Pubdate: Fri, 16 Apr 2004
Source: Good 5 Cent Cigar (RI Edu)
Copyright: 2004 Good 5 Cent Cigar
Contact:  http://www.ramcigar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2599
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)

KEEP PURPOSE OF HEMP FEST IN MIND

This Saturday, the University of Rhode Island's chapter of Students for 
Sensible Drug Policy will host the latest installment of their Hemp Fest 
event. Similar gatherings are becoming a tradition at many schools and 
regular occurrences in major cities.

In its ideal state, Hemp Fest and events like it should serve to increase 
awareness of the benefits of hemp and cannabis related products, including 
medical marijuana initiatives, the legalization of hemp and, at least, the 
decriminalization of marijuana drug charges. However, sometimes this 
message and the intentions behind holding the event become obscured by the 
atmosphere and actions of individuals unconcerned with the message.

Don't just head up to the quad on Saturday to get high in the sun, if 
that's your thing. Head up because you believe in your basic right to get 
high in the sun. In the same breath, don't feel that because you don't use 
marijuana or know anything about the history of hemp that you can't show 
up. If you feel strongly about drug laws one way or another, or about the 
enforcement of drug laws and the way your tax money is being spent, Hemp 
Fest may provide a forum.

Hemp Fest, besides being a concert with some great bands and a reason to 
spend Saturday outdoors, is also a source for a lot of different 
information. Members of the SSDP program devote a lot of their time to 
setting up events to raise awareness about our nation's drug policy and 
they have a wealth of information on the subject, including numbers 
regarding just how much of our drug policy budget goes toward enforcement 
and incarceration versus treatment and rehabilitation for addicts.

Too often, proponents of drug policy reform are pigeonholed as being 
concerned only with being able to get high legally, and that simply is not 
true. However, sometimes events like Hempfest can turn into fodder for 
those supporting and benefiting from the Drug War. Students who wish to be 
taken seriously must avoid those pitfalls.

Don't use Hempfest simply as an excuse to party. Use it as a reason to get 
involved at URI with something you believe in, to learn more about 
something that you're interested in or to speak out against something you 
disagree with. Whatever the reason, events like Hempfest should be taken 
seriously, given the degree of planning and the intentions behind them. 
Those who support the initiatives endorsed by SSDP should take it upon 
themselves to hike up the hill and get involved.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager