Master Debators

I attended a debate on campus last night billed as "Heads vs. Feds," between Steven Hager, editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, and Robert Stutman, 25 year veteran of the DEA. The topic, naturally, was the legalization of marijuana in the United States.

Both speakers made it clear that they'd done this before--that is, debate each other. And both made it clear that they are, in fact, good friends. Surprisingly, after the debate, I didn't see their positions as being all that far from each other.

Mr. Hager gave several reasons why marijuana should be legal, ranging from its uses as a medicine to its role in his religion (a sacrament, he called it). Mr. Stutman countered every claim with statements to the effect that science did not support any of Mr. Hager's claims. He went on to say that, should either the courts, the legislature, scientific journals or the FDA support the legalization of marijuana in the future, he would change his stance.

I got a good deal of information from the debate last night, mostly from Mr. Stutman's side. I continue to support the eventual decriminalization of marijuana, but for different reasons than Mr. Hager: I see it as a state's rights vs. Federalism issue. But it's nice to be able to see both sides.

October 08, 2002 - 09:33 AM