By: Sam Chapman (University of Oregon)
With
all this pointless drama surrounding the ESPN story regarding
University of Oregon football players usage of marijuana, it's time
to clear the media smoke screen and have a real conversation about
college athletes who use marijuana.
A
large majority of the general public including current UO students
and alumni find this entire media blitz laughable to say the least.
Imagine that ESPN had released an article on the rate at which
Arizona State University athletes consumed alcohol. Since
ASU didn’t win the Rose Bowl or compete in the National Title
games, my guess is that the responses it would probably have received
range along the lines of “who cares?” or “who forgot to inform
ESPN that ASU has a cultural atmosphere and history that shows high
rates of alcohol consumption?”
The fact that ESPN and the rest of the main stream still finds it
fascinating that student athletes (as well as professional athletes)
smoke marijuana for whatever reason just goes to show how ignorant
they are to the rising acceptance of the marijuana culture in America
today.
Ok,
so ESPN has already received tons of flack from a number of different
venues on the issue, but what is going through the mind of student
athletes? Student athletes are likely to be an upcoming topic of
conversation as to why marijuana should be treated like alcohol. But
can we honestly approach student athletes and expect them to speak
openly about their recreational use of marijuana? No.
What
we should consider doing for them is to create a safe place for them
to talk about marijuana in a way that allows a real dialogue to take
place outside the realm of media spitfire and shaming. So I have
decided to create a Student Athletes for Sensible Drug Policy group.
This group aims to engage student athletes in an attempt to reveal
and expose draconian athletic drug policies that treat marijuana as
if it is more harmful than alcohol.
Do
you think Chip Kelley would rather have his team go out binge
drinking the week before a big game? Or do you think he would rather
have them stay home, light up a joint and remove themselves from the
possibility getting into trouble from attending a raging keg party? I
have first hand experience watching UO football players pounding
shots at the bar, and it's fairly scary when one of them starts to
near his limit.
Yes,
marijuana is unfortunately still illegal, and understandably, I don't
expect athletes to come out and advocate for the legalization of
marijuana. But if they can get good grades, take our team to the
Rose Bowl and National championship games, all the while smoking
some pot here and there, I say let em play and leave your silly
mainstream media opinions at home.
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