STIRRING THE POT

A local NORML chapter offers high school essay contest on drug war's dangers

The Schoharie County chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws is sponsoring a contest this summer that's probably going to
raise the eyebrows of quite a few school districts. The NORML folks are
asking high school seniors to respond to this question: How does the war on
marijuana threaten America's constitutional democracy? The student who
comes up with the best answer is going to get a $500 prize and publication
on Schoharie NORML's web site.

It's not an attempt to indoctrinate youngsters, according to Walter Wouk,
president of the Schoharie County chapter of NORML. Rather, he said, it is
an effort to make high school students recognize that the war on drugs is
actually a war on constitutional rights.

Wouk said the contest was conceived when the organization learned that the
Galway Central School District had asked the Saratoga County Sheriff's
Department to bring drug-sniffing dogs into the school to perform random
drug searches. He said Galway Central Schools' action is part of a growing
trend of teaching children that they are "guilty until proven innocent."

"You know," said Wouk, "this is America. This is a democracy. You get
children used to having police going through their lockers with
drug-sniffing dogs, and you get them used to being stripped of their rights."

He said the contest is intended not to promote drug use but to remind
people that they should not be considered criminals for discussing drug use
or expressing their opinions about drugs.

"We've been discussing this for a long time," Wouk said. "Last year we went
up to the Rockwood Hemp Fest, and I spoke to two college freshmen and a
high school graduate. I asked them if they would join NORML, and they were
afraid. They were afraid that the government would put their names on a
list and get them in trouble or something."

However, most school districts make it a point to strictly prohibit drug
use and probably don't view "students' rights" in the same light as NORML.
Many schools, including the Middleburgh Central School District in
Schoharie County, label themselves "drug-free school zones" and impose
penalties on students and others who peddle drugs or encourage their use
anywhere near the schools. According to Susan Urbach, superintendent of
Middleburgh Central School District in Schoharie County, it is a school's
duty to protect all students from harmful activities--especially
drug-oriented ones.

Urbach said that although she is unfamiliar with the contest or NORML, she
said she thinks the school district would be opposed to it if it condoned
the use of drugs.

"We are a drug-free school, and we receive drug-free money from the federal
government," she said. "Although this is a free democracy, this school
district is not supportive of anything that could harm children."

She also added that high school students are not always afforded the same
constitutional rights as adults.

"I do want to stress that I don't think people ought not to voice their
views," she insisted, "but our children are legally underage and depend on
adults for guidance."

Because she was not sure of the intent of NORML's contest, Urbach declined
to say whether or not the school district would penalize students
participating in it.

The winner of the essay contest will be announced on Schoharie NORML's Web
site. Jonathan von Linden, executive director of the Schoharie County
chapter of NORML, said students shouldn't fear repercussions from school
districts or law enforcement agencies for participating in the
contest--although he couldn't guarantee that there would be no
repercussions from their parents.

"I've been an outspoken advocate of changing the drug laws for 20 yrs or
so, and I live in a small town, and I've never had any trouble," said von
Linden.

Von Linden said he hopes the contest will help make students and adults
alike recognize that there is a fine line between drug law enforcement and
stomping on civil rights.

"The problem is, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are being trashed
under the guise of drug war execution," von Linden said. "People are losing
their rights whether they use drugs or not."

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski