STUDENT GROUP WORKS TO REFORM DRUG LAWS

As the school year gets into full swing, clubs and student groups are
starting up on campus.

This year, students have come together to form a group to reform drug
laws.

The Students for Sensible Drug Policy, SSDP, has taken off with more
than 20 members who are working to reform U.S. drug policy.

Win Hansen, one of the creators of SSDP, said he formed the group in
response to an outcry from students around campus.

"A lot of people in New Mexico believe that the war on drugs is
antiquated and, in essence, is no longer effective," he said.

Groups petition to be chartered as on-campus, student-run
organizations by submitting paperwork to the Student Activities Office.

Hansen said he and a friend planned to start the group while traveling
abroad.

"Brad Opatz and I were on a trip to India," Hansen said. "We realized
that we needed a group to address some of the issues that we are
concerned about, and we talked about it a lot."

Hansen said drug policy is often a touchy subject, but so far SSDP has
received a lot of support from students around campus.

"I haven't had any person not be supportive of this group," Hansen
said. "Everyone that we have talked to said that a lot of the laws are
illogical, and although not everyone is calling for the
de-criminalization of the drug, there is definitely people looking at
the policy of medical marijuana."

Phill Kay, public relations representative for SSDP, said the main
goal of the group is to reframe the argument about drug policy.

"We view drug abuse and drug dependency as more of a mental health
issue than a criminal activity," he said. "In order to deal with this
issue and eliminate the problem, these addictions should be viewed as
the same thing as this issue of a person with depression."

Kay said SSDP does not believe drug users should be sent to prison for
breaking the law.

"The group thinks that instead of incarcerating people for doing
nonviolent crimes, we should give people help," he said.

The group's members are working to promote drug policy legislation,
Kay said.

"We are trying to get as much support as possible for the group, and
depending on how much support we can get, we are going to try to
propose a bill to the state legislature," he said.

Sophomore Lauren Brenner said she was intrigued by an invitational
e-mail the group sent out.

"I really like the message and the cause that the group stands for,"
she said. "It's not just a bunch of people smoking pot and sitting
around; we are dedicated to bills and working for change in the community."

Part of the group's goal is to incorporate community members, Hansen
said.

He said meeting times have not yet been set.