On Thursday, students at more than 80 colleges and universities across the country -- including the University of Arkansas -- will hold rallies on their campuses to urge their universities allow them to use marijuana as what they say is a safer recreational alternative to alcohol.

The students are members of the University of Arkansas chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).April 1 marks the first day of National Alcohol Awareness Month and students will be out on their campuses distributing information about the relative harms of alcohol and marijuana, as well as holding signs and banners that read: "This is NOT a joke... Let us make the SAFER choice!"

The students argue that laws and policies on and around most college campuses punish students more harshly for marijuana use than for alcohol use, steering them toward drinking and away from using marijuana -- which they say is a far less harmful substance -- instead.

The rally will take place at 11:30 a.m. Thursday on the UA campus between the Student Union and Mullins Library.