CALMFEST

CALMFEST doesn't see the Little 500 as competition. Maybe CALMFEST has never inspired an Oscar-winning screenplay. And maybe it's never been deemed "the best college weekend in the country." Regardless, the seven-hour music festival advocating the legalization of marijuana is scheduled to go head to head with the popularity of IU's legendary bike race this weekend. Planned for the same day as the men's Little 500 bike race for the second year in a row, CALMFEST coordinators still expect to draw a crowd of about 500 people during the course of the day. \nThough coinciding with the men's race might seem detrimental to the festival's success, CALMFEST coordinator Mike Truelove says the scheduling conflict has actually worked out for the better. "It's turning out to be a good combination because it's becoming a good alternative to Little 5, and a lot of people even stop by the festival on their way home from the race to dance," he says. The festival's central location in Dunn Meadow along with the appeal of live music usually attract a lot of passersby, Truelove says. \nThe festival is sponsored by the Citizen's Alliance for the Legalization of Marijuana (CALM). Musical performances are a major aspect of the day's events. Most of the bands at CALMFEST usually, but not necessarily, support the cause, says Josh McCord, a junior who serves as a CALM board member. "They tend to speak through their music, but not just for our cause," he says. "Many of the songs have a political message." \nMatthew Marshall, vocalist for Blue Moon Revue, says the festival's cause falls in line with what his band stands for. "None of us are members of the organization, but we see the validity in what they're arguing," he says. \nBlue Moon Revue, in its third year of involvement with the festival, also enjoys the atmosphere of CALMFEST. "It's a great cause in the actual coming together of so many people in the meadow, whether you believe in the cause or not, it's just a great way to come together and enjoy the music," Marshall says. \nEric Zlotogura, the manager and booking agent for Ojo Malone, also believes in the festival's cause, but says his primary reasons for going are to enjoy the music and take in the atmosphere. Although Zlotgura has been to several CALMFESTs in the past on his own, this will be the first year that Ojo Malone, founded in March 2001 by IU students, will perform. Zlotogura, a senior, says Ojo Malone, which has headlined at Uncle Festers and the Bluebird Nightclub and opened for Rich Hardesty, is looking forward to its performance.\nEducational speakers are another main aspect of the day's schedule. IU Criminal Justice Professor Hal Pepinsky, previous Monroe County Prosecutor Robert Miller, CALM founder Truelove and local physician Clark Brittain D.O. are all scheduled to speak between musical performances. \nThis will be Brittain's first year involved in the festival. Truelove approached him after Brittain gave a speech advocating the legalization of hemp.\n"I happen to believe that the war on drugs causes a lot more harm, expense and devastation to society than drugs could ever cause," Brittain says. His 20-minute speech, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., will focus mainly on the medicinal benefits of marijuana, but he says his support comes from a number of personal reasons. \n"I came about my beliefs from three reasons," says Brittain, a practicing gynecological physician in Bloomington. "First of all, I've seen the devastation it causes to my patients." His anger, he says, stems from the "federal monopoly that controls what drugs are legal to induce intoxication or relieve pain." \nHe also says he is a Unitarian Universalist, a religious sect that believes in "affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person." Brittain says the war on drugs violates the seven main principles of his faith, including promoting the use of the democratic process within its congregations and in society at large and promoting the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all, according to the Unitarian Universalist Association Web site. \nBrittain cites his political beliefs as another motivation. "I'm a libertarian," he says, "and we believe that there's no possible governmental interest in what I do to or with my body as long as it doesn't cause any direct harm to others, and that prohibition has proven to be a failure." \nCALM was founded on IU's campus in 1997 by Truelove, who says "30 years of absurdity" was his reason for starting the organization. He began small, getting a few friends together and holding educational tables on legalization advocacy. Today, CALM has grown into an alliance of more than 1,200 active members, 95 percent of whom are IU students, according to CALM's Web site. \n"(CALMFEST) just seemed like a logical extension of trying to reach people," Truelove says. The festival's primary purpose is to advertise the group's message, he says. This year, CALM will introduce a petition drive for the legalization of medicinal marijuana, which it plans to send on the state government. Legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes is CALM's primary focus of the year. "If we could just get one person in the state house to see that so many people support this cause, if we could just get one person to introduce the bill, it'd at least be a start," Truelove says. \nCALM advocates legalization for three uses: industrial, medicinal and personal. For instance, for industrial uses, CALM envisions a state-run permit system that would allow farmers to grow very low THC marijuana for products such as paper and cloth. CALM also believes that patients with a prescription for medicinal marijuana should be allowed to grow their own supply or get a supply from the state government. The group also stands for a county-run permit system that would allow an adult, after paying a permit fee, to grow a set amount of marijuana as long as no commercialization or private selling took place. \nCALM focuses on educating the public on "responsible usages," such as how to avoid warrantless police searches. The group meets on Tuesdays for informational tables. At a recent meeting, about a dozen members reminisced about last year's festival, joking about a naked audience member who had to be tackled to the ground and arrested. The meeting was social, but CALM members were also organized. Plans for the festival were nearly finalized more than two weeks in advance. CALM started making arrangements two months in advance, soliciting sponsorship and booking bands. "A lot of bands are really interested in playing CALMFEST," McCord says. "We've never had a problem booking bands." \nCALMFEST is the organization's largest event of the year, McCord adds. Having the festival on Little 5 weekend is a huge asset, he says, because there are so many people around Bloomington. "It's really social," he says, recalling the laid-back atmosphere, the impromptu drum circles and vendors. "It'll be the best part of Little 5 weekend"