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Pot debate focuses on religion, medicine
1/25/08|The Post| by Jessica Holbrook - Staff Writer

Students experienced a “high” level of discussion at last night’s sold-out Heads vs. Feds event.

The first in the Sex, Drugs and Rock n’ Roll Debate Series at Baker University Center, pit “head” Steve Hager, editor in chief of High Times magazine against “fed” Robert Stutman, a former Drug Enforcement Agency officer. Both parties declared their position about the legalization of marijuana before opening the debate up to student questions.

Hager gave five reasons for the legalization of marijuana: its medicinal purposes, the benefits of hemp fiber, overcrowded prisons, the funding of corruption, along with cannabis’ religious importance to counterculture.

“We’re good people,” he said. “We’re as American as apple pie and baseball. We are honest, sincere people and to us marijuana is a sacrament. So please, can we have a little freedom of religion in America?”

Stutman said Hager was ”acting like a petulant eight year old” by including religion in the debate, saying that “10 guys getting together on Saturday night and smoking a joint isn’t religion.”

Religion isn’t something on which to base public policy, Stutman argued.

“I guess we didn’t learn our lesson on 9/11,” he said. “Just because you did it in the name of religion doesn’t make it right.”

Stutman also countered Hager’s argument for legalized medicinal marijuana, citing several studies that downplayed the medical benefits of cannabis and the current use of natural substances in prescription drugs.

He also addressed the increased number of marijuana users legalization would create and the effect that would have on automobile accidents because of cannabis’ effect on depth perception.

Hager reiterated his belief in marijuana as good medicine because of the lack of sexual and mental side effects that often come with prescription medication.

“Side effects (of marijuana) are you eat great, you sleep great and you have the best sex of your life,” he said.

Both stressed the importance of activism and voting, regardless of which side you supported.

“If you think I’m wrong and you don’t vote next November, you sit down and shut up,” Stutman said.

 

BillieBudd

Have to agree with the "Fed" on this one...There are many logical and economic reasons to end prohibition without bringing religion and the so called counter culture into the argument...

Victor_vicious

You are right. I can't believe that anyone could have done a poorer job of presenting our case. Any chance they could get one of the LEAP speakers for the next debate. VV

Quiet420

While the religious arguement is not exactly the most profound, it is, however, valid.

It is not the governments place to decide which religions are superior to any other. There are a handful of religious sects in the United States that already have or have had access to controlled substances for religious purposes.

If União do Vegetal is allowed to import the DMT delivery system known as hoasca for religous purposes, and the catholic church was allowed alcohol during prohibition, there is no reason that the American Church of Pot Smoke and Hot Strippers with Cute Faces and Natural, Perky Breasts shouldn't be allowed it's sacrament.

BillieBudd

I agree 100% but try selling that in the hinterland..they are scared of Mormons for crying out loud...

 

Buzzby

The religion argument is probably the one least likely for anyone to take seriously. Hell, in most cases I won't take it seriously!

Just about everyone is acquainted with pot smoker behavior and they don't see it as religious. I've been using weed for 40 years and, other than Rastas, most people who claim a religious connection aren't very credible.

Actually, it is the government's place to decide which religions are for real and which are just scams for the purpose of obtaining special privileges. If all religious claims were accepted as valid, we'd have The Church of the Holy Hypo and The Church of the Transcendent Tweak. I'd incorporate as The Cathedral of Dogs and avoid paying taxes.

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Swabeky

I was at the debate and it was a sham, it wasn't a debate it was a show.

The high times editor didn't cite anything; just rambled on and rambled loud like a stupid dirty hippy. I think the only thing he cited was that 1 acre of hemp is as productive as 4 acres of trees for paper pulp. Honestly the DEA dude won this "debate" and I liked his attitude, drugs are a health problem and it is wrong to have police arrest drug abusers.

I hope no one took that seriously because it was a one sided audience(hell it was at Ohio University, right next door to the largest pot growing counties in ohio) and the whole pro-pot argument was an emotional ploy using lot's of anecdotes.

Logos

You say most cases Buzzby, I'm curious what the exceptions are.

I consider my sacramental use to be sincere, but few people get it. Being told that I claim sacramental use in order to smoke pot just to get high would be like saying that people who need it for medicine are just saying that so they can get high. It isn't true on either count if said individual is sincere.

While anyone but me might see it that way, it doesn't negate my sincere belief that cannabis has helped me in my religious quests more than anything else I can think of.

I'm glad he brought it up, and until they change the very first part of the very first amendment to read that the government can make some laws regarding religion, they simply can't.

They recognize that various religions can use various controlled substances, but in my opinion, the government isn't very consistent with it.

Just like medical marijuana where the government actually supply's a few people with their medical marijuana, they deny it has any medical value.

Who is anyone to tell me it doesn't have some religious value if I feel it does? Who exactly am I harming by my belief in its sacramental qualities?

Anyways, I feel a rant starting, and that isn't my intention. Just adding my 4 cents I suppose.

Peace and Love

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Brother Logos
The more I learn, the less I know. | Truth doesn't change, only our perception of it does.
THC Ministry | The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ | The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion
True religion is real living, living with all one's soul, with all ones goodness and righteousness. --Albert Einstein

killian

10 guys and one joint? An entire religion? Maybe not. More like purgatory to me.

MasterCylinder

Just out of curiosity, how old does a religion have to be and how many members must it have to be legit?