In November 2005, Denver passed a measure that allowed adults over the age of 21 to possess an ounce or less of marijuana without criminal prosecution. While not exactly legalization (fines are still able to be imposed, and it is still illegal to sell or buy it), it’s a step closer for this hot-button topic.
On Thursday, the debate takes center stage at The Union as the Heads vs. Feds debate rolls into town.
The event, which has become intensely popular on college campuses around the country, is headed by Steven Hager and Robert Stutman.
Stutman, representing the “con” side of legalization, is an ex-DEA agent who retired in 1990 after 25 years of service. During his time with the agency, 5,000 investigations were launched that led to more than 15,000 arrests and seizure of more than $400 million in traffickers’ assets. He now heads The Stutman Group, a consulting firm designed to implement substance abuse prevention programs for a variety of companies.
Stutman’s stance is simple:
“If we legalize it we get more users,” he said, “and we saw how good that turned out with the alcohol experiment.”
He also claims that most proponents are trying to get it legalized mainly for recreational use, and that the “medicinal legalization” is just another path toward personal use.
On the other side of the stage is Steve Hager. A journalism major from the University of Illinois, Hager was the editor-in-chief at High Times magazine for 16 years. In addition to his journalistic achievements, he also founded The Freedom Fighters, a nationwide group dedicated to the legalization of marijuana. Hager is also busy with creating a counter-culture TV network.
Hager, who was unavailable for comment, has the goal of “establishing the counterculture as a legitimate minority group whose basic rights of freedom of religion and pursuit of happiness have been denied,” as stated in the official Heads vs. Feds press release.
The touring and formal debate was the next step in the issue.
“I had been debating this topic with lots of other people,” Stutman said. “Then Scott Wolfman [agent and founder of Wolfman Productions] saw me and decided to put [Hager and me] together.”
The debate also acts as an open forum. Each speaker has a 15-minute opening, then the floor is opened to questions from the audience. Afterward, there are closing remarks, but Stutman and Hager usually stick around to speak to students.
While the event serves as a debate first, it also tries to break down walls between the two opposing groups.
“Despite what people might think, Hager and I are really close personal friends,” Stutman said. “We want people to understand two things: first, we want to break down the stereotypes. Proponents of legalization always think I’m the devil incarnate, and opponents always think Hager is the typical pothead. That’s not the case.”
“Secondly, we want people to understand that despite the fact that we disagree, we can disagree without being disagreeable. There’s no bad blood between us at all.”
So how do they expect the reaction to be in a Red state?
“I can tell you exactly what will happen,” Stutman said. “The activists will show up. I was doing the debate at the University of South Dakota once. They have a pretty conservative Mormon population, so I figured I’d have more people on my side. It definitely wasn’t the case.”
Campus Activities Board student director Bobbie Lee Daniels expects there won’t be any repercussions from the conservative population.
“I think this is going to be an educational experience for both sides,” she said.
“It’s not just about convincing people outright,” Stutman said. “It’s about getting people to think. When I have someone come up to me afterwards and say, ‘I may not agree with you, but you made me think,’ I know I’ve done a good job.”
What: Debate focusing on the pros and cons of the legalization of marijuana.
When: Thursday night at 7
Where: The Union
Cost: Free