St. Louis, Missouri (14 February 2018) – The local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Greater St. Louis NORML) announces a Drug War Victims Vigil to take place on Wednesday, the 14th of February 2018 at the St. Louis County Justice Center at 100 S. Central, Clayton, Missouri 63105. Members, supporters, and victims will gather outside the county jail from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. to peacefully protest the arrest and incarceration of marijuana users. The vigil will continue at the Mel Carnahan Criminal Courthouse at 1114 Market Street in the City of St. Louis from 4:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.
NORMLs mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty. Greater St Louis NORML is calling for total reform of marijuana laws, especially in situations that are non-violent and victimless in nature.
The greatest harm caused by marijuana prohibition is the effect of prohibition itself – the governmental expense, the stigma of arrest and loss of liberty, the loss of driving privileges, the loss of educational and employment opportunities, the availability to children, the racial disparity in the enforcement of drug laws, and the increase in crime and violence caused by the black market drug trade.
Nineteen years ago on Valentine’s Day the United States prison and jail population surpassed two million individuals. Again this year Great St Louis NORML will peaceably assemble outside of our local centers of incarceration in support and memory of those serving non-violent drug related sentences.