By ANUSHKA MEHROTRA

Over 100 Cornellians and Ithacans filled Ives Hall Wednesday to listen to Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 debate the legalization of marijuana against members of the Cornell Forensics society.

During the debate, titled “This House Would Legalize Marijuana,” Myrick defended marijuana legalization, while forensics society debaters Srinath Reddy ’14 and Enting Lee ’17 argued against it. At the end of the debate, audience members voted in support of Myrick’s stance.

According to Myrick, there are three primary arguments against criminalizing marijuana — racism and classism, inefficiency and costliness and the promotion of a dangerous underground drug market.

Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 argues in favor of marijuana legalization at Ives Hall Wednesday.