weedTheissue.

W E D N E S D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 14

Opinion: A recent farm bill allowing hemp cultivation is a much needed step toward can-nabis legalization. (Page 5)

Sports: Despite chang-es in marijuana’s legali-ty in some states, NCAA guidelines for drugs testing players remains the same across the U.S. (Page 6)

AMBER FRIENDCampus Reporter@amberthefriend

Though on-campus marijuana usage has been declining for the past three years, within the first two months of the 2014 spring semester, OU stu-dents have been caught with the drug more than 2013’s fall and summer se-mesters combined.

Since 2011, OU’s known on-campus marijuana use has been decreasing, dropping from 56 total cases in 2011, to 36 cases in 2012 and 20 cases in 2013. However, 2014 is already defying stan-dards, with 11 marijuana cases in fewer than two months, according to OU Police Department reports.

If students continue in this manner, OU will have more marijuana cases this

semester than it saw throughout all of 2013.

The recent news coverage of mar-ijuana issues in different states, such as the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, has made the drug seem more reasonable to young peo-ple, and thus more people are using it, said Steve Ashmore, director of Student Conduct.

“There’s a perception that marijuana is somehow a safe drug,” Ashmore said.

Over the last four spring semesters, residence halls have had, on average, seven marijuana cases over the course of the entire spring semester. This spring, the residence halls have al-ready seen five marijuana cases before midterms.

Couch and Walker centers are the historic leaders when it comes to mar-ijuana cases in the residence halls. Both Couch and Walker centers had the highest number of marijuana cases

five times over the last 11 semesters, ac-cording to requested records.

This semester, Couch Center has had three marijuana cases, while Walker Center has had none. Over the past five years, Cate has had the least amount of cases, with six cases.

In fall 2013, there were no marijuana cases in the residence halls. They were all reported elsewhere on campus, ac-cording to requested records.

In the residence halls, resident advi-sors keep an eye, or nose, out for stu-dent marijuana-use. If a resident ad-visor suspects illegal drug use in the halls, they contact OUPD officials at once, who then notify the appropriate officials, said Diane Brittingham, direc-tor of Residence Life, in an email.

Resident advisers learn these proce-dures in the resident adviser training class, and the lessons are reinforced

STEVEN ZOELLERFor The Daily

Editor’s note: The OU students interviewed for this article preferred to remain anonymous to protect their identities. The names used in the article were either chosen by the students or by The Daily. When listed, the students’ years and majors are accurate. One student requested The Daily not publish his major. The Daily veri� ed the identities of the sources through OU search, phone calls to the sources and listening to their individual interviews.

Some college students deliver pizza to make extra money, others deliver illegal drugs like marijuana and ecstasy.

At least, that’s what political science senior Elle Brown has done for much of her college career. Though she

Campus: Students can apply for SGA elections until Thursday. (Page 4)

Campus: Some students are planning to protest CIA Director John Bren-nan’s visit to campus Wednesday. (Page 4)

Opinion: We received two letters to the editor about CIA director John Brennan coming to campus, as well as our cov-erage about it. (Online)

Campus marijuana offenses on track to reach all-time high this semester

Students sell drugs to pay their bills, bursar accounts

Student marijuana use begins to spike in 2014 Dealers discuss life as a college student

selling marijuana, LSD and ecstasy

SEE BUSTED PAGE 2 SEE DRUGS PAGE 3

L&A: You’ve seen the stoners in the movies, but does pot really make people act stu-pid? Hollywood myths about pot are debunked inside. (Page 7)

CONTEST: Count the number of cannabis leaves in this issue and Tweet @OUDaily with the correct number. The fi rst person with the correct number of leaves wins a Starbucks giftcard!

Campus: When scrolling through Instagram, you might notice pho-tos of marijuana. Is this legal? Can police arrest you based on your In-stagram photos? (Page 3)

DAYTON CLARK FOR THE DAILY

Area Ratings For This Week

Way To Go!

Adopt - An - AreaDelta Upsilon

Gamma Phi Beta

Engineers Without Borders

Hispanic American Student AssociationInternational Leadership ClassIota Phi ThetaKappa AlphaKappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha ThetaKappa Delta ChiKappa Kappa GammaKappa Kappa PsiLambda Chi AlphaOmega Delta PhiOmega Psi PhiOur EarthPhi Beta SigmaPhi Delta AlphaPhi Delta ThetaPhi Gamma Delta

Phi Kappa PsiPhi Kappa SigmaPi Beta PhiPi Kappa AlphaPi Kappa PhiPresident’s Community

Keep Up the Good Work!

Air Force R.O.T.C.Alpha Chi OmegaAlpha Gamma DeltaAlpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa Delta PhiAlpha Omicron PiAlpha PhiAlpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi OmegaAlpha Sigma KappaAlpha Tau OmegaBeta Theta PiCatholic Student Assoc.Chi OmegaDelta ChiDelta Delta DeltaDelta Epsilon PsiDelta GammaDelta Phi OmegaDelta Sigma Theta

Delta Tau Delta

The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution. For accommodations on the basis of disability, call 325-2340

Volunteer ProgramsStrengthening Our Traditions through Service to State and Societyleadandvolunteer.ou.edu

ScholarsPresident’s Leadership

RUF/NEK Lil Sis

Sigma Alpha EpsilonSigma ChiSigma Gamma RhoSigma Lambda BetaSigma Lambda GammaSigma NuSigma Phi EpsilonZeta Phi BetaAdamsCate Couch

Walker

Class

Mexican Restaurant

405.579.12211000 East Alameda Norman, OK

BEST DEAL!!Wednesdays // $5.99

5 lb. Grande Burrito Dinner

during ongoing training throughout their employed year, Brittingham said.

After students are caught with marijuana on campus, they face university-sanctioned consequences. Such consequences, though judged by individual circumstances such as number of offenses, generally consist of an administration fee, community service, mar-ijuana education or possibly counseling and suspension, Ashmore said.

Student expulsion is reserved for extreme cases, during which there is a potential threat

to the university community. These cases in-clude drug dealing or creating drugs in a way that would endanger the public, Ashmore said.

Ashmore said students should be aware of the consequences, from the university and elsewhere, of smoking marijuana.

“It’s not really a safe thing for students to do because they run the risk of criminal pun-ishment, violating the student code and also having problems with grades, studying and things like that,” Ashmore said. “So, I push people to be careful.”

