2A - Thursday, March 6, 2008 N eW7s The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom 4 HOW IS THE STREET VAL UE OF MARIJUANA DETERM The price of green The City of Ann Arbor might have some of the most lax pot laws around, but when local police recover the drug, it's the federal government that determines its value. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency puts a $1,000 price tag on one pound of mari- juana, but according to Michigan state police Lt. Garth Burnside, who heads the Narcotics Enforce- ment Team in Washtenaw County, this figure doesn't account for the range of qualities - or prices - in the marijuana market. To determine an approximate street value of drugs, the DEA keeps a record of drug busts that occur throughout the country. Published in a report known as "Trends in Trafficking," the DEA takes into account the price, quantity and quality of drugs con- fiscated in the busts. Burnside that while it's dif- ficult to gauge a market with so many factors, the $1,000 figure for a pound of marijuana seemed appropriate. Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Diane Brown said these dollars values have no legal significance. Instead, they're meant to give ordinary citizens an idea of drug recovery values made by the police.' Like most products, the price of pot relies on the classic economic mechanism ofsupply and demand. With drug raids like the seizure of 375 pounds of marijuana in Ypsi- lanti earlier this week, Burnside and other drug enforcers hope to create a shortage in the market, thus boosting prices and lowering consumption. "It's like buying a candy bar," Burnside said. "If you buy one in the store today, the price mightbe The value of marijuana given in police reports is deter- mined by United States Drug Enforcement Agency, which tracks the price and quantity of drugs confiscated by police nationwide. CRIME NOTES CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES' Backpack reported stolen WHERE: Michigan Union WHEN: Tuesday at about 9 a.m. WHAT: A student filed a report with the Department of Public Safety after her backpack was stolen from the ballroom area of the build- ing on Jan. 19, DPS reported. The Eddie Bauer backpack contained two cell phones, an iPod and a pair of sweatpants. Police have no suspects. Tresspassers found in CCRB WHERE: Central Campus Rec- reation Building WHEN: Tuesday at about 8 p.m. WHAT: Two men, unaffili- ated with the University, were arrested for trespassing, DPS reported.When'tonfronted by staff members, who suspected they snuck in without paying, the men refused to leave the building. They were arrested and released. Truck strikes parked car WHERE: Michigan Union WHEN: Tuesday at about 3:15- p.m. WHAT: A vendor backed into a car parked in the loading dock, DPS reported. Both vehicles sustained minor damage, but no one was hurt in the accident. Light pole near dorm damaged WHERE: Mary Markley Resi- dence Hall WHEN: Tuesday at about 9 a.m-. WHAT: A light pole near the building's entrance was dam- aged, DPS reported. Police have no suspects. The damages will cost about $325 to repair. Lectue on WH ERE: Room 4, Mid on League graphic design Pnptrv ql am higan different if it's on sale tomorrow." The Lieutenant also noted that a drug's price can change signifi- cantly based on location. A University student who wished to remain anonymous said he regularly travels to Detroit to buy marijuana because it's cheap- er there. "I would pay 50 or 60 bucks for an eighth (of an ounce) of Chronic in Ann Arbor, butI could get a full ounce of the same stuff for 80 to 100 bucks in Detroit." The self-described "marijuana enthusiast" said the DEAs esti- mate of $1,000 seemed reason- able, but that $1,500 was more realistic. He said he thinks that police intentionally place a lower value on a drug to make others who dabble in the market ques- tion the higher prices they might be paying to dealers. LINDYSTEVENS TH REE TH INGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY The last day to withdraw from a LSA course this term is Friday. To drop or add a class students must obtain the instructor's permission and turnthe appropriate forms into LSA's Academic Advising Cen- ter by 4 p.m. on Friday. Although as many as three graveyards display a grave marker for Blues musician Robert Johnson, he is actu- ally buried at the Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, Miss. >"FOR MORE, SEE THE B-SIDE Researchers at the Wash- ington-based think tank, Urban Institute, have implicated the iPod as the reason behind the nationwide rise in crime from 2005 to 2006. The institute claims that the pricey electronic devices fueled an "iCrime Wave." Che lrtchfaan soat-t 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com ANDREWGROSSMAN DAVIDGOH Editor in Chief Business Manager 734-647-3336 734-764-0558 grossman@michigandaily.com goh@michigandaily.com CONTACT INFORMATION Newsroom ofcehours:Sun.