Panel airs views on drug legalization

About 50 University students got an earful of marijuana facts, figures and history last night in a panel discussion about the pros and cons of the legalization of the drug.

Retired professor Julian Heicklen, attorney José Texidor and Theodore Vallance, professor emeritus of human development at the University, who has written a book about the drug problem, comprised the panel of marijuana speakers.

A resident assistant training group organized the event in Waring Commons as part of a class, said organizer Hang Zhang (sophomore-marketing and international business).

Organizers said they originally scheduled two anti-marijuana speakers, Clifford Lutz from University Police Services and Natalie Croll, assistant director of health promotion and education for University Health Services, but both had to cancel yesterday afternoon at the last minute.

Heicklen, who has smoked marijuana as an act of civil disobedience for the past several weeks, cited moral, economic, social, crime-reduction, medical and pleasure reasons to legalize the drug.

"We have the right to keep and bear vegetables," Heicklen said.

Vallance spoke about the history of hemp and its uses in the industrial world. Marijuana and hemp were used in the past for rope, paper and other products, Vallance said.

"History can help contribute to the understanding of marijuana," Vallance said. "I haven't been a heavy user myself but I've had more than a passing acquaintance with the drug."

Texidor, an attorney for University students, shared his experiences as a military defense attorney who has defended drug violators in the military. Texidor also offered the legal standpoint on the marijuana issue.

"Most serious, violent crimes are related to the use and abuse of alcohol or the use and abuse of drugs," Texidor said.

After opening comments from each of the panel members, students were invited to pose questions. The questions ranged from clarification on marijuana issues to challenging the views of the panelists.

Many students came to the event to hear different viewpoints but most came into the event with their own opinions.

"I believe marijuana is immoral in its use," said David Martini (freshman-administration of justice). "It causes problems in the families and homes and in society in general."

Martini said he hopes students see the different viewpoints on the issue but that they also realize the problems associated with it as well.