Amber Friend, ambermfriend@ou.edu

Facebookfacebook.com/OUDaily

Twittertwitter.com/OUDaily

VOL. 99, NO. 109© 2014 OU Publications BoardFREE — Additional copies 25¢

Visit OUDaily.com for more

INSIDE TODAYCampus......................2

Classi f ieds................6

L i fe&Ar ts... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Opinion.....................5

Spor ts........................6

Paighten Harkins, campus editor Alex Niblett, assistant editor

dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily

2 • Wednesday, February 26, 2014

CAMPUS

ILLUSTRATION BY ORIANA LOVERA/THE DAILY

Information for these graphs was obtained from the OU Open Records Office. Consequences for a drug vio-lation can include an administration fee, community service, marijuana education or possibly counseling, suspension and, for some extreme cases, expulsion, said Steve Ashmore, director of Student Conduct.

BUSTED: Consequences include feesContinued from page 1

›››› Sooner Sampler: What do you think about the something or other?

“I think Oklahoma could make a shit ton of money

on taxing it, and everyone’s doing it anyways. It also

could save the police force a lot of time.”

ROSEMARY BOYDFILM AND MEDIA STUDIES AND BROADCAST

AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA SOPHOMORE

“It’s a very complex issue, but it’s

something that we should be talking

about.”BRUCE BOGGS

SPANISH ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

“I don’t think that it is as harmful as alcohol, but I think that it could lead to a lot of bad things.”

ANDREW KIMREYUNIVERSITY COLLEGE

FRESHMAN

Cannabis contains chemicals called cannabinoids and several isomers of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Marijuana refers to the leaves and � owers of the cannabis plant; the buds are often preferred because of their higher THC content. Hashish consists of the THC-rich resinous secretions of the plant, which are collected, dried, compressed and smoked. Hashish oil is produced by extracting the cannabinoids from plant material with a solvent. In the U. S., marijuana, hashish and hashish oil are Schedule I controlled substances.

Source: Drug and Human Performance Fact Sheets

CH3

H3C

H3CO CH3

H

HTHC

What is

OUDaily.com ›› Bitcoin Q A Are you puzzled by the Internet currency Bitcoin? Go to OUDaily.com to read our Q&A with a man who will clear up your confusion.

OUDaily.com ›› Bitcoin Q A Are you puzzled by the Internet currency Bitcoin?

doesn’t think of herself as a drug dealer, she’s turned a profit by peddling drugs at the homes of friends and strangers alike.

This started during Brown’s freshman year, when she want-ed more spending money for activities like going out with friends. At one point she had roughly 50 customers. Her op-eration is smaller these days, but it still provides her with a good bit of pocket change.

“I make about $20 of profit off of every thing I sell,” Brown said. “Like, if I have an eighth (of weed), and I buy it for $60, I’ll sell it for $80.”

Brown isn’t the only one. Plenty of OU stu-dents earn money this way, though they each have their own way of doing business, wheth-er it involves traditional in-person exchang-es or using black-market websites like “Silk Road.”

When she was living in the dorms, Brown often met buyers in the basement of Adams Center. Now she goes to peoples’ homes, where she will sometimes wait in the drive-way to meet the resident who’s paying.

Brown said this separates her from “stuck-up” dealers who conduct themselves with more ceremony. She alluded to a dealing acquaintance who made buyers get in his car and drive around the block before a transaction was made.

Some people have different rules they’ve made up for sell-ing, Brown said.

“We all have our different way of doing it,” Brown said.Brown’s way isn’t the only way drugs circulate campus. If

she represents the traditional college dealer, students like sophomore Samuel White may represent the future of the craft.

Unlike Brown, whose source of ecstasy was a man named “Pedro” she would meet in an alleyway, White availed himself of the Internet. He shopped at what’s been called the Amazon.com of illegal drugs, the online black market “Silk Road.”

White would purchase marijuana and LSD from anon-ymous merchants on the site using the digital, unregulated currency, Bitcoin. He would then sell it to students for a bigger price.

White got the idea in fall 2012 when he overheard partners in his physics lab discussing drugs and asked how much they paid for them.

“I went back to my dorm, compared the prices they paid to

the ones on Silk Road and realized I can make money doing this,” White said. “And so I came back the next week and said, ‘Hey, I have a lower price for y’all.’”

White had the marijuana shipped to him from California and the LSD shipped from the United Kingdom. Since he could only buy from Silk Road with Bitcoins, he bought more of the digital currency with the money he acquired selling drugs. He would then use Bitcoins to purchase more.

White was only in the business for a few months. It wasn’t long until one of his customers was arrested, and White was

forced to lie low so he wouldn’t be turned in. This delayed his return, as did the fluctuating value of Bitcoin.

“About the time I was going to get back into it, Bitcoin prices started going crazy,” said White. “I realized I stood to gain more just by holding the Bitcoins rather than spending them.”

Although he had only managed to make a few hundred dollars during his brief foray in the business, White had something “in the neighborhood of $2,000” as a result of the ris-ing value of Bitcoin. All of it was lost when the FBI shut down Silk Road and confiscated his digital wallet in the fall.

Since he acted anonymously, the FBI’s intervention did not land White in any legal trouble. However, it effective-ly squashed his plans to open shop again last semester.

For sticking to the old fashioned ways, Brown has more cash to show for her stint as a dealer, but she’s also decided to withdraw. Whereas she once freely sold drugs to strangers, she now mostly just sells to her friends “for shits and giggles.”

She says her decreased business is partly due to her wanting to be a teacher someday. Brown wants to avoid requests for illegal substances while she’s in the classroom, teaching students.

Another factor in her decreased involvement in the drug business: guilt.

“I kind of started feeling bad,” Brown said. “I was like, ‘I don’t want to be that person that’s like ruining your relation-ship because I’m giving you weed’.”

Brown still sells to her friends, of course, but she says she’s careful about it. She’ll stop selling to them if they start neglect-ing school, Brown said.

The concern some dealers have for their buyers may sur-prise some, but it’s more common than they may think. There are both sentimental and practical reasons for dealers to make sure their buyers stay safe.

Biochemistry junior Addison Black, a buyer of LSD and marijuana who occasionally supplies his friends, says it’s in the interest of dealers to check up on their customers. He says it’s a preventative measure against getting turned in.

“The people who sell in large quantities, they know where it’s going,” Black said. “One time I did buy an ounce from somebody … and he would routinely text me or check up and say, ‘Hey, listen, have you sold this anywhere?’”

The safety of customers is also a concern, Black said. If a drug ends up putting someone in the hospital, it’s more likely the police will get involved. This is what makes distributing LSD trickier than marijuana.

“It’s much more severe and can have much more backlash for the person selling it,” Black said. “If you’re a parent, and your son goes to the ER because of something, you’re going to be much more actively trying to press charges and figure out who’s doing this.”

Still, this doesn’t mean all dealers have to care. Brown’s concern for users only goes so far. As someone who’s “very libertarian,” she believes people ought to be able to do what-ever they want to their bodies. She occasionally uses drugs herself, so she understands why people do it.

White shares this opinion, though he has never done drugs. When asked why he

was willing to sell what he’s never

used himself, he has but a single re-s p o n s e :

“Money!”

FBI shut down Silk Road and confiscated his FBI shut down Silk Road and confiscated his FBI shut down Silk Road and confiscated his

Since he acted anonymously, the FBI’s intervention did Since he acted anonymously, the FBI’s intervention did not land White in any legal trouble. However, it effective-not land White in any legal trouble. However, it effective-

also decided to withdraw. Whereas she once freely sold drugs to strangers, she now mostly just sells to her sold drugs to strangers, she now mostly just sells to her

She says her decreased business is partly due to her She says her decreased business is partly due to her wanting to be a teacher someday. Brown wants to avoid wanting to be a teacher someday. Brown wants to avoid wanting to be a teacher someday. Brown wants to avoid requests for illegal substances while she’s in the classroom, requests for illegal substances while she’s in the classroom, requests for illegal substances while she’s in the classroom,

Another factor in her decreased involvement in the drug Another factor in her decreased involvement in the drug Another factor in her decreased involvement in the drug

“I kind of started feeling bad,” Brown said. “I was like, ‘I “I kind of started feeling bad,” Brown said. “I was like, ‘I “I kind of started feeling bad,” Brown said. “I was like, ‘I don’t want to be that person that’s like ruining your relation-don’t want to be that person that’s like ruining your relation-don’t want to be that person that’s like ruining your relation-

Brown still sells to her friends, of course, but she says she’s Brown still sells to her friends, of course, but she says she’s Brown still sells to her friends, of course, but she says she’s careful about it. She’ll stop selling to them if they start neglect-careful about it. She’ll stop selling to them if they start neglect-careful about it. She’ll stop selling to them if they start neglect-

The concern some dealers have for their buyers may sur-The concern some dealers have for their buyers may sur-The concern some dealers have for their buyers may sur-prise some, but it’s more common than they may think. There prise some, but it’s more common than they may think. There prise some, but it’s more common than they may think. There are both sentimental and practical reasons for dealers to are both sentimental and practical reasons for dealers to are both sentimental and practical reasons for dealers to

When asked why he was willing to sell

what he’s never used himself,

he has but a single re-

CAMPUS Wednesday, February 26, 2014 • 3

DRUGS: Students explain how they conduct business in person and onlineContinued from page 1

We all have our different way of

doing it.”ELLE BROWN

POLITICAL SCIENCE SENIOR

‘‘

Scrolling through your Instagram feed you see a proud mom’s pic-ture of her kids, followed by a

cute couple on their first date, but scroll down a little more and you see an indi-vidual smoking weed.

Instagram’s guidelines include lists of what to do and not do on their site. They encourage their users to share photos and videos that are appropriate for all ages, according to Instagram’s guide-lines. This leaves a lot of room for inter-

pretation for what is appropriate.They also encourage their users not to post things with nudity, ma-

ture or illegal content. Once again, it’s up to the user to interpret these guidelines, but it’s important to remember that marijuana, in the state of Oklahoma at least, is illegal.

With weed’s current legal status in Oklahoma we decided to reach out to Norman Police Department to see if Instagram, and social media in general, is becoming a tool for incriminating individuals.

Norman PD officers have noticed the recent prevalence of illegal sub-stances on social media and people do occasionally reach out to them in regarding the photographs of individuals smoking on social media, said Norman PD spokesman Captain Tom Easley.

If officers have a suspect, they may check their Facebook and Instagram for context on the issue, but officers cannot convict someone solely based on social media because it isn’t sufficient evidence, Easley said.

›››› Sooner Sampler: Do you think people should post pictures of marijuana on Instagram and other social media? What do you think when you see marijuana pictures on social media?

“I think it’s pretty

stupid, pretty immature and irresponsible.”

JOSH RICHWINEUNIVERSITY COLLEGE

FRESHMAN

Emma Sullivanemmanic23@gmail.com

NEWS COLUMNIST

“Absolutely not, because you shouldn’t

smoke weed in general.”

MEGAN PRITCHARDCOMMUNICATION

SOPHOMORE

“Although I’m for legalization,

it’s a bit flagrant given current laws.”

ADAM CURRYMUSICAL ARTS SENIOR

“I think it’s a turn-off for future employers. Advertising it is not

a good quality.”NICOLE SHELDON

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FRESHMAN

ILLUSTRATION BY TONY RAGLE/THE DAILY

Anthropology sopho-more Grayson English

said he is protesting tonight because he

w a n t s s t u d e n t s t o k n o w a b o u t Brennan’s “many crimes.”

E n g l i s h s a i d Brennan’s crime in-

clude promoting the U.S. drone program,

which has resulted in the deaths of innocent civil-ians and American citizens

abroad, and support for President Barack Obama’s kill-list and lying about domestic surveillance.

“I feel about like I would given any CIA director visiting campus, which is

to say very negatively,” English said. “I think the CIA is a completely illegiti-mate and criminal institution.

University spokesman Michael Nash said Brennan and Boren are holding an informal session before the President’s Associates dinner, where students and guests will par-take in an open discussion and ask questions.

Brennan isn’t the first CIA director to visit OU’s campus. Boren, a former U.S. senator and the longest-serving chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, got then-CIA Director George Tenet to give OU’s commencement speech in 2003.

Alex Niblett, alexandra.g.niblett@ou.edu

Though the number of ci-vilian casualties caused by t h e d ro n e s t r i ke s r e m a i n s u n c l e a r, Brennan has main-tained his political stance supporting drones. This, Byas said, is one reason he doesn’t support Brennan’s campus visit.

“I think the decision to host him is implicitly a deci-sion that the administration is saying either [his] behavior is commendable, or that the bad as-pects of it are negligible enough that a person in his position is someone we should celebrate,” Byas said.

Several OU students, including cer-tain members of OU organizations such as Students for a Stateless Society and Young Americans for Liberty, met Tuesday evening to organize tonight’s protest. The protest is to show that not everyone welcomes Brennan to cam-pus, Byas said.

While some students are dissatis-fied with Brennan speaking at the din-ner, other, such as Aaron Magness, ad-

ministration leadership senior, see this visit as a unique

opportunity.“Ever since I was a young boy and took

m y f i r s t t r i p t o W a s h i n g t o n ,

D . C . , I l o v e d anything hav-ing to do with t h e U. S. g ov-ernment, espe-

cially the intel-l igence gather-

ing community,” M a g n e s s s a i d . “The CIA is an or-ganization that I have always been

interested in and what better way to learn about the CIA than from its director.”

Magness acknowledged the con-troversy surrounding Brennan and the intelligence community, but he said he was eager to see Brennan nonetheless.

“There are always two sides to the story, and I would like to hear [Brennan] speak about his experi-ences and lessons he has learned,” Magness said.

Editor’s note: Aaron Magness is a former Daily photographer, and Jason Byas is a former opinion columnist

ALEX NIBLETTAssistant Campus Editor@alex_niblett

Some Sooners aren’t pleased with CIA Director John Brennan being the guest of honor at tonight’s President’s Associates dinner and will protest tonight.

After receiving an invitation to speak at OU from former colleague President David Boren, Brennan ac-cepted and will speak at 6:30 tonight in Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Molly Shi Boren Ballroom.

Students, including Jason Byas, Young Americans for Liberty pres-ident, will protest tonight outside Oklahoma Memorial Union.

Byas said he is displeased with the university’s decision to host Brennan at the dinner because it seems they are honoring him for his achievements.

“While he is certainly a very ac-complished person, those ac-complishments involved large numbers of civil ian deaths with the drone program that he helped developed and maintained,” Byas said.

B r e n n a n b e c a m e D i r e c t o r o f C e n t r a l Intelligence last March after a 63-34 vote in the Senate.

Like Byas, the media have critiqued Brennan in the past for his support of wire-tapping and drone strikes, among other things.

I n a s p e e c h B r e n n a n gave at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington D.C. in 2012, the then White House counter-terrorism ad-viser acknowledged drones, saying, “…In full accordance with the law — and in order to prevent terrorist at-tacks on the United States and to save American lives — the United States government conducts targeted strikes against specific al-Qaeda terrorists, sometimes using remotely piloted aircraft, often referred to publicly as drones.”

Q: Looking at these problems you list-ed, what are some solutions to marijuana policy in Oklahoma that could fix some of these problems?

A: We could tax and regulate marijuana, which would mean all uses would be legal, so that children could get the medication, veterans with PTSD, people suffering from the side effects of cancer and chemo; people could use that versus using these pharmacy prescription drugs that are causing them to be addicted and leading to death.

We could make [marijuana] legal. We could change our sentencing guidelines.

Q: Do you think all marijuana — for indus-trial, recreational and medicinal purposes — should be treated the same?

A: Yes, if we tax and regulate it, just like they do in Colorado. Gosh, they’ve made $115 million in taxes since it’s been the law Jan. 1.

4 • Wednesday, February 26, 2014 CAMPUS

Q A

Okla. senator fights for legalization

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

State Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Forest Park, speaks during a meeting about Senate Bill 2116 to legalize marijuana at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Feb. 12. Emboldened by the legalization of marijuana in two states, hundreds of marijuana advocates held a rally at the Oklahoma Capitol to call for fewer restrictions on pot smoking in Oklahoma.

KATE BERGUMCampus Reporter

Marijuana legalization in Oklahoma is looming as Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Forest Park, has authored a bill that would make the drug a legal, taxable commodity.

The Daily contacted Johnson to find out her motivations for writing Senate Bill 2116 and how marijuana legaliza-tion may change Oklahoma.

Q: How long have you been advocating for marijuana policy reform in Oklahoma?

A: Since 2007, so seven years.One time, there was a vote, actually, on one of the bills

last year in Health and Human Services Committee. However, the chair refused to allow the expert witnesses who had the scientific background to testify on Skype. So, it was an inadequate session. But, the chair had the power and the authority, and it was very disingenuous of him be-cause he told me that when I could present the bill, I could do whatever I wanted. Then on the day of the hearing, he tells me I can’t do Skype.

Q: And so that bill did not go through?A: It was Senate Bill 710, I think.

Q: What are some problems with the cur-rent marijuana policy in Oklahoma?

A: The current issues have to do with — there’s three pieces for me. We over-criminalize it, so the cost of incar-ceration, not to mention the impact that incarceration has on the family members of people who go to prison, are very great and they’re unsustainable because we keep passing laws. We keep increasing penalties and, you know, at some point ... we’re going to lock up more people than are out of prison…

And then the third area is we are absolutely throwing away a natural resource that Oklahoma has been abun-dantly blessed with. Hemp grows wild in Oklahoma. It is indigenous in Oklahoma. It comes up in the cracks in the concrete. But we spend money — the federal government gives us money — to burn it down every year. So we are wasting a natural, God-given resource that is pretty unique to Oklahoma because of our policies.

And all these positions we have stem from the early ’20s and ’30s when we had the “Reefer Madness” and the cra-ziness going on — that morphed into the war on drugs. We are where we are today in terms of locking up a number of low-level nonviolent offenders, the low hanging fruit, if you will, versus putting them in treatment or in some other type of facility that is cheaper, whereas we are releasing vi-olent criminals, murderers, robbers and rapists in average in seven years.

Applications due Thursday in the Conoco Student Leadership CenterPAIGHTEN HARKINSCampus Editor@PaightenHarkins

Students interested in filing for positions with Student Government Association must apply before 4 p.m. Thursday

Forms are available on the first floor of the Conoco Student Leadership Center and online on SGA’s website, according to an OU mass email.

This spring, students will be voting for a new SGA pres-ident, vice president, Campus Activities Council chair-person, Housing Center Student Association president, Student Bar Association president and several open seats in the Undergraduate Student Congress, according to the email.

Applicants must be in good academic standing and have a signed document from their college proving their standing, the election chairman Avik Mukherjee said.

“I want someone who wants to do something for con-gress,” Mukherjee said. “They change the student life and the government.”

During last spring’s SGA presidential elections, stu-dents raised concerns about former president Ernest Ezeugo’s GPA being under the minimum requirement.

While the code annotated outlines a minimum GPA, if a college signs off on a student and says they’re in good ac-ademic standing, that’s all that matters, Mukherjee said.

“We can’t do anything about it,” Mukherjee said.Candidates must attend or send a proxy to at least one

meeting. These will take place at 11:30 a.m. on March 5 and 7 p.m. on March 6, according to an email.

The elections will take place on April 1 and 2, Mukherjee said.

The polling locations haven’t been determined yet, but they should be announced by the end of next week, Mukherjee said.

Caitlin Schachter contributed to this story.

