Source: Centre Daily Times (Serving Central Pennsylvania) Author: Julie M. Randall, Centre Daily Times Pubdate: 16 Jan 1998 Contact: Please indicate whether your comments may be considered for publication. Website: http://www.centredaily.com/ Note: For anyone wishing to send email to Professor Heicklen, his address is: PROFESSOR TAKES PART IN SMOKEOUT A 65-year-old Penn State professor said he smoked his first marijuana joint Thursday -- right on College Avenue and in front of Penn State police officers. Julian Heicklen, a chemistry professor, attracted a crowd of about 50 students and Centre County residents holding "Marijuana Smokeout" signs as he reclined in a lounge chair in front of the university gates at College Avenue and South Allen Street. "I'm not doing it for the marijuana, I'm doing it because we have a right to make free choices," said Heicklen, a member of Centre County's Libertarian Party. Although Heicklen was prepared to be arrested -- he said he had $1,500 with him just in case -- he was not. Police responded to an anonymous call at 12:17 p.m., but said they had no probable cause to arrest him. Stewart Neff, a campus police officer, said Heicklen was not arrested because police didn't believe he was really smoking marijuana. "There was no evidence that it was a marijuana cigarette," Neff said. "Marijuana gives off a distinct odor, and we did not detect that odor." Heicklen refused to answer any police questions about his hour-long protest. "The real cause I believe in is freedom. I think we're putting too many people in jail for using drugs," he said. "The dumbest thing in the world is to arrest people for using a vegetable." Heicklen said he would return to College Avenue at the same time in two weeks to demonstrate again.