By Alyssa Braver ’16
Photo Courtesy of SSDP.org
They say the War on Drugs has failed.
Students for a Sensible Drug Policy is a national student-led organization advocating for more sensible alternatives to drug prohibition. The Lafayette chapter of the organization has been an active club on campus for the past two months.
“We think drug addiction should be treated as a health problem, not a criminal issue,” Lafayette SSDP President Nate Hand ‘15 said. The club advocates for the legalization of all drugs for social, financial, racial, and moral reasons, not because they believe people should do drugs. In fact, the club is quick to point out that drugs are not necessarily good or helpful, showing a quick video about how meth addiction can lead to dire consequences.
However, despite the sometimes-dangerous consequences of drug use, according to Hand, “it’s not the government’s job to tell us what we can and can’t do with our bodies.”
Other members agreed claiming that many other things, like knives and guns, are just as dangerous yet still legal. While the club does not believe that it is the government’s business to punish users, the club does believe in the regulation of drugs. If drugs were made legal, students say the drugs would be safer as they could be purchased from pharmaceutical companies rather than underground dealers.
People might also be more willing to get help with their addictions if they didn’t have to risk criminal charges, club members say.
When it comes to drug policy, President Obama’s new strategy includes putting greater emphasis on using public health tools to fight addiction and diverting non-violent drug offenders into treatment instead of jail.
The club feels that this is a step in the right direction, but they acknowledge the opinion of those who disagree.
“We understand that the legalization of all drugs is a controversial issue, and we welcome those with contrary opinions to attend our meetings so that we can have an honest discussion,” Hand said.
On April 24, along with College Libertarians and College Democrats, the club co-sponsored a talk from former Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore City William Cooke.
Cooke now represents Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.
Cooke spoke about how his experiences prosecuting have led him to believe in the legalization of more drugs. The message tied into the club’s goal, which is to serve as an open forum in which students can discuss their opinions about drug policy without judgment.