PRESIDENT’S DINNER

Students to protest Brennan’s invitation to campus today

The following positions will be open for election:

• President

• Vice president

• Campus Activities Council chairperson

• Housing Center Student Association president

• Student Bar Association President

Undergraduate Student Congress academic district representatives seats open for the following districts:

• Business, 1 seat

• Communication, 2 seats

• Education, 2 seats

• Engineering, 2 seats

• Multi/Interdisciplinary, 1 seat

AT A GLANCE Student Government Association spring elections

SGA looking to fill spots for next year

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

John Brennan

see this visit as a unique “While he is certainly a very ac-

President David Boren

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, TAXATION AND REGULATIONS

Will marijuana ever be legalized in Oklahoma?Senate Bill 2116 had its first reading on Feb. 3 to the

Senate Chamber. This bill pertains to the legalization, taxation and regulation of marijuana use in Oklahoma. It outlines the rules for use, from recreation to research.

What about taxes?Sections 12 and 14 of this bill outline the distribution

of revenue that is generated from the distribution of mar-ijuana. An excise tax would be imposed, permitting the Oklahoma Tax Commission to adjust certain rates.

Who would have legal access to it?According to the bill, any person over the age of 21 will

have legal access to marijuana, including cultivation, consumption, acquisition, possession and transportation of marijuana under specific rules, such as the amount in possession and the age requirement.

When would this bill go into effect?If it is passed, the bill will take effect Nov. 1.More questions online at OUDaily.com

Students opposed to John Brennan’s beliefs plan to let their voices be heard

While he is certainly a very accomplished person, those

accomplishments involved large numbers of civilian deaths with

the drone program that he helped developed and maintained.”

JASON BYAS, YOUNG AMERICANS FOR LIBERTY PRESIDENT

‘‘

Q A

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, TAXATION MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, TAXATION

If you can buy a gun without a permit, if electro-

cution is still a meth-od of execution and if Mary Fallin is the governor of Oklahoma, then the legaliza-tion of marijuana in Oklahoma should be the least of our concerns.

As a state we are faced with new, pressing and legitimately important issues daily, and marijuana is not one of them. The fact that Oklahoma is ranked fourth in the nation for teen preg-nancies is a real issue. Even better, statis-tics over the past few years show Oklahoma among the nation’s leaders in meth labs, arrests and addiction cases.

So it’s really quite infuriating to watch Congress waste their time and our precious tax dollars to argue over a substance that causes people to — at worst— become more lethargic. Some members of Congress get their panties in a wad over such non-issues that it might actually be in their best interest to wind down and smoke a bowl.

While there are a plethora of reasons why marijuana should be legalized, I will spare you by only listing the most pertinent ones:

Legalizing marijuana would help

boost our economy. Considering the fact that the standard price for a gram of marijua-na is $20, imagine the profit that pharmacies or dispensaries could make if it were to be-come a commodity, not to mention the profit to be had by commercial growers.

Marijuana is safe compared to legal substances like alcohol. When have you ever heard of a violent stoner? How many “stoners anonymous”

meetings have you been to? Not only is it not addictive, it is actu-ally tranquilizing for a brief period of time. If you’ve ever seen an ep-isode of “Workaholics” or actually worked with stoners, then you’re more than aware of the capabilities of people under the influence of marijuana — slow and steady wins the race!

Lastly, if you’ve ever listened to the lyrics of The Beatles, Wiz

Khalifa or Pink Floyd and enjoyed them — and if you haven’t, you proba-bly should have put this column down well before this sentence — then you should be able to also appreciate the artistic doors that marijuana can open.

Rachael Montgomery is a public relations sophomore.

Marijuana has been classified as a Schedule 1 sub-

stance by the federal govern-ment for more than 40 years because of its high likelihood of abuse and because, at the time, no research had been done to find and understand the medi-cal benefits of the plant.

Since the ’70s, however, re-searchers have dedicated more time and energy toward understanding mar-ijuana and the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) chemical the plant contains. Still, many questions remain about the long term negative and positive effects of marijuana use. Until these questions have been thoroughly explored and an-swered, marijuana should re-main illegal for our own safety.

Because of overwhelming evidence of the medicinal value of THC, however, many states have been racing to legalize marijuana for both medical and recreational use, ignoring some of the more dan-gerous side effects of THC.

Despite the increase in re-search on cannabinoids in the past 40 years, much is still unknown about the long-term effects of frequent use. Though some studies show that THC could be very useful as a medication, recreational use should remain illegal because of the myriad external factors that can create adverse effects, which only doctors can adequately test for.

LUNG DAMAGERecreational users of marijuana tend to im-

bibe the THC via smoke, oftentimes holding

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed and signed by the author(s). Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style. Students must list their major and classi� cation. To submit letters, email dailyopinion@ou.edu.

Our View is the voice of the Editorial Board, which consists of eight student editors. The board meets at 5 p.m. Sunday to Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall. Board meetings are open to the public.

Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the views or opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board.

To advertise in The Oklahoma Daily, contact advertising manager Kearsten Howland by calling 405-325-8964 or emailing dailyads@ou.edu.

One free copy of The Daily is available to members of the OU community. Additional copies may be purchased for 25 cents by contacting The Daily business of� ce at 405-325-2522.

Kyle Margerum Editor in ChiefBlayklee Buchanan Managing EditorPaighten Harkins Campus EditorArianna Pickard Continuous News EditorKaitlyn Underwood Opinion EditorTony Beaulieu Life & Arts Editor

Julia Nelson Sports EditorTaylor Bolton Visual EditorKearsten Howland Advertising ManagerJudy Gibbs Robinson Faculty Adviser

contact us 160 Copeland Hall, 860 Van Vleet OvalNorman, OK 73019-2052

phone:405-325-3666

email:dailynews@ou.edu

Kaitlyn Underwood, opinion editorRachael Montgomery, assistant editor

dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinionOPINION

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 • 5

Our View: After the passage of the farm bill, we hope to see both hemp and marijuana legalized everywhere in the U.S.

The U.S. may be moving closer to marijuana legalization with the recent passage of a federal farm bill permitting industrial production

of hemp for the first time since the 1950s.Hemp, which can’t get you high, is a variant of the cannabis plant and

is commonly used in products ranging from food to clothing. We believe this farm bill is a logical step in the direction of legalizing

cannabis across the U.S.The farm bill would permit 10 states to potentially harvest the hemp

crop through the establishment of “pilot growing programs,” according to a Vote Hemp press release. We are encouraged by the farm bill’s passage and think it is, in fact, a long overdue acceptance of the harmless canna-bis strain. Just because hemp leaves look like pot leaves doesn’t mean the crop is the same as it’s demonized cousin, marijuana.

Hemp is harvested for its seeds, oil and fiber and is used in products you probably have in your house right now, like granola bars. So instead of assuming hemp is “bad” like pot, take a minute to learn the differences between the two. The main distinction between hemp and pot is the psychoactive effect of the chemical THC, which is found in marijuana.

