PANEL DISCUSSION CHALLENGES WAR ON DRUGS

The student American Civil Liberties Union partnered with the Campus
Anti-War Network to hold a discussion about the War on Drugs Monday.

The event was initially intended as a debate, but the plan went up in
smoke because the police could not make it to the event.

Three members of the community led the panel discussion. Mathew
Robinson and Renee G. Scherlen, both associate professors in the
government and justice studies department, led the discussion for
decriminalization.

On the other side of the room Charlie Byrd, assistant district
attorney for Watauga County offered input and answered questions from
the audience regarding legal aspects.

The discussion began with facts about the War on Drugs, including
history and monetary figures.

According to figures from the Office of National Drug Control, ONDCP,
policy, Robinson said there are five goals set, and the ONDCP has
failed in all five areas.

"We fail across the board, liberals and conservatives agree,"
Robinson said. "We are focused on relatively harmless drugs=85the
ONDCP says marijuana kills people, which is both true and false."

Robinson said between 1979 and 2005, there were 1.5 deaths per year
attributed to marijuana in the District of Columbia, Robinson
compared the amount of deaths attributed to tobacco with the deaths
attributed to marijuana.

"In American, 70.9 million people smoke tobacco, and the Centers for
Disease Control [and Prevention] cite the deaths at 438,000 per year.
14.4 million people smoke marijuana, resulting in 1.5 deaths per
year," Robinson said. "The math shows us tobacco is 59,328 times more
deadly than marijuana."

The topic shifted to the difference between decriminalization and
legalization, which the panel was split on.

Robinson favors decriminalization because it would mean adults could
use marijuana in their homes, but not in public.

He feels legalization would allow large stores to market the drug to children.

"Tobacco and alcohol ruthlessly target children. Logic tells me if we
legalize marijuana, companies will market it to children," Robinson
said. "I don't want a Joe Camel type character selling marijuana."

Scherlen said the idea of drug use needs to be looked at for
legalization to be viable.

"=85I think in the United States we view drug use as abnormal when
it's not," Scherlen said. Byrd commented on legalization, bringing up
the important question of driving under the influence.

"I've seen too many lives ruined after just consuming alcohol and
getting behind the wheel of a car," Byrd said. "To say that you're
going to allow people [to] light up at the bar and also drink? You
can't do that."

Byrd brought up points of how marijuana is not a high priority for most judges.

He said Watauga County has in the past focused on methamphetamine,
and has now shifted its focus to cocaine. At the end of the
discussion, both professors recommended students who want to advocate
decriminalization talk with their state representatives and members
of congress, who are responsive to letters.