MARIJUANA, ALCOHOL NOT EQUAL

It's hard to believe that the SGA sponsors of the bill to reduce the
marijuana punishment at this school ignore the reason behind stiffer
punishment: marijuana is an illegal drug. Although alcohol has an age under
which consumption is illegal, marijuana's only requirement for punishment is
use or possession. Argue all you want about why it's illegal, but can the
SGA change that fact? No.

There is already a negative stereotype that this university is full of
potheads, so why should the SGA, who are supposed to be leaders for
Appalachian's students, work to reinforce such detrimental public opinion?

To be morally suasive, what parent wouldn't want to know his or her child is
using a controlled substance? Upon first reading the headline, I was
foolishly excited that maybe the SGA was getting serious about the huge
underage drinking problem that has permeated this campus. And raising the
penalty for underclassmen who get busted. But it's my opinion that this bill
will do nothing except give people more incentive to break the law. Not the
SGA's law, but the United States' law. The bottom line is, until the federal
government decides that marijuana is on the same "level" as alcohol, then
there's no reason for the SGA to lower the punishment here at Appalachian.

Will Gillespie senior, public relations