Throughout much of the U.S., pot is still considered an illegal drug, but there is no reason for hemp to be in the same boat. Hemp was outlawed in the 1950s along with marijuana, but we believe that hemp production should be legal in all 50 states and applaud the farm bill’s start down that path. Industrial hemp cultivation would likely boost the U.S. economy as an export to other countries, and it would provide new jobs harvesting the crop.

However, the farm bill’s passage is not a sign that the U.S. government is ready to legalize marijuana, according to an Al Jazeera article. Under the bill, hemp cultivation would be limited to colleges and state agen-cies and only in the nine states where hemp is legal. While we believe the farm bill is a commonsense move toward cannabis legalization, we be-lieve hemp, a non-intoxicating crop, should be legal to grow and harvest across the U.S.

The farm bill does seem, to us, to coincide with the legalization of med-ical marijuana usage in 20 states. Only time will tell, but we hope we will soon see a federal law permitting the use of both hemp and marijuana in the U.S. In fact, a majority of Americans now support the legalization of marijuana, according to a 2013 Pew Research study. And because our government is for the people, by the people, we believe there should be federal laws permitting cannabis usage sooner rather than later.

Comment on this at OUDaily.com

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

OPINION

Our View:

The U.S. may be moving closer to marijuana legalization with the recent passage of a federal farm bill permitting industrial production

of hemp for the first time since the 1950s.Hemp, which can’t get you high, is a variant of the cannabis plant and

cannabis across the U.S.The farm bill would permit 10 states to potentially harvest the hemp

crop through the establishment of “pilot growing programs,” according to a Vote Hemp press release. We are encouraged by the farm bill’s passage and think it is, in fact, a long overdue acceptance of the harmless canna-

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

HEM

PThe Our View is the majority opinion of The Daily’s eight-member editorial board

MARIJUANA POINT/COUNTERPOINTWeed has many benefits Pot should stay illegal for now

Rachael Montgomeryrachaeljmo94@gmail.com

ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Jacqueline Schlasnerjschlasner@gmail.com

OPINION COLUMNIST

JUST THE FACTS

“How many ‘stoners anonymous’

meetings have you been to?”

‘‘ • Cannabis users are more prone to emphysema

• THC can disrupt balance, posture, coordination and reaction time

• Cannabis can worsen schizophrenia

• Cannabis usage can suppress the immune system

the smoke in their lungs longer than necessary to enhance the effects of the drug. By taking in the drug in this way, doctors have found long-time cannabis users are even more prone to early emphysema than even the worst cigarette smokers.

CHANGES IN BRAIN STRUCTURE

The changes in the brain caused by marijuana occur on two levels: the short term and the long term.

In the short term, THC “disrupts coordina-tion and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia — parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination and re-action time,” according to a government website on drug abuse.

Psychologists argue that “several lines of evidence exist to suggest a role for cannabi-noids and their receptors in the pathophysiology of schizo-phrenia.” They recommend those who have a genetic pre-disposition to schizophrenia stay away from the drug.

In those with an existing psychosis, psychol-ogists claim that even though THC appears to help patients in the short-term, “cannabis use worsens the clinical course and overall prog-nosis of the disorder,” according to the study.

Jacqueline Schlasner is a professional writing graduate student.

1111

CLASSIFIEDS

PLACE A PAID AD

FREE AD WITH OU.EDU EMAIL ADDRESS

Phone: 405-325-2521E-mail: classifi eds@ou.edu

Fax: 405-325-7517Campus Address: COH 149A

Line Ad ..................................................................................3 days priorPlace line ad by 9:00 a.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

Display Ad ............................................................................3 days priorClassifi ed Display or Classifi ed Card AdPlace your display, classifi ed display or classifi ed card ads by 5:00 p.m. 3 business days prior to publication.

DEADLINES

Anyone with an ou.edu email address can place their ad in the Classified section of The Oklahoma Daily at no cost. Simply email your ad copy to classifieds@ou.edu, along with name, address and phone contact information. Maximum 5 lines and 10-issue run per listing.

HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2014, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Concentrate your abilities on working toward a personal goal. Make good use of all the resources available to you, and don’t allow the pessimistic attitudes of others to dissuade you. Be on the alert for opportunities, and take full advantage of them when they appear.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Be businesslike in your dealings. Someone may be overly interested in your personal life. Keep them guessing about your private matters, and be careful not to reveal too much.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Preparation and organization will be key today. Someone may not be forthright regarding a touchy situation. If you wait until the last minute, you risk becoming overwhelmed by the issues at hand.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Make plans to have fun with friends, or arrange an outing with your lover. Deal with your responsibilities in advance so that no one will fi nd fault with your actions.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Your clever ideas and innovative solutions will lead to a moneymaking venture. Determine exactly what you want to achieve and then work hard in service of your goals.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- It’s a good day to review paperwork and fi nancial records. Make changes to improve your savings and investments. Reward yourself by spending a romantic evening with someone you love.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You are in a romantic mood today. Don’t get carried away and offer untrue

or frivolous declarations of your feelings. Your relationship will only be strengthened by your honesty and devotion.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- It’s time for a little pampering. You may decide to lift your spirits by getting together with your special someone, or perhaps even treating yourself to a new look or outfi t.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- It is not necessary to seek approval from others for all of your plans. You can gain a new perspective and improve your outlook by exploring new locations or experiences for yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Trying to please others will only cause you frustration. Although people may have your best interests at heart, focusing on your own goals will keep you on the sure path to success.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- With determination and self-discipline, one of your many hobbies could prove profi table. A close look at your various interests may reveal the opportunity for fi nancial gain that you have been seeking.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Following your intuition will lead to inspiration. However, persistence, determination and dedication will be the necessary ingredients for positive results. Avoid negativity and doubt -- they will only interfere with your dreams.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Changes are on the horizon. Make the effort to expand your knowledge and insights by joining a club, class or other activity that is interesting to you. New circumstances will also provide new friendships.

Instructions:Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Previous Solution

Monday- Very EasyTuesday-EasyWednesday- EasyThursday- MediumFriday - Hard

ACROSS 1 Magic item

of folklore 5 Coveted role 9 Carpenter’s

grooves 14 River that

begins in Pittsburgh

15 Not faked out by

16 Distinctive historical period

17 Streak on a cheek

18 Wooden-soled shoe

19 Rock climber’s ridge

20 Scot’s signature hat

23 Strong loathing

24 Crack the books

25 Mane area 29 Some

people break into it

31 Chest-beater 33 Balaam’s

beast 36 Retain 38 Word before

“crust” or “deck”

39 Anytime now 43 Harder

to find 44 Edith dubbed

“The Little Sparrow”

45 Smokestack emission

46 Managed 49 Sandpaper

surface 51 Town crier’s

announce-ments

52 “Friends” paleontologist

54 Window or middle alternative

58 Winter chapeau

60 Civilian clothes

64 Had gone belly up?

65 Depression-era freight-hopper

66 Archipelago part

67 Eagles that sound deserving?

68 Did not step lightly

69 “Wild” card 70 Chicks feel

secure there 71 Bone-dryDOWN 1 Game with

scratching 2 In first place 3 Where Little

Havana is 4 Like a

sponge 5 Lomond,

for one 6 It can result

in a blowup 7 Perform

penance 8 Army

identification 9 Letter starter 10 Lending

letters or tax-paying mo.

