By Britanny A. Rajchel Source: Gainesville Sun Florida -- Efforts to legalize marijuana and fight anti-cannabis federal government initiatives are making slow progress, thanks to traditional lobbying tactics and a concentrated effort in several states, said the executive director of the largest marijuana reform policy organization Tuesday evening. "We're working to end marijuana prohibition so adults can use it responsibly and not fear going to jail," said Rob Kampia, the executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, a nongovernmental organization that lobbies in Washington, D.C., during a speech in the Reitz Union Auditorium at the University of Florida. Many of the successes in legalizing the drug have come by changing laws against medical marijuana or plants grown and smoked by people with painful illnesses under the supervision of a doctor, Kampia said. Ten states have legalized the drug for patients who suffer from illnesses like cancer or multiple sclerosis, he said. However, changing marijuana laws also focuses on changing what Kampia called the "regulation of general marijuana use" or the smoking of the drug for recreational purposes. "We use the word regulation and not legalization because otherwise it makes people think we want to sell marijuana next to the candy in the grocery store," he said. Kampia recounted tales of people arrested for using marijuana recreational, including his own. He spent three months in jail for growing marijuana while he was a student at Pennsylvania State University, he said. Another anecdote Kampia brought up was a Gainesville incident where a 19-year-old student was raped by his cellmate - a violent offender - while serving four weeks in jail for possession of marijuana. "Marijuana really does result in people getting arrested. It really does result in people dying, and it really does result in people getting raped," but only because the federal government unnecessarily prosecutes marijuana users, he said. Some states, however, are working to legalize and tax responsible use of marijuana, he said. "Alaskans have a constitutional right to possess and use up to 4 ounces of marijuana in their home if they are over 21," he said, causing the audience of more than 100 to cheer and two students to shake a black-and-white poster emblazoned with Kampia's face. He also told students how to initiate change in Florida. He urged students to lobby their state representatives and senators before January - the deadline for when legislatures must submit bills for debate. By working for pro-marijuana initiatives in each state, eventually the federal government will be forced to legalize the drug, Kampia said. Junior Erica Carlsson said she thought Kampia gave students good resources to fight for pro-marijuana initiatives in Florida. "Marijuana and Florida is just a scary combination," he said. Matt Jones, the co-founder of UF's chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, one of the sponsors of the speech, said he felt Kampia stood as a professional example for students who want to legalize marijuana. "Marijuana reform is possible," Jones said. "It is not a pipe dream. I think he showed that by succeeding in Washington, by wearing the suit and tie and by his lobbying efforts." Marijuana reform, however, still remains an uphill battle, Kampia said, as the government spends $120 million to produce anti-cannabis advertising. The television commercials depicting teenagers "shooting each other and running over little girls on pink bicycles while high on pot" are paid for by the U.S. government, he said. "The government likes prohibition," he said. "It's law enforcement job protection. It keeps them in business. It keeps the courts clogged." Source: Gainesville Sun, The (FL) Author: Britanny A. Rajchel Published: October 19, 2005 Copyright: 2005 The Gainesville Sun Contact: voice@gvillesun.com Website: http://www.sunone.com/ Link to article: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread21206.shtml