GROUP TO WEED OUT THE CAMPUS DRUG CONCERN

Policy: Legalization Of Marijuana Is The Core Goal Of Returning Organization

Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a new group at USC, is trying to gain
support for the legalization of marijuana by working to get the information
out to people on campus.

SSDP, a national organization that began three years ago at the Rochester
Institute for Technology, has expanded to 200 university and high school
chapters across the country, according to the association's Web site.

The USC chapter now has had its second start, said Mitch Earleywine, an
associate professor of psychology and the USC chapter adviser.

The same group was on campus three years ago, but when the student
organizing the group graduated, the group's membership dwindled, Earleywine
said.

At last semester's Great Debate between the editor in chief of High Times
magazine, Steve Hager, and a member of the Drug Enforcement Agency, the
idea for the group was brought up again. During the debate, Hager had
pushed for someone to start a group at USC, and so Trevor Throntveit, an
undeclared sophomore did.

Last semester, an executive board of six people worked to start planning
the group. By the end of the semester, they had a little more than 80
people on their mailing list, Throntveit said.

On Tuesday, the group had its first general meeting in front of Leavey
Library to pass out fliers and have people sign up on the e-mail list to
receive more information about SSDP events.

Now the group is hoping to have meetings the last Tuesday of every month to
"promote and foster open discussion," Throntveit said.

Lisa Core, a junior majoring in accounting and an executive board member of
the USC chapter of SSDP, hopes that the members can help to clear up the
whole misconception about the group.

During the meeting Tuesday, Core said the organization's mission is more
about "getting the information out" about why marijuana should be legalized
than "smoking weed every day."

Tim Tsai, an undeclared freshman, said he came to the meeting because he
wanted to see an "informational-type session" where more than a small
segment of people on the USC campus could be educated on what the group is
about. He hopes they continue to spread information about the group to
others on campus, he said.

Core joined SSDP because she "wanted to get the word out" because there is
"only so much you can do on your own".

The mission statement for the national organization of SSDP is, "Students
for Sensible Drug Policy is committed to providing education on the harms
caused by the War on Drugs, working to involve youth in the political
process, and promoting an open, honest, and rational discussion of
alternative solutions to our nation's drug problem."

Throntveit said in future meetings, he hopes to have "not just a group for
proponents of weed", but a chance for discussion with people of differing
views.

SSDP passed out fliers Monday and Tuesday on campus, and "people were so
receptive," said Rachel Kelley, one of the executive members and a freshman
majoring in psychology.

Throntveit said they are "still getting the ball rolling this semester"
with the paperwork pending, but it is all submitted.

This semester the group is going to participate in Medical Marijuana Week,
which is Feb. 15 to 22.

Feb. 18 is "Evict the DEA Day" across the country according to the group's
flier.

There will be rallies, protests and demonstrations in front of the offices
to support the rights of medical-marijuana patients. Kelley said she will
personally go, but. "the more the merrier."

The USC chapter is also hoping to get a group together to travel to the
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Conference in San
Francisco from April 17 to 19.

The conference will have speakers and workshops, including a speech by
Earleywine.

Other students on campus, including Lawson Tatum, a sophomore majoring in
kinesiology, said the group has the "right to say whatever they want to say
for their cause" even though he is not in favor of it.

Jomeline Balatayo, however was less in favor of this type of group on
campus because it is "not for medical use" for the students in the group.

"(It is) hard to imagine any of them have cancer," Balatayo said.

Because many people share their view, Lindsey Bowman, a freshman majoring
in business agrees with the idea of the group to bring "diversity to our
campus."

Joel Hay, an associate professor of pharmaceutical economics and policy in
the School of Pharmacy, said "no matter where you put the law," there are
"always people advocating its legalization."

Hay said, however, "more people will be harmed if marijuana is legalized."
Hay mentioned the Web site www.newscientist.com that discusses the possible
serious effects such as schizophrenia and depression because of marijuana use.

Even though some have the argument that because tobacco and alcohol are
both legal, marijuana should also be legalized, Hay said there is no reason
to add another.