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University of Missouri: Censors Student Group鈥檚 T-Shirts Advocating for Marijuana Legalization

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University of Missouri - Columbia

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In September 2015, the University of Missouri chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (MU NORML) sought to sell T-shirts to raise money for the chapter and raise awareness of marijuana policy issues. The group was required to apply for approval for the T-shirts鈥 artwork because it used the university鈥檚 name and images. Mizzou rejected MU NORML鈥檚 first T-shirt design, requesting that its cannabis images be removed because Mizzou鈥檚 licensing policy 鈥減rohibits the use of alcohol or drug related images.鈥 A second version of the T-shirt was also rejected because it incorporated an image of the campus skyline, which the university considered a trademark violation.

On October 5, MU NORML president Benton Berigan received an email from Mizzou notifying him that the group鈥檚 proposed designs were rejected because of their 鈥渄rug-related imagery, specifically the cannabis leaf.鈥

FIRE wrote to Mizzou twice, warning the university that it was violating the First Amendment by rejecting MU NORML鈥檚 T-shirts because it disagrees with MU NORML鈥檚 viewpoint. The only response FIREreceived was an email from Mizzou Interim Chancellor Hank Foley that read: 鈥淚 thank you for your interest and for your letter.鈥

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