While it wasn’t a focus of much debate during the election, in the last few days marijuana has made a return to a central issue in politics.
I am pleased that the Collegian decided to address this debate with this week’s Venues insert.
Clearly it is a polarizing issue as it has ever been. The one piece that stood out to me was “Marijuana is more than a drug that gets you high.” I’ve been hearing this argument for a few years now. Honestly it is getting a little old.
Yes, you can call pot a medicine. Along with dozens, if not hundreds, of other substances.
While I support legalization, I think that people should just come out and say, “I want to get high without the fear of getting arrested.”
Is that so much to ask? Remember that those who make the policies for this are older, white males in Congress.
When you think of pot you think of a stoned out hippie in a tie dyed shirt — at least I do. Use this chance to clean up your image, folks. That hippie image attaches a clear stigma to smoking marijuana and those who do it.
Let’s change it. Maybe then lawmakers and voters will listen to us.
Michael Kay
junior-labor studies and employment relations
