Dissenters threaten all that Americans have won in this country's long struggle against illegal drugs. Over the course of many years, the War on Drugs successfully has created a negative stigma against recreational drug use. Ending the War on Drugs or softening the penalties for using drugs would undermine this negative public perception by giving people the idea that drug use is acceptable. It's almost certain that this would cause a drastic increase in drug use. The research of Dr. Herbet Kleber of the Columbia University Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse suggests cocaine legalization would trigger a five-fold increase in usage. [continues 462 words]
On the morning of April 20th, 1999 two high school seniors who were just a month away from graduating entered their school with semi-automatic weapons, knifes, and several small bombs. Once the smoke had cleared thirteen people lay dead. Despite the media attention paid to the event at the time few stop to think about what happened anymore. That is, unless another school shooting occurs as it did just a month ago. Not all college students forget the significance of this day however. Wednesday morning I briefly spoke to a friend at University of Florida who informed me of how her roommates remembered that it was once again April, 20. [continues 87 words]
After growing frustrated with current drug policies, University freshman Carsten Singh decided to find his own solution. It came in the form of starting a new student organization -- Students for Sensible Drug Policy. SSDP, a Washington, D.C., based organization with chapters at colleges and universities around the nation, provides education on what its members believe to be the harms caused by the War on Drugs. The group involves youth in the political process and promotes an open, honest and rational discussion of alternative solutions to national drug policies, according to its Web site (www.ssdp.com). [continues 315 words]
Let's talk about pot. It has been high (snicker) on many newspapers' priority lists in the raging debate over medicinal marijuana. It's a major social issue, and it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. I have a simple solution: legalize it. Not just for medicinal use, either. Sell it in gas stations, offer it in grocery stores, sell it in quarter sacks or by the pack, whatever. Let the college kids, business executives, doctors, lawyers, politicians and everyone else who already smokes the stuff do so without the fear of jail time. [continues 680 words]
The legalization of marijuana, or the decriminalization of any drug for that matter, is the third rail of American liberalism. Any politician or public figure that touches it, or any self-respecting Democrat that wants their other views to be taken seriously, can't go near it without their hair standing on end. They can't touch the issue without being jolted from the public arena at the speed of light. Such a stance is soft on crime, is indicative of irresponsibility and points to a lack of values or a failed appreciation of American cultural mores. [continues 684 words]
Mr. Crane, even though I agree with your views about the legalization of marijuana, I don't agree with the way that you voiced your opinion. What I refer to is your comment about "Pro-Colombians with a fetish for nose candy." Being from Colombia, I find it very offensive in a way that it portrays my native land as a drug haven, which sadly is the stereotype that many Americans have of Colombia. With your statement, you perpetuate that negative stereotype which is totally false. Colombia is not full of drug dealers but of people who are striving to better their country. Ana Prado Junior Colombia Psychology [end]
For those of you who thought the war on drugs had been preempted by Baby Bush's war on terrorism -- think again. Campus police are promising to haul in more drug offenders than a Cypress Hill Concert, and the incendiary perpetrators being sought out are not burly bikers searching for "Lucy in the Sky" or pro-Colombians with a fetish for nose candy. The bad boys targeted by the badges are none other than the friends of Mary Jane. As if we needed anyone to tell us that smoking the ganja is bad. We grew up with Nancy Reagan speaking the gospel of "just say no," and are well aware of the supposed relationship between marijuana use and the evils of the world. [continues 438 words]
Students who enjoy recreational drugs as their extracurricular activity need to blow the smoke out of their faces and get a clue. University Police issued five additional arrest warrants Tuesday for students charged with possesion of marijuana, which totals the number at 11 for the month of October. You may not think smoking pot is a big deal and in the grand scheme of things, it may not be. But the reality of the situation is that it is illegal, and if a police officer finds you smoking, you will get caught, and you will have to suffer the consequences. [continues 83 words]
The debate to legalize marijuana doesn't kick off at 4:20 this afternoon, but sparks will fly tonight. The University Union is sponsoring "Heads vs. Feds: The Debate to Legalize Marijuana." "High Times" magazine editor Steve Hager and retired DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent Robert Stutman have been invited to bandy words and wits. The high-profile marijuana pundits will debate the pros and cons of legalization, with an extensive question and answer session to follow. Hager has been editor in chief of "High Times" since 1988. Aside from pro-pot penmanship, the University of Illinois graduate created "The Freedom Fighters," a national marijuana legalization group. [continues 568 words]
Tuesday night at the "Heads vs. Feds" marijuana legalization debate, there were a lot of heads and very few feds. In fact, there was only one fed -- former drug enforcement agent Robert Stutman, self-titled "the most famous narc in America." Defending the illegal greenery was High Times editor Steve Hager, who began his side of the debate with five reasons to legalize marijuana. "The first reason is that it's good medicine -- good for AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, strokes, asthma and multiple sclerosis," Hager said. [continues 256 words]
In 1998, New York Times journalist Barbara Ehrenreich entered the American workforce to take a realistic look at how lower-class America gets by. In "Nickel and Dimed," Ehrenreich plows through work as a waitress, a hotel maid, a nursing home aide and a Wal-Mart sales clerk while simultaneously trying to find affordable rent in Florida, Maine and Michigan. Ehrenreich goes about this investigative task as fairly as possible. Her resume, which includes holding a doctorate in biology and a job as an NYT reporter, is replaced with one of an unskilled divorced woman lacking experience. [continues 238 words]
