LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

In an apartment near the Shrine Auditorium, two roommates laugh as they
recall stories of their adventures since they started smoking marijuana.

They tell stories of heightened senses, bursts of creativity, dealers with
larger-than-life personalities and the guy they know who is "always stoned,
even when he goes to class."

Emma, one of the roommates, tells a story.

"I remember being stoned once, and I had these shoes with texture at the
bottom. I just kept touching the texture for like half an hour, because I
just couldn't stop," she said before bursting into laughter.

Kathy, the other roommate, nods in understanding.

"Your senses are heightened after you smoke," she said.

According to a March 2004 report published by the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, Emma and Kathy are just two of an estimated 14 million
Americans who smoke marijuana regularly. Yet, despite its prevalence, users
of marijuana claim that the effects are misunderstood, and its users are
stereotyped by the general public.

Perception of Marijuana

According to a report released by the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, marijuana users are more likely to use other drugs such as cocaine
or heroin, and there are adverse health effects including interference with
brain function and an increased risk for cancer.

But the beliefs and perceptions of marijuana use are often exaggerated and
inaccurate, Mitch Earleywine, a professor of psychology and author of
"Understanding Marijuana," wrote in an e-mail.

"Generally, marijuana is less harmful than we were taught," Earleywine
wrote. "There is no 'amotivational syndrome.' Marijuana does not cause the
use of other drugs, increase violence or lead to depression. Respiratory
effects are limited but established - regular users have more cough and
bronchitis symptoms, but that's about it."

At USC, there are far fewer reports of students using marijuana than
alcohol, said Lt. Gloria Graham, head of the Department of Public Safety
Crime Prevention Unit.

"We don't get many calls on it," Graham said. "Housing usually takes care
of problems in the dorms, and we would get a call if there's something else
in the room."

Medicinal Weed and the Law

Currently, the federal U.S. Controlled Substances Act makes possession or
use of marijuana illegal, while California state law allows the exemption
for medicinal marijuana, creating a battle between state and federal rights.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to deliver a decision soon on the issue
in Ashcroft v. Raich, which will determine whether federal agents are
allowed to arrest patients who adhere to state laws but violate federal
laws. In the case, Angel Raich, a patient using medicinal marijuana, asked
a judge to issue a permanent injunction against the government from
arresting or prosecuting her for possessing and using marijuana.

The justices heard the case at the end of last November and are expected to
rule on it by June, when the justices go into recess.

Bruce Mirken, the director of communications at the Marijuana Policy
Project, said the results of the Supreme Court decision could mean
maintaining the status quo or ending federal opposition against medicinal
marijuana.

"If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Raich, the federal war on medicinal
marijuana is over. It would be a very important victory, as users would be
completely free of fear of arrest," Mirken said. "But if the court rules in
favor of the government, then it essentially preserves the status quo."

For users without a medicinal marijuana card, it is a misdemeanor in
California to possess one ounce or less of marijuana, and it is punishable
by a maximum $100 fine.

Obtaining Medicinal Marijuana

Chad, a sophomore majoring in fine arts, has had a history of back problems
that affected his sleeping and workout routines. Throughout high school, he
tried various treatments, including physical therapy, acupuncture and
regular visits to a chiropractor.

None were effective in relieving his back pain.

That was when he decided to visit a doctor in West Hollywood about getting
a recommendation letter for medicinal marijuana.

"One of my best friends from high school talked to a doctor in West
Hollywood and recommended him to me," Chad said. "I was sick of buying
marijuana from kids around school, and it got to the point where I didn't
want it to be illegal anymore."

Chad is one of a growing number of people who are taking advantage of
Proposition 215, known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, which
legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. California is one of
nine states that give exemptions to patients who use marijuana under
physician supervision.

One employee who works in a medicinal marijuana dispensary said that
security and background checks are stringent because of the high number of
people who fake recommendations and identification.

"I contact the doctor immediately and verify that the recommendation is
real," said Dell, the office manager at United Medical Caregivers Clinic, a
dispensary located on Wilshire Boulevard, just minutes from the USC campus.

Dell said that the dispensary was not routinely checked by the Los Angeles
Police Department, and everything is self-regulated.

