Speakers to discuss uses,
effects of marijuana
 By
Dave Stephens
Assistant Campus Editor
Andrew Bieberich knows a man who suffers so much
from arthritis that he can't get out of bed.
Unless, that is, he smokes marijuana.
That's one reason why Bieberich, a graduate student,
is the president of the Purdue branch of the National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
"There are a lot of people, not just in this country,
who need to use (marijuana)," said Bieberich. "It is the one thing that
seems to truly help them."
Because of the desire to help those with certain
medical conditions, the Purdue chapter along with the state chapter
of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana laws is holding
a convention this weekend at Purdue.
"It's not just a convention for the legalization
of marijuana," said Bieberich. "It's a conference about the uses of
marijuana for medicinal purposes, how it works and how it affects the
body."
Bieberich said the convention's speakers will include
two doctors, John P. Morgan, a physician and professor of pharmacology
at the City University of New York Medical School, and Clark Britain,
an assistant clinical professor of Medicine at Indiana University. The
other speakers at the convention are Angel McClary, who has been a member
of the Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Cooperative, and Stephen Dillon, a Purdue
graduate and chairman of the board of directors for the national organization.
Bieberich said they had first planned to discuss
the industrial uses of hemp at the convention, but changed the topic
because of a lack of speakers.
"The production of industrial hemp has an obvious
draw in Indiana, with the number of small farms and the economic problems
many farmers face," said Bieberich.
Bieberich said the convention, which is the first
of its kind in Indiana, is something everyone should be interested in.
"A lot of people may think that the topic won't
really be interesting to them, said Bieberich. "They think of cancer
patients, AIDS patients, older people with arthritis or glaucoma, but
it has more applications than that. And besides, the day could eventually
come when it could be useful to you."
Although the convention is this weekend, Bieberich
said there hasn't been much of a response from the local community.
"I think there are many people in this community
that are afraid to be associated with an event of this type," said Bieberich.
"They are willing to talk about it but not willing to show up."
Bieberich said based on the number of flyers that
have been picked up, he's sure many people know about the conference,
but so far few have registered for the event.
"I think students are scared to be associated with
this topic, they don’t realize that they can't be pointed out for
attending. No one's going to be busting down the door or using it for
incrimination," said Bieberich.
Dave Fredrick, a senior in the School of Agriculture,
said the conference sounds like something he would like to attend, but
the cost of registration is too high.
"I'd like to be more informed about the medical
uses of marijuana," said Fredrick, "but I don't have a lot of extra
money."
Bieberich said the registration fee needed to attend
the conference, $75 for non-students and $35 for students, is needed
to provide travel expenses for the speakers as well as refreshments
during the conference.
He also said he hopes many people in the community
will take advantage of the conference, even those who might be opposed
to marijuana use.
"We would be perfectly happy if anyone from law
enforcement would register to attend," said Biberich. "One of the things
we are trying to do is get a dialogue between people with different
viewpoints."
|
