EXPERTS DISAGREE ON MERITS OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Campus experts believe what could be an emerging trend of marijuana
legalization may have a big impact on campus. The state of Nevada is
considering legalizing the possession of up to three ounces of marijuana for
residents over 21 years of age. Nevada voters will make the decision in
November.

Derrick Grimmer, scientist at Iowa State's Microelectronics Research Center,
believes prohibiting drug use is a method the government uses to control
citizens.

"[Prohibition] has nothing to do with worries about health," said Grimmer,
member of the Ames chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws. "It has nothing to do with the well- being of the citizens
of any country."

He said the United States treats drugs differently than many countries.

"Various states have tried to liberalize the access [of drugs] for medical
use, but these efforts always run up against federal law," Grimmer said.

If marijuana were legalized in Iowa, safety concerns - including lowered
inhibitions and driving under the influence - would be a serious problem on
campus, said Denise Denton, lecturer on health and human performance.

Marijuana is "not worse or better than cigarettes, but different," she said.
But marijuana is typically taken in more deeply and held in the lungs
longer, and has no filter, Denton said.

"The half-life for marijuana is seven days, meaning half of it is still in
your system seven days [after consumption]," she said. "One marijuana joint
is equal to about 10 cigarettes in terms of cancer- causing properties."

"Marijuana is stored in fat cells - It can stay in your system for 30 days."

Grimmer said Nevada's efforts to legalize the drug are reasonable.

"Nevada is trying to come up with some sanity to this problem," he said. "We
need to look at the problems due to any substance, then look at the problems
due to the prohibition of that substance and try to maintain a balance
between the two."

Prohibition, Grimmer said, has produced negative outcomes.

"The iron laws of prohibition are the source of organized crime, street
crime, alteration of substances, refinement of substances, involvement of
children in the drug trade and disrespect for the law," he said.

He said drug use is a personal decision and can be handled responsibly.

"At worst, [people] are only hurting themselves," he said.

There are alternatives to using marijuana medicinally, Denton said.

"I think people are accepting of the idea that [marijuana] has medicinal
properties, but for everything you can do with marijuana medicinally, there
are other drugs that do those things as well," she said.