CU Students OK Easing Pot Penalties
April 16, 2005 By Brittany Anas, Camera Staff Writer © Daily Camera

Colorado -- University of Colorado students this week approved a measure that asks officials to ease up on marijuana penalties. The referendum, put forth by the Boulder-based group Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, asks that university officials make sanctions for marijuana use no more severe than they are for comparable alcohol violations.

Polls in the campus wide election closed Friday night. Students approved 10 of the 11 referenda that were put before them.

The marijuana referendum was one of the more popular ones, earning 3,926 "yes" votes.

To pass, a referendum must earn 10 percent of the student body vote, according to the election rules.

"We are very happy," said Mason Tvert, director of SAFER. "This demonstrates what our organization and many of the students at CU feel, and that is that marijuana is safer than alcohol. The current penalties put forth by the university are not sensible."

In a statement released this week, CU officials said there is little difference in the severity of sanctions for illegal drugs and alcohol violations. Both are punished by probation, community service and a drug and alcohol program, officials said.

"CU Boulder will not be bound by the outcome of the student referendum," the statement said.

Tvert said officials would be negligent if they did not heed the student vote.

Colorado State University students also passed SAFER's referendum in their campus elections earlier this month.

For more information, contact:
SAFER P.O. Box 1852 Boulder, CO 80306-1852
(720) 275-8230
http://www.saferchoice.org/

HempPharm.com comment; It is better from a public health point of view; regulated marijuana sales are the solution to healthier students and would provide these youngsters with a relatively safe alternative to the destructive and addictive alcohol and cigarettes we currently shove down their throats with the help of perfectly legal businesses through advertising and handing out 'samples' and 'promos' to kids.