DRUG LEGALIZATION, REFORM LIGHT UP FORUM

New Student Group Coordinates First Event

Several Madison prominent community members gathered Sunday to debate about
the legalization of marijuana and other drugs on a panel discussion at the
Wisconsin Union Theater.

According to keynote speaker Adam Smith, the associate director of the Drug
Reform Coordination Network, the United States is miserably losing the war
on drugs. He said the United States in particular is failing to make sure
drugs stay out of the hands of the nation's young people.

"The reality is that we have not created a drug-free high school in this
country," Smith said. "This is not about protecting our kids from drugs.
It's about the cash cow."

The event, initiated by UW-Madison Students for Sensible Drug Policy,
served as a forum for people with varying viewpoints to come together and
discuss the issue of legalizing drugs, according to Eric Hogensen, founder
of Madison's chapter of SSDP.

According to Ben Masel, a longtime advocate for marijuana law reform,
prohibition of marijuana is counteractive in controlling danger, in part
because the drugs have to travel long distances.

"Prohibition actually makes drugs more dangerous," he said. "Prohibition
means no quality control."

Dane County District Attorney Diane Nicks participated in the panel and
said she is interested in hearing more ideas on how legalization would work
and what its effects would be.

"I would like to hear more about what can be done in our community to make
it more healthy," Nicks said.

Dr. Richard Keeling, director of University Health Services, said
politicians and other officials hesitate to begin a serious discussion on
drug-law reform because they fear the consequences they might face for
speaking on the issue.

"In some sense we all need to calm down here," Keeling said.

Smith said the United States will have to look to Europe for role models in
legalization.

"We couldn't possibly be doing this any worse," he said. "You would not
know it from our media, but in five years we'll find that Western Europe
has left us behind."

John Nichols, The Capital Times Editorial Page Editor, said the issue of
drugs and the legalization of drugs will ultimately be solved by having an
open and honest discussion among people.

"Ultimately, that is where this issue will be solved--at our dinner tables
with our family and friends," Nichols said. "There is a tiny bunch of folks
scared now and most of them are politicians, and once we drag them kicking
and screaming into this discussion we can solve this very quickly."