Pot professor scores award

Mitch Earleywine, a popular University at Albany psychology professor best known for his research in marijuana, was recently awarded for his excellence in teaching.

Earleywine, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from Indiana University, has taught classes like Addictive & Compulsive Behaviors and Research Methods in Psychology.

The class aims to "provide an overview of alcohol, drug use, and gambling as examples of addictive behaviors," according to the UAlbany undergraduate bulletin.

His research on the use and effects of marijuana has brought him to a number of conclusions about the drug. Earleywine suggests America's young people have been lied to about the use of the drug.

"Kids go through all of middle school, all of high school" with the notion that marijuana use will hinder them, Earleywine said.

He has concluded through his studies that marijuana smokers have been perceived unfairly by society.

"The subsets [of the population] that try marijuana aren't unmotivated slugs," he said.

At the 2009 President's Awards for Excellence ceremony on May 7, Earleywine was among four instructors who received the Excellence in Teaching Award.

The others included Mary Corrigan of the Social Welfare Department, Ingrid Fisher of the Accounting and Law departments, and C. Aida Torres-Horwitt, of the Language, Literatures & Cultures Department.

"I'm stunned to be in that company," Earleywine said.

Elana Gordis, Earleywine's wife and coworker in UAlbany's psychology department, was also nominated for an award, he said.

"It's good to get the department's support in the little time we've been here," he said.

Although he has previously won three smaller department awards, this is his first teaching award in only four years at UAlbany, which Earleywine said he is "delighted" to have received.

He has probably become accustomed to the recognition by now, taking into consideration the 13 awards he won in his 14-year tenure as an associate professor at the University of Southern California.

His research in the use and effects of marijuana led him all the way from USC to UAlbany. Here in Albany, Earleywine said he doesn't have to worry about his kids "developing eating disorders and getting breast implants."

The student turnout for the awards ceremony was overwhelming with the largest and loudest ovation of all recipients going to Earleywine. Many of the students came out to see the "drug teacher" one last time before they graduate, some even carrying a copy of his 2002 book, "Understanding Marijuana: A New Look at the Scientific Evidence."

Earleywine recognized many of the familiar faces, saying they were either current students of his or from the previous semester.

Presenter Sue Faerman, UAlbany's Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, called him an "exceptional teacher in both undergraduate and doctoral courses."

Faerman also said his students frequently describe his courses as "awesome" or "the best class I've ever taken."

On ratemyprofessor.com, a Web site that allows students to rate instructors, Earleywine has 46 total ratings with a 4.6 overall rating based on a scale of five.

Many of the ratings rave about Earleywine's Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors class.

"We should make him a god. This guy is freaking super sweet. Really funny really interesting. I would follow this man to the gates of hell. Keep freaking rock and roll," said one commenter on the site, who posted on Feb. 3.

Another commenter praised Earleywine's teaching style.

"Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors should be a mandatory class for every psych major ... as long as it is taught by Mitch Earleywine," the commenter wrote in an April 16 post. "He is an amazingly intelligent, upbeat and straight-forward teacher. Just the right amount of everything to make this class interesting, yet still challenging enough to keep your brain on."