Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: News

Bradley Gobert, a Charleston resident, holds up a flag with a marijuana motif while standing in front of Old Main during a march in favor of legalizing marijuana Monday afternoon. The march brought a crowd of about 20 people, who marched from the South Quad to Old Main. (Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

Mike Boline, a junior geography major, gestures at cars to honk their horns as he protests for the legalization of marijuana Monday afternoon on Lincoln Avenue outside of Old Main. (Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

A group of about 20 Eastern students marched across campus in support of the legalization of marijuana Monday.

"The March for Cannabis" began at 4:20 p.m. in the South Quad.

Students marched around campus stopping at Lincoln Avenue in front of Old Main to inform passing vehicles about their cause.

The protestors had "legalize" and "honk to legalize pot" signs, as well as signs claiming that a majority of drug arrests were for marijuana and that legalizing the drug could help the economy.

As the students marched, they encouraged others to join, telling them "regulate, don't discriminate" and "feed the need, smoke some weed."

March organizer Matt Brax, a sophomore advertising and marketing major, said he hoped for a turnout of 200.

"Twenty is fine too, as long as we get the point across," he said.

Many vehicles that passed the group of protestors offered support by honking their horns.

"If we could get each honk as a signature, before we knew it, it'd be legalized," Brax said.

He said he thought that many people do not support legalization because they are scared of the government or worried about their jobs.

"If it wasn't frowned upon, I definitely think more people would be out here marching," Brax said.

The protestors were looking for the legalization of marijuana, not other drugs, such as cocaine or heroin.

"I don't have a problem with them being illegal," said Michael Boline, a junior geography major. "They are more dangerous than alcohol and marijuana."

Brax agreed with keeping cocaine and heroin illegal.

"I don't think any of that should be legalized," he said. "I think marijuana should be legalized because it's not a dangerous drug. It's plain and simple."

Brax said people should not smoke marijuana and drive.

"Everyone has the choice to get behind the wheel at the wrong time, whether it's not having enough sleep, drinking and driving, smoking or whatever," he said.

Mary Sheffler, a junior foreign language major, observed the event while her friend took video of the protest for class.

She said it was encouraging to see the group.

"They are thinking about the facts," she said.

Sheffler said marijuana should be regulated because many people are arrested because of the drug.


Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7942 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.

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