The Free Press Vol 46 Issue 21, 04-20-2015
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University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Free Press, The, 1971- Student Newspapers 4-20-2015 The Free Press Vol 46 Issue 21, 04-20-2015 Sam Hill University of Southern Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press Recommended Citation Hill, Sam, "The Free Press Vol 46 Issue 21, 04-20-2015" (2015). Free Press, The, 1971-. 138. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/free_press/138 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Newspapers at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Free Press, The, 1971- by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Vol. 46, Issue No. 21 the free press April. 20, 2015 University of Southern Maine Student Newspaper usmfreepress.org THE 4/20 ISSUE 3 CAN YOU LIE YOUR WAY TO A LEGAL HIGH? 3 BREAKING DOWN MARIJUANA LAWS 6 LOCAL ARTISTS WITH A PASSION FOR GLASS 8 YOUR BRAIN ON MARIJUANA 2 News April 20, 2015 j j j p j p r April 20, 2015 News 3 Portland’s marijuana legality won’t protect you you can still get in trouble for smok- marijuana, and 34 percent had done ing it. so on campus. Data from USM’s “I know that technically it is ille- police logs show that out of the 97 gal under federal law,” he said. “If marijuana odors that were reported you were caught smoking by police on campus, 39 of those were for Up- I think it would probably be up to the ton Hasting. offi cer that caught you on whether Another anonymous USM stu- or not you would get in trouble.” dent explained that the use of mari- Regardless of the change in city juana should be legal, but only for laws, the use and possession of adults 18 and older. She explained marijuana is still illegal at USM. that with the legalization of mari- According to Dean of Students Joy juana, individuals would have the Pufhal, the legal possession of mari- opportunity to see what it actually juana (this includes the legal amount does for the body and mind. for Portland and medical marijuana) “I am currently on medications for on campus could result in a civil a major depressive disorder, but the summons. She explained that there side effects of them leave me with Data collected from is no change in marijuana use on no appetite and no sexual drive,” she USM Police Department campus since Portland changed its said. “These side effects get better laws because the federal law has not with my smoking of marijuana. I changed. If USM violated the Drug completely, 100 percent support the Hannah Lyon / Design Assistant Free Schools Act, the institution legalization of this drug.” well as the city of Portland. Krysteana Scribner would be at risk of losing all federal A senior mathematics major, who “Nationwide, more Americans are “I would simply suggest that News Editor fi nancial aid dollars. would prefer to stay anonymous, arrested for marijuana possession people do not possess marijuana in “A student held responsible for said that although it’s possible to each year than for all violent crimes Portland at all. I would suggest not The laws and regulations concern- possession of a small usable amount get addicted to marijuana, the relax- combined,” said Lewis. “The statis- to even take the risk,” said Sau- ing marijuana are complex and have of marijuana on campus would gen- ing effects of the drug make for a tics gathered indicate that a marijua- schuck. “The state law says don’t been for many years. Last fall, the erally be placed on a housing contact much safer experience than some- na user is arrested every 48 seconds possess marijuana and although it’s city of Portland legalized marijuana probation,” said Pufhal. “Any future one who indulges in heavy drinking just for possessing marijuana.” legal locally,federal law supersedes for recreational use, but individuals marijuana violation during their or smokes cigarettes for a long time. Statewide, the legality of mari- state law and state supersedes lo- caught for possession of can still be time at USM would be putting their “The World Health Organization juana changes depending on where cal ordinances. I would hate to see issued a citation because of state and housing and ability to continue as a has estimated that over 100 million you smoke it. In Maine, smoking anyone confused because they don’t federal laws. student in jeopardy.” deaths in the 20th century were at- marijuana anywhere except Portland know the real case.” According to Bobby Lewis, a With all of these laws that have tributed to tobacco smoking,” he is against the law. In Portland, adults Even though marijuana is legal in membership assistant at the Mari- been put into place, many students