SMOKING OUT THE STIGMA

It's no secret that students smoke marijuana. Yet the stigma
associated with the drug is such that even a head shop employee will
deny that his customers use the glass bongs for anything besides
tobacco or the incense for anything besides covering up the smell of
cats. They don't even want to hear why you're buying the detoxifying drinks.

"I am taking a test tomorrow, and I definitely smoked this morning,"
said one local customer inquiring about such detox products.

"I don't need to know any of that, man," said the employee, leading
him to the cabinet of remedies. The same shelf displayed a weighted
soda can with a removable lid, designed for stashing ... something.

While Columbus has a reputation for being a liberally minded
community, the capital city does not necessarily match the sentiments
of Ohio policymakers. This month, the legislature shot down a bill
that would make Ohio the 15th state with legalized medical marijuana.

On the other hand, the Pew Research Center for the People and the
Press revealed a broad public support for legalizing medical
marijuana. The stigma associated with this drug remains a potent one,
though, and many doubt state policy will change anytime soon.

"If it ever does get legalized here, Ohio will be the last," said
senior Christa Christian.

However, just as advocates of legalized marijuana don't necessarily
use the drug, not all drug users advocate the legalization of marijuana.

Freshmen Brody Fox said characterized himself as an "avid" user who
has smoked marijuana daily user for about five years.

"It's a touchy subject," Fox said. "It is less dangerous to do than
alcohol, but I can also definitely relate to where people do get
lazy. My grades have been affected for sure."

Because he's a user, Fox said he'd lean towards legalizing marijuana.
Yet he added that making the drug available to the public "would
probably be very non-beneficial to society."

Fox, and others, make an exception for medical marijuana.

Junior Cory Kunkel, for example, said that marijuana should be
legalized and controlled, and should be available medically as a painkiller.

"There are other legal [prescription] drugs out there that are
probably worse than medical marijuana that can be abused," said Kunkel.

Christian suspected that even marijuana abuse might be reduced if the
drug was made legal.

"I have a friend out in Colorado, where their laws are less stringent
than ours, and he seems to act more responsible," Christian said.
"[Legalizing marijuana] might reduce the risk here. People will do it
more sensibly."

The taboo surrounding smoking pot was compared to underage drinking;
take away the appeal of doing something forbidden, and theoretically,
people will act more responsibly.

"But at the same time, there aren't really people out looking for
it," said fifth year Justin DeBross of the local police.

"They're much more concerned with DUIs and underage drinking,"
DeBross continued. "That's probably more of a concern than people
sitting in their apartments and, you know, watching TV for six hours."

"I've been caught twice smoking a joint on campus and I haven't
gotten anything for it. [The police] just take the joint and don't
even write me up," said Fox.

Fox does not seem to be an isolated case. Junior Madelyn Gruseck,
among others, said that she had smelled marijuana in houses, at
concerts and walking around campus.

"In our community it's really lenient," Gruseck said of marijuana law
enforcement.

From Comfest at Goodale Park to Hempfest on the South Oval, many
locals have advocated for drug law reform. Yet Ohio State
University's own advocacy group - Students for Sensible Drug Policy -
seem to be burning out.

No Plans for Hempfest 2010

Hempfest at Ohio State University is designed to promote awareness
about the benefits of industrial hemp and advocate the legalization
of growing hemp in the United States.

Vendors at previous events have sold clothing, paper and even food
made from hemp products. While some legal marijuana advocates have
show up, the event is largely about the part of the marijuana plant
that cannot get you high.

Yet SSDP president Krystle Short has reported that Hempfest will
"probably not happen for 2010."

"The last president left us with next to nothing to work with and a
lot of fees from the 2008-2009 school year that were never taken care
of, specifically security for the event by OSU police," Short said.
"Our current treasurer tried to troubleshoot with the OSU, but
without the money to put up front - that would have been reimbursed
by OSU - and overdue balances owed from last Hempfest, we have next
to nothing for this year."

Short also reported internal issues that hindered the group's ability
to coordinate events. On top of that, she implied that the university
has made it difficult for the group to continue.

"We honestly feel like we are consistently hitting a wall with OSU
over SSDP and Hempfest, and it has become discouraging very fast," said Short.

If the group felt unfairly treated, Bob Fitrakis said he's available
to protect any compromised First Amendment rights. Fitrakis is the
editor and publisher of The Free Press, which has been a
long-standing sponsor of Hempfest. Also an OSU law graduate, Fitrakis
has represented the students in court when SSDP felt discriminated
against by the university policy in the past.

"The purpose of the festival is to inform. It's not a call to get
people to show up and smoke dope. It's to allow people to advocate
for the industrial use of hemp," said Fitrakis.

According to assistant director at the Ohio Union and Buckeye Network
Coordinator Eve Esch, the university has reached out to SSDP, but has
still not received any request to use the Oval for Hempfest. Esch
said that fees as assessed would be based on what equipment the event
requires, yet there is no charge for simply using the space. If
damage was done, however, the group would be expected to pay it.

"[SSDP] still owes some fees for last year's event," said Esch,
referring to previous damages. "We wouldn't want to let a group rack
up charges without paying ... We're trying to contact them so they
can be in good standing and follow the same procedures as the other
900 student organizations."

Esch added that she suspected the SSDP's information was out of date,
since the president currently listed is a male.

Although Fitrakis said he would represented SSDP if the group was
treated unfairly, Short said SSDP was not planning to take legal
action against the university.