Pubdate: Tue, 25 Apr 2006
Source: Winonan (WI, Edu)
Contact:  http://www.winona.edu/winonan/
Fax: (507) 457-5317
Copyright: 1922-2006 Winonan, Winona State University
Author: Carl Hunter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

STOP THE WAR ON DRUGS, LEGALIZE THEM

Last Thursday, the annual Winona State spring club fair brought life 
and activity to the campus courtyard. Members set up tables, flashed 
posters and orchestrated eye catching activities to promote interest 
in their respective clubs.

One club made brownies, tossed Frisbees and indulged in every single 
hippie stereotype possible, including tie-dye, hemp jewelry, mellow 
music, earth tones, homemade clothes and marijuana. Yes, last 
Thursday, my friends, was 420, the national hippie holiday.

Winona State's own NORML club seized the opportunity to promote their 
"lifestyle" all over campus. NORML stands for the National 
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or in other words the 
"I like pot and don't want to get in trouble for using it" club.

Smoking cigarettes is bad. We know this. Well, marijuana smoke 
contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco 
smoke, yet there's a constant debate defending pot.

Anyway, while I may not indulge in the "lifestyle," I do agree with 
their message.

Legalizing marijuana is a great idea. In fact, we should legalize all 
recreational chemicals and stop spending money fighting the "war on 
drugs." If you want to staple your hand to a piece of paper, go for 
it. Honestly, I could care less and I definitely wouldn't be 
investing any money trying to prevent you from doing it. So, why 
would I want to pay taxes to prevent you from smoking pot?

Make drugs legal; take away the power of the black market. You don't 
see people peddling caffeine pills and shooting each other over a 
Mountain Dew. Instead of funding the enforcement of penalties, let's 
fund the publicizing of research.

If people still want to hinder their potential, let 'em. Short-term 
marijuana usage is linked with memory and learning problems, 
distorted perception, difficulty thinking and problem solving, loss 
of coordination and increased heart rate.

Heavy use is linked with cancer in the lungs and head, decreased 
blood flow to the brain and adjusting chemicals in the brain 
(dopamine is involved with the regulation of motivation and reward).

But hey, the research is conflicting, there are many students who get 
good grades and are very involved with life and Mary Jane. Sherlock 
Holmes, Sigmund Freud and Stephen King were all addicted to cocaine.

King even said that "without coke I'd have gone on drinking until 
about the age of 55 and it would have been a couple of lines in the 
New York Times: 'Writer Stephen King dies of stroke.'"

Raise the banners and burn the research, cocaine is good for you too. 
Let's legalize drugs, drink constantly in excess and remove those 
hideous safety labels.

May only the strong survive; Darwin, return to the throne.