STUDENTS CHOOSE SIDES AT POT DEBATE

Tate Theater was divided into two camps last night: one side sported
dreadlocks and surf shirts -- the other favored side-parted hair and
madras shorts. Both were there to watch the real-life drama of Heads
vs. Feds unfold.

As part of the University Union event, Bob Stutman, a former Drug
Enforcement Agency agent, and Steve Hager, editor in chief of High
Times magazine, debated the controversial issue of marijuana
legalization before a University audience.

"I am for the Heads," said Lorianne Steele, a sophomore finance major
from Warm Springs. "I kind of support NORML [National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws] and all it does, and I just think
some of those laws being passed in California should make their way here."

Despite college towns' national reputations as more liberal arenas,
Stutman had some stalwart support in the audience.

"I hope the Feds win," said Andrew Smith, a senior education major
from Lawrenceville. "The Heads'll probably win, but I just saw it in
the paper and thought it'd be cool."

Stutman said in an earlier interview with The Red & Black he was
prepared to tackle a hot-button pro-legalization topic students
always raise at these debates: the issue of medical marijuana use.

"To be honest about it, there are two chemicals in the cannabis plant
that I think could be very good medicine. If we extract those and use
them in a non-smoking manner, the pure two chemicals, then I think
they will prove to be great medicine," Stutman said.

Stutman objects to the use of cannabis in medical treatments for more
specific reasons.

"What I'm against is when someone says, 'Let's take in the 433
extraneous chemicals and the two good ones, and by the way, I think
you should smoke it. And by the way, we don't know the dose.'"

In the debate, Hager supported the use of medical marijuana, citing
its proven effects on reducing patient pain and the hypocrisy
inherent in today's overly medicated population.

"They hand out pills like M&Ms. None of these pills even existed when
I was in school," he said. "Could they be against it because when I
hand you a cannabis flower I am handing you free medicine for the
rest of your lives?"

Hager structured his points largely around his mistrust of the U.S. government.

"Telling us [marijuana] has no medical use whatsoever is equivalent
to standing in a raging hurricane and the U.S. government telling you
the wind ain't blowing," he said.

Stutman remained largely on the defensive throughout the evening,
rebutting Hager's arguments for legalization.

At the start of the debate, Stutman asked that students keep an open mind.

"Remember how important it is to disagree with each other," he said.
"Steve and I are great personal friends. I have never had more fun in
my life than when I am on the road with this guy."

As the room erupted in laughter, Stutman hastened to dispel the
mental image of himself sharing a roach with Hager in the back of a
psychadelic bus.

"No, no, not that much fun," he said.