There have always been conflicts between the rights of schools and students' First Amendment rights. Beginning with the court case Tinker v. Des Moines, the Supreme Court decided that students don't lose their First Amendment rights simply by walking through their schoolhouse doors. Since that decision in 1969 though, many other court cases have occurred that seek to limit students' freedoms. New Jersey v. T.L.O set the precedent that students have less privacy in schools. The Board of Education of Independent School District No. 92 of Pottawatomie County v. Earls set the precedent that random drug testing of students involved in extracurricular activities does not violate the Fourth Amendment. [continues 491 words]
Some doctors prescribe medications like Zofran and Compazine to help their cancer patients deal with nausea. Others recommend alternative treatments like acupuncture. Now, physicians in some states can offer their patients marijuana without the fear of legal ramifications thanks to a new federal policy. Last week, the Obama administration announced it would not prosecute users or suppliers of medical marijuana as long as they are in accordance with state laws, a policy that is already sparking some debate about its feasibility. [continues 553 words]
More than 70 students, some irate and begging to attend, were turned away from an overflowing La Rose theater Monday night, where speakers discussed the hotly debated issue on whether or not marijuana should be leagalized during "The Great Marijuana Debate." Students, faculty and members of the Burlington community may have crowded the room and spilled into the aisles because of the new Obama administration policy that will not press charges against those who use or sell medical marijuana, provided they abide by the state laws and new policy guidelines. That change, which was announced two weeks ago, moves America closer to ending, or at least partially ending, the prohibition against marijuana now than at any other point. [continues 702 words]
From an uninformed perspective, legalizing marijuana to give the economy a boost and satisfy public desire sounds like a good idea. The government would be able to regulate and tax each sale, earning a hefty profit. An estimated calculation of the tax proved California would earn approximately $1.4 billion in revenue by legalizing the use of marijuana. But aside from the benefits to state governments and recreational enjoyment, the proven health consequences from the drug make it difficult for the legislation to pass. [continues 566 words]
Michael McManus spoke to Elon students on Thursday about the increasing use of illegal drugs in America and the effort he has had in fighting drug wars over the past 30 years. McManus is a former Federal Agent with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. He was one of the agents instrumental in bringing down George Jung, prominent drug lord and the man responsible for America's cocaine market. The 2001 movie "Blow" is based on Jung and his downfall. "I have been blessed with an absolutely fantastic career," McManus said. "I drive fast boats, smuggle cocaine out of the Bahamas and drive beautiful cars. And I get paid to do it." [continues 568 words]
Phelps scandal exposes two-sided drug attitudes. The arguments for and against marijuana use have been discussed at length for years. Yes, studies show 42 percent of adults have experimented with pot. Marijuana is the top cash crop in the United States, according to a 2006 study by NORML, a pro-legalization group. But in light of the Michael Phelps marijuana scandal, I want to take the discussion to a different place. We as Americans are inconsistent when it comes to marijuana issues. When marijuana is connected to whites, it is recreational. With blacks, it is destructive. [continues 482 words]
A Country Up In Smoke About Absolutely Nothing Michael Phelps smoked pot. It's best to just come out and say it. There's no beating around the bush, no sugar-coating it. Now before everyone hops on the phone demanding that Michael Phelps be banned from this country for such atrocious crimes, why doesn't everybody take a deep breath and look at this situation? For those who are uninformed, a picture of Michael Phelps using a "smoking apparatus" has popped up on the Internet. Following right behind it is the uproar of thousands of shocked parents. [continues 446 words]
The arguments for and against marijuana use have been discussed at length for years. Yes, studies show 42 percent of adults have experimented with pot. Marijuana is the top cash crop in the United States, according to a 2006 study by NORML, a pro-legalization group. But in light of the Michael Phelps marijuana scandal, I want to take the discussion to a different place. We as Americans are inconsistent when it comes to marijuana issues. When marijuana is connected to whites, it is recreational. With blacks, it is destructive. [continues 482 words]
Police should focus on rape In response to the article about rising marijuana usage, maybe the campus police should be more worried about the rapes and attacks on campus and the use of harder illicit drugs which people can die from, such as cocaine, and not worry so much about the marijuana problem. Once the safety of the females on campus is assured, then they can focus on less important things, such as marijuana, which 87 percent of Americans have tried at least once in their lifetime. [continues 54 words]
To the Editor: Regarding Adam Klein's April 8 column ("Hemp, the perfect paper substitute"), the United States is one of the few countries in the world that deny farmers the right to grow industrial hemp. Apparently government bureaucrats in Washington can't tell the difference between a tall hemp stalk and a short marijuana bush. Prior to the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, few Americans had heard of marijuana, despite widespread cultivation of its non-intoxicating cousin, industrial hemp. [continues 222 words]
Hemp. Does the word make you think about illegal drugs and getting high? Well let me inform you that hemp will not get you high, but it is illegal to grow it in the United States. First let's talk about where hemp comes from and what hemp can do for you and the environment. Hemp comes from the plant called cannabis; the common strain is sativa. The fiber produced from the cannabis is called hemp. From hemp many goods can be made, from bikinis to rope. [continues 318 words]
Forty-nine Alamance County high school students and nine others of high school age were arrested on drug charges Feb. 4 as the result of a six-month undercover operation by local law enforcement. The bust was the largest ever conducted in Alamance County schools and the first to involve all six high schools, said Randy Jones, director of public information for the county's sheriff's department. Burlington and Graham police departments also took part in operation, in which undercover officers enrolled at the high schools and posed as students. [continues 366 words]
Early last week, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a new operation in the war on drugs, code-named "Operation Pipe Dreams." This new development led to the arrest of 55 individuals, nationwide, indicted on charges of trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia. Ashcroft says this new operation is a huge step in cracking down on the war on drugs, but he couldn't be more wrong. Those commercials are one thing, but, ladies and gentlemen, this is getting very out of hand. I am terrified that we are in for some big trouble in the near future, if this is where our government's priorities lie during this "age of terror." [continues 585 words]
