ival has a different slant than before due to the Joplin tornado.

The Cannabis Revival, run by Joplin’s chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), has been a regular event in Joplin since 1997. Every year the festival brings in bands and speakers in support of the issue.

“The event is important for Joplin because those who support marijuana law reform in this part of the country think they are alone, when really they don’t realize they are the majority,” Kelly Maddy, president of Joplin NORML, said.

“We [feel] that the public is better served when citizens and public officials work cooperatively in order to successfully accomplish common goals and to promote education and involvement by organizing a yearly festival to raise awareness of cannabis’ many uses and benefits.  With education and opportunities to be involved present at the festival, we have the ability to make Joplin, and greater Missouri, a model of sensible cannabis policy reform.”

This year 15 percent of donations from the gate and water booth will be donated to the United Way of Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas Joplin Tornado Relief Fund, along with half of T-shirt sales, while the rest will go to Joplin NORML’s regular funds. Maddy said he hopes this year’s donation to the charitable funds will change how people view marijuana culture.

“The good PR with being charitable can’t hurt, but we are doing something that everyone has done here in Joplin−our part in giving back to Joplin in a time of need,” Maddy said. “It all but reinforces the fact that the vast majority of marijuana smokers, like most other Americans, are good citizens who work hard, raise families, pay taxes and contribute in a positive way to their communities. They are certainly not part of the crime problem in this country, and it is terribly unfair to continue to treat them as criminals.”

Joplin NORML feels that over the years the event has had a positive effect on the community and for marijuana culture.

“When people are talking about this issue, that is when we win,” Maddy said. “Talking about marijuana in hushed tones is not the norm in Joplin anymore and I would like to think that is because of the short six years we have garnered attention on this issue in a competent and professional manner.”

The Cannabis Revival will begin noon tomorrow at the Landreth Park Amphitheater. Additional information may be found at http://www.cannabisrevival.com.