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CAMPUS GROUP CONTINUES PUSH FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

NORML brings in Marijuana advocate and governor candidate Gatewood Galbraith

Criminal Defense Attorney Gatewood Galbraith spoke at a NORML ( National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws ) meeting on Tuesday in Ferrell Auditorium.  Galbraith is running for Governor in November as an independent.  He spoke about his life growing up in Kentucky and how he got into politics. 

But, more importantly, he spoke to students about his reasoning for becoming an advocate on legalizing marijuana.  He explained that he suffered from asthma his entire life until one day a friend of his offered him some marijuana.  "It cured my asthma just like that," said Galbraith with a snap of his fingers.  Since that moment, he decided to get into law so that he could change the legal system to make marijuana legal. 

On smoking marijuana and becoming a supporter for it, he explains, "I am not going to be apologetic about it ever again."

Galbraith ran for Governor unsuccessfully multiple times in the past, but in the 1980s was when he set forth the goal to make Kentucky the first state to make marijuana legal. 

He continues to work toward this goal.  He believes marijuana would be good for petroleum and medicinal uses.  "We need to get medical marijuana in the hands of the sick and dying," Galbraith said. 

After the meeting, Galbraith handed out free copies of his autobiography to students entitled "The Last Free Man In America: Meets the Synthetic Subversion."

Students from Eastern, University of Kentucky and Berea College attended the meeting.  When asked what his response was to the lecture, Micah Perkins of Berea College said, "I felt like it went in a good direction and he has a very organized thought."

"After hearing his lecture, it has pursued me to vote for him," said Sarah Andrews, a student at Eastern. 

NORML decided to bring Galbraith to speak at Eastern so that students and faculty would be aware of what their mission is. 

"We are not advocating smoking marijuana, we are here to reform it," said Ashley Sharp, the executive director of NORML and a sophomore in psychology. 

They are instead advocating the medical and industrial uses of marijuana.  NORML came to Eastern last fall and is the first chapter in Kentucky.  At the moment, the organization has 37 members.  Those who are interested in finding out more about NORML and when their next meeting is contact Ashley Sharp at [redacted].