CONFUSION OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW CAUSES INCREASE IN DRUG-RELATED CASES AT CMU; ALCOHOL VIOLATIONS ALSO UP

Ben Witt said alcohol violations will always "be the champ" over other
student infractions, but marijuana issues have steadily climbed at
Central Michigan University.

"Alcohol is our biggest case here, but marijuana has definitely spiked
this year," the student behavioral administrator said.

The combination of record enrollment and confusion over Michigan's
Medical Marijuana law has added to the numbers, he said.

Tony Voisin, director of Student Life, said there have been more than
400 alcohol violations so far this academic year; last year's total
was 409.

"Last year we had around 65 (marijuana) violations," Voisin said.
"This year's violations certainly surpassed that number several weeks
ago ... I can tell you by the numbers this year already, with another
month ... to go, (we) have exceeded last year's numbers."

Witt said most of the marijuana cases he has seen pertain to the
medical marijuana card. It has caused a lot of confusion among
students, he said, and this frustrates him.

"I think it is a shame that the voters passed it and now the
legislature won't give us the framework of it," Witt said.

Vincent Cavataio, Student Government Association president-elect and
Shelby Township senior, said the issue of growing alcohol and
marijuana violations has not been brought to the attention of the SGA,
but it does concern him.

He said SGA could take a stance on the issue supporting a university
initiative to inform students of the law's implications.

"That's one thing that we could definitely do and inform students of
the consequences of their actions," Cavataio said.

He also said he was interested in the demographics of those found in
violation of alcohol and marijuana policies at CMU because, if most
are freshmen, informational sessions at orientation could help resolve
issues before they come to a head.

Lowell freshman Al Calvi believes the policy is unclear for students
who may have the medicinal marijuana card and lodge at residence halls.

"I don't think anyone should be allowed to smoke (marijuana) on
campus," Calvi said. "But if a student is prescribed marijuana they
should be allowed to have it in their home. If it isn't illegal (for
people with the card) then why should it be an issue for the school,
as long as they are not lighting up on campus?"

Witt said universities and schools are drug-free zones even if a
student has a medical marijuana card.

"Students have a card and give (their prescribed marijuana) to their
roommate," Witt said. "That is not the way the card works."

The law has posed issues on campus, Voisin said, because students are
either claiming they are not aware of the law or of university policy.

"I don't buy that (story), clearly you know university policy," Voisin
said. "They're clearly told when they show up at a residence hall,
probably seven times, what the policies are."

Dealing With Violations

Witt works full time in the Office of Student Life as student
behavioral administrator after having worked as its conduct
proceedings officer for several years.

The position helps coordinate university efforts pertaining to student
conduct and discipline, he said

Voisin said Witt is the perfect person for the office.

"His experience as a residence hall director (and) police officer,
along with his degree in criminal justice, provide him with excellent
investigative skills and a very strong knowledge of student issues,"
Voisin said.

Voisin and Witt said they do not want students to slip between the
cracks.

"We don't ever want to have the perception that we have a fast-food
window for discipline for student conduct," Witt said. "When someone
has an alcohol or drug violation and you just give him or her a fine,
how does that help without getting the context of the student? Where
else have they showed up on the radar? Are there other underlying
things that are hampering their growth as a student and an