third goal of ORML is to obtain the
involvement of more adult Oregonians. Most
involvement in state marijuana reform has
centered around high school and college
students.
Bennett sees the addition of a club-with-
in-a-club as a needed boost to state-wide
marijuana reform.
"We talked to some of the other NORML
chapters in Oregon and they, too, were very
enthusiastic about centering on Oregon's
marijuana laws."
If a senate bill introduced to the Oregon
State Legislature in March is approved,
ORML will be well on the road to meeting
its objectives.
Senate Bill 903 (Controlled Substance
Act) was sponsored by State Sen. Stephen
Kafoury (D-Portland), six other state sen
ators and seven members from th
House of Representatives.
If approved, the bill would(
arrests stemming from seed possess
cultivation. Possession of up to six j
plants would be reduced from afj
a $100 fine.
The bill would also provide aeon
discharge to those illegally po®
controlled substance, providingthei
is the offender's first drug offense,
Under Section 35 of the prop®
"The Mental Health Division of tlx
ment of Human Resources.. .shallq
educational programs designed toi
and deter misuse and abuse of con
substances." The division will alsoa
the education and training of states
law enforcement officials to aid i
their efforts to control drug abuse.
In other related developments,
NORML Club has appointed RonK.
its new president and Patty Paynei
president.
NORML will hold a dance ont
Friday, May 6, to aid its lobbyinji
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