Welcome back to another semester of BYB! For this semester, our first podcast is on everybody's favorite: drugs. Over the course of the last few decades, the debate surrounding the legalization (or at least decriminalization) of marijuana use has catapulted into the American political mainstream. In fact, Brown’s home state of Rhode Island seems poised to legalize recreational weed use by this February. Proponents of legalization tout increased government revenue, expanded freedom, and the elimination of laws which are arguably leveraged to target black and brown Americans. On the other hand, opponents to legalization cite increased drug use, addiction, and its potentially harmful physical and mental effects. On this podcast, you will hear three perspectives: one liberal, Edan Larkin, one conservative, Jack Wolfsohn, and one libertarian, Ryan Handel (previously featured on our 2020 election podcast!). These three Brown students come to the conversation with nuanced and thought-provoking viewpoints, and help give some much-needed perspective to a conversation that is rapidly becoming more relevant to Brown University students.
