Pubdate: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 Source: Student Life (MO Edu) Contact: 2004 Washington University Student Media, Inc Website: http://www.studlife.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1636 Author: Doug Main Cited: Washington University's SSDP http://restech.wustl.edu/~wussdp Cited: Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) http://www.ssdp.org Cited: Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy) STUDENTS FOCUS PROTESTS ON NATION'S DRUG POLICIES UNIVERSITY CITY- "Just Say No" was Sam Barclay's stance on drug policy Friday when he protested with Washington University's chapter of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). Barclay, like many University students, used the debate protests as a unique opportunity to bring attention to a specific problem. "We are the DARE [Drug Abuse Resistance Education] generation and we know that 'Just Say No' didn't work," said Barclay. As president of the University's SSDP, Barclay would like to see changes made to the nation's drug laws, and he views the debate as a good time to voice his and others' concerns. At 10 a.m., SSDP's secretary, senior John Payne, spoke at Grace United Methodist Church about the organization's views. Then, at 4 p.m., Barclay and SSDP members joined the October 8th Coalition in a march to Northmoor Park. SSDP members and other protesters carried signs declaring their problems with the current administration. Barclay explained that SSDP aims to abolish the Drug Free Student Aid Provision. The law automatically denies federal financial aid to any college student caught using illegal drugs such as marijuana. According to the Chicago Tribune, this provision has denied more than 140,000 students tuition aid since its inception in 1998. Barclay points to DARE as an indication of the failure to educate youths. Various studies have shown the program has had little effect on America's youth and their subsequent attitudes toward the use of drugs. DARE programs are also being shut down in many places around the country. "We need to send people to treatment rather than to prison," said Barclay. "We need to educate students in order to reduce the harm of drugs. They need to know that smoking a joint isn't the same as using heroin." Barclay became interested in SSDP after reading an article about the organization in Rolling Stone magazine. This past summer he received a grant to lobby Maryland congressmen with a group known as the Marijuana Policy Project. In this position, Barclay tried to get politicians to support a piece of legislation known as the Hinchey Amendment. The amendment would disallow federal agencies from prosecuting patients for using medicinal marijuana in states where it has been legalized. In other words, it would clear up the contradition between federal and state laws. "I feel strongly that people should be allowed to choose to use marijuana, especially if they're using it for medicinal purposes," said Barclay. "There's a lot of evidence that it can help patients with cancer and muscular dystrophy." Students like Barclay have made SSDP one of the fastest growing college organizations, with chapters on more than 120 campuses nationwide. The organization's efforts have garnered support for a bill in Congress that would eliminate the Drug Free Student Aid Provision.