Presidents and Marijuana

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In this year's election, the national media is ablaze with the prospects of a black president or female vice president. This election will make history. On college campuses, however, a majority of interest is vested in the infamous question two.

When it comes down to it, the history-making aspects of the 2008 election include only two things - the end of George W. Bush's time in office and the prospect of decriminalizing marijuana.

At the University of Massachusetts, it's quite easy to see students raising awareness for the latter. With tables stationed at dining commons across campus, there has already been far more awareness raised for one question than the entire SGA election.

It's great to see students promoting the right to vote. We all know there isn't enough of it. However, the promotion of question two is all we've seen. Where's the promotion to elect the president?

The Cannabis Reform Coalition and other eager students have been tenacious in asking students, "Are you guys registered to vote?" and suggesting, "Vote yes on question two."

Student organizations are all well and good, however, where are the students asking "are you guys registered to vote?" and suggesting, "vote for the man who's going to lead our country."

According to the Web site of William Francis Galvin, secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "A yes vote would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties. A no vote would make no change in state criminal laws concerning possession of marijuana."

In addition, the possession of marijuana would be reclassified as a civil offense. The new legislation would deem possession as carrying an ounce or less of marijuana.

For offenders over the age of 18, the penalty will be the confiscation of your stash and a $100 fine. For offenders under 18, it's the same penalty, but with the addition of a drug awareness program.

It's nothing new to say that not enough people vote in this country. Roughly 112 million out of about 305 million United States citizens voted in the 2004 election. That's 36.7 percent of America for those of you that enjoy statistics.

You would think diehard supporters of either party would be making greater efforts to get votes for their candidate with the election just around the corner. But when you think about it, it makes sense not to bother because college students generally don't care about a whole lot of things.

Things students care about include: ¬where they're getting alcohol, marijuana, Facebook.com, napping, which classes they're going to skip, stealing food from the dining common, and seeing how long they can go without showering or doing laundry.

Things students don't care about include: calling mom, paying for things, writing that paper due tomorrow, the economy, presidential elections, haircuts, police and not rioting.

College students don't care who runs the country so long as they can light up. That isn't to say students care too much about smoking; it's saying it doesn't really matter to students who they vote for.

Let's face it, Massachusetts is a blue state. If the Bay State was a cartoon character, it would be Papa Smurf. The Electoral College isn't a system that motivates people to vote, especially since the popular vote doesn't mean anything. Ask Al Gore.

In addition to the sometimes apparent futility of voting, there's the fact that candidates rarely cater to college students. Sure, education will come up in presidential debates, but the candidates are focused on our parents when discussing this country's school system.

While students are in school, they're essentially isolated from most issues of concern in elections. If a student's parents are paying for college, there really isn't much to worry about. We have steady meal plans, utilities, housing, transportation and an unquestionably liberal campus.

Because of the primarily democratic population of the campus, there's little point in promoting either candidate. Massachusetts is a state that grooms the Democratic Party as the norm, with Republicans a vocal, but small, minority. So by the time students get to the legal voting age, they're pretty liberal.

UMass residents are rarely concerned with most issues in the election. In fact, the only aspect of the election that affects college students is the war in Iraq. Of course, as students, nobody at the school has to be concerned with being shipped to Iraq. However, many people our age are entering the armed forces.

With the prevalence of political apathy on college campuses, the movement for anything in the political spectrum is a good thing. However, it's the absence of the most important aspect of the 2008 election that is an area of concern. By the time students leave their respective campuses, they'll enter the real world with whichever candidate wins this election. So invest in your after-college future, and pick up an absentee ballot.


News Hawk: User: http://www.420magazine.com/
Source: The Daily Collegian
Author: Nick O'Malley
Copyright: 2008 The Daily Collegian
Contact: The Daily Collegian
Website: Presidents and marijuana - Editorial / Opinion