Pubdate: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 Source: Independent Collegian (U of Toledo, OH Edu) Copyright: 2007 Independent Collegian Contact: http://www.independentcollegian.com/home/lettertotheeditor/ Website: http://www.independentcollegian.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4078 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SMOKERS BAND TOGETHER Some students want to puff, puff - but others are opting to pass on the UT Chapter of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy. Although the group won't be an official organization at UT until mid-summer, about a dozen students met on Monday to discuss UT's marijuana policy. "We're not asking for anything extreme like legalization now," said President of the UT Chapter of SSDP Chris Wallace, a freshman majoring in film. "All we're asking for is it to be equal with alcohol because it's a standard." According to Wallis, marijuana is a lot less harmful than alcohol. "It's treated like a hard drug," he said. "Marijuana does not contribute to overdose deaths. Marijuana does not contribute to family health problems. Marijuana does not contribute to domestic violence." Yet, some students think joining the group would put them on "the university's hit list," as one student said at the meeting. "I'm a little nervous because if I stayed in a dorm, they might keep an eye on me," said Derek Dadich, a freshman majoring in education. Dadich added that he thinks he'll still join the group because it's a worthy cause. "We're not a bunch of potheads sitting around talking about weed," said Luis Morales, vice president of the UT Chapter of SSDP and a sophomore majoring in education. "What we want is a fair and balanced policy." According to UT's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy Statement, the university prohibits illegal use of alcohol and drugs, in accordance with federal, state and local laws. In the Student Handbook distributed to all students, the Code of Conduct's section about drug policy in residence halls states, "Students in violation of the [drug] policy will be required to attend and pay for an assessment at a drug abuse agency. Depending on the results of the assessment, the student may be subject to attend and pay for a Drug Awareness program, and/or intense drug treatment. In addition, violators are subject to termination of their housing contract." The alcohol policy section, for residence halls, of the Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook states, "A student in violation of the alcohol policy is subject to attendance at an alcohol education program and associated program costs. Additional violations subject the student to parental notification, alcohol assessment, attendance at an educational awareness program, and/ or an intensive alcohol treatment with all associated program costs. Repeat violators are subject to termination of their housing contract." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek