Pubdate: Fri, 22 Oct 2004
Source: Daily Iowan, The (IA Edu)
Copyright: 2004 The Daily Iowan
Contact:  http://www.dailyiowan.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/937
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

POT POLICY DRACONIAN, BUT POT IS ILLEGAL

Students living in the UI's residence halls are warned of the stiff 
penalties that exist for drug possession and use in the dorms. Thus, when 
the UI police receive notice that the noisy occupants of a specific room 
are burning more than candles (which, by the way, is also prohibited), the 
offenders get burned by the university's policy.

Because of the zero-tolerance policy currently in place, students caught 
with marijuana in one of the university's residence halls are often 
evicted, even for first offenses.

As a result, the UI Students for Sensible Drug Policy recently drafted and 
circulated a resolution to reform these policies, collecting more than 
1,000 student and faculty signatures in support of the resolution. The 
group presented the resolution to the UISG Student Assembly on Tuesday, 
arguing that education and assistance should be emphasized for offenders 
over stiff penalties that are imposed now. The resolution was not passed 
because of its wording - assembly members were concerned that no 
distinction was made between marijuana and other illicit drugs, such as 
cocaine. Plans are already underway to rewrite the resolution and present 
it again in November.

We can sympathize with the Students for Sensible Drug Policy's view on this 
issue - that immediate eviction for possessing a bag of pot is too punitive 
- but we would also point out that marijuana is an illegal substance, 
according to state and federal law. In this respect, it's different from 
alcohol, which the university needs to account for through its policies. 
The two substances cannot be placed in the same category because one is 
permissible (for those of legal age) and the other is not. That's why 
students caught with alcohol in the dorms aren't ordinarily evicted on the 
first offense (unless they possess large quantities) while students caught 
with marijuana often are.

One of the arguments behind this effort is that, as noted by UISG Vice 
President Jason Shore, some students caught with illegal substances in the 
residence halls are forced to drop out of school after their evictions. 
This is a legitimate concern.

A first-year student found to be in possession of pot should not have to 
end her or his academic career simply because of one act of poor judgment.

To this end, residence-hall officials need to ensure that violators are 
given ample time to find alternative housing if they are evicted.

Education and assistance should also be emphasized for offenders, but only 
while acknowledging that marijuana is illegal. Being in possession of it 
ordinarily results in arrest and incarceration.

It is for this reason that the UI's zero-tolerance policy toward marijuana 
and other illicit substances in the dorms is not wholly unjustified. Many 
may not agree with the legal status of marijuana in this country - in its 
Oct. 6 editorial, the DI suggested that legal penalties for pot possession 
are too harsh, leading to overcrowded jails and costly trials - but this is 
not within the university's scope of jurisdiction. Therefore, campus 
policies need to correspond with laws set forth by the state.

This is why 19-year-olds are prohibited from consuming alcohol on 
university property.

We recognize the apparent draconian nature of the university's drug 
policies but also recognize the need to uphold the law, as insensible as it 
may be. To dorm residents, we offer one simple suggestion: Don't break the 
rules, and you won't be penalized.