STUDENTS FOCUS PROTESTS ON NATION'S DRUG POLICIES

UNIVERSITY CITY- "Just Say No" was Sam Barclay's stance on drug policy
Friday when he protested with Washington University's chapter of Students
for a Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). Barclay, like many University students,
used the debate protests as a unique opportunity to bring attention to a
specific problem.

"We are the DARE [Drug Abuse Resistance Education] generation and we know
that 'Just Say No' didn't work," said Barclay.

As president of the University's SSDP, Barclay would like to see changes
made to the nation's drug laws, and he views the debate as a good time to
voice his and others' concerns.

At 10 a.m., SSDP's secretary, senior John Payne, spoke at Grace United
Methodist Church about the organization's views. Then, at 4 p.m., Barclay
and SSDP members joined the October 8th Coalition in a march to Northmoor
Park. SSDP members and other protesters carried signs declaring their
problems with the current administration.

Barclay explained that SSDP aims to abolish the Drug Free Student Aid
Provision. The law automatically denies federal financial aid to any
college student caught using illegal drugs such as marijuana. According to
the Chicago Tribune, this provision has denied more than 140,000 students
tuition aid since its inception in 1998.

Barclay points to DARE as an indication of the failure to educate youths.
Various studies have shown the program has had little effect on America's
youth and their subsequent attitudes toward the use of drugs. DARE programs
are also being shut down in many places around the country.

"We need to send people to treatment rather than to prison," said Barclay.
"We need to educate students in order to reduce the harm of drugs. They
need to know that smoking a joint isn't the same as using heroin."

Barclay became interested in SSDP after reading an article about the
organization in Rolling Stone magazine. This past summer he received a
grant to lobby Maryland congressmen with a group known as the Marijuana
Policy Project.

In this position, Barclay tried to get politicians to support a piece of
legislation known as the Hinchey Amendment. The amendment would disallow
federal agencies from prosecuting patients for using medicinal marijuana in
states where it has been legalized. In other words, it would clear up the
contradition between federal and state laws.

"I feel strongly that people should be allowed to choose to use marijuana,
especially if they're using it for medicinal purposes," said Barclay.
"There's a lot of evidence that it can help patients with cancer and
muscular dystrophy."

Students like Barclay have made SSDP one of the fastest growing college
organizations, with chapters on more than 120 campuses nationwide. The
organization's efforts have garnered support for a bill in Congress that
would eliminate the Drug Free Student Aid Provision.