Marijuana debate heats up at MSU
By: David Gonzalez
Updated: November 7, 2012
Election 2012 was more than just about the presidential race as a measure on legalizing marijuana was on the ballot in some states.
Washington and Colorado became the first two U.S. states to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use.
The debate continued to heat up on Wedesday evening at Midwestern State University after more than 400 students packed Akin Auditorium to hear from two speakers who have two very different views on the legalization of the drug.
Steven Hager, a longtime editor of High Times magazine and Robert Stutman, a retired special agent for the DEA.
The debate was called "Heads vs. Feds" and started with an informational video of both speakers.
Hager talked about the five reason marijuana should be legal like, it makes good medicine and would help the country's prison system.
On the other hand, Stutman says legalizing the popular drug would add to the problem of substance abuse and create more users.
Howeverm, both agree the debate is far from over now that states have begun to make decisions, ignoring federal laws.
"There is no way the federal government has the resources to go in and arrest people for small amounts of marijuana," Hager says. "They will continue to go after big traffickers, big growers, big manufacturers but the average person out on the streets in those states pretty much has a get out of jail free card."
Stutman says, "The federal government is not going to step aside and they will not go out and arrest users; they will simply stop states from collecting taxes."
"There are a million things they can do besides going out and arresting users," Stutman exclaims.
Students were also given the opportunity to voice their opinions by asking the speakers questions.
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