The recreational use of marijuana has been glamorized over the years by such on-screen duos as Cheech & Chong and Harold & Kumar, but is the drug everything that Hollywood makes it out to be? Then again, are we being hypocritical by allowing alcohol consumption but not cannabis usage? With passionate believers on both sides of the argument, it will be interesting to see what happens when the smoke clears.
It's ironic to read Mr. Sabet allege that marijuana law reform advocates "never answer the hard questions" when, in fact, 'pro-prohibition' advocates like Mr. Sabet and Drug Czar John Walters steadfastly refuse to engage with NORML and other like-minded groups in face-to-face debates in live public forums. NORML would be more than happy to debate and discuss Mr. Sabet's not so "hard" questions; please name the time and place. Yet, rather than join us in such an potentially productive discussion, Mr. Sabet instead chooses to heed the advice outlined in the US Drug Enforcement Administration's playbook, ³How to Hold Your Own in a Drug Legalization Debate,² which recommends that prohibition advocates decline invitations to publicly debate drug policy issues.
Drug Policy Consultant
How NORML can actually write that I don't debate this issue is beyond me. I am in favor of any forum where ideas can be discussed and exchanged openly and respectfully.
In fact, I have debated almost every major legalization advocate -- either on national television or before audiences of hundreds of people -- and I relish every opportunity to do so! Here is a partial list of the people I have debated:
Keith Stroup (Founder, NORML, debated in 2003 as part of a National Youth Leadership Conference in front of a crowd of almost 600 high school students)
Rob Kampia (Former NORML official, broke off to form Marijuana Policy Project, debated also at National Youth Leadership Conference, as well as on numerous media outlets)
Kevin Zeese (Founder, Common Sense for Drug Policy, debated on CNN's now extinct "Talkback Live" in 1999)
Mike Gray (Longtime legalization supporter, writer of several legalization books, debated also on CNN's "Talkback Live" in 1999)
Judge James Gray (Superior Court Judge from Orange County, debated in front of grand jury in Orange County in 1996, when I was 17)
Others include: Drug Policy Alliance Director Ethan Nadelmann, High Times editor Steve Bloom, activist Don Duncan, etc.
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