LOWER POT PENALTIES

Response to "Herb or Hops" Opinion front, Sept. 13.

I can see it now -- All the conservative writers around Ernie Pyle
Hall running their eyes over this letter. "Oh, great. Another pothead
doing the whole mindless 'Legalize it!' rant..." Think what you will,
but all I'm asking for are some facts.

The recent Opinion piece, "Herb or Hops?" while a great idea, was not
nearly as publicized as it should have been. Marijuana use on college
campuses may be an extremely taboo subject -- another one of those
'unspoken topics' that go along with religion and politics - but
regardless, people care about it. I hope you hear more concerning
continuing the coverage of this topic, because smoker or not, everyone
is interested.

I'm not here to degrade anyone as journalists, but the
"Point:Counterpoint" theme of this piece seemed rather weak to say
the least. First off -- Ms. Avon, where's the backup? I'm assuming
your editor(s) cut down your piece for length, but your counterpoint
fit some numbers on to his side of the page. You claim to know what
smoking pot does to people. Neato! Please elaborate. For example, I
know, as well as one of the most-respected medical journals in the
world knows, that even long-term exposure to pot is not harmful to
health. I also know, thanks to your counterpoint Jacob Stewart, that
when we step back and look at the numbers, marijuana is a lot safer
than alcohol (1,400 deaths, 500,000 injuries, 70,000 sexual assaults
every year ... Ring a bell?).

I hope to see a continuation of the discussion on lessening marijuana
punishment. Think about it -- For a majority of this campus, both
alcohol and marijuana are illegal (exceptions being those over 21 and
those with medicinal allowances, respectively.) Would you rather have
a campus full of stumbling, vomiting drunkards raping and pillaging
every weekend, or a campus full of happy, hungry hippies? The latter
would do wonders for the local restaurant and convenience store economy.

Ryan Dorgan

Freshman