"We have three doors that you need to be buzzed in before you can even get
inside," he said. "The doctor has to be licensed by the state of
California, and I check to make sure that everything is legitimate."

"We have caught people with faked letters and people who come out to the
clinic and try to sell it in the parking lot. We immediately revoke their
membership," Dell said.

The medicinal effects of marijuana are still being studied, and many of the
proclaimed benefits, including slowing of cancer cells and treating
illnesses such as glaucoma and bipolar disorder are still undetermined,
Earleywine wrote.

"Marijuana is absolutely excellent for insomnia, poor appetite, drooling,
AIDS-related wasting, nausea and vomiting," Earleywine wrote.

Matt, a senior majoring in theater, obtained medicinal marijuana to help
him deal with his anxiety. "I have panic attacks, where I flip out about
things, and I get so anxious about certain projects and not being able to
do it well enough," he said.

Matt said that he used to go to a psychiatrist, but the medication he was
prescribed made him tired, so he got a prescription for marijuana, which he
had used in the past. Despite his use, he is reserved in his praise for the
medicinal benefits of the drug.

"Marijuana has helped with the anxiety, but not as much as the treatments
that aren't drug-related, like self-reflection, therapy, writing and
counseling," Matt said. "I thought it would be different at first, but in
the end, it's not really that big of a deal for me anymore."

Recreational Use

The two roommates, Emma and Kathy, said that they began experimenting with
marijuana in high school, but it wasn't until their sophomore year at USC
when they began smoking it regularly.

Emma, a junior majoring in psychology, described her parents as "hippies"
who know that she smokes marijuana. She said that sometimes, her parents
joke about smoking together.

For Kathy, a junior majoring in communication, her parents are unaware that
she smokes, and she believes that "they would die if they ever found out."

Both students said that unlike the stereotypical perception of marijuana
smokers as "potheads," both are actively involved in many student
organizations and do well in school.

"I only do it when I don't have things I should be doing," said Emma. "It's
a way to relax and kind of chill out."

Emma and Kathy said that they smoke marijuana approximately two or three
times a week.

Kathy described marijuana as a communal drug that brings people together.

"There is a whole etiquette when buying pot," Kathy said. "After you call a
dealer, which is usually a student, you get together, roll a joint and
everybody just smokes. You get to know a lot of people that way."

Kathy said there are different levels in the quality of marijuana that can
be purchased, from "schwag," the lowest quality, which still has loose
leaves and seeds, to "dank," which is the highest quality. She said that
when she first started smoking, she began with schwag, but since moving to
California, she has been amazed by the quality of marijuana.

"We're spoiled in California. In California, the pot is amazing," Kathy
said. "When I first came out here, I was in shock because it is so potent."

Like many marijuana users, Emma believes that the drug should be legal, and
its effects are much less harmful than alcohol or cigarettes.

"I think it's dumb that marijuana is illegal," Emma said. "The side effects
of alcohol are so much worse."

"I just think it's really stupid. There's no good evidence or reason for it
to be illegal," Kathy said.

People working to decriminalize marijuana said they believe that the drug
is less toxic and less harmful than alcohol or cigarettes.

"We don't want to legalize marijuana in the way that Coca-Cola is
legalized," Mirken said. "A reasonable and common sense regulation is to
regulate marijuana like alcohol."

The Downsides of Marijuana

As Emma and Kathy reflected on the experiences that they have gone through
and witnessed since they began smoking, they acknowledged that they had
seen problems with marijuana.

"We used to have a friend, and I don't think I have seen him in a long time
without being stoned. Now, he won't even eat without being high, because
food doesn't taste as good," Emma said.

"I have a friend who went to (a prestigious school in the Midwest), and he
was really smart," Kathy said. "But then he started smoking, and he dropped
out of school and now lives with another guy who smokes all the time."

Like any drug, the potential for abuse is always present, Emma said.

For the both of them, the main regret they had was that the novelty of
smoking had disappeared, and it was more of a routine now.

"The one thing I'd say is, now it's so easy to say, 'Yeah, let's go get
stoned,' because we do it so often. It just doesn't seem like a big deal
any more," Emma said. "It used to be kind of an event."

As a brief silence descended over the room, Kathy slowly added, "When you
put it that way, I guess it has been kind of sad."