As of this week, Trinity College philosophy professor Doug Hutchinson will be authorized to smoke marijuana openly on campus.
In a statement sent to university administrators and philosophy department faculty members Friday, Hutchinson revealed he has been using marijuana as a therapeutic treatment for a chronic health condition for over ten years.
“I was ‘outed’ by College authorities from where I was hiding in my ‘dope closet’,” his statement said. It also said that the process of getting permission to puff was long and ugly, but ultimately fruitful.
He has now been given a ventilated smoking room in the basement of Trinity College, and the provosts of both the college and the university have written him letters commending his choice.
“Over the course of the months of sometimes angry discussions, the other side learned better what the facts of my case and the laws on marijuana actually are,” said his statement.
“I’m quite impressed with the university, and the fact that they’re giving him a room to smoke,” said Paul Egan, a graduate student who majored in philosophy as an undergrad. “Anyone who knows Hutchinson knows he has some pretty impressive credentials. I don’t think [his teaching] will be affected. The fact that he can teach a class on Seneca while high is incredible.”
Hutchinson said he was aware of the possible impact to his credibility as a professor, but wished to come out publicly on his own terms. So he is inviting sceptics to evaluate his performance.
“There are 10 spare seats in the [course on the philosopher Seneca] which meet from 10 to 1 on Tuesdays, and I invite [visitors] to see for themselves whether the pot-head professor is teaching well.
“I’m sure it will influence his reputation,” said former philosophy student Jamie Smith, who is now working on his Masters degree in social and political thought. “But it will say more about the people who like and dislike him than it will about him as a person.”
As his pot privileges become publicized, Hutchison hopes his case will change the way U of T treats marijuana. He cited the case of a Trinity student who was expelled from residence for pot possession in 2005. Hutchison claimed this action violated the student’s Charter rights.
But so far as the relationship between philosophy and marijuana goes, the connection is still up for debate.
“All activities and substances that make one think differently are in some sense philosophical,” said Smith. “Compared to religious dancing or drinking alcohol [marijuana] is conducive to philosophic thought-in moderation.”
