There’s a new group out there, SAFER, that is appealing to the same college presidents who signed the Amethyst Initiative to also support an initiative to legalize pot on college campuses. Inside Higher Ed has the story:
SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation) has dubbed its plea to presidents the “Emerald Imitative.” Mason Tvert, executive director of the Denver-based organization, argues that legal restrictions and university disciplinary policies are steering students away from marijuana and toward alcohol, which is arguably a more harmful — albeit legal — drug. If university presidents reduced on-campus penalties for marijuana use, and took up the broader cause of legal reform for marijuana, they might see reductions in drinking-related deaths and violence, according to Tvert.
Now, I’m all for drug legalization, but this seems a little bit ridiculous. Does SAFER really expect college presidents to legalize pot because it would result in a general substitution away from alcohol and toward marijuana? Let’s get real here. Students drink in college to socialize and get drunk, and students smoke marijuana to get high. Perhaps there is a bit of overlap between the two objectives, but in my opinion, they are separate enterprises. It is absurd to believe that lessening the restrictions on marijuana would suddenly transform the campus binge drinkers into “chill dudes” who get high on weekends and watch Chappelle Show while munching down on chicken fingers from Bear Nasties.
Interestingly enough, Tvert admits this himself:
Tvert concedes there’s no evidence that making marijuana more available to college students would reduce binge drinking, but he notes that it’s a “theory” that’s as worthy of exploration as lowering the drinking age.
Great. So, basically, he’s got nothing. Good work, SAFER!
First point: This argument is completely ridiculous. Binge drinkers will simply smoke pot and THEN go out binge drinking, resulting in double destruction.
Second point: There is absolutely nothing wrong with watching old episodes of Chappelle’s Show while munching on chicken fingers. This is from someone who has done just that.
dennisshiraev: What a foolish person! The age group of 18-25 year olds uses marijuana more than any other people. As Jmb682 pointed out, they would probably just get drunk after being high, and a six-pack and smoking weed for a couple hours is potentially fatal, depending on the person, and how often. (And I was saying the Tervert or whatever that guy’s name is was a foolish person, not you. ) And what kind of idiot would think that he could get drugs legalized for the group that uses them the most when it is illegal in the rest of the country?! That’s ridiculous!