STUDENTS DON'T FEAR THE REEFER

The time has come - 4:20. For those who smoke marijuana regularly,
this is a holiday.

Junior political science major Dan Weckesser thinks this is a
popular holiday because it's an opportunity for members of a
subculture to bond over what goes against the norms of the rest of society.

"It is a chance for people to celebrate what they love and for
people to find out how normal and functional marijuana smokers are
for the most part," he said.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site,
marijuana is the most used illegal drug in the United States. Nearly
69 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once.

It's widely accepted that in the early 1970s, a group of teenagers
at San Rafael High School in California used to meet every day after
school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke marijuana.

Many cannabis users continue to observe 4:20 a.m. and p.m. as a time
to smoke communally. By extension, April 20 has evolved into a
counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.

Weichenthal said April 20 is a popular day because there is no other
day for those who use marijuana. For him, it is a day to concentrate
on reforming what he considers to be unjust laws.

"It's like the St. Patrick's Day for pot smokers," he said.

Weckesser said marijuana should be legalized for three reasons - the
primary reason being that people have the right to do to their own
body as they see fit.

"Secondly, because of the illicit methods through which marijuana is
distributed currently, the profits of marijuana dealing are going to
organized crime and terrorist organizations," he said.

He adds that legalization of marijuana would be a blow against crime
and terror. The funding that goes to the enforcement and punishment
of marijuana crimes could be used to combat real crimes like sexual
assault or other heinous acts, he said.

Stephen Weichenthal, event officer for NORML, said $400 per second
is spent on prohibition.

NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws,
is a nonprofit lobbying organization working to legalize marijuana,
stop arrests of smokers and provide educational research.

Weichenthal and roommate Matt Seckel started the University chapter
after looking at marijuana research on both the medical use and
social use, studying the effects on society and individuals.

"We think the laws that prohibit cannabis do more harm to society
than the use of cannabis does," Weichenthal said. "Cannabis is
gentler on the user than alcohol and cigarettes."