cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Debate Heats Up





Marijuana Debate Heats Up
Posted by CN Staff on November 26, 2002 at 16:41:05 PT
By Blair Parker
Source: Technician Online
First, they brought America medical marijuana, and now they are lifting the bar with a more skeptical but enticing debate: Should marijuana be legal?New polls are finding that most Americans, while they do not want marijuana fully legalized, do think that it should be legally used for medical purposes and those caught with it for recreational purposes should be fined, not jailed.
Nearly 47 percent of Americans say they have tried marijuana at least once, according to a survey conducted by CNN last October. The battle is heating, within politics, the medical community and avid users seeking recreational purposes. The pro-pot movement has pushed the agenda at the polls by invoking Question 9, which would allow adults to possess up to 3 ounces of pot for personal use. John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, has been appointed by President Bush as deputy drug czar. Walters believes he can help Americans by fighting the war on drugs, but many pro-pot supporters say a czar who claims he has never smoked pot cannot fully understand the pro-pot movement. "Walters is a pathetic drug-war soul who is defending a whole category of horrors he's indifferent to," said John Sperling in a Time interview. Sterling is founder of the nationwide chain the University of Phoenix and has donated $13 million to drug-reform campaigns. Sperling says he smoked pot to reduce pain when he was combating cancer in the 1960s. But, Walters says he believes marijuana is a gateway drug and detrimental due to its indirect affects, such as causing driving accidents, domestic violence, crippling addiction and health risks. As far as health risks are concerned, billionaire Peter Lewis, former CEO of Progressive and supporter of Question 9, says he is fighting to legalize the drug in the state of Nevada because his health will benefit from regular pot use."The absurdity of its illegality has been clear to me for some time. I learned about pot from my kids and realized it was a lot better than Scotch. Then I went to my doctor, and he said, 'I'm thrilled. You're drinking too much. You're much better off doing pot than drinking,'" said Stallings in a Time interview.So far, eight states have allowed the use of medical marijuana: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The latest research shows that while marijuana is not necessarily healthy, its health risk from occasional use is mild and it might ease certain pains. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, no one has ever died from marijuana poisoning, but researchers have found that pot smoking can affect the immune system, and people who use heavy dosages may develop ischemia, an insufficient blood supply. But the fact that marijuana is successful in helping cancer patients ward off pain leaves the medical community fighting to make marijuana legal by way of prescription.Currently, North Carolina does not allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes, nor does the state have any pending ballot initiatives related to marijuana. Technician's poll shows that well more than half -- 68 percent -- of N.C. State students believe that pot should be legalized, while only 32 percent think it should remain illegal."The affects of marijuana on your body and mind are no different from the effects alcohol can cause, which is a right permitted by all states and all countries. Abusing alcohol is more dangerous than abusing pot; you hear about drunk drivers killing, but you never hear of pot smokers killing behind the wheel," said Jacob Kneel, a junior in business management. Nationwide, police arrest more people for marijuana possession than for any other drug. Between Nevada cops and other law enforcers, Question 9 has some of them secretly supporting the pro-pot movement so they can focus on more serious crimes. However, after the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs made this announcement, the head of the organization, Andy Anderson, was forced to resign.According to NCSU Campus Police Chief Thomas Younce, the majority of people arrested on NCSU's campus are arrested for marijuana possession."My problem with legalizing marijuana is how do you control it? We haven't been able to control alcohol usage and now we want to bring another drug on the market. Also, you have to think about those who distribute it. Most times, these people are linked with organized crime, which isn't a good thing," said Younce.The penalty for those caught with possession of marijuana on campus depends on the amount. Students can face mild charges, such as appearing before a campus judicial board, to more severe charges, including jail time. Younce said if a student is caught with intent to sell, the misdemeanor charge jumps to a felony."Yes, I think marijuana should be legalized, because it would cut down on all the petty misdemeanor charges police have to waste their time issuing," said Josh Baker, a junior in architecture.Source: Technician, The (NC State University)Author: Blair ParkerPublished: November 26, 2002Copyright: 2002 The TechnicianContact: opinion technicianstaff.comWebsite: http://www.technicianonline.com/Related Articles:Legitimate Reasons To Legalize Cannabishttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14829.shtmlIs America Going to Pot?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14783.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by druid on November 26, 2002 at 21:02:31 PT:
huh?
and people who use heavy dosages may develop ischemia, an insufficient blood supplyAnyone heard this before?*boggles*
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Comment #1 posted by John Tyler on November 26, 2002 at 18:33:16 PT
Prohibitionist can't understand what legal means
"My problem with legalizing marijuana is how do you control it? We haven't been able to control alcohol usage and now we want to bring another drug on the market. Also, you have to think about those who distribute it. Most times, these people are linked with organized crime, which isn't a good thing," said campus police chief Younce." Why can't these guys understand weed is not controlled now. If it were legal it would be controlled and sold in various retail outlets like alcohol, which would be regulated by state and local laws. There would be no crime element involved. It would all be legal, from growing, to distribution, to retail. 
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