SpiralArchitect

Marijuana shouldn't be criminalized like alcohol
9/24/2008|Purdue Exponent|John Anderson

I am pleased to see that technology is being developed to better test for the presence and amount of THC in a person's body. As the law currently stands, a police officer could pull me over for "driving erratically" and I could be tested for marijuana. The officer only needs to say that he saw me swerve, or move back and forth across a lane and be suspicious that I smoke pot to have "probable cause" to test me. The problem with this is the length of time that THC stays in the body. Because it is fat soluble, THC can be detected in the bloodstream long after the user has come down from the effects. I could potentially get a DUI for driving after smoking a joint with friends before school even started in August. Having a criminal arrest record is like taking a dump on your job application.

While driving high is not a fantastic idea, it is not nearly as dangerous as driving drunk. In fact, Car and Driver magazine published an article in 1980 saying that people who were high were typically calmer behind the wheel, experienced less road rage and generally followed traffic laws more closely as compared to their driving before smoking weed. The laws need to be reexamined. Marijuana is not a crime; it is a personal choice. Just as not all people should drink, not all people should smoke pot. Yes, some people will abuse it, but is that reason enough to make it a criminal offense? If that is the case, then alcohol, caffeine and all forms of tobacco should also be criminal. College students die every day from alcohol poisoning. Have you ever heard of someone dying from smoking too much pot? It is physically impossible.

John Anderson
Senior, College of Agriculture

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