Graphic Designs, Paintings and Drawings

More work available upon request. 

"The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" Design 

Nevis Flag Design 

Six Word Design 

"Senioritis" Charcoal Drawing

Drawn Design

(Permanent Marker)

Geometric Painting

(Acrylic)

Still Life Painting

(Acrylic)

Drawn Design

(Permanent Marker)

My State News Articles

Check out my multimedia work, photographs, and articles at: http://statenews.com/index.php/staff/darcie_moran

My Edmunds.com Inside Line Articles

You can check out my list of Edmunds.com Inside Line articles at:
http://www.insideline.com/about/authors/darcie-moran.html

Advocates of Marijuana

While marijuana is only legal in a handful of states for medical use and is currently illegal for recreational use, many advocate the use of the drug. 

Central Michigan University’s newspaper covered a 2002 debate on the subject between High Times Magazine Editor-in-Chief Steve Hager and then 25-year-veteran of the Drug Enforcement Administration Robert Stutman.

According to Central Michigan Life, Hager argued, “There is no substance on the planet that treats as many diseases and disorders as cannabis.” Hager said there are various uses for stock and seeds, it would have a positive affect on American’s prison system, and marijuana is a part of certain individuals’ culture.

According to Central Michigan Life, Stutman rebutted by saying it is the cannibanoids in marijuana that is a good medicine but according to a study by the Institute of Medicine, “smoking marijuana will never be good medicine.”

However, “I don’t think anybody should be thrown in prison for the use of any drug,” said Stutman, according to Central Michigan Life’s article. He said he is against the legalization of marijuana but is against harsh prison sentences for users.

 “I think in moderation it is safe but the fact that it gets abused when it used makes it unsafe,” said Tonnie Trosper a nursing student at Michigan State University. “ I think if you need it for medical reasons then it is okay but the system needs to be restructured so people are less able to abuse it.”

International relations major at MSU, Shivan Sharma said, “There has been no substantial proof that shows it does any kind if harm to you whatsoever compared to what legal substances like alcohol and tobacco do to people every year.” He said that while smoking marijuana may have some dangerous affects there are other ways to consume it.

“If it was legalized then people would have access to more safe ways of consuming the THC in marijuana, negating the negative effects,” said Sharma. “But smoking it isn’t even that bad for you.”

Despite the reasoning against marijuana, many of those against it still see possibilities in medical use or feel it should be decriminalized. 


Hear more from students at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUHXnv2Bd9I

Marijuana Laws

Let's be clear. Marijuana's common existence on a college campus, it is still illegal. 

What exactly does the law say is in store for those found in possession of marijuana? 

Cannabis is considered a Schedule 1 drug “with no accepted medical value in treatment” by the Controlled Substances Act.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Schedule 1 Controlled Substances “have a high potential for abuse, have no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.” Schedule 1 drugs include “heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), peyote, methaqualone, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“ecstasy”).”

According to the DEA, dependant on prior criminal record and whither it is for personal use, possession of marijuana can be considered either a Class A misdemeanor or a Class C felony. This would result in a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $2,000 fine or ten years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 16 states and D.C. though not all legally allow dispensaries. 

Stay Safe

There may be many dangers on Michigan State University's campus when it comes to sexual assault but there are still many ways to stay safe.

A number of safety resources can be found on MSU’s Website, through the MSU police, or the Counseling Center.

According to MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor, the university does “quite a bit” to prevent cases of sexual violence and help victims.

McGlothian-Taylor said that the MSU police work closely with the Counseling Center Sexual Assault Program, and have a sexual assault response guarantee, which can be found on their Website. MSU is the only campus she knows of with a “Safe Place” for victims of sexual assault and relationship violence. 

MSU also has over 150 “Green Light” emergency phones in parking lots and walkways on campus which can provide emergency calls to on-campus numbers, according to a 2005 university news report.   

Safety tips and services were offered by MSU police in a crime alert, following an alleged sexual assault on Nov 12.

For more information on sexual assault and safety at MSU, find me on twitter #MSUsafety. 

Recent Sexual Assaults Scare MSU Students

Two well-known incidents of sexual assaults by a stranger have been reported on Michigan State University's campus since Halloween. 

These incidents are separate from the "normal" amount of sexual assaults linked to known attackers and raise questions of safety at MSU.

According to the MSU Police Department, there were two reports of sexual assaults on Halloween weekend - one of which took place at Armstrong Hall in the Brody Complex and allegedly involved a stranger. 

This past week, a 19-year-old female student reported a sexual assault between 4:30 -5 p.m. on November 12, 2011 between South Neighborhood and MSU's Main Library, according to MSU Police. 

Due to the alleged involvement of a stranger, MSU Police Chief Jim Dunlap sent an email alerting all students to the danger.

The recent alleged stranger assaults are cause for concern for students.

“Statewalk,” a program where members of a coed service fraternity walk students home from the main library, had eight people ask to be walked the day the email was sent, according to their records.

This number is nearly three times the average number of “walkers” the group normally has each night – zero to three.

Some students using the program only needed to cross the bridge behind the Main Library in order to reach their car.