POT TO DRAW STUDENTS TO THE POLLS

The AMS is asking students to take a stance on legalising marijuana in an
effort to increase participation in the upcoming referendum.

One of three questions on the referendum ballot will ask students whether
they support a harm reduction drug strategy that also includes the
prescription of injection drugs and an increase in funding for
detoxification centres and needle exchanges.

Given the history of referenda at UBC failing due to lack of quorum, the
AMS hopes that the question will draw a different sector of the student
body to vote on the other referendum issues.

"This will create a lot of hype and we're definitely going to exploit the
hype," said Nathan Allen, AMS coordinator of external affairs at a recent
council meeting.

But Allen also believes in the cause. He pointed to UBC's recent efforts to
establish a presence in the Downtown Eastside.

"It's probably the most marginalised community in all of North America," he
said, "A student society should be in touch with the community around it."

AMS President Ryan Marshall said that the student council would make $250
available to both the "yes" and "no" campaigns. He added that the
referendum would be similar to taking a student opinion poll on the issue.

"If it passes, UBC doesn't become immune to the criminal code of Canada.
But it does mean that UBC will have a strong mandate to lobby for [changing
it]," said Marshall.

The two other referendum questions concern a proposed medical and dental
care plan and a $9 increase in student fees to pay for student services.
Marshall downplayed the increase in fees.

"Nine dollars is the cost of two Big Mac meals. For a whole year, it's not
a lot considering the number of services that we can provide with that
money," he said.

The AMS hopes the revenue from higher fees will improve student services.
Marshall said the money would go towards new initiatives and improving old
ones-including establishing a frosh week, paying late-night volunteers at
Safewalk, expanding swimming hours at the Aquatic Centre and purchasing new
equipment for CiTR, the campus radio station.

CiTR lost an opportunity to increase its funding last January because a
referendum failed to reach quorum, even though about two-thirds of voters
supported funding the station.

Aaron Nakama, CiTR's interim station manager, said the decision to be
grouped with the general student service fee increase in this referendum
was considered "mutually advantageous" to both the station and the AMS.