Gary Reams, the Libertarian candidate for lieutenant governor, outlined his views about the negative effects of marijuana prohibition and advocated reform for the U.S. war on drugs at "The State of Marijuana" panel last night, held in Gilmer Hall.
"I have launched a campaign for lieutenant governor not with the expectation of winning, but in order for us to be able to send a message that marijuana prohibition has failed and is doing harm," Reams said at the panel sponsored by the University Democrats.
By criminalizing the use and production of marijuana, legislators are denying American citizens the right to control their own bodies. Because citizens convicted of drug offenses are unable to vote, lawmakers further strip Americans of their fundamental rights as citizens to participate in the political process, he said.
Prohibiting marijuana also leads to inflated drug prices, exacerbation of racial inequality in the criminal justice systems, facilitation of black market economies and the inability to regulate use, he added.
Despite marijuana's supposed medical benefits, some do not see legalization as the way to solve current drug use, and many legislators argue that using marijuana is just a gateway to experimenting with harder drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.
However, some argue that the gateway drug connection is misleading. Hard drug addicts are just as likely to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol, said Susan Bruce, a panelist and director of the University's Center for Alcohol Substance Abuse Education.
"We all know that marijuana is much more socially acceptable than shooting heroin," Bruce said. "It's much more of a sociological issue."
Although it is nearly impossible to overdose on marijuana's active ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, studies have linked negative consequences to frequent use. Marijuana increases heart rates and has noticeable effects on the autoimmune system and short-term memory capability, she said.
University students charged with the use or sale of marijuana are referred to both local police departments and, if the offense occurred on Grounds, the University Judiciary Committee, UJC Chairman and panelist Paul Gigante said.
UJC can bring students up on charges against Standard of Conduct 6, which addresses violations of University policies, or Standard 10, that deals with cases violating state, federal and local laws, as the violation relates to the University's educational mission.
Most Gilmer Hall audience members seemed to support Reams' platform and agreed with the necessity to reform drug laws.
"Legalization by itself wouldn't be a good thing," third-year College student Eugene Gonzalez said. "It would have to be coupled with education. It can't be just a complete legalization and a total free-for-all"
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