MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2012
PAGE 8
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
STATE OF WEED
Weed out-smokes other drugs in Kansas
VIRAJ AMIN
vamin@kansan.com
Editor's Note: Names of people interviewed in this story have been changed to protect their identities.
Marijuana continues to be the most used illegal drug in the country and in Kansas. Douglas County is ranked in the top five counties in Kansas for possession of marijuana arrests, according to drugscience.org.
In 2009, over 3,200 pounds of marijuana were seized in the state, compared to 220 pounds of cocaine, the second most used illegal drug.
Hunter, a senior from Kansas City, Mo., sells marijuana all year. He knows a few people who have been arrested for possession of marijuana but believes there are ways to avoid getting caught.
"There is always a risk when you are dealing, but what I try to do is keep a low profile and not get outside my comfort zone," Hunter said.
Trust is extremely important for Hunter when dealing with customers. "The only people I deal to are friends," Hunter said. "And the only new people I sell to have a connection to one of my friends. The people I know who have been arrested for possession usually do something dumb to get caught, like smoke in a car on a busy street."
Hunter, who buys 1 or 2 pounds at a time, said his business usually goes up in the summer because of the lack of competition.
"There is a lot more down time for students, and I have a pretty good client base so I'm usually pretty busy in the summer," Hunter said. "This is pretty much my second job, and it helps me pay for bills and food so I don't have to
take out as many loans."
Jake, a senior from Overland Park who smokes occasionally, said it isn't difficult to find marijuana whenever he wants to smoke.
"Finding weed in Lawrence is pretty easy, especially after making a couple connections," Jake said. "I live in the student ghetto and I know a couple different people within a few blocks of my house that I can go to who sell weed."
However, Jake says it does become a little more difficult to find marijuana in the summer when the student population decreases significantly.
"The main guy I buy from is originally from California, and that's where he gets the bulk of his weed." Jake said. "He went back this summer. So did a couple of other dealers I know, so I have to go through people I don't know too well."
Edited by Kelsey Cipolla
For dealers selling weed in the summer, it's easy to keep a steady income without much competition, while buyers lose their connections to dealers who leave for the summer.
JESSICA JANASZ/KANSAN
HOT DRINKS
Summer calls for more beer variety, new blends
A variety of light and flavorful beers are popular for students during summer because they're easy to drink and have low alcohol content. Favorites include Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy and Blue Moon's Summer Honey Wheat.
KELSEA ECKENROTH keckenroth@kansan.com
Summer is the time for outdoor activities like camping, swimming, taking weekend trips to the lake, and going to parties. The summer heat can leave someone thirsty for something refreshing and delicious. Summer is beer season.
Beer drinking and summer activities go hand in hand. Matt Easley, the general manager of On the Rocks, a liquor store at 1818 Massachusetts St., said beer is most popular during the summer, and summer offers the biggest seasonal beer selection.
"Summer beers are usually lighter and usually lower in alcohol content so people can drink more of them," Easley said. "Lighter beers, wheat beers, fruit ales and summer beers like Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy sell well during the summer."
Dan Dutcher, a fifth-year senior from Wichita, said his favorite summer beer is Samuel Adams Summer Ale, which, according to the Samuel Adams website, is a wheat ale made with malted wheat, lemon peel, and a rare pepper from Africa called Grains of Paradise.
"Wheat beers are the right kind of beer to be drinking when you are sitting around a campfire or something,
Dutcher said. "It just feels right."
Blake Tillman, a fifth-year senior from McPherson, said he is always open to trying new beers and enjoys going to 23rd Street Brewery, a local restaurant and brewery at 3512 Clinton Parkway, to try whatever seasonal beers the brewery has on tap.
"I like the Bartertown Brown at 23rd Street Brewery," Tillman said. "I'm just trying to taste new things and not be hesitant to try a new beer."
People are very tuned into and interested in seasonal offerings, and local breweries are keeping up with the public's interest.
Magerl said Stormchaser is golden colored with a citrus flavor to it and that the beer is a great summer beverage. "We had two versions of Storm Chaser and served them both downtown." Magerl said, "then took the best characters of both and combined them into the beer that is in the bottles."
The Free State Brewing Company, 636 Massachusetts St., is coming out with a summer beer called Stormchaser Summer IPA. Free State owner Chuck Magerl said Stormchaser is already bottled and is in stores, as of June 1.
Edited by Megan Hinman
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