CU STUDENTS WEIGH IN ON POT PENALTIES

BOULDER - University of Colorado students have overwhelmingly passed a
referendum aimed at making penalties for students caught with marijuana no
worse than those for students caught with alcohol.

In all, 3,926 students voted in favor of the measure in polling last week,
and 1,866 voted against it. The referendum also asked university officials
to conduct a study determining whether such a change could lead to fewer
alcohol-related problems, such as sexual assaults.

While students age 21 and over can legally drink alcohol, they can face
campus sanctions if caught smoking marijuana.

In 2004, CU police made 126 arrests related to driving under the influence
of alcohol and another 304 arrests or citations for other alcohol
infractions, mostly involving underage drinking, Lt. Tim McGraw said.

During the same year, police issued 42 tickets for marijuana possession,
McGraw said.