*kind of went off on a tangent and didn't realize it had to be under 200 words. I am sending it anyways. Figured I would like some people to read it however. Here you go. I think it's a pretty good read if I do say so myself. [CENTER]In Response to “Marijuana Most Common Drug on Campus” Article[/CENTER] Marijuana is gaining popularity amongst the American public, and its use has been on a rapid climb since the sixties and the era of flower power and rebellion against the government, (i.e. the Vietnam War effort.) There is no denying the fact that the American people are using more marijuana than they ever have, and for various reasons ranging from recreation to pain-relief and therapeutic uses. Also, for the purpose of not using an alienating name for a therapeutic substance, let’s ditch the name “marijuana” and use “cannabis” instead., since that is the substances scientific name, not a name generated to confuse the public. I would first like to comment on the inaccuracy of the article title: “Marijuana Most Common Drug on Campus.” Alcohol is the most commonly used drug on the Penn State Campus, not marijuana. This is a common logical fallacy amongst law enforcement, journalists, and the publics who do not consume cannabis. Alcohol is a drug. Simply because it is not recognized as an illegal substance after the age of 21 does not indicate that it is no longer a drug. In fact, alcohol is one of the most dangerous and addictive substances known to man. It results in thousands of incidents of drunk driving, domestic abuse, suicide, and public disturbance. If we are going for accuracy, the title of the article should have read: “Marijuana Most Common Illegal Drug on Campus.” Now you have a title which reflects the true scenario at Penn State. In the article, Police Chief Tyrone Parham is quoted many times on the topic and it is obvious that he does not have a very sound understanding of the substance cannabis and its role in society today. He states, “Why this many students still choose marijuana still baffles me.” What is there to be baffled about? Cannabis is an ultimately safe substance to consume and offers an alternative to drinking, an act which can lead to hospitalization and death. Cannabis has caused a total of zero deaths worldwide. Constant use of cannabis can lead to slight lung irritation but it has no direct link to any kind of cancer, and even has anti-cancerous properties. All of these claims can be backed by studies and evidence. How is it “baffling” in any sense of the word? Students are choosing the safer alternative to other recreational drugs. It makes complete sense why marijuana usage numbers are rising. Clearly, it would only be baffling to someone whose does not understand the substance and carries misconceptions about it. It is also stated in the article by Lt. Chris Fishel that “[State College Police] often see crack, LSD, and Heroin along with marijuana.” This is exactly the kind of misleading rhetoric used by anti-cannabis supporters that leads to misunderstanding within communities about cannabis. It is very possible that along with cannabis, the police also find tobacco, alcohol, OTC drugs, and prescription drugs, not just hard drugs which are conveniently Schedule I drugs as well. Furthermore, the article continues: “Lt. Fishel said local enforcement agencies deal with hallucinogen drugs more than any other kind. Most kids are looking for a ‘quick high’.” This statement alone is brimming with ignorance and falsities. Once again, biased rhetoric is utilized by Lt. Fishel when he claims students are looking for “quick highs.” What does a “quick high” even entail? If students were looking for a “slow high” what drugs would they consume? It is statements like this which try and paint pictures of strung-out, drug addicted students, and it is humorously biased and ignorant. No, students are looking for safe recreational drugs to lower stress and improve creativity. That is why they use cannabis, not because they are addicted, not because they need a “fix.” Once again, logical discussion about cannabis should never utilize biased and ignorant rhetoric. There is no room for biased opinion and ignorance in logic. There is only room for factual evidence and truthful analysis. However, it is apparent the government and the DEA does not care about logic. Cannabis is a Schedule I drug meaning it has no medical benefits and is physically dangerous and addicting. However, thousands and thousands of US citizens are prescribed Medical Cannabis for a wide array of health related problems such as: treatment of nausea, vomiting, premenstrual syndrome, unintentional weight loss, insomnia, anxiety, depression, lack of appetite, spasticity, tremors, pain relief, neurogenic pain, asthma, glaucoma, etc. The list of potential ailments that can be cured by only the slightest administration of cannabis to a patient is astoundingly long and thorough. Once again, the government does not care about logic in this matter. They refuse to remove cannabis as a Schedule I drug; instead claiming it is as destructive of a substance as crack, heroin and LSD. Moreover, the article states “While the [hallucinogenic] drugs have continued to change over the years, their effects are relatively similar- and none are very safe.” The vagueness of this statement is vast. No effects are even explained, and then are deemed “unsafe.” Hallucinogenic drugs are one of the safer recreational drugs one can ingest. Caffeine and alcohol are more destructive to the human body, more so than all hallucinogenic drugs combined. They can lead to liver failure, high blood pressure, or death. Marijuana use causes none of these things. How then can its effects be more “unsafe?” The article proceeds: “Both State College Police and Penn State Police are working to educate the surrounding community. Parham said officers typically conduct educational classes within the residence halls, while State College Police target the local schools and residences.” Once again, ignorance and unsupported facts does not equate education. Education does not equate propaganda. The officers are “educating” by misleading the public opinion; quite counterproductive if you ask me. The officers should be teaching harm reduction techniques about the dangers of binge drinking, not attempting to sway people away from safer alternatives. They are educating you to make bad decisions. Go figure. It’s not their fault. They are not aware of the truth because they have never sought it out. Is Police Chief Parham aware that even the D.A.R.E program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) has dropped cannabis from its curriculum entirely as of this December following the recent legalization of cannabis use in Colorado and Washington State? My guess is no. But it’s not his fault; he probably just never bothered to look it up- stuck in his old ways. In conclusion, we are hurting the students more by arresting them for cannabis use and possession. We are denying them their future because they are acting smart and using safer alternative drugs. We are even denying them job positions. That is discrimination, not justice. There is an over whelming amount of scientific evidence backed by laboratory conducted studies that are in support of cannabis as a potential medicine and therapeutic recreational drug which is far safer than alternative drugs. We are in the age of enlightenment about cannabis: the verdict is out, cannabis is safe. Deny this fact and remain in the disillusioned past or accept this fact and graduate to the future. As a member of a free thinking society, you owe it to yourself to research cannabis and to stop being herded like sheep by police officers, government officials, and their financially backed propaganda. Thomas Jefferson once profoundly stated: “If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it; he is obliged to do so.” The founding father could not have hit the nail more on the head.