MARIJUANA DEBATE HEATS UP

First, they brought America medical marijuana, and now they are lifting the
bar with a more skeptical but enticing debate: Should marijuana be legal?

New polls are finding that most Americans, while they do not want marijuana
fully legalized, do think that it should be legally used for medical
purposes and those caught with it for recreational purposes should be fined,
not jailed.

Nearly 47 percent of Americans say they have tried marijuana at least once,
according to a survey conducted by CNN last October.

The battle is heating, within politics, the medical community and avid users
seeking recreational purposes.

The pro-pot movement has pushed the agenda at the polls by invoking Question
9, which would allow adults to possess up to 3 ounces of pot for personal
use.

John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control
Policy, has been appointed by President Bush as deputy drug czar. Walters
believes he can help Americans by fighting the war on drugs, but many
pro-pot supporters say a czar who claims he has never smoked pot cannot
fully understand the pro-pot movement.

"Walters is a pathetic drug-war soul who is defending a whole category of
horrors he's indifferent to," said John Sperling in a Time interview.
Sterling is founder of the nationwide chain the University of Phoenix and
has donated $13 million to drug-reform campaigns. Sperling says he smoked
pot to reduce pain when he was combating cancer in the 1960s.

But, Walters says he believes marijuana is a gateway drug and detrimental
due to its indirect affects, such as causing driving accidents, domestic
violence, crippling addiction and health risks.

As far as health risks are concerned, billionaire Peter Lewis, former CEO of
Progressive and supporter of Question 9, says he is fighting to legalize the
drug in the state of Nevada because his health will benefit from regular pot
use.

"The absurdity of its illegality has been clear to me for some time. I
learned about pot from my kids and realized it was a lot better than Scotch.
Then I went to my doctor, and he said, 'I'm thrilled. You're drinking too
much. You're much better off doing pot than drinking,'" said Stallings in a
Time interview.

So far, eight states have allowed the use of medical marijuana: Alaska,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The
latest research shows that while marijuana is not necessarily healthy, its
health risk from occasional use is mild and it might ease certain pains.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, no one has
ever died from marijuana poisoning, but researchers have found that pot
smoking can affect the immune system, and people who use heavy dosages may
develop ischemia, an insufficient blood supply.

But the fact that marijuana is successful in helping cancer patients ward
off pain leaves the medical community fighting to make marijuana legal by
way of prescription.

Currently, North Carolina does not allow marijuana to be used for medical
purposes, nor does the state have any pending ballot initiatives related to
marijuana.

Technician's poll shows that well more than half -- 68 percent -- of N.C.
State students believe that pot should be legalized, while only 32 percent
think it should remain illegal.

"The affects [of marijuana] on your body and mind are no different from the
[effects] alcohol can cause, which is a right permitted by all states and
all countries. Abusing alcohol is more dangerous than abusing pot; you hear
about drunk drivers killing, but you never hear of pot smokers killing
behind the wheel," said Jacob Kneel, a junior in business management.

Nationwide, police arrest more people for marijuana possession than for any
other drug. Between Nevada cops and other law enforcers, Question 9 has some
of them secretly supporting the pro-pot movement so they can focus on more
serious crimes. However, after the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs
made this announcement, the head of the organization, Andy Anderson, was
forced to resign.

According to NCSU Campus Police Chief Thomas Younce, the majority of people
arrested on NCSU's campus are arrested for marijuana possession.

"My problem with legalizing marijuana is how do you control it? We haven't
been able to control alcohol usage and now we want to bring another drug on
the market. Also, you have to think about those who distribute it. Most
times, these people are linked with organized crime, which isn't a good
thing," said Younce.

The penalty for those caught with possession of marijuana on campus depends
on the amount. Students can face mild charges, such as appearing before a
campus judicial board, to more severe charges, including jail time. Younce
said if a student is caught with intent to sell, the misdemeanor charge
jumps to a felony.

"Yes, I think marijuana should be legalized, because it would cut down on
all the petty misdemeanor charges police have to waste their time issuing,"
said Josh Baker, a junior in architecture.