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4A - Wednesday, October 7, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
C C ic igan,40albl
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
tothedaily@umich.edu
GARY GRACA ROBERT SOAVE COURTNEY RATKOWIAK
EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position oftthe Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles
and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
R :Pot
X
State must make medical marijuana readily available
ast November, residents of the state of Michigan
demonstrated that the protesters who appear on the
Diag every April 20 aren't the only ones in favor of
marijuana. By approving Proposal 1, which legalized the use of
medicinal marijuana, voters signaled a new tolerance for mari-
juana - namely, that it should be available as a painkiller for the
sick. But despite Proposal l's approval, marijuana law is confus-
ing and has in some cases prevented sick people from exercising
their legal rights. To remedy the hastily assembled law's lack of
precision, the Michigan legislature must create legal channels
for the acquisition of the drug.
inresponsetoincreasingmedicalevidence illustrate the need for clarification of the
that marijuana could be a more effective and medicinal marijuana law, because police
less disruptive treatment for pain than drugs response is only a symptom of a larger
like morphine, an initiative to legalize the problem. Though the legalization of medic-
use of marijuana for medicinal purposes was inal marijuana was an leap forward in pain
placed on the November 2008 ballot. Michi- management, laws haven't created an ave-
gan voters approved the initiative with 63 nue for patients to actually use the drug.
percent of the popular vote. Patients with the Now the legislature needs to backtrack and
correct prescription and paperwork are now approve a framework for patients looking
legally allowed to grow and use marijuana to to buy medicinal marijuana.
manage severe pain. Luckily, there's an example Michigan
But in practice, enacting the initiative could follow. California, which legalized
has proven to be more difficult, as many medical marijuana in 1996, has set up several
have experienced difficulty in obtain- nonprofit "dispensaries" where patients buy
ing marijuana while navigating the law's the drug. This kind of system makes acquisi-
requirements. On Sept. 10, according to the tion safer and easier, and would make sense
Bay City News, police confiscated seven for Michigan, too.
marijuana plants from the porch of Ron But just as Michigan's drug policy starts to
Klug's home in West Branch, even though catch up to other states, California is already
Klug possessed the proper paperwork showing signs of legalizing marijuana for all
and was not in violation of the law (West people, and may have a ballot initiative on
Branch man says police seized legal mari- this issue in 2010. This development comes
juana plants, investigators say little about as national policy appears to be easing up as
ongoing probe, 09/17/2009). Incidents like well, with the Obama administration's drug
this show that police attitude has yet to czar, Gil Kerlikowske, deciding to leave drug
catch up to the law and the general public's matters mostly up to the states, focusing on
attitude - and that's unacceptable. The rehabilitation and safety rather than punish-
poliicg peed torpcggnize that the votersof ment. Thgg 9llpnges indicate that efforts to
Michigan approve of medical marijuana legalize recreational marijuana nationwide
and that sick people who want to use it are are forthcoming.
not breaking the law or harming anyone. Michigan shouldn't be behind this trend.
Similar police action has led the Michi- While the legislature should, for now, deal
gan Medical Marijuana Association to with the ambiguities of the medical marijua-
lead a march on the state capitol today to na law, the end goal should be legalization.
ROSE JAFFE
E-MAIL ROSE AT ROSEJAFF@UMICH.EDU
es5nonv, uEVPc' (DO e
-~ -. - -
Bison meat and eternal lif
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ell, my faithful readers -
my devoted fans, my lov-
ing audience (in short:
Mom) - today, I
am angry. And it's
notthesissy, liberal
elitist, I'm-going-
to-make-a-Face-
book-page-about-'
this-injustice kind
of anger. Not this
time. This time I
actually hit a wall. WILL
(With my fist.) Hit-
ting the wall hurt a GRUNDLER
LOT and reminded
me why I usually
just make Facebook pages when I'm
angry.
What happened was I had finally
written a compelling article about a
real issue - the future of the Michi-
gan Promise Scholarship, which I
know every student on campus is
worried about. Yet, when I gave it to
my editors, they told me it was com-
plete garbage and that I needed to
stop being an utter failure at life.
But who am I kidding? I can't stay
mad at people for long. (They were
probably joking anyway.) And now
I get to write about this fascinat-
ing Oct. 4 headline from the Associ-
ated Press about South Dakota: "SD
town gets rid of 44 tons of stinking
bison meat." (This is a real headline!
Google it!)
Actually, I don't have the privilege
to write about such a controversial
subject. Today's exciting and relevant
topic that I decided to write about the
last possible moment in the Fishbowl
late at night is - you guessed it -
mutant babies.
According to Maria Cheng of the
Associated Press, "Most babies born
in rich countries this century," -
sorry, America - "will eventually
make it to their 100th birthday, new
research says" (Most babies born this though less catchy, would be a pretty
century will live to 100, 10/01/2009). big deal.
