Cannabis News Students for Sensible Drug Policy
  Drug Legalization Sparks Student Opinions
Posted by FoM on September 21, 2001 at 14:32:05 PT
By Caroline Porter, Special to The Bristol Press 
Source: Bristol Press  

cannabisnews.com The possibility of legalizing marijuana and other recreational drugs got high school students talking. State Rep. Ann Dandrow, R-30th District, visited three classes at Southington High School Thursday morning as part of a legislators' back-to-school week.

She asked the juniors at SHS how they would vote if they were deciding hot-button issues such as legalizing drugs and lowering the blood-alcohol limit.

Dandrow explained how a bill becomes law, using the recent bill asking for money for reconstruction of SHS as an example. She also asked U.S. history students how they felt about legalizing marijuana; some said only for medicinal purposes.

"Otherwise, it would be stupid," said student Matthew Zadrowski. "All the people would be high everywhere. It should only be for medicinal purposes. I agree with that."

Several students favored legalization of marijuana and some other drugs.

"The state is missing out on millions of dollars by not legalizing drugs," said student Rick Cekovsky.

Other students disagreed with the argument that taking in more tax money would be worth it, saying the drugs are poisonous. The students laughed when one suggested ordinary pharmacies such as CVS would one day sell Ecstasy and other substances now available in dark alleys.

Students got their opportunity to participate in the democratic process -- She had the students vote on legalizing drugs and eight voted to legalize, 13 voted no, and four abstained.

Students were also eager to give Dandrow opinions on whether to ban cell phone usage while driving.

"I'm a one-handed driver myself; I can do whatever I want with my other hand," said Cekovsky.

"It's a breach of my freedom," said student John Magnoli. "And talking with someone next to you is a distraction."

Dandrow tossed out the idea of having students debate whether the driving age should be raised from 16 to 18, but ducked that as soon as a boy said "Do you even have to ask?" The students in Dan Murawski's AP U.S. history class did favor retesting senior citizens' driving skills, though.

"Their reflexes slow down drastically," said Zadrowski. "If they can pass, they should have no problem with the bill."

"The elderly are saying they have less accidents than younger people," Dandrow said. "There's a flip side to everything."

Complete Title: Drug Legalization, Cell-Phone Practices Spark Student Opinions in Southington

Source: Bristol Press (CT)
Author: Caroline Porter, Special to The Bristol Press
Published: September 21, 2001
Copyright: 2001 The Bristol Press
Contact: editor@bristolpress.com
Website: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1643

Related Articles:

Marijuana Support at 30-Year High
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10705.shtml

The Marijuana Prohibition
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10689.shtml

Weed Whackers - National Review
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10521.shtml


Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help

 
Comment #10 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 22, 2001 at 09:07:41 PT
Translation
>>The students laughed when one suggested ordinary pharmacies such as CVS would one day sell Ecstasy and other substances now available in dark alleys.<<

Translation: The students laughed when one suggested ordinary chemicals such as MDMA could someday fund our military and corporate America instead of criminals and terrorists.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #9 posted by lookinside on September 22, 2001 at 05:38:24 PT:

for d..
wel sed...

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #8 posted by dddd on September 22, 2001 at 02:55:19 PT
Piggly Floyd,,,,,Pink Wiggly
Itz awesome that you noticed the Pink Floyd lyric adjustment CongressmanSuet.You are much cooler than I thought,probably as cool as FreedomFighters science teacher,,,but I'm bummed out that there are no more Piggly Wigglys out west.I like salmon,,and it's good for you too.

Patrick,,I agree with your thoughts,and questions about money.

and eye gess aocp and evreewun els nos how i feel uhbout punkshulizashunal,and spelling corecktnus,,,it dont mattur that much,az long az U git the poynt acraws.....qdpd

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #7 posted by aocp on September 22, 2001 at 02:15:38 PT
Re: MDG
No trouble whatsoever. I find that i can type faster with less capitalizing, but for some reason, i won't let myself do so at the beginning of sentences. Silly, huh? :)

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #6 posted by freedom fighter on September 22, 2001 at 01:52:25 PT
God bless my Science teacher
Back in 1973, my science teacher was pretty pensive when she announced that she had to say something. She said, "I want you to know that I smoked cigarettes and I want you to know that it is bad for you." She went along," Our government asked me to tell you something that I think it is not true. Smoking one joint will not kill you but that is what our government wants me to say that smoking one joint will kill you. I want you remember something I have to say to you, never ever combine two different drugs if you have to do drugs. Do not do aspirin and drink alcohol at the same time."

I just could not forget what she said. It made an impression what she really knew along. What she said have basically save my life many times over. I am amazed that I still remember what she had said that day.

