News UW Votes to Smoke Marijuana Penalties
posted by on May 8 at 12:09 PM
UW sophomore Tim Kelly wants to send the message that students who get caught smoking pot on campus shouldn’t be penalized any more than kids who get caught drinking alcohol. As it stands right now, Kelly says the drinkers only risk having their hooch poured down the drain by mothering RAs. But pot smokers risk having the same RAs call the cops to search their dorm rooms, and then students risk further penalties from the school, such as suspension or expulsion.
That’s an unfair enforcement disparity, Kelly says, so he’s working on two measures on behalf of a student chapter of NORML and SSDP (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and Students for Sensible Drug Policy). The first is a ballot measure being voted on today by the UW student body – about 30,000 of them – which would advise the school to recognize that marijuana is safer than alcohol and that students should not be punished more by the school for the less harmful substance. The second is a student senate resolution.
Mason Tvert, who coordinates a national campaign called SAFER (Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation), believes students weigh the risks of the penalties between alcohol and pot and choose the more dangerous of the two drugs – alcohol. Students who would otherwise be content to hit the bong and watch Invader Zim, instead get wasted and cause problems. “Alcohol and marijuana are the two most common drugs on campus,” Tvert said. “But alcohol is associated with date rape, overdoses, and property damage,” he says.“Students have no problem drinking in dorm rooms, and schools even encourage 18- and 19-year-olds to drink responsibly. But students are afraid they will be removed from student housing for having a gram of marijuana.”
Whether the UW will actually equalize penalties if the measures pass is as hazy as the issue. The University of New Hampshire completely equalized marijuana penalties after a similar measure passed, but the University of Maryland ignored their student resolution — which prompted multiple state delegates to send official discourse arguing that the student body followed university procedures, and if the school failed to adopt the policy, it could damage democracy in the eyes of the students.
Just fucking legalize it already. Jesus fucking Christ. Fuck.
This is really good news. The drug warriors will of course write this off as just a bunch of liberal students, but the more often this message is repeated the more likely it is to stick.
Hahah this reminds me of my RA 1st year (he was south african too to add to his awesomeness):
"This floor is such a bunch of alcoholics. I really want to turn this into more of a weed-smoking floor. So much more peaceful and such, y'kow? Oy pass that would you?"
I'm not supportive of any substances, drinky smokey snorty shooty or what have you, but seriously, when was the last time somebody fell the fuck off of a balcony and died because they smoked too fat of a blunt?
Mason doesn't know shit about college kids, doesn't he?
His speculation about why kids drink is self-serving embellishment at best and flat-out wrong more likely. Kids drink instead of smoking out because alcohol is much more easily available and portable, plus more socially acceptable.
I live steps from UW and pass the crazy parties every weekend. I can tell you that decriminalizing pot isn't going to decrease the insane amount of alcohol that gets consumed in the U District or on UW campus every weekend.
I respect the intent but the reasoning is flat out bullshit. Legalizing interests would get a lot more respect if they weren't talking out of their asses.
I have to agree with Gomez on this.
Sure, the disparity between enforcement of alcohol and pot violations is wrong, and they should be more fair.
But if they change this rule tomorrow to be equally enforced, you won't see any significant change in student drinking. Students drink because anyone they know that is 21 or has a fake ID can walk into any store and buy them a case of beer. It is barely harder to buy than Pepsi. I'm sure they could find pot if they really tried, but it is a lot more work, even in the U District.
If pot were legal to purchase (in small quantities if you're over 21) at Safeway, then you'd see at least some significant number of students switching from beer to pot.
But as long as pot is technically illegal, and I have to hunt around to find a dealer, and I have to buy from someone I don't know or trust, and I don't know where the pot comes from or what other substances it's cut with, then I'd be more likely to stick with beer, regardless of the dorm rules.
Still, it is moving in the right direction, so I'm all for it.
Smoking anything on campus is illegal in most places.
Do it in the designated smoking areas - not many - or don't smoke.
there's plenty of weed in the dorms. in fact, its one of the easiest places in the city to buy weed.
jesus, kids. ever hear of a one hitter, a wet towel under the door, & an open window? i smoked my way thru high school that way.
"Smoking anything on campus is illegal in most places.
Do it in the designated smoking areas - not many - or don't smoke."
hahahaha...Mom?
Gomez & SDA
I don't know what you are talking about. There is no attempt here to convert drinkers into smokers. Here is the actual survery question. I voted on it today. There is still one more day of voting (Wednesday until 11:59pm) for any other UW student:
"Do you agree that University of Washington policies for the use and possession of marijuana should be NO greater than those imposed for the use and possession of alcohol?"
Pretty straightforward.
And by the way, I've only lived in Seattle for about a year and a half, but I swear that for every 10 people I've met here, at least one of them distributes the kind herb. If you can't find pot in Seattle, you aren't looking very hard.
When pot becomes legal, they'll sell it at Starbucks.
Hi, Jamey. You're completely wrong. Re-read Dan's entry:
Mason Tvert, who coordinates a national campaign called SAFER (Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation), believes students weigh the risks of the penalties between alcohol and pot and choose the more dangerous of the two drugs – alcohol.
I'm writing this comment from the student senate mentioned in the post; we have yet to reach the resolution in our agenda, and anyways it's only on first readings, and considering the number of other legislation we have, it may take a while until it actually passes (possibly even not until next school year).
Also, I feel it's important to reiterate that both of these are merely advisory: UW administration sets these policies, and the ASUW (student gov't) can only pass resolutions to express the official "student opinion".
So all in all, it's a great idea, I voted yes on the ballot and will vote yes for the resolution, but I don't hold my breath that it will go any further than this.
Gomez
Sorry dude, I know how some folks insist on always being RIGHT online, but I'll break it down for you once more: The survey is about UW policy, asking people if they think penalties for marijuana should be the same as for alcohol. No more, no less.
I believe the original post was from Dominic Holden, not Dan Savage. And the personal beliefs of one Mason Tvert are irrelevant to the question in the survey. As I said before, if you read the language in the survey question, you see that there is no attempt here to convert drinkers into smokers. It's just a simple survey.
I'm glad the student senate poster is supportive of the resolution!
Yeah, we didn't get to it last night; it wasn't even mentioned so it *may* get touched on week after next at our next general meeting, when, if there is any contention over the resolution (which I doubt), I'll be speaking in favor.
That said, I agree with Jamey @ 14 -- the views of Mr. Tvert are irrelevant: both the language of the survey (which is all that really matters) and the fliers they are promoting with both make no mention of 'converting alcohol drinkers to stoners' or what have you. That may be his personal opinion or end goal, but it's immaterial here.
MSN I NIIPET
MSN
MSN I NIIPET
MSN
MSN I NIIPET
MSN
Comments Closed
In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 14 days old).