Marijuana law reform is back at the forefront of national debate after the Obama Administration’s new guidelines on medical marijuana investigation and prosecution came out Oct. 19. The federal government’s new stance comes as a relief to the many users and suppliers of marijuana for medical purposes and is seen by some as a move towards a more liberalized drug enforcement policy in the nation generally. However, with all the excitement over the new policy comes a wakeup call for the states which have legalized medical marijuana use or are considering such legislation. Inconsistent regulation, vague standards and patchwork enforcement are threatening to stall marijuana law reform.

When a water pipe in the Sigma Nu fraternity on Willard Way broke last week and started flooding the second floor, a concerned brother called the fire department thinking it would be a routine fix. Instead, firefighters found six marijuana plants in a tinfoil-lined room, putting the fraternity in even more hot water.

“It wasn’t the fraternity’s doing; it was a brother,” said Robert Quintal ’10, last year’s president of the fraternity. Quintal noted that during his tenure as president last year, he had no knowledge of any illicit activities in the house. The brother responsible for the plants had been growing them over the summer.

4/20 was more than just a day of munchie-filled happiness for some students. Yesterday, the Cornell Libertarians held a protest on Ho Plaza titled End Drug Prohibition in honor of the annual pro-marijuana holiday. The protest, calling for marijuana legalization, was attended by the members of the club with a few onlookers outside the Straight yesterday afternoon. Members of the Libertarians wore signs that read “Let Freedom Blaze”, “Free People Free Choices” and “End the Drug War.”

President of Cornell Libertarians Michael Cretz ’11 explained the group’s goal was to bring these issues relating to individual liberty to the attention of Cornell students.

To the Editor:

Re: “Relax, Mr. President, You’re Falling Out of Touch,” Opinion, April 3.

A sane argument to perpetuate prohibiting, persecuting and exterminating cannabis (marijuana) and hemp doesn’t exist. Another reason to end cannabis prohibition that doesn’t get mentioned is because it will lower deadly hard drug addiction rates.

DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) will have to stop brainwashing youth into believing lies, half-truths and propaganda concerning cannabis, which creates grave future problems.

To the Editor:

Re: “Relax, Mr. President, You’re Falling Out of Touch,” Opinion, April 3.

As one of the online audience, it behooves Obama to remember that the ONLY reason I voted for him was the fact that he promised “change.” I thought the “change” Obama promised would mean ending a lunatic drug crusade that Obama said was an “utter failure.” If Obama is going back on that promise myself a lot of others will no longer support him. The drug reform community represents a large segment of Obam’s support and he better not forget that. We were very active in getting him elected, but that will cease if he ignores our demand for a sane drug policy. Obama should never forget that drug prohibition has been a Republican policy since 1904 and they will never budge.

In a world where technology becomes obsolete only a few months after it hits the shelves, how long will it take for the shiny new President to become outdated and out-of-touch?

Last week the White House held an online town hall meeting, inviting Americans to submit their questions and concerns for the President’s consideration. Overwhelmingly, the question most frequently asked was: “With over 1 out of 30 Americans controlled by the penal system, why not legalize, control and tax marijuana to change the failed war on drugs into a money-making, money-saving boost to the economy? Do we really need that many victimless criminals?”

To the Editor:

Re: “Puff, Puff, Pass Legislation for Legalization,” News, March 26

I liked this article in which the author promotes the legalization of cannabis. “Once we legalize nuggets, the gold will come rushing in” is nicely phrased, and so true.

However, I bet many of the creators of the anti-cannabis PSAs are secret tokers, just like many preachers are secret fornicators and at least one former moralizing drug czars a secret gambler. People will do anything for money and sex and they lie — God, can they lie! Trust no one in the war on drugs.

Richard Kefalos

With purse-strings drawing ever tighter around the country, states are scrambling for ways to cut costs and increase revenues. Strategies run from upping income taxes to slashing education budgets, but citizens are understandably wary of such measures. In navigating the risky waters ahead, lawmakers should look instead to one of the silliest and most unjustified policies of our time: the prohibition of marijuana.

Nature. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. My friend and fellow columnist, senior editor Katie Engelhart ’09, asked me if I thought it would be fun to go camping sometime soon. Yes! It would! But I think you should know a little something about me first, young Katie. Longwinded as I am, I am going tell you publicly and ramble on about my retardation (and how it relates to my parents messing me up) for as long as my editor will allow.