Thank you God, for sending a teacher that knows how to teach. I will never forget her.

ff

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #5 posted by Patrick on September 21, 2001 at 22:33:14 PT
Money
Who was it that first said follow the money? Cheers brother or sister wherever you are!

We spent 300+ million fighting terrorism in 2000. We spent 16+ billion on the Drug Enforcement Agency in 2000.

The above budgetary figures are rounded down from flashes across CNN.

Personally, I think these budgets illustrate a lopsided logic.

The question I have is how did we become so arrogant and smug that, as a nation, arresting drug users became more important financially than protecting our citizens from a terrorist attack? Granted, who could have predicted the insanity of September 11th 2001?

I also question the national think tank that approved such budgets and priorities. I question the fact that the safety of our nation took second fiddle financially to the uprooting of marijuana plants is an appalling reflection of the last 30+ years of policy making in this country. Granted, keeping citizens protected from the perils of any drug addiction is a noble endeavor. But, it is an endeavor that is best accomplished with education and treatment over incarceration.

Keeping this country safe from violence and random attacks should be the utmost responsibility of our duly elected government. Why do I say this?

I was reading the Preamble to our Constitution today, We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

And then it struck me that our government has been so busy establishing drug justice and building prisons that our government dropped the ball on providing for the common defense. The 911 tragedy has no doubt broken this nations collective heart. It breaks my heart even more that our resources could have been spent more wisely preventing this type of an atrocity than spending money pulling up harmless cannabis plants.

Fear not Peace, Patrick

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #4 posted by MDG on September 21, 2001 at 21:30:54 PT
I like this kid...
"I'm a one-handed driver myself; I can do whatever I want with my other hand," said Cekovsky.

I can just see him now...givin' the man the finger.

Hey, aocp, why don't you capitalize your i's? A'la e.e.? I was just wondering. I hope it's not rude to ask.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #3 posted by The GCW on September 21, 2001 at 20:37:28 PT
The temporary effects of brainwashing.
Given the amount of time that DARE brainwashes them, they are a bit hazey, yet in time they will become the wiser.



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #2 posted by CongressmanSuet on September 21, 2001 at 19:24:55 PT
Its going to be strange...
Here I am, reading this post and kinda half listening to the telethon, when some group, doing Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" grabs my ear[when is the last time you heard this song on TV?]. So I start watching, and Im listening to the song, and when it comes time for the lyric "Or did you trade a walk on part in the war for a leading role in a cage" we get"its good for you and me" or someting as such. Allright, they were making the song more "commercial" and acceptable to the masses, NOT a good excuse in my book! They could have chosen another song if they were so worried about something with anti-war references in it. They desicrated this great song because they were worried about offending people. They just played Bob Marley's Redemption Song,[sad, they couldnt resist uplifting the overtone of the song by falling into a quick, less serious reggae riff towards the end, rather than be truthfull to the original song] and left it intact, well, it is kinda ambiguous, freedom, blah, blah, blah[to the unenligtened anyway] The censors have always been around, just now they will get let off their leashes. Dont shrug this stuff off. We need Bill M. now more than ever. There is a sale at the Piggly Wiggly here, 2 cans of Salmon for 3 bucks, I will be there...

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by aocp on September 21, 2001 at 16:12:42 PT
ah, to be a naive CHILD again...
"Otherwise, it would be stupid," said student Matthew Zadrowski. "All the people would be high everywhere. It should only be for medicinal purposes. I agree with that."

Well, my young Matthew, how little real-world applications can spoil your poor education. Using substitution, i can also state that since alcohol is legal, "all the people would be drunk everywhere." Is this true? Why or why not?

As an aside, i believe any teacher with a conscience can approach the "drug" question without putting themselves in jeopardy by making sure that their students are aware that alcohol and tobacco are DRUGS. It's really quite devious, but works b/c parents and administration and antis want kids off "drugs", booze, and smokes. Therefore, one can sleep well, knowing they've worked within the system and if the kids have any questions as to the glaring hypocrisy in front of their faces, they can be directed to mommy and daddy for an explanation. Slick, huh?

[ Post Comment ]


  Post Comment
Name:        Password:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comment:   [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]

Link URL:
Link Title:


Return to Main Menu


So everyone may enjoy this service and to keep it running, here are some guidelines: NO spamming, NO commercial advertising, NO flamming, NO illegal activity, and NO sexually explicit materials. Lastly, we reserve the right to remove any message for any reason!

This web page and related elements are for informative purposes only and thus the use of any of this information is at your risk! We do not own nor are responsible for visitor comments. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 and The Berne Convention on Literary and Artistic Works, Article 10, news clippings on this site are made available without profit for research and educational purposes. Any trademarks, trade names, service marks, or service names used on this site are the property of their respective owners. Page updated on September 21, 2001 at 14:32:05