Local Fight to Legalize Pot

Brandon Pohl

Ford Banister

By Lindy Thackston First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Brandon Pohl is about to graduate college with a computer science degree and his friend is about to take the bar exam.

They're both successful and educated, and you probably wouldn't guess their passion.

"I am the founder and president of the University of North Florida's chapter of NORML," said Pohl.

NORML is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana laws.

"People just expect someone with piercings, tattoos, who is lazy, who doesn't want to work and that's simply not true," said Pohl.

"That's not how marijuana smokers are at all. We're the most common people in society, but we're driven underground by government policies."

There have been several recent big busts in family-filled neighborhoods on the First Coast.

Eighty-three pounds of marijuana was just taken from a Nassau County home this week, and a teacher in St. Johns County was arrested too.

NORML would like to see the drug decriminalized.

"I would like to see it 21 years old and up for responsible adults to use it at their own leisure, and for medical use and industrial use because hemp is a very wonderful product," said Pohl.

"You cannot overdose on marijuana. It's clinically impossible. You don't see people raping, murdering, and stealing when they're doped up."

Ford Banister, who is leading the Jacksonville chapter of NORML, said, "I think that in this point in time this is becoming a more legitimate issue. A lot of politicians actually share our views but many of them are afraid to offend their conservative base."

Since 1973, 12 state legislatures have enacted versions of marijuana decriminalization.

The states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oregon.

Marijuana users no longer face jail time for the possession of small amounts of marijuana in these states.

Edited by:	Created: 3/19/2008 9:19:36 PM Updated: 3/20/2008 9:44:11 AM Suggest News Tips & Story Leads Submit Video & Pictures