said.. “Zero deaths have been at- can legally possess up to 2.5 ounces Portland, charges can vary depend- juana Policy Project based in have differing opinions on the le- tributed to marijuana smoking alone of marijuana, but according to the ing on the situation. A USM student Washington, D.C., which works on galization of marijuana. A survey in the 20th century. So I believe it Police Chief Michael Sauschuck, of- who preferred to stay anonymous changing laws for adults to consume conducted by the Free Press asked should be legalized. fi cers will continue to enforce state explained that although marijuana marijuana safely and legally, mari- 300 students their opinions on the law that makes possession of up to was legalized in Portland, he doesn’t [email protected] juana is currently legal in Colorado, legality of marijuana. 42.3 percent 2.5 ounces a civil violation. fully understand the legality because @Krysteana2016 Washington, Oregon and Alaska - as of students wrote that they smoke So you want to get a medical marijuana card? Despite loophole seekers, students say the industry remains honest Francis Flisiuk remains that provides the avenue marijuana prescription and uses it Managing Editor for the most rule-bending: pain. to ease chronic pain he still feels “Anyone can walk into the of- after an injury he sustained a year Despite an outlaw image and fi ce and say ‘hey doctor, I’ve got ago. often confusing legal status, mari- pain,’ and a less scrupulous doctor “It alleviates my back pain tre- juana is becoming widely accept- might hand them a prescription,” mendously,” said Leathers. “I take ed as having many medicinal ben- said Li. “It’s like an open reason about an eyedropper of CBD oil efi ts. A survey conducted by the for someone who wants to use and it numbs the pain to the point Pew Research Center showed that marijuana recreationally.” where I can’t even feel it. You can 77 percent of Americans approve Like many marijuana doctors, get wicked medicated.” of marijuana for medical pur- Dr. Li follows strict guidelines Leathers is legally able to carry poses. Patients across the country to make sure this doesn’t happen, up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana on are choosing cannabis over tradi- including asking for proof that his person and cannot be denied tional opiates to treat the symp- the patient has been in pain for at employment, housing or educa- toms of conditions like cancer, least 6 months and that they’ve tion because he smokes marijua- alzheimer’s and glaucoma. unsuccessfully tried other forms na. In Maine, the medical mari- of treatment. Gates has a friend that also suf- Photo courtesy of Wellness Connection of Maine juana industry is thriving, as doc- “If somebody comes in under fers from a bad back. tors like James Li in Damariscotta the age of 30, they have to have “She sees a chiropractor, which Apart from their Portland location, the Wellness Connection of Maine are writing prescriptions for ap- a pretty compelling reason for defi nitely helps her alignment, but also serves patients at their marijuana dispensaries in Brewer and proved patients to stop in at one wanting marijuana, because we ultimately she fi nds that smoking Gardiner. They offer 14 different strains of both indica and sativa. of the state’s eight dispensaries want to make sure we’re doing medical marijuana enables her to pick up a bag, vial or edible of more good than harm,” said Li body, mind and spirit to relax,” One of the 34 students who can often have fatal side effects. marijuana product. But according referring to the negative effects said Gates. “And relaxation is ab- wrote on the survey that marijua- Li said that he works primar- to Dr. Li, there are people that try marijuana has on cognitive func- solutely everything.” na has no medicinal benefi ts was ily in the ER and that he’s seen to abuse the system by exaggerat- tion in adolescents. “It’s pretty Portlander Erin (who wishes to Isabelle Alenus-Crosby. Accord- so much death and dying from ing their self diagnoses, in hopes obvious to tell which people are keep her last name anonymous) ing to Crosby, marijuana is harm- inadvertent overdoses on opiates. of acquiring a means to a legal serious.” supports the legalization of mari- ful to both kids and adolescents After prescribing patients mari- high. “People will fi nd loopholes and juana both medically and recre- and can lead to both psychosis juana, the positive transforma- “From screening people, I’ve ways to exploit the program, it’s ationally, occasionally smoking it and schizophrenia. She also be- tion on their health, demeanor and seen people looking around for inevitable, said Rachel Gates, a herself.