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Harvard Triumphs, Marijuana Loses, In Triangle Debate

By Robert C. Gormley

An audience of about 50 sat laughing and listening in Harvard Hall last night as Harvard beat Yale in the annual triangular debate, which also-includes Princeton.

The topic of the debate was "Possession and Use of Marijuana--Should It Be Legalized?" Yale argued the affirmative position and Harvard took the negative in a night of continuous wit and repartee.

Begin the Begin

"Let's begin at the beginning," said Chris Tara, Yale's first speaker. "God said 'Let the earth sprout grass' and he saw that it was good."

After allying itself with extra-terrestrial forces, Yale proceeded to discuss the discriminatory nature of existing laws, the economic benefits of legalization and the health benefits of cannabis.

Harvard's anti-legalization position centered around the Millian contention that it is the duty of the government to protect the people.

Eric Seiler '78, Harvard's final speaker, attacked the "Yale Plan" for legalizing marijuana as one that will lead to "IBM Pot" and subsequently, income distribution in the wrong direction.

"People don't want forced legalization," Seiler said. "If they did, we'd have it."

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