LEGISLATION INTRODUCED FOR REDUCTION OF MARIJUANA
PENALTIES ON CAMPUS

A piece of legislation was introduced in the Senate of the Student
Government Association Tuesday, Jan. 30, to demand a reduction in
marijuana penalties on campus, according to a recent press release
from Virginia Tech's Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

SSDP President and SGA Senator Kris Reinertson said SSDP is a
national organization with college and high school chapters that is
committed to trying to change the drug laws throughout the state and
throughout campus to focus on education and rehabilitation, rather
than harsh punishments.

Currently, Tech has a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs,
including marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, heroine and other drugs.
If a student is found in violation of the drug policy, it will almost
certainly result in suspension from the university.

"Having the zero-tolerance policy is ineffective in that somebody
could just use heroine and cocaine and have the same punishment as
marijuana," Reinertson said.

SSDP is currently launching a Safer Alternatives for Enjoyable
Recreation campaign, first started at the University of Colorado Jan.
2005, to inform students and administrators why Tech should reduce
its zero-tolerance marijuana policy to the three-strike policy
exactly like the alcohol policy.

In order for the legislation proposed by Reinertson and the SSDP to
be passed, it needs to be voted on by the SGA Senate.

"It's a pretty controversial issue but I think in the end, the SGA
will do the right thing and vote (the legislation) through to send
the message that students want to change the drug policy at Tech,"
Reinertson said.

Liz Hart, public relations for SGA said the organization does not
currently support legalizing marijuana, or lessening the penalty of
marijuana restrictions at the university.

"SGA as a whole does not necessarily share the same stances of our
Senators personally proposing legislation," said James Tyger, SGA
President, "In this case, SGA officially does not advocate a change
to Tech's existing drug policy; however, we are open to hearing
concerns of students."

Tech's SGA's governmental structure is one of the only SGA's in the
country that mirrors that of the "real world" governmental design.
Just as in the United States legislative system, SGA's House and
Senate can research or propose legislation on any topic they wish.
Once both the House and the Senate pass legislation, it then needs to
be signed by the president to officially "enact" the
legislation.

If the marijuana policy legislation is passed through the SGA, it
will then have to be passed by the University Council, the Board of
Visitors, and President Steger.

"The fact is that marijuana is a safer drug than alcohol … it
has never caused an overdose and it is less likely to get addicted to
it," Reinertson said.

Reinertson received this information from the Institute of Medicine
in a research document called "Marijuana in Medicine."

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,
drinking by college students contributes to an estimated 1,400
student deaths, 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assault a
year.

"The University of Maryland is the one that really got (SSDP) started
on this," Reinertson said. "They already passed the legislation
through the SGA … but the administration has failed to follow
through and change policy, and that's going to make us use a
different approach-we'd like to actually talk to
administration."

Mark Owczarski, university spokesman, said that he could not
speculate on what would happen if the legislation made it to the
Board of Visitors. However, he stresses that the current
zero-tolerance drug policy is in place for the well being of the students.

"(The current drug policy) is not only in accordance with the law but
also a very sincere desire to do what's best for students to keep
them well physically and emotionally," Owczarski said.

Reinertson said that he doesn't feel that a reduction in marijuana
penalties will reflect badly on the school or create more use.

"I think it will actually make us look better," Reinertson, "If
Virginia Tech passes this legislation, it will show to the student
body that it's interested in the health of the students and it
recognizes the fact that marijuana is a safer drug than alcohol and
its punishments will reflect that."Reinertson said how the
administration will take the legislation will depend on how active
the student body is and how much of an interest that the student body
has to see it through.