Say yes to weed on campus

By: Catarina Gonzalez

In light of a protest promoting medical marijuana on campus, we should reconsider our attitudes and understanding towards weed. The Breathe Easy campaign, on a provincial and national spectrum, seems to have a positive impression on certain audiences. However, on others such as myself, the campaign is not a positive one.

Marijuana has long held a stigma comparable to smoking cigarettes but far more dramatic. But Christopher Lawson, the local activist who was responsible for the 4:20 protest on Oct. 6, was onto something.

For McMaster University and for Canadians as a whole, the debate on the effects of weed is both ongoing and divisive. Thanks to Justin Trudeau, however, there seems to be a greater Canadian open-mindedness towards weed. With the legalization of marijuana, the stigma against recreational use has decreased. Some Canadians are beginning to understand the positive affects of marijuana and its recreational benefits.

Marijuana was accepted in Canada by Trudeau based on popular demand and opinion. According to an Ontario-based public opinion forum that was taken, prior to the legalization, among 1,003 Ontario voters, 56 per cent approve of legalized marijuana. Given these numbers, it should not be difficult to compare this ratio to the number of people on campus who would also advocate for marijuana use on campus.

At the Student Representative Assembly meeting on Sept. 24, the SRA cautioned the university about the smoking ban and asked them to consider the marginalized groups who may be affected by addition and substance abuse on campus. The SRA advocated against the smoking ban in order to emphasize the importance of being considerate of student safety, accessibility and the possible responses that some students may have to the implementation process.

McMaster claims that “by designating the campus tobacco and smoke-free the university is creating an environment promoting health and wellness,” neglecting to recognize that the ban is shunning out those who may currently be struggling with withdrawal effects.

In addition, the university believes that, “For the first months, anyone found in contravention of the policy will be asked to refrain from smoking or using tobacco and will be referred to a cessation program or given access to supports and resources.” The implementation of these goals is way too optimistic and a little too secluding.

With the smoking ban, McMaster may look like it is moving forward in university progression, but for a number of its students, it is doing the exact opposite of that. Since Canada is moving forward with an open mind to the diversity of leisure and stress-relieving methods, McMaster should consider doing the same. McMaster should try to address the overwhelming current demand for all recreational use of marijuana to be legalized, as cigarettes are. This does not mean the university should actively promote the substance, but it should at least include those who are for the use of marijuana in their decision-making process.

Yes, there are stereotypes and generalizations made against those who use marijuana recreationally, and no, they are not positive images of those people. But just like any other group that is associated with stereotypes and generalizations, we have our own reasons, and we should be allowed to have our own voices as well. The smoking ban should not be able to diminish my autonomy, nor should it be able to choose how I affect my health for me. Like all life decisions, I am only affecting myself and I am responsible for my own actions.

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