Marijuana.com

newgrowerNY

Legislation Introduced for Reduction of Marijuana Penalties on Campus
02.05.07|collegiatetimes.com

A piece of legislation was introduced in the Senate of the Student Government Association Tuesday, Jan. 30, to demand a reduction in marijuana penalties on campus, according to a recent press release from Virginia Tech's Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
SSDP President and SGA Senator Kris Reinertson said SSDP is a national organization with college and high school chapters that is committed to trying to change the drug laws throughout the state and throughout campus to focus on education and rehabilitation, rather than harsh punishments.

Currently, Tech has a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs, including marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, heroine and other drugs. If a student is found in violation of the drug policy, it will almost certainly result in suspension from the university.

"Having the zero-tolerance policy is ineffective in that somebody could just use heroine and cocaine and have the same punishment as marijuana," Reinertson said.

SSDP is currently launching a Safer Alternatives for Enjoyable Recreation campaign, first started at the University of Colorado Jan. 2005, to inform students and administrators why Tech should reduce its zero-tolerance marijuana policy to the three-strike policy exactly like the alcohol policy.

In order for the legislation proposed by Reinertson and the SSDP to be passed, it needs to be voted on by the SGA Senate.

"It's a pretty controversial issue but I think in the end, the SGA will do the right thing and vote (the legislation) through to send the message that students want to change the drug policy at Tech," Reinertson said.

Liz Hart, public relations for SGA said the organization does not currently support legalizing marijuana, or lessening the penalty of marijuana restrictions at the university.

"SGA as a whole does not necessarily share the same stances of our Senators personally proposing legislation," said James Tyger, SGA President, "In this case, SGA officially does not advocate a change to Tech's existing drug policy; however, we are open to hearing concerns of students."

Tech's SGA's governmental structure is one of the only SGA's in the country that mirrors that of the "real world" governmental design. Just as in the United States legislative system, SGA's House and Senate can research or propose legislation on any topic they wish. Once both the House and the Senate pass legislation, it then needs to be signed by the president to officially "enact" the legislation.

If the marijuana policy legislation is passed through the SGA, it will then have to be passed by the University Council, the Board of Visitors, and President Steger.

"The fact is that marijuana is a safer drug than alcohol … it has never caused an overdose and it is less likely to get addicted to it," Reinertson said.

Reinertson received this information from the Institute of Medicine in a research document called "Marijuana in Medicine."

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking by college students contributes to an estimated 1,400 student deaths, 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assault a year.

"The University of Maryland is the one that really got (SSDP) started on this," Reinertson said. "They already passed the legislation through the SGA … but the administration has failed to follow through and change policy, and that's going to make us use a different approach- we'd like to actually talk to administration."

Mark Owczarski, university spokesman, said that he could not speculate on what would happen if the legislation made it to the Board of Visitors. However, he stresses that the current zero-tolerance drug policy is in place for the well being of the students.

"(The current drug policy) is not only in accordance with the law but also a very sincere desire to do what's best for students to keep them well physically and emotionally," Owczarski said.

Reinertson said that he doesn't feel that a reduction in marijuana penalties will reflect badly on the school or create more use.

"I think it will actually make us look better," Reinertson, "If Virginia Tech passes this legislation, it will show to the student body that it's interested in the health of the students and it recognizes the fact that marijuana is a safer drug than alcohol and its punishments will reflect that."

Reinertson said how the administration will take the legislation will depend on how active the student body is and how much of an interest that the student body has to see it through