This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on March 21, 2012.
Since Alex Bradley was mugged in summer 2011, he has been in severe pain from a shoulder injury. After undergoing surgery, the international relations senior was prescribed a variety of pain medications, but he has found the side effects nearly unbearable. Now, Bradley is considering an alternative — a medical marijuana card.
Bradley joined about 60 people last night in the Wilson Hall auditorium to listen to three marijuana law experts debate government laws prohibiting marijuana.
The debate, which was organized by the James Madison College Student Senate and the College Libertarians, provided students with information on the pros and cons of the current laws prohibiting marijuana use.
Matthew Abel, an attorney from Detroit leading a committee working to repeal marijuana laws for adults 21 years and older, and Tim Beck, a Detroit resident and businessman who has worked to change city laws so medical marijuana is allowed by cities such as Detroit, both spoke in support of increasing marijuana accessibility. Eaton County prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Sauter spoke on the prohibitionist side.
Students such as Bradley attended the event to find out more about the current marijuana laws and the legal changes that might be implemented in the future.
Currently, medical marijuana is legal in Michigan but heavy restrictions are placed on medical marijuana dispensaries.
Bradley said with the current laws in place and the stigmas associated with marijuana, he is worried if he is issued a medical marijuana card, it will affect his chances of being accepted to the law school of his choice.
“I’m trying to get into law school, and so it has just been a battle every day,” Bradley said of using painkillers as the current method for dealing with his recovering shoulder injury.
Abel said it is important for students to be informed about the current laws because marijuana is a part of today’s society.
“The drug laws affect young people for the rest of their lives, and it is important that people be aware of the pervasive effect of that on society,” Abel said. Sauter, who works with people who have been affected by marijuana laws in relation to dealing with motorized vehicles, said it is important for students to understand both sides of the marijuana issue, which is one reason he spoke at the debate. He said he has seen people who have been hurt by others operating vehicles while under the influence of marijuana.
“My primary focus is public safety,”Sauter said.
“Most of the time I’m dealing with it, the issue is operating a motor vehicle after using marijuana, so that is my major concern.”
Max Olivero, a social relations and policy sophomore and representative of the James Madison Student Senate, said he personally is against the government’s ability to put restrictions on what people do to their bodies. But he tried to organize a fair and balanced mix of speakers so students could hear both sides of the debate.
“The goal of the event is not necessarily to be a pro-pot event by any means,” Olivero said. “It is to provide students with an understanding of both sides.”