Students at the University of Maryland, College Park joined a growing national movement this month when they approved a referendum calling for a relaxation of the school's marijuana policies. The referendum, which was included on the ballot for student government elections, urges administrators to penalize marijuana possession the same way as alcohol violations. Nearly two-thirds of students supported the measure, though only 4,500 of the school's 25,000 undergraduates voted in the election. The vote carries only symbolic weight, as students have no power to change the school's drug policy. But administrators said they will examine the issue. [continues 516 words]
The fight to reform drug policy parallels other movements in United States history, according to a national leader of the effort. "We see ourselves standing on the shoulders of and learning from other movements for political and social justice in American history," said Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, in a Tuesday night lecture in C.V. Starr Auditorium. The lecture, which drew about 80 students and community members, began with Nadelmann asking how many people in attendance supported the war on drugs. One student raised his hand. [continues 383 words]
