Pubdate: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA) Copyright: 2012 The Press Democrat Contact: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348 Author: Jeremy Hay MORE MEDICAL POT CARDS MEAN FEWER DRUG ARRESTS AT SSU, CAMPUS POLICE SAY More students carrying medical marijuana cards has led to a dramatic decline in drug-related arrests at Sonoma State University, newly released statistics show. The number of such arrests