FSU STUDENT GROUPS PUSH FOR EQUAL PENALTIES FOR POT, BOOZE

Do you think the penalties for on-campus marijuana possession should
be lowered to be equivalent to the penalties for on-campus under-age
drinking?

That question reached Florida State University's student ballot as an
initiative sponsored by two organizations at FSU - the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws or NORML and Students
for Sensible Drug Policy. Representatives from each organization held
a small rally at FSU's Landis Green Wednesday - the day students would
vote on that question along with their student senators.

"Currently FSU does not punish students to the full extent as required
by Florida statute for alcohol violations. So we'd like to set up a
similar system with marijuana," said John Mola, NORML president.

According to crime statistics, 145 arrests for drug-law violations
occurred on FSU property in 2007. About 255 arrests were made for
liquor-law violations. Problem is, students who break the laws are not
treated the same, said Matthew Zimmerman, president of Students for
Sensible Drug Policy.

"People shouldn't be discriminated against for choosing marijuana
instead of alcohol," Zimmerman said. "We think it's unfair more
students get their financial aid stripped away for (possessing)
marijuana than for alcohol. If an RA (resident assistant) smells
marijuana they're supposed to immediately notify the police. They're
supposed to do it for alcohol, but it doesn't always happen there."

The vote was to be finalized late Wednesday. But whether any real
changes would be made as a result of the vote is up to debate.

State Attorney Willie Meggs said the organizations can't petition to
have the law changed in Tallahassee.

"That's the legislators' job," he said. " I don't think they (the
students) can pick and choose."

Mola said it is their hope that if the measure is approved by students
that they would ask for a resolution from FSU's Student Government
Association. Then, they would take the resolution to the Office of
Student Rights and Responsibilities.