Whether you enjoy smoking marijuana or not, you will probably encounter it at some point or another during your college career. Pot smoking seems to be a trademark of college campuses around the country. Students love to get “baked” in their dorm rooms, watch “pot” movies, and of course, celebrate the infamous 4/20 (April 20) holiday. Her Campus thought that we would do some work of our own and find out more about the legalization debate, and where our country, President Obama, and you stand on the issue as well as what might happen in the future.
It isn’t just us—the college generation of America—who in large part supports the legalization of marijuana. The cause is also backed by those who want to use the drug for therapeutic reasons. Some of these reasons include easing pain during illnesses such as a cancer as well as alleviating anxiety and stress. In the past few years, marijuana advocates are beginning to see some of the changes that they have hoped for.
Marijuana has actually been legalized for medicinal purposes in the following thirteen states: California (1996) Alaska (1998) Washington (1998) Oregon (1998) Maine (1999) Colorado (2000) Nevada (2000) Vermont (2004) Montana (2004) Rhode Island (2006) New Mexico (2007) Michigan (2008) These states have acknowledged that there are benefits to the legalization of medical marijuana. But although there are advantages, we also have to acknowledge that legalization has its downsides too.
Pros:
- Can serve as a pain reliever for those who are sick (especially with Cancer and AIDS)
- It could help the FDA regulate the safety of drugs
- Could decrease drug crimes and violence in the U.S
- Could possibly increase revenue and help stimulate the economy
Cons:
- Marijuana is seen as a “gateway” drug and could therefore lead to use of other drugs
- Increase the long term effects of those who use it (energy loss, lung cancer, apathy, chronic bronchitis, etc.)
- Could become more available to adolescents
President Obama has indicated his support for medical marijuana and sees little difference between it and the prescription of morphine to patients. He does not want to punish doctors who dispense marijuana to their patients (even if it is not included in their state law), but feels that this would entail some changes in federal law which are not top on his priority list. However, there are many grass roots organizations and lobbying groups are working to make these changes a top priority for Obama.
So who are these groups?
There are an abundance of marijuana advocacy groups that are devoting endless amounts of time towards legalizing marijuana. Some of the most powerful and vocal of these groups are NORML (National Organization for The Reform of Marijuana Laws), the Drug Policy Alliance and Americans for Safe Access.
In an interview I had with Kris Hermes, the media specialist for Americans for Safe Access, he says that his organization is committed to “educating the public” and providing them with access to the “wealth of information” regarding marijuana and its use.
“We are engaged in an effort to get the government to reconsider [their stance on marijuana],” said Hermes. As opposed to a federal law legalizing marijuana, Hermes believes that the country will end up with “a patchwork of laws across the country in each state” that will vary in their regulation. Many of these states have marijuana dispensaries but do not have cafes or public areas set aside for smoking marijuana. However the first marijuana café was recently opened in Portland, Oregon!
The FIRST marijuana café!
On November 13th, the Cannabis Café opened in Portland, Oregon and three dozen people indulged in the joys of pot smoking and coffee at the same time. Many marijuana supporters have hoped for a café of this nature to open in the United States (they have many in Amsterdam) and now it has actually happened!
So how do we—college students—feel about marijuana and its legalization?
Of course we can’t generalize across our entire demographic, but it’s pretty apparent that many college kids love smoking pot (just walk into a college dorm room and take a whiff!). We seem to love “pot” movies like “Half-Baked” and songs like “Cause I Got High.” But on a more serious note, many students find that marijuana helps them to relax during the stressful times of college.
Max Liedtka, a sophomore at Hofstra University, said that “weed has helped him to be in a more care-free state of mind, which in certain situations is just what a person needs.”
Sam Miron, a sophomore at New York University, feels that the legalization of marijuana “would definitely be a positive step for the U.S.”
Of course there are also those college students who sit firmly on the other side of the debate. We will just have to wait and see where the future of marijuana will lead. Let me know what you think about this issue by posting a comment!
Sources:
Kris Hermes-media specialist for Americans for Safe Access
Sam Miron-a sophomore at New York University
Max Liedtka-a sophomore at Hofstra University