Pubdate: Fri, 05 Oct 2001
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2001 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463
Author: Adam Keith
Note: Adam Keith is a sophomore at Holland Hall.
Cited: NORML http://www.norml.org/
Office of National Drug Control Policy http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
http://www.mapinc.org/johnson.htm (Johnson, Gary)

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION STILL DEBATED

In the future, cars might run on a clean-burning fuel derived from
marijuana, cannabis could be bought at the nearest pharmacy and department
stores might be selling clothes made of hemp.

Those who want to see marijuana legalized cite these examples and more as
reasons to legalize the plant. For now, however, the sale, cultivation,
possession and inhalation of marijuana is illegal, except in some medical uses.

So what's the latest on the issue of legalization of marijuana? From high
school hallways all the way to the governor's mansion in New Mexico,
proponents and opponents of the legalization of marijuana are debating the
issue.

New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is one of the most prominent elected officials
to advocate the legalization of drugs, including marijuana. Johnson argued
that the U.S. anti-drug effort is an expensive waste.

He advocates legalizing drugs under a system of control, regulation and
taxation, and suggested that actually might lead to "a healthier society."

NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, is the
nation's most prominent pro-marijuana voice. Norma Sapp, a spokesperson for
the Oklahoma chapter of NORML in Norman, said she supports legalization for
the commercial benefits of hemp, a by-product of marijuana.

These commercial benefits come mainly from of the wide variety of products
that can be made from hemp. As many as 25,000 goods, including clothes,
paper, food and even dynamite, could be derived from this plant.

Sapp described what is possibly the most lucrative product, a car that
would use hemp as fuel and produce "83 percent less emissions than diesel."

However, the federal government is not convinced. The White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy has concluded that legalizing hemp products
"would send a confusing message to our youth concerning marijuana" and "may
lead to the de facto legalization of marijuana cultivation," according to
the group's Web site.

Some local students want to see marijuana legalized. One such student is
Rob Goins from Bishop Kelley High School. Goins said he thinks the
anti-marijuana laws are a government infringement on American's rights.

"(Legalization is) an issue of responsibility," he said, adding that he
thought the government has no right telling the people what they are
allowed to do on their own private property.

Another student who sees reason for legalization is Sarah Martin, from
Broken Arrow. She wrote in an e-mail interview, "It seems like so many
people are using it that the government should go ahead and make it legal
because if someone wants it bad enough they're going to smoke it whether
it's legal or not."

On the other side of the issue are many anti-legalization individuals and
groups, whose purpose is to decrease the usage of drugs.

Operation Aware Of Oklahoma, Inc. is a regional anti-drug organization,
headed by Cookie Coffey, who said that legalization of marijuana would only
increase use.

"Regretfully, marijuana seems to be accessible and we see children whose
lives have been negatively affected," she said.

Many Tulsa-area students agree.

Rachael Buell of Washington High School is against legalizing marijuana.

"(Marijuana) is too much of a gateway to other drugs," she said. "Too many
people are using freely (and) becoming more and more addicted."

Another anti-legalization argument came from Collinsville student Travis
Long who said, "(Marijuana) can ruin their life, break up families and
marriages."

Craig Maricle, also of Washington, said marijuana is already available enough.

"We don't need to put it on department store shelves, and we don't need to
encourage its usage, especially among teens," he said. "Legalizing it would
then cause advertising in magazines, billboards and other places, which
younger kids might see and cause them to be curious about the drug."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager