Pot debate focuses on religion, medicine

Pot debate focuses on religion, medicine

http://www.thepost.ohiou.edu/Articles/News/2008/01/25/22570/

Published: Friday, January 25, 2008

Students experienced a "high" level of discussion at last night's
sold-out Heads vs. Feds event.

The first in the Sex, Drugs and Rock n' Roll Debate Series at Baker
University Center, pit "head" Steve Hager, editor in chief of High
Times magazine against "fed" Robert Stutman, a former Drug
Enforcement Agency officer. Both parties declared their position
about the legalization of marijuana before opening the debate up to
student questions.

Hager gave five reasons for the legalization of marijuana: its
medicinal purposes, the benefits of hemp fiber, overcrowded prisons,
the funding of corruption, along with cannabis' religious importance
to counterculture.

"We're good people," he said. "We're as American as apple pie and
baseball. We are honest, sincere people and to us marijuana is a
sacrament. So please, can we have a little freedom of religion in America?"

Stutman said Hager was "acting like a petulant eight year old" by
including religion in the debate, saying that "10 guys getting
together on Saturday night and smoking a joint isn't religion."

Religion isn't something on which to base public policy, Stutman argued.

"I guess we didn't learn our lesson on 9/11," he said. "Just because
you did it in the name of religion doesn't make it right."

Stutman also countered Hager's argument for legalized medicinal
marijuana, citing several studies that downplayed the medical
benefits of cannabis and the current use of natural substances in
prescription drugs.

He also addressed the increased number of marijuana users
legalization would create and the effect that would have on
automobile accidents because of cannabis' effect on depth perception.

Hager reiterated his belief in marijuana as good medicine because of
the lack of sexual and mental side effects that often come with
prescription medication.

"Side effects (of marijuana) are you eat great, you sleep great and
you have the best sex of your life," he said.

Both stressed the importance of activism and voting, regardless of
which side you supported.

"If you think I'm wrong and you don't vote next November, you sit
down and shut up," Stutman said.

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