Alison Grimes Speech Story: Heads v. Feds

The day before the commonly known “national smoke weed day” the University of Georgia held a more than entertaining debate about the legalization of marijuana between Robert Stutman, 25-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Agency, and Steve Hager, editor-in-chief of High Times Magazine.

The debate was properly named “Heads v. Feds,” and the student center theatre was filled with just about 500 tye-dyed-t-shirted frat boys, young gypsies and dread heads. Of course there were also the ever so threatening university police standing outside the entrance just to ensure no supporter or protestor brought an illegal material to demonstrate their stance.

Each speaker was introduced by a short film, which revealed the polarizing opposites the two men posed on this debate. Stutman, an east coast native, explained how he originally planned to study physics, but ended up getting interviewed by the CIA. This later lead him to his position on in the Drug Enforcement Agency and his heavy contribution to the war on drugs; also dubbing him the title of “the most famous nark in America“.

The film also dove into Hager’s background demonstrating how he was a raised in a small town and his California college experience created his foundation of his “own culture.” This self proclaimed culture that Hager has formed is what dubbed him the title of the “most famous pot head in the world.”

In his loose button up purple shirt, his shaggy hair and his baseball cap Hager had the crowd nodding their head and clapping with each claim. Hager’s five reasons for the legalization of marijuana were: 1) It is good medicine 2) Hemp is good for the environment 3) We have built the biggest prison system in the world during his fifty-five year lifetime 4) We have got to stop funding corruption 5) It is part of his culture.

Hager defined his hemp friendly environmental focused culture true American and ended his argument with “Were as American as apple pie and baseball. Can I please get a little freedom of religion?’

“Damn, he is good. I shouldn’t even try,” jokes Stutman as he takes the stand. Stutman takes the mic more than aware the majority of the crowd is opposed to his view, but that did not deter his confidence one bit.

Stutman goes on to attack each of Hager’s claim from the American history aspects that Hager used to show the benefits of hemp to the argument tactic that Hager took. “I bet you never thought you would be clapping for the nark, did ya?” Stutman joked with the crowd.

The former DEA agent got in good with the crowd when he continuously made a point to note that he had many similar views with Hager. One in particular was they both did not agree with the idea of incarcerating people for drugs.

“There are extreme zealots on both sides of this debate. But I will say that I agree with my friend Steve that it is a stupid idea to send people to jail over drug use. For ANY kind of drug use, not just marijuana. It does not help anyone,” preached Stutman.

Stutman did go on to say that, “Claiming that marijuana is part of your religion does not make it right. Do it in the name of religion does not make it right.” Stutman continued his argument with numerous medical claims.

After the two men went back and forth the debate at ended at a clear point that both sides had completely opposite views and they really wanted to prove it was okay to disagree without personally attacking one another. The debate did make it clear that this controversial issue is going to be around for a while.