-Thurs.11a.m.-2a.m. . 734-763-2459 News Tips newa@ointhigandaily~com Corrections correctiona@ichigandaity.co Letters tothe Editor tothedaily@michigandaily.com Photography Department photo@michigandaily.com 734-764-0s63 ArtsSection artspage@michigandaily.com Editorial Page opinion@michigandaily.com 734-763-0379 Sports Section sports@michigandaily.com Display Sales display@michigandaily.com 734-764-0ss4 Classified Sales classified@michigandaiy.com Online Sales onlineads@michigandaiy.com 734-61s-013s Finance finance@michigandaily.com EDITORIAL STAFF Gabe Nelson ManagingEditor nelson@michigandaily.com Chris Herring ManagingNewsEditor herring@michigandaiy.com NEWSEDITORS:Emily Barton,KellyFraser,LisaHaidostian,AndyKroll GaryGraca EdinoialPaeEEdio r graca@michigandaiy.com EmilyMichels,ArikiaMillikan,KatePeabody,MatthewTrecha Nate Sandals ManagingSports Editor sandals@michigandaily.com SENIOR SPORTS EDITORS: H. Jose Bosch, Dan Feldman, Mark Giannotto, Courtney Ratkowiak, Ian Robinson SPORTS NIGHT EDITORS: NicoleAuerbach, Michael Eisenstei, RuthLincoln, Chris Meszaros, Andy Reid, Colt Rosensweig Chrslaerig Managing Arts Editor gaerig@michigandaily.com ASSOCIATEARoTSEDITOS:Mat , arolion Harta, Mica asan, RodrgoGaya ManagingPhoto Editor gaya@michigandaily.com ASSOCIATE OTOnEDITORS Jeremy h,achary Meisne AnSSANTP Hoo DORSBenDell, RobRMigain ,il teeder, ShaySpaniola AlisonGhaman Managing Design Editor ghaman@michigandaily.com ASSOCIATE DESIGN EDITORS: Bridget O'Donnell, Hillary Ruffe Bridget O'Donnell Managing OnlineEditorodonnell@michigandaily.com ASSOCIATE ONLINE EDITORS:TomHaynes Jessica Vosgerchian Magazine Editoravosgerchian@michigandaily.com PeterSchottentets MoltimediaEditor schottenfels@michigandaily.com Katherine Mitchell copychief mitchkl@umich.edu ASSOCIATE COPY CHIEF: Zenaida Rivera Paul Johnson Public Editor publiceditor@umich.edu BUSINESS STAFF David Dai Display AdvertisingSales Manager DISPLAY ADVERTISING SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER: Charles Hsieh DISPLAY ADVERTISING ASSISTANT MANAGER: Michae Schrotenboer David Reile Classified Sales Manager CLASSIFIEDSALESASSISTANTMANAGER:ElainaBugli Hailey Swartz online Sales Manager Rob Abb Layout Manager Chelsea Hoard ProductionManager Margaret Lim Finance Manager FINANCE ASSISTANT MANAGER: Daniel Cheung The Michigan Daily IsSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall andwnter termbtudetsatotheUers ityofichan One cpyisaailbleeeocaetoallreades. Additol copiemaybe pikedanpat th Daihy'offietfor$2.Subciptionsforalltermntartingin September,viaU.S.malare$110.winter term lanuarythrough April)is$1syearlong(September through AprlSis $195.University affiliates are subject toa reduced subscription rate On-campus sbsciptinfrlalltrmaet5.Sbciptonsmut beprepaid.The Michigantailyisamemberof TheAssoiated PrssadTherAssoated Cllneite Pres, WHAT: A lecture by graphic designer and author Chip Kidd. Kidd is the art director at Alfred A. Knopf and has designed more than 2,000 book covers. WHO: AGIA Detroit, School of Art and Design WHEN: Today at 5 p.m. WHERE: Michigan Theater "Clemency" film screening WHAT: A screening of Art and Women's Studies Prof. Carol Jacobson's documen- tary "Clemency," about bat- tered women in Michigan prisons WHO: University Unions Arts and Programs Women's Forum, The P-Word and the Women's Clemency Project WHEN: Today at 7 p.m. WHAT: A poetry slam open to the public. Admission is $3.. WHO: University Unions Arts and Programs WHEN: Today from 8:30 to 11 p.m. WHERE: U-Club, Michigan Union CORRECTIONS 0 An article in yesterday's edition of the Daily (LSA scraps plan to regulate distri- bution ofstudenr media), said the editorial board of The Michigan Daily sent a letter to Bob Johnston, the direc- tor of LSA's Facilities and Operations office, urging the college revise or drop the new distribution policy. The letter was sent by the Daily's senior editors. * Please report any error in the Daily to corrections@ michigandaily.com. lo F U EHJI 1SY UNON * at-* o, onv* MAYRAAISHOW TO 39 MAKE YOUR BASH A SUCCESS 0 S Every New Graduate nurse hired between now and September 1, 2008 receives an Pod touch. " Academic Medical Center - Student loan forgiveness of up to $10,000 - Graduate Nurse Residency Program For detoitsgo to iww.umkkedu/-uuniom Cickon FOOD& DINING and then CATERING. (iconMEETING& EVENT PLANNING end imen EVENTSERVICES. life works here. DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK MEDICAL CENTER Lebanon New Hampshire I