Hey, this is some good news. That's Well, so much for that. There's
about thirty years more than the only so much you can do with that
average lifespan today. This is great kind of news. Unfortunately, I don't
news! But whose new 'research was have enough room now to talk about
it? Probably the University of Michi- the Promise Scholarship, so here are
gan's, right? some facts about the Fishbowl late at
This is the alarming part. The night:
research comes not from our pres-
tigioustuniversity but from Danish
scientists like James Vaupel of the
Max Planck Institute. That's right Let's talk about the
- once again, the University is let-
ting groundbreaking discoveries go Michigan Promise
to countries whose last major con-
tribution to humanity was the pas- ... at some point.
try. Come ON, Michigan! The polio
vaccine was great, but it's been fifty
years! Just what is our $7.6 billion
endowment going toward? 1. At 2 a.m., there are still enough
Cheng's article continues with people around that somebody gets
some astonishing information from annoyed when you scoot around on a
David Gems, an aging expert (prob- chair-break.
ably the easiest area in which to gain 2. No matter how long you keep
expertise, all things considered) at your arm raised, the tech guys won't
University College London who says, come over.
"Improvements in health care are 3. Spinning in place on your chair
leadingto ever slowing rates of aging, and looking up at your reflection in
challenging the idea that there is a the windows is amusing, but the more
fixed ceiling to human longevity. ... A Monster energy drinks you have had,
pill that slowed aging could provide the less amusing it is.
protection against the whole gamut 4. After blasting Ricky Gervais'
of aging-related diseases." "Freelove Freeway" for the 73rd time
Now, I'm no Biology or Health on YouTube, it's still awesome.
major - I'm pursuing Honors Theo- 5. Around 4 a.m., you start to won-
retical Particle Physics and a French der about the few people left, and if
minor, if you're wondering - and I they're wondering about you, and if
may not know what a "gamut" is, but love exists.
it's possible that extending our life- 6. At about 5 a.m., a person comes
times may NOT be such a great idea, around whose job is to spray all the
as it could allow the actors of "Cats" keyboards with a bottle of com-
to take the stage AGAIN. However, pressed air, and at this pointyou real-
that doesn't change the fact that the ize thatno ,matter how littlp sleep you
University needs to step it up if it get, your situation could always be
wants to remain competitive. Can you worse.
imagine the amount of press it would
receive if it developed the pill of eter- - Will Grundler can be
nal life? Even the pill oftextended life, reached at wgru@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Nina Amilineni, Emad Ansari, Emily Barton, Ben Caleca, Brian Flaherty,
Emma Jeszke, Raghu Kainkaryam, Sutha K Kanagasingam, Erika Mayer,
Edward McPhee, Harsha Panduranga, Asa Smith, Brittany Smith,
Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Laura Veith
The Daily is looking for a diverse group of strong, informed,
passionate writers to join the Editorial Board.
Editorial Board members are responsible for discussing and writing the editorials
that appear on the left side of the opinion page.
E-MAIL ROBERT SOAVE AT RSOAVE@UMICH.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ERIKA MAYER|
The ghost of my life yet to come
SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU
Reid's article fails to note Republican Party needs to
problems of overtime rules embrace moderate members
TO THE DAILY:
In response to Andy Reid's article supporting
college overtime rules, I have to disagree with a
few of his points (You gotta love college football
overtime, 10/04/2009). While college overtime
is indeed exciting, arbitrarily starting with the
ball on the 25-yard line completely alters the
strategy of the game. Special teams (aside from
mid to short-range field goal kicking) are thrown
out for overtime and teams with game-changers
on special teams are put atla disadvantage.
The possibility of a kickoff return for a touch-
down or blocked punt is nonexistent with the
college rules. Though coaches always preach
that special, teams are just as important as
offense and defense, the overtime rules fully
contradict that.
Similarly, college overtime rules alter the nor-
mal play calling of both offenses and defenses.
Offenses with the ball first in overtime play much
more conservatively, rarely running plays where
they could lose yardage knowing that they have
to score at least three points to stay in the game.
Defensive play calling is altered as well
because of the small margin of error defenses
have by starting on the 25-yard line. Certainblitz
packages and plays incorporating deeper over-
ages are rarely utilized given the starting posi-
tion of the offense. While the college overtime
system makes sense in that it gives each team a
chance to have the ball, a new system should be
created taking the positive aspects from both the
college and NFL overtime systems. A coin toss
can decide who gets possession first.
But just like the beginning of the first quar-
ter, one team should kick off to another, meaning
special teams are not disregarded. If the team
with the ball first scores, then it has to kick-off to
the other team, and the game isn't over until each
team has an equal number of possessions. While
the college overtime rules do create excitement,
the so-called "football" played in overtime is not
true "football." All aspects of the game should
be incorporated while giving both teams a fair
chance at winning.
