NORML chapters took advantage of St. Patrick's Day this year to highlight the relative safety of marijuana compared to alcohol and urge officials to lay off those adults making the safer choice when it comes to celebrating. Empire State NORML held a rally in New York City, and the campus chapter of NORML at the University of Missouri took action that resulted in the following piece appearing in the Campus Chatter section of the Columbia Daily Tribune:

And speaking of pot ...

By Janese Heavin

MU's chapter of NORML today is rallying at Speaker's Circle to argue that marijuana is safer than alcohol -- a popular and, for those 21 and older, legal substance on St. Patrick's Day.

Members were expected to gather from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to call into question laws and campus policies that "drive students to drink with harsh penalties for marijuana -- a far less harmful substance," according to the organization's announcement.

MU NORML argues that MU's penalties for pot should not be greater than those for alcohol, "otherwise the university is steering students toward drinking and away from making the rational, safer choice to use marijuana instead."

The rally follows last nights "Heads vs. Feds" debate at Jesse Hall about legalizing marijuana.