CANNABIS ON CAMPUS

It's the same scene.

The 90210-esque party, college kids on the couch, smoke-filled-air and a
bong on the coffee table.

A distressed partyer bursts in with the news that the cops are on the way.
Moments later the police are there arresting and handcuffing.

Statistics show this scene is not uncommon in Auburn.

In the past six months, campus police have arrested 16 Auburn students for
possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia. In the past year, the The
Auburn Police have arrested three people for selling marijuana and 58 for
possession.

Some Auburn students aren't surprised by the numbers.

"I believe that a lot of people use marijuana, probably 99 percent of my
friends," said Auburn senior Ryan Guinness.

Auburn junior Jim Newcastle said he and his friends have never had trouble
finding marijuana.

"It's easier than ordering a pizza," Newcastle said.

Pot Punishment

Captain Randal Cerovsky of the Auburn University Department of Public
Safety knows it's around.

"It out here. To say that it is a big problem, no. But even on a small
scale it's considered a problem," Cerovsky said. "If you only have one or
two a year, it's still a problem."

Penalties for marijuana are harsh.

"The officer checks to see if they have been convicted of a marijuana
charge in the past," Cerovsky said. "If it's a (first offense), the person
will be arrested for unlawful possession of marijuana, handcuffed and
transported to the Lee County Justice Center." The offender is given an
opportunity to post bond, but must then return for a court date, Cerovsky said.

First time offenders must pay a hefty fine, are sentenced to probation and
may be ordered to see a counselor. Second time offenders may spend a
minimum of a year in jail.

Student Users

Despite the penalties and the numbers, many Auburn students argue the drug
isn't as bad as it's made out to be. Compared to alcohol, they say, it
looks even better.

"When you drink heavily, you go out and do things you would never do,"
Guinness said. "But with marijuana, I've never done anything like that. It
doesn't alter my state of mind. It just calms me down and allows me to take
things in."

Both Newcastle and Guinness said they feel marijuana is not a gateway drug
and is not addictive. But they said it can be detrimental for some, if used
in excess.

"I feel like it's wrong for some people," Newcastle said. "If you smoke it
and you're lazy and you're unproductive and you get nothing accomplished.
With marijuana, it makes a lazy person lazier."

Still, many marijuana users argue that in comparison to other drugs,
negative effects are less.

"Like if I don't smoke for a week, I don't care," Guinness said. "I'm not
craving pot."

Guinness, a chemistry major with a 3.9 GPA, said he has been smoking
marijuana since he was 12 years old and now smokes daily. He said he feels
like the drug helps him.

"I have ADD and I used to take Ritalin. That was awful. The mood swings
were terrible. I couldn't eat," he said. "The pot just calms me down so I
can study."

Refer Effects

Dr. Bernie Olin, Director of Auburn's Drug Information Center, said he
disagrees that marijuana could help students focus, but said marijuana has
a use in the treatment of cancer and AIDS victims.

"Marijuana is a drug, there's no doubt about that," Olin said. "It can
decrease concentration and decrease learning ability."

He said effects of marijuana usually last for several hours, but users may
only feel high for two of those hours and not be aware it is still
affecting them.

"You're not as capable of reacting in some situations, and those can often
last longer than the actual high effect," Olin said.

"Even though you may not feel anything two hours later from smoking the
marijuana cigarette, you may not be able to drive or react as well for
several hours."

Though Guinness said he has never had problems driving under the influence
of marijuana, Cerovsky feels smoking and driving is a serious problem.

"When people are under the influence of alcohol or drugs it can lead to
serious problems," Cerovsky said. "Not only are these people out there
using drugs, when someone under the influence of marijuana gets behind the
wheel of a car, what's the difference between that and someone under the
influence of alcohol?"

Cannabis Conflict

Junior Phil Pinkham said he's concerned about the the casual way in which
marijuana is viewed on campus.

"I think it's a rising problem," Pinkham said. "People used to think it was
such a bad drug, now it's just like getting beer or cigarettes."

Pinkham said he chose not to do the drug because he doesn't like the smell
or the way people look when they're high.

He said marijuana is prevalent on college campuses because college students
are prone to experiment.

"They're like 'Hey, I'm only here for four years,'" Pinkham said. "The
supply is so much higher. It's so much easier to get in college."

Pinkham said there is no real solution to marijuana use. But some, like
Loretta Nall, a representative for the Alabama Marijuana Party, feel
legalizing marijuana is the answer.

"We want to legalize marijuana for those 21 and older, end criminal
penalties and release those imprisoned for non-violent marijuana crimes,"
Nall said.

Guinness said he would like to see the legalization of marijuana, but
doesn't expect it to happen any time soon.

"It would never be legalized because it's too easy to grow on your own,"
Guinness said. "If marijuana was legal, big companies like Phillip Morris
would fall apart, and a large part of American industry would go down the
tubes."

For now, Auburn police will keep working to reduce marijuana crimes.

"If it's here then it's a problem," Cerovsky said. "The penalties are
strict, but they can always be stricter."