Pubdate: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 Source: Athens News, The (OH) Copyright: 2008, Athens News Contact: http://www.athensnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1603 Author: Mike Barajas Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy) Cited: National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws http://www.norml.org/ STUDENT DRUG POLICY GROUP AIMS TO TAKE ITS CASE TO WASHINGTON Students for a Sensible Drug Policy could be seen on campus last week running a "bake sale"; pun intended; to help raise money for their trip to Washington, D.C., for the 10th annual SSDP conference. Nov. 21-23, about 20 Ohio University SSDP members are planning to attend the national event, lobbying congressional and senate leaders in an attempt to open up the discussion of drug policies in the country and their respective states, explained Erin Dame, president of OU's chapter of SSDP. Before coming to OU for her Ph.D. work in communications studies, Dame worked in D.C. as a national outreach coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Last year, Dame and some other students restarted a chapter of SSDP at OU. (The group was active on campus in the early 2000s when OU officials started talking about tightening campus pot policies.) "One common misnomer is that we're for the legalization of all drugs," Dame said, referring to the group. Though she has previously worked with groups specifically attempting to reform marijuana laws, Dame said that SSDP is simply trying to encourage an active debate about the current system of drug laws, which she in turn called "draconian." The organization states that while students should be concerned about the impact of drug abuse in their communities, the current "War on Drugs" is failing students and society while perpetuating policies that directly harm student and youth culture. Simply put, Dame said that current policies are criminalizing the country's youth and need to be rethought. Dame explained that the group neither condemns or nor condones drug use, but rather aims to inform students about current drug policies and how students can be affected by them. "I think a lot of people don't even really know what the drug policies are," she said. "We want people to know their rights." SSDP, Dame said, recognizes that "people are going to consume drugs" and wants to inform students about responsible drug use and the danger of abuse. Levi Halter, a sophomore media studies major and SSDP member, said, "Drug laws in general are not really with the times, per se." In the past, Halter was cited for a marijuana-related offense during a traffic stop. Halter said he wasn't high at the time and "was not going to be hurting anybody." Given the situation, Halter said the drug charge was absurd, adding that the experience made him angry about the current state of drug laws. "That could potentially ruin my whole future," he said. "They're punishing kids for things that are very common," Halter noted, adding that marijuana laws especially need to be given a second glance. Halter also expressed anger over the way the university handles drug offenses, saying that it's "ridiculous" that a student can get cited and fined by the Athens Police Department, but then be cited by the university as well. At the moment, Dame said that SSDP at OU is focusing on helping to institute a medical-amnesty program on campus, which students could use to call for help during a drug-or alcohol-related emergency without fear of being punished by the university. In mid-October, Student Senate passed a resolution urging President Roderick McDavis to consider such a program. Dame explained that SSDP would like to see this program contain some kind of counseling component for students, instead of just a one-time class on substance abuse. "If people need to use this service, they need more help than just one class," she said. Though she said she has never been cited for any drug offenses, Dame openly acknowledges using marijuana. One of the first steps in combating the criminalization of the drug, she said, is "coming out of that cannabis closet." Law enforcement focuses too much attention on small-time drug usage, Dame said, adding, "our law enforcement really should have better priorities; They're still wasting too much tax money." During the upcoming conference in D.C., Dame said that she and other students plan to voice their concerns about the criminalization of certain drugs, namely marijuana, and how it's affecting college students. Dame also stated that she thinks some marijuana users are targeted and profiled because of the way they look. Noting that she's had dreadlocks for the past four years, she said, "I get pulled over at least once a month now; it's really silly." Charging that current drug policies are broken, Dame said, "Something just has to be done with it." After seeing how drug laws have so adversely affected friends and students around her, Dame said she's committed to making sure lawmakers can find a sensible alternative to the current policies. "It's all goes back to starting this dialogue," she said. The Ohio University Police Department could not be reached for comment for this article. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin