University Students Push For Lower Pot Punishment

[Ganjarden]

Should the possession of pot on campus carry the same punishment as the possession of alcohol?

That's the question a group of University of Arkansas students is trying to address.

The students are trying to lower the punishment for pot possession.

They're trying to get the university to change its sanction policy in the university handbook, and the first step was getting enough signatures for a petition due Friday.

"We're required to have 1,200 of these signatures in, but we're going to end up turning 1,700 in," said campaign director Rob Pfountz.

For two weeks, the safer campaign got as many people as they can to sign a petition to change the campus punishment for possession of pot.

"You're looking at immediate suspension for one year, 100 hours of community service, a $300 fine and this is all on top of what you get in trouble with state and federal law," said Pfountz.

They're trying to lower that down to the same punishment as alcohol possession.

"Not nearly as comparable as a year of immediate suspension for marijuana," said Pfountz.

The reason behind the initiative they said is because pot is safer than booze and those who signed it agree.

"I've lost several friends due to drinking and driving and I've not lost one to marijuana instances at all," said student Chris McQueen.

But campus police believe it won't happen because marijuana is an illegal substance while alcohol is not.

"Any possession of marijuana in any usable amount is a criminal offense," said Lt. Gary Crain from the University of Arkansas Police department.

But the group said the 1,700 signatures they turned in to the Arkansas Student Government Friday shows that there's enough public support for change.

"That's close to 10 percent of the student body," said Pfountz.

The ASG will be tallying the signatures and from there the referendum will be placed on the ballot for a student vote during the ASG election April 6 through 8.

If the question on the ballot receives a majority of the vote, it will be up to the university administration to take action if they wish to change the student policy.


News Hawk- Ganjarden http://www.420Magazine.com
Source: 4029tv.com
Contact: 4029tv.com
Copyright: 2009 4029tv.com
Website: University Students Push For Lower Pot Punishment

[TorturedSoul]

Originally Posted by Ganjarden

Should the possession of pot on campus carry the same punishment as the possession of alcohol?

Absolutely NOT! When college-age (every age, really) people consume moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol they can:

Become overly emotional (ie, crying)
Become violent
Become mouthy
Become generally annoying
Drive, crash their vehicle, and damage others' property
Drive, crash their vehicle, and injure/kill themselves
Drive, crash their vehicle, and injure/kill someone ELSE
Become clumsy and break things
Become sick and vomit in the aquarium (etc.)
Pass out/go to sleep, vomit, and asphyxiate
Have sex with people they would never have sex with under any other circumstance
Have unprotected sex and either catch or spread disease
Have unprotected sex and conceive a child
Continue to consume moderate to severe levels for a significant portion of time and have long-term medical issues which not only cause issues with their lifetime productivity but may also cost the innocent in terms of higher taxes & medical payments.
Continue to consume moderate to severe levels for a significant portion of time and die.
The list goes on and on...

Therefore the possession of marijuana should NOT carry the same penalties as the possession of alcohol. The possession of alcohol should be a FELONY whereas the possession of marijuana should at most be considered a misdemeanor which does not go onto the person's criminal record.

Additionally, when a person is charged with cultivation or possession of ANY amount of marijuana, he/she should be able to use the defense of "Using the marijuana to quit or stay off of alcohol" and have the charges immediately dropped.

Therefore it is only logical to remove all penalties for possessing marijuana on campus. Alcohol, on the other hand...