LEGALITY OF MARIJUANA DEBATED AT KENYON

GAMBIER -- Kenyon College hosted a debate on Thursday on the subject
of legalized marijuana. Representatives of the National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws argued to legalize marijuana while
Mary Samuell of the Knox County Drug and Alcohol Freedom Center and
Noel Alden, a criminal defense attorney, argued against. More than
100 students gathered in Gund Hall to watch the debate.

Titled "Doobie Do or Doobie Don't" the event was sponsored by Kenyon
Counselor Mike Durham and the student-based Alcohol and Drug
Education Program Team. Durham said the purpose of the event was to
bring both sides of the argument together and educate students on the issue.

Cher Neufer of NORML said the issue was a basic civil liberties
question. "People lose their jobs just because they smoke a joint.
There's no test to see if someone is under the influence at any given
time. If someone smokes a joint over the weekend and tests positive
for marijuana on Monday why should they lose their job if they're not
under the influence?" said Neufer.

Neufer argued that even non-marijuana users would benefit. "It would
free up the police force to pursue other crimes," said Neufer. "It
would also be less money on the war on drugs, period. It seems the
war on drugs gets worse the more money [the government] spends."

Noel Alden disagreed, "Even the most liberal person would agree on
certain provisions in any legalization law. There would be
restrictions against driving under the influence, operating heavy
machinery, and so on. All of that would still require police."

Alden added, "If they just discovered alcohol or tobacco today those
things wouldn't be legal either."

Samuell said a legalized marijuana policy probably couldn't be
enforced any better than current alcohol or tobacco laws. "The
biggest killers are tobacco and alcohol. Why would we want to add to
that list?"

NORML spokesperson Tonya Davis talked about her own personal
experiences and argued solely for the legalization of medicinal
marijuana. Davis said she suffers from scoliosis and is required to
use a wheelchair. "I have a crippling terminal disease," said Davis.
"I wouldn't be able to talk to you now if it weren't for marijuana.
It's prescription drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin that cause
addiction and raise the crime rate." Davis also asked how marijuana
could be classified as a Schedule 1 drug when it's prescribed by
doctors in 12 states.

Neufer said, "Look at alcohol prohibition. It led to more crime.
Also, the money goes underground. Look at how we used education to
decrease the use of cigarettes even though they're legal. We don't
put people in jail for smoking but the rates have gone down."

"Legality would make marijuana more accessible," said Alden. "You
can't say advertising has no effect. Further, by legalizing it, the
government says it's OK. There are already synthetic substitutes that
people can be prescribed."

By the end of the debate both sides agreed that any marijuana policy
should not allow juveniles to use marijuana. They also agreed that
tobacco and alcohol are by far worse drugs than marijuana.

Samuell said, "We try to educate without scare tactics. 'This is your
brain. This is your brain on drugs.' I think that's stupid."

Davis agreed, "We have to keep the conversation going. Try not to
demonize things, but talk about them and keep the dialog going. Drug
addiction is bad, but the war on drugs is worse."