Joplin will play host to the mid-west region’s biggest marijuana reform event on Sept. 22.

The ninth annual Cannabis Revival will be held this Saturday at Landreth Park from 2-11 p.m.

Kelly Maddy, president of the Joplin Chapter of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), said he has only been a part of the event for the past three years but every year it grows and this year he expects between 5,000-10,000 people.

The event has always provided guest speakers and free, live music all day long but this year’s focus is on ‘restoration to acceptance and freedom.’

This year’s event will feature the launch of the 2008 Joplin Sensible Sentencing Initiative. This initiative would decriminalize marijuana in the Joplin area by removing the arrest and lowering the penalty for small amounts of under 35 grams or less. Columbia, Mo., recently passed a similar initiative.

Maddy said he is aiming to get the initiative put on Joplin’s 2008 presidential ballot. But first, he needs 4,900 signatures, or about 15 percent of registered voters in Joplin.

Southern student Kyle Maddy, freshman undecided major, and acting president of the Missouri Southern chapter of SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy) said he expects to get plenty of signatures from younger voters but the real challenge will be to get the older population of Joplin to vote for a change in policy.

The brothers believe the chief of police will approve the measure. A former resident of Oregon, a state that has had decriminalized and medical marijuana since the 1970s, he may have a more open perspective.

“As far as we know he’s like minded so I don’t think he opposes it,” Kyle Maddy said. “If we pass this initiative, police will be able to focus on more serious issues.”

Many Southern students agree with the initiative even if they don’t smoke.

“I don’t smoke weed,” said Darrell Sour, senior marketing major. “I’ve never even smoked a cigarette but I still support them.

“They’re wanting to take minor drug offenses and put them in traffic court instead of criminal so if someone gets caught with one joint one time they won’t be stripped of state and financial aid. It doesn’t affect our laws against drug dealers and hard drug users, and they’re the bigger problem”

Even some students who oppose marijuana altogether agree possession of small amounts should be decriminalized.

“The nation would be better off if it were never grown, but the prohibition of marijuana has caused more damage than the drug itself,” said Grant Bricker, senior political science major. “This nation imprisons half a million people and spends $70 billion a year on non-violent criminals just to keep them from getting high.”

Shelly Peavler, president of the College Democrats, said she won’t endorse the petition itself but she will be present at the Cannabis Revival to get voters registered.

“Open political discussion is essential in our country, and College Democrats support any open political discussion whether we agree with the issue or not,” Peavler said. “We want to get politically involved and we’ll reach out to groups that may have political opinions.”

Kris Krane, executive director of SSDP, will speak about the initiative at the event on Saturday, Joplin’s courthouse and on campus today.

The event will also feature several bands: Cinna the Poet, The Ben Miller Band, Jah Roots, The Sociables, Lye Bye Mistake, Ominous Words, Greedy Fleet, The Flipoff Pirates, Revolution Red, By Hook or Crook, Daysleeper, The High and Lonesome, Mannequin Kill Appeal, the D-Boyz and Woodbelly headed by Cas Haley a recent second runner up on America’s Got Talent.

Several speakers at the event will talk about the benefits of decriminalization and the medical and industrial advantages of using hemp.

There will also be vendors selling everything from T-shirts and jewelry to candles, soaps and artistic glass. There will be a “sack” race and a “joint” rolling contest using tobacco. The prizes for the “joint” rolling contest include a glass tobacco water pipe, a pack of rolling papers and Joplin NORML t-shirt.

But the event isn’t just all about the legalization of marijuana music is another reason to go out and watch the festivities.

“You’ll be surprised at the diversity of the people that go there,” said Ben Miller, lead vocalist of the Ben Miller Band. “Some are there to support marijuana and its pharmaceutical uses. Others are there just to legalize it. But everyone gets along. It’s not like we’re some fringe group of criminals. It’s a family friendly environment.”

Although SSDP is helping with the event, it isn’t just a club trying to legalize pot.

“SSDP is a pro financial aid organization, where NORML is pro pot,” said Kyle Tucker, English instructor and adviser for the Southern chapter of SSDP. “We’re tired of students losing federal financial aid for misdemeanor drug convictions. When students lose financial aid it hurts the student and the school. It hurts everybody.”

Tucker and his group of students started the club last year.

“We want to get our student body involved in this war on drugs,” Kyle Maddy said. “We don’t promote drug use. We’re policy oriented. So how can you argue against a more sensible policy? We just believe current policies aren’t working. We need more effective and sensible policies.”

SSDP plans to have its officer elections before the end of the month. And is also planning a film festival in late September or early October. The group will be showing Grass, Busted and Penn and Teller: Bullshit! on campus.

For band profiles or information on the Cannabis Revival please visit www.cannabisrevival.com or the Cannabis Revival Myspace page.