I am writing in response to the editorial by Amber Schlobohm regarding the death of ETSU student Robbie Nottingham. I would like to make one point clear. I have used marijuana in the past, and freely admit to the belief that it should not be illegal for personal use.
Now, I feel a dissemination of this event is necessary. Yes, there was an error in judgment made by the campus police to contact the proper authorities following the discovery of Nottingham’s body. Yes, there was an improper handling of the scene that followed. While the answer of why these mistakes occurred should still be answered by appropriate persons, we can not dismiss the autopsy findings due to those critical lapses in judgment. And no, the autopsy has not concluded that THC was the cause of death.
Marijuana, and more specifically the chemical THC, affects each person differently. Some users do not suffer any notable effects after one joint. Others are severely affected by the second-hand smoke of marijuana.
Then there are long-term users who could burn a couple of joints a day and no one would ever know. Things that affect a person’s reaction to marijuana are the level of THC, the purity of the sample, the amount ingested or smoked and the frequency of use. If Robbie Nottingham was a new user, there is good evidence to suggest that he would have been more affected by THC than someone who has been using for a while. First-time users are the most vulnerable to the negative effects of marijuana.
The fact that no one heard anything the night that Robbie Nottingham fell two stories to his death does not prove some great conspiracy. It does lead to a couple of conclusions which are not highly sinister.
Scenario A: Robbie was not conscious at the time he fell. This would suggest that someone else was involved, and they could’ve very well been stoned as well. You’ve just gotten high, and accidentally killed your buddy while horse-playing on the balcony. Are you going to admit to being there that night?
Scenario B: Robbie was so affected by the marijuana that he jumped from or fell from his balcony. That theory would also require the effect to his faculties to be so severe that he did not scream. When someone is high, reactions are delayed, including screams.
Either scenario is possible. These possibilities leave students feeling uncomfortable about the events. But neither scenario shows great malice or conspiracy.
Jamie Whitfield