Pubdate: Wed, 04 Mar 2009
Source: Kentucky Kernel (U of KY Edu)
Copyright: 2009sKernel Press, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.kykernel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/790
Author: Megan Hurt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SPEAKERS: DRUG USE ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY

If there is one thing Steve Hager, former editor of High Times 
magazine, and Bob Stutman, a former Drug Enforcement Administration 
agent, can agree on, it's that smoking marijuana might not be the 
right choice for college students, but it's about responsibility.

"Make sure you make getting that education the most important 
priority while you're at this institution," Hager said Tuesday night 
in Memorial Hall at "Heads vs. Feds," a legalization debate hosted by 
the Student Activities Board. "If you don't, you are not part of the 
solution, you are part of the problem." After Stutman was introduced 
as "the most famous narc in America" and Hager as "the most famous 
pothead in America," each was given 15 minutes to argue his case for 
or against the legalization of marijuana.

Hager outlined five reasons why he thought marijuana should be legal, 
including using it as cheap medication and to stop funding drug 
corruption in America.

Stutman argued against legalization by outlining four reasons the 
drug is bad for people's health, including leading to dependence and 
its interference with the ability to concentrate and learn.

While both men come from different backgrounds and hold different 
views, Stutman stressed that the debate was to share information with 
students, allowing them to make their own decision while respecting 
someone else's opinions.

"You will never see Steve and I disrespect each other. You can 
disagree with someone without being personally disagreeable," Stutman 
said about Hager, who he called "a friend."

After Stutman and Hager had time to discuss their stances on the 
legalization of marijuana, the audience had the opportunity to ask 
both speakers questions, which included whether the war on drugs was 
succeeding and what their definition of "liberty" was.

Sydney Taylor, an education freshman, attended the event because she 
was interested in what each side had to say and found she was 
surprised by the arguments of both sides.

"I was really impressed with Stutman. I thought he would be 
close-minded and he wasn't," she said. "I was disappointed in Hager. 
I thought he contradicted himself a lot."

Other students thought Hager gave the better argument.

Rob Monteleone, a psychology senior, thought Hager presented an 
intelligent argument on an issue that doesn't get exposure often. 
Hager used passion and personal experience, while Stutman focused on 
facts and numbers, Monteleone said.

Whichever side of the issue students fell on, both Monteleone and 
Taylor said they were glad to hear both sides of the argument 
presented as a debate.

"It was a good event with an intelligent discussion without any 
hostility," Monteleone said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom