ACCENT brings experts to debate legalization of marijuana

September 5, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A veteran Drug Enforcement Administration agent and the editor of High Times Magazine will go head-to-head Sept. 24 at the University of Florida in “The Great Weed Debate: Heads vs. Feds.”

Bob Stutman is a 25-year veteran of the DEA, rising through the ranks and retiring as head of their New York office, the world’s largest. Steve Hager, editor-in-chief of the magazine for more than 15 years, will debate at 8 p.m. in University Auditorium.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, courtesy of ACCENT and Student Government. Credentialed media personnel will be allowed to record for the first five minutes of the show. Video for B-Roll footage only.

Stutman and Hager will be debating the legalization of marijuana, including arguments about health, prisons and national security. They will debate for roughly 40 minutes and will then take part in a Q&A with the audience.

Stutman has been called “the most famous NARC in America” by the New York Times and “a true American hero” by broadcaster Dan Rather. In addition, Stutman is the drug consultant for PBS and CBS. He appears regularly on national television as a drug expert.

Hager, a University of Illinois graduate, also founded The Cannabis Cup, which is the “academy awards” of marijuana.

ACCENT Speaker’ s Bureau prides itself on being the largest student-run speaker’ s bureau in the nation. For the past 45 years, ACCENT has brought prominent, controversial, and influential speakers to the University of Florida. Speeches are not paid with tax or state dollars. ACCENT’ s funding comes from activity fees, which students pay specifically to fund out-of-the- classroom experiences.

For more information, call ACCENT at 352-273-4429. Visit our website at www.accentspeakers.com or email ACCENT at accent@sg.ufl.edu.