“We believe our policy should reflect truth and justice, so we’re calling on the university to equalize the punishments for marijuana and alcohol,” said Jacob Holloway, who is working to place the question on the ballot through Students for Sensible Drug Policy. The campaign is sponsored through a partnership among SSDP, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER).
The question on the petition asks students, “Do you agree that university sanctions for the possession and use of marijuana should be no greater than those imposed by the university for the possession and use of alcohol, and that the university should establish a task force to develop, implement and study such a policy?”
Students who visited a table hosted by SAFER and NORML in front of the Arkansas Union this week asked the groups a myriad of questions about the initiative, such as, “Will this actually do anything?” and “Can I get in trouble for this?”
via – The Arkansas Traveler “Students seek ‘Sensible Drug Policy’ to lessen pot punishment”
I’ll answer those. Nothing will ever happen to reform marijuana laws on college campuses or in counties or states or on the federal level if we collectively do nothing. It is only a matter of time before Prohibition touches you: maybe a it’s a random police traffic stop that finds you in possession of a joint. Maybe you’ll have the misfortune of being diagnosed with cancer as I was and have no legal right to medicinal marijuana. Perhaps you’re a Texas resident and a member of your family in Mexico is kidnapped or killed by drug cartels.
Freedom of speech is one of our most cherished American rights. College years are arguably among the best years of your lives to become active in issues that involve you. You’re expected to dissent and call for change. It’s your country and your government. One of the great laments of the older generation is that the college generation of this century lacks passion and drive. Prove them wrong and make a difference in all our lives.
If you live in this country, the War on Drugs touches you. It makes no difference whether you are a marijuana user or not. We all pay for the billions wasted and mourn for the lives needlessly lost. We should not ask for change, we should demand it.
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Special bonus way to help: if you’re a toker who has a “preppy,” “conservative,” or “classic” style of dress and comportment, speak up!
Marijuana prohibition lives off of ignorant stereotypes, just like plants live off of oxygen.
Anti-cannabis bigots want everyone to think that marijuana will turn them into lazy, sloppy, impoverished losers who never achieve anything.
Michael Phelps put a BIG dent in that stereotype. But we need more.
I love my long-haired brethren–and God I miss the days when I looked like Kurt Cobain–but I think we need more people coming out of the closet, especially people who are non-threatening in appearance.
Yeah I agree with you there Russ! And we are only hurting ourselves by saying that when you are high you drive safer. I think only Ron Paul can get away with that cause he is so old :)
Thanks Jay. I believe what we have happening in America right now is that “100th monkey” critical mass where cannabis consumers are beginning to realize that there are a whole lot more of us than we thought. We are not alone.
The web of deceit is falling apart. Scare stories about how marijuana will lead to zombies walking our streets (STRAAIINS! I can’t help myself…) don’t scare people anymore after 9/11, poisoned toys, killer pharmaceuticals, plunging Stock Market, SARS, AIDS, bird flu, tainted spinach and peanut butter (Popeye and choosy mothers are pissed!), and the really bad stories in the cities plagued with crack and heroin addictions and the small towns ravaged by meth.
Even the “gateway theory” that used to act as the structural support for the reefer madness doesn’t work anymore, and not because every study that’s discussed it has debunked it, but because so many people have smoked pot and so many others have seen the Olympic swimmers, presidents, and actors who have and didn’t become zombies (STRAAIINS!)
The final beam just barely keeping the entire edifice of reefer madness standing is the “what about the children” argument. Even if parents don’t believe pot smoking will turn you into coke whore or speed freak, they do fear it will turn you into an underachieving couch potato. So long as the voices of reform are thirty- and forty-somethings like me, that argument can work because there is no stark example of young people succeeding while proclaiming their love of marijuana to counter their stereotype.
That’s where the local NORML Chapters come in, especially on college campuses. If the hometown viewer catches a young local NORML Chapter director in a six-second sound byte on the local evening news, articulately expressing the need to end adult marijuana prohibition while looking like a well-dressed, finely-groomed “success”, we’ve just swung an axe at that “what about the children?” beam. If parents take their kids to college orientation and there is a bright and informative college chapter NORML booth there, stocked with factually reliable information about marijuana and staffed by friendly helpful volunteers, the axe swings again.
Finally, the duct tape they’re using to hold the shambles of reefer madness together is the “Deadly pot DUI” card. Please help me end this one by not smoking and driving! I know, I know, I know, I’ve heard it all, I’ve done it all, I know it all on this subject, and yes, you’re absolutely right on many of those arguments, but until we get it legalized, just store your stash in the trunk until you get where you’re going.
“Nothing will ever happen to reform marijuana laws on college campuses or in counties or states or on the federal level if we collectively do nothing”
We cant keep hiding in the weed closet in hopes some brave soul will stand up. We must all make a stand together. This is about way more than a stoned hippie wanting legal pot, its about our basic rights and freedoms.
What you can do.
1. Educate friends, family, coworkers.
2. Contact Local, State, and Federal representatives and tell them this is no longer acceptable.(call,write,email)
3. Get involved with a Group such as NORML, contact Russ for local chapter info.
Obama was elected by a great American voice calling for change, lets use that voice to direct change where it matters most.