Jay Schwab
LSA junior
TO THE DAILY:
The Republican Party has been engaged in
an image debate that has become increasingly
more public since Barack Obama's election.
Should the party stick to its "core values" or
potentially compromise to attract new voters?
Paul Green, director of the Roosevelt University
Institute for Politics, said ina profile of Chicago
Young Republicans in the Chicago Tribune on
Aug. 12, "Young people coming up aren't going
to be excited by a party that is against abortion,
stem cell research and gay rights."
This is absolutely true. The GOP can not and
will not become the party of "No," nor is itcur-
rently. But some members of the party seem
not to mind the label. You know the ones I talk
about - the ones who seemingly cheered Chi-
cago's Olympic loss and worsening unemploy-
ment figures on the same day, and the people
who want Obama to fail so they can capitalize
in 2010. This is not the way to curry favor with
the electorate.
To avoid that detrimental label, the party
needs to realize that people with moderate
views regarding health care, abortion, etc., are
still Republicans. These members should not
be cast aside or labeled as not "real" Republi-
cans - they should be embraced. These kinds
of Republicans offer the best shot at growing
the party and winning over independent Amer-
ica. And in a country where more people label
themselves as independents then Republicans
or Democrats, the independents hold the key to
Congress and the White House.
This drama recently played out on our cam-
pus, in our own Republican Party, and the out-
come saddened me. A chairman with moderate
views in regard to abortion, the death penalty,
gun control and gay marriage was forced out
of office because his views didn't represent
those of the group. When elected members are
removed from office because their views are
not in accord with "the norm," it is a cause for
concern. I worry about the future of my party
if this is the path we choose to take.
Matthew Schaible
LSA freshman
Everyone is afraid of something - even that macho guy
who says he isn't (and it's usually something harmless like
bunnies). According to President Franklin Roosevelt, the
only thing we should fear is "fear itself." You've heard it
in school and from every adult you've ever known. Just
conquer your fear and you will be master of your own life,
blah blah blah. If you let fear run your life, you are just
giving in.
Just because most college students can recite this
advice like a Sunday school catechism doesn't mean that
we actually live it. Sure, we don't stay inside just because
we might fall and hit our heads outside - I'm talking
about sensible fear, not paranoia. But uncertainty about
the future is a different story.
I'm quickly approaching my 20th birthday. And though
I never thought of myself as Peter Pan, I find myself dread-
ing my birthday for the first time. Shedding my teenage
identity is quite possibly one of the scariest things I've
ever done. Responsibility and adulthood are staring me in
the face, and I'm not ready.
The weird thing about actually being in college is that
my path isn't already laid out for me. Throughout high
school, I was focused on graduating and getting into a
good college. For most people where I grew up, attend-
ing college wasn't even really a decision. It's just what
happened after high school. Even during high school, I
had very few real decisions to make about my education.
I took this math class and that English class and followed
the logical progression. Nowadays, my parents just look
at me blankly when I ask them what they think about my
proposed classes for next semester.
I tell people that I am a Political Science major as if
I've already declared, but I haven't. I feel like if I declare,
I'm accepting the responsibility to actually be an adult
some day. Like my reluctance to turn 20, the simple act of
declaring represents the inevitable march toward gradu-
ation and a real job.
I really don't know what I want to do with my life. Even
a little bit. I could be a lawyer or a politician. Maybe I
want to be a speechwriter, or I guess I could be a teacher.
Diplomacy has always sounded interesting. Public rela-
tions has been thrown on the table. To be honest, if my
theoretic table was real, it would probably take up more
space than Angell Hall.
To make matters worse, I'm surrounded by .examples
of people growing up. My best friend's sister has a job, a
house, health insurance and a cat. Patrick Zabawa, a for-
mer Daily coworker, now has a real job where he wears
dress clothes to work every day - except for casual Fri-
days - and has the power to fire people. My friends insist
on graduating and entering the real world with ridiculous
things like jobs and yearly salaries. This should make me
feel like I'm being left behind, but instead it just makes
me want to fight the inevitable pull out of Neverland into
adulthood.
And my advisor emailed me with a gentle reminder to
all sophomores that we should be thinking about declar-
ing a major soon. Great.
I have no idea where my life is going, and that's a scary
thought. But I can't let that fear stop me from actually
growing up. I don't really want to live with my parents
forever. One of these days, I'll have to actually get over
this fear and face my future. But for now, I guess I'll apply
to law school. And going to school for the rest of my life
isn't really an option. Theoretically, I want to have a job
and a family at some point.
Erika Mayer is an LSA sophomore.
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must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. Letters are edited for style, length,
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Send letters to tothedaily@umich.edu.
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