11 Fawn’s mom 12 Six mos.

later than 10-Down

13 “That’s all ___ wrote!”

21 Backyard cooking devices

22 Tokyo, once 25 Palm used

for thatching 26 Kind of male

or wave 27 They

sometimes fall on deaf ears

28 Third rock from the sun

30 Nancy Drew’s boyfriend

32 Thug 33 Brother

of Moses 34 Barrel strip 35 Scatter

(about) 37 Grammy

category 40 For the wife 41 They’re

thrown on the gridiron

42 Ben-Hur was chained to one

47 Creative class

48 Like some blankets

50 Gymnasts’ garb

53 Type of tactics

55 Set of 20 56 Mechanic’s

charge 57 Horace

verse form 58 Word after

“Web” or “camp”

59 R&D site, briefly

60 “Air” or “field” starter

61 Take for a sucker

62 Wintertime ailment

63 Private eye

Universal CrosswordEdited by Timothy E. Parker February 26, 2014

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2014 Universal Uclickwww.upuzzles.com

ON TOP By Oliver Klamp2/26

2/25

Julia Nelson, sports editorJoe Mussatto, assistant editor

dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySportsSPORTS

6 • Wednesday, February 26, 2014

LEGAL OR NOTMa r i j u a n a i s l e g a l

i n C o l o r a d o a n d Washington, but that

doesn’t mean the NCAA allows play-ers in those states to use it while par-ticipating in college athletics.

As it now stands, the NCAA bans the following street drugs: heroin, marijuana, tetrahydrocannabional (THC) and synthetic cannabinoids like spice, K2, JWH-018 and JWH-073. Stimulants, anabolic agents, alcohol and beta blockers, diuretics and other masking agents, peptide hormones and analogues, anti-es-trogens and beta-2 agonists are the other classes of drugs banned by the NCAA.

Recently, the NCAA reviewed its policy and supported keeping mar-ijuana on the banned substance list, according to Christopher Radford, Associate Director of Public and Media Relations for the NCAA. A survey done in fall 2013 shows that NCAA schools also support testing for marijuana, Radford said.

The NCAA is a private entity that governs college athletics, explained Jo Marchi, Associate Director of Compliance and Monitoring Coordinator at the University of Colorado. It’s not an issue up to the states, but rather, something much bigger.

While the NCAA randomly drug tests student-athletes, the universi-ties also have the option to drug test.

The University of Colorado not only resides in a state where mar-ijuana is legal, but also performs its own drug tests in addition to

those administered by the NCAA. However, their policies on those drug tests differ from the NCAA policy.

According to the University of Colorado athletics website, a first violation will result in a substance evaluation with the Director of Student-Athlete Wellness, period-ic drug tests for one year, the no-tification of the student-athlete’s parents or guardians and any other sanctions imposed by the Office of Student Conduct.

A second violation will result in the suspension from at least 20 per-cent of the competitive season, re-quired counseling or treatment as recommended by the Director of Student-Athlete Wellness, notifica-tion of the student athlete’s parents or guardians, additional drug testing for one year and any other sanctions imposed by the Office of Student Conduct. The student-athlete may be reinstated after his or her suspen-sion if no other violations occur.

A third violation will result in at least a one-year suspension.

The OU Athletics Compliance Department has a similar drug pol-icy to Colorado, according to Jason Leonard from the Compliance of-fice. OU drug tests in addition to the

NCAA and has its own ramifications for offenses. For a first offense, the athlete must see a doctor who will decide what care and treatment is needed. All athletes are also placed in a drug education program. After a second positive drug test, athletes are suspended for one competition. The third offense suspends the ath-lete from the athletic department at the discretion of the athletic director, and the fourth offense permanently removes the athlete from the athletic department, Leonard said.

OU has drug-tested its student- athletes 300 times this school year and has received 11 positive results, Leonard said.

The NCAA policy differs from the policies of OU and Colorado. The NCAA policy states that student-ath-letes will lose one year of eligibility and cannot play for a full season for a first failed drug test. A second failed drug test for street drugs results in another lost year of eligibility and another year withheld from compe-tition. A second failed drug test for PEDs leaves the student-athlete per-manently ineligible.

Julia Nelson julia.nelson@ou.edu

NCAA policy applies to all schools regardless of state’s marijuana stance

Julia NelsoN • sports editor

TransportationC

AUTO INSURANCE

Auto InsuranceQuotations AnytimeForeign Students Welcomed

JIM HOLMES INSURANCE, 321-4664

HELP WANTED

$5,500-$10,000PAID EGG DONORS. All Races needed.

Non-smokers, Ages 18-27,SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.00

Contact: info@eggdonorcenter.com

After School TeachersCommunity After School Program now hiring part-time staff to work in our school-age childcare programs in Norman Public Schools. Hours: M-F 2:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Closed for all Norman Public School holi-days and professional days. Competitive wages starting at $7.75/hour. Higher pay for students with qualifying coursework in education, early childhood, recreation and related fields. Complete application online at www.caspinc.org. Email brenda@caspinc.org

Housing RentalsJ

HOUSES UNFURNISHEDVictorian home FACULTY/GRAD STU-DENTS ONLY 5500 S.F. $1200/mo See oudaily.com ad for more info. 405-414-7277

3

Craigslist not working for you?

Place your ad with us

FREE!It’s simple! Anyone with an ou.edu email address can

place their ad in the Classi� ed section of � e Oklahoma Daily ... at no cost!

student [m]edia405.325.2521 classi� eds@ou.edu

(Maximum of 5 lines and 10-day run)

� e Oklahoma Daily is a product of OU Student Media. Student Media is a department within OU’s division of Student A� airs. � e University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

\ WEDNESDAY /FEB, 26TH

A Taste of Tuscany: Olive Oil: The Elixir of Life with Jason Houston,

2 p.m., Kaufman Hall 230

Onigiri, Japanese Rice Balls with Mano Yasuda, 3 p.m., Kaufman Hall 230

Presented by the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Linguistics

Presented by the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Linguistics

\ THURSDAY’S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURES /

W. ROGER LOUIS VANCE RAYE

RAMEZ MALUFINA JAVELLAS

My Life as a Historian: From OU to UT via Harvard, Oxford, Yale and a German Wife,10:30 a.m., Heritage Room, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Presented as part of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Lectures.

A Little Bit of Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing: Press Coverage of Courts in the New Media, 3 p.m., Heritage Room,OMU. Presented as part of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Lectures.

What’s on (Arab) Television? 4:30 p.m.,Heritage Room,OMU. Presented as part of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Lectures.

Pioneering Professional Social Work Practice: The Vital Role of Collaboration and Colleagues over the Career Spectrum, 1:30 p.m.,Community Room, Zarrow Hall. Presented as part of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Lectures.

FOCUS ON A&S WEEKCELEBRATING OU’S OLDEST, LARGEST, & MOST DIVERSE COLLEGE

- cas.ou.edu/focus-week -

URGENTSUmmer Financial aidInfo for ou students!

For complete summer aid information, log into oZONE and go to the Money Tab, then go to the Summer Application link.

FIVE $500 scholarships have become available for summer 2014 Classes At ou!

These scholarships have become available for Summer 2014 classes. Submit summer

application by March 14, 2014.

*Scholarship may be in the form of tuition waivers.

LIFE ARTSWednesday, February 26, 2014 • 7

Tony Beaulieu, life & arts editorLuke Reynolds, assistant editor

dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts

Today, it seems like almost every comedy has a pot-centric storyline or characters who smoke. Whether it’s “Knocked Up” or “We’re The Millers,” movies today show pot in a very non-threatening, humorous light, but some movies portray smoking pot in a negative light.

To help clear up some common misconceptions about marijuana, here is a guide to the truth behind some myths movies have helped spread:

op culture has a very long and in-teresting history with marijuana. There were the cautionary tales

of the 1930s that depicted “drug-crazed abandon.” With comedy duo Cheech and Chong, “stoner flicks” gained popularity in the 1970s. And in the golden age of the teen comedy, marijuana was featured in film regularly throughout the 1980s.

Everybody knows the story. Boy meets weed. Boy gets addicted to it. Boy eventually becomes a crack addict living in the gutters. Except that it is completely untrue.

A s t u d y p u b l i s h e d i n t h e December 2006 issue of “The American Journal of Psychiatry” states, “the likelihood that some-one will transition to the use of ille-gal drugs is determined not by the preceding use of a particular drug, but instead by the user’s individu-al tendencies and environmental circumstances.”

And I think it’s safe to say that Johnny Depp’s character, Hunter S. Thompson, in “Fear and Loathing” was not the most mentally well hinged person in the first place. Marijuana may have been his first love, but it alone did not lead him to ingest a briefcase full of various narcotics.

As Seen In: “Half-Baked,” “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” “Blow,” “Traffic”

If you ever see somebody grow-ing weed in pop culture, it is not because it is his or her hobby. More often than not, it is out of financial need that they work as drug deal-ers. Think of Saul from “Pineapple Express” or Nancy from “Weeds." Both dealers are constantly trying to evade the authorities and get-ting into trouble with drug lords.

What movies do not seem to por-tray is the group of people growing marijuana legally. Although illegal at the federal level, it is now legal at the state level to grow marijuana for personal use in Colorado and commercially in Washington. And that does not even include the sev-eral states where medicinal grow-ing is legal.

As Seen In: “Blow,” Weeds” (TV Series), “Pineapple Express,” “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Scarface”

There is a reason marijuana usage in film is mostly relegated to comedies. Many movies depict characters who use marijuana as pot-heads who ramble, make jokes and are perceived as stupid and entertaining.

The truth might surprise you, though. Various studies from the likes of Duke University, the National Academy of Science and more suggest that heavy marijuana usage (five or more joints a week) could possibly lower your IQ by four points. People who have never used marijuana could find their IQs rise by 2.6 points.

But while heavy marijuana usage might lower your IQ, it was also discovered that light mari-juana usage (less than five joints a week) raises their IQ by 5.8 points.

As Seen In: “Super High Me,” “Dude, Where’s My Car?” “Up In Smoke,” “Super Troopers,” “Dazed and Confused,” “Friday”

Top photo: “Half-Baked”Middle photo: “Refer Madness”Bottom photo: “Weeds”

KEATON BELL • L&A COLUMNIST

For more information,visit teachin.ou.edu or scan the QR code.

The University is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

Reservations required for each session. For reservations or accommodations on the basis of disability,

call OU Public Affairs at (405) 325-3784 or email specialevents@ou.edu.

4 p.m. – Ed Ayers, one of the nation’s leading historians, author of The Promise of the New South: Life After Reconstructionof the University of Richmond, along John Wilmerding, author of several books on various artists and their portrayal of historical moments in American history and professor

in a panel discussion on “Freedom in America and Civic Education.” This session will be moderated by Kyle Harper, director of OU’s Institute for American Constitutional

Kyle Harper John WilmerdingEd Ayers

3 p.m. – “Lincoln’s Four Roads to Emancipation,” presented by Allen Guelzo, author of the New York Times bestseller Gettysburg: The Last Invasion, as well as Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America and LAmerica. He is also the director of Civil War Studies at Gettysburg College.

2 p.m. – “U.S. Grant at the Civil War Sesquicentennial,” presented by Joan Waugheras. She has written several books on these subjects, including U. S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth and Civil War and Reconstruction, 1856 to 1859. Waugh is a professor of History at the University of California, Los Angeles.

10:30 a.m. – “Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural,” presented by Ronald White, author of the New York Times bestseller A. Lincoln: A Biography, as well as Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural and The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln through His Words. He has lectured at the White House and has been interviewed on the PBS “News Hour.” White is a professor of history at the University of California, Los Angeles.

9:30 a.m. – “The Seductiveness of Turning Points: How Important was Gettysburg?,” presented by Gary Gallagher, author of The Confederate War, Lee and His Generals in War and Memory and The Union War, as well as Becoming Confederates: Paths to a New National Loyalty and Causes Won, Lost, and Forgotten: How Hollywood and Popular Art Shape What We Know About the Civil War. He is a professor of history at the University of Virginia.

Teach-In on the Civil War“A Day With Some of the Greatest Teachers in America”

Monday, March 10, 2014Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center

YOU ARE INVITED!TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE-DAY PROGRAMS

ON AMERICAN HISTORY EVER HELD IN OUR STATE

“It has been said that to remain great, Americans must understand how we became great. One of the most important obligations of

any university is to prepare our students for the responsibilities of citizenship by making sure that they learn our own history and our

own constitutional heritage.” — David L. Boren

8 • Wednesday, February 26, 2014 advertisement