Pubdate: Mon, 21 Apr 2008
Source: Spartan Daily (San Jose State, CA Edu)
Copyright: 2008 Spartan Daily
Contact: http://www.thespartandaily.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.thespartandaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1386
Author: Andrew Herndon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

UPD ANTICIPATED SOBER 4/20

Four-twenty is not just associated a time and date. The number "420" 
is related to the use of marijuana and the drug itself.

According to University Police Department Sgt. John Laws, marijuana 
use on SJSU campus on April 20 (4/20) has not been a problem.

"At this time we are not anticipating any extra activity for us to be 
responding to and dealing with," Laws said.

SJSU forbids all people from smoking marijuana on campus, Laws said.

"Even if someone has a medical marijuana card, the university has a 
policy against the use of marijuana," Laws said. "Even if they have 
the card, it can cause them some difficulty with the university."

According to some resident advisers on campus, drug use in the 
residence halls has not been a significant problem around April 20.

Scott Wong, a senior mechanical engineering major, has been an R.A. 
at Campus Village Building B and in Joe West Hall.

"I have not encountered any problems with students doing drugs on or 
around 4/20," wrote Wong, 22, in an e-mail. "It's never predictable."

Stacy Spence, a senior history major, has also been R.A. for two 
years, both at Campus Village.

She said drug problems are not necessarily restricted to April 20.

"We actually have drug-related incidents throughout the year," said 
Spence, 22. "I haven't dealt with any more, per se, than on any other 
day. It's pretty much an ongoing problem."

When an R.A. encounters any kind of drug use in the dorms, he or she 
contacts UPD and the department performs the necessary action, Wong 
wrote in an e-mail.

"It's part of our policy that we have to call UPD right away," Spence said.

Spence said she was familiar with the association between "420" and 
marijuana use, and said she was advised by others not to be on duty 
on April 20 because of the alleged drug use.

"As R.A.'s, when we were picking our duty dates, a lot of people told 
us to avoid getting duty on April 20 because of the '420,'" Spence 
said. "Apparently there's this feeling that there is going to be more 
incidents related to that on that night. I mean it's not for certain, 
but kind of like, I don't know, a myth."

Wong, along with another R.A., created fliers warning students about 
using marijuana in the dorms, Wong wrote.

"Me and another R.A. slid small fliers regarding the consequences of 
smoking marijuana, or doing other drugs on campus," Wong wrote. "We 
wanted to educate residents of the consequences that could happen if 
marijuana is found."

According to the flier, actions involving marijuana could lead to 
expulsion from the dorms and the CSU system.

To Wong, "420" is not a significant number to him.

"What's the big deal with that number?" Wong wrote. "I think it's 
really immature that one would dedicate a designated time and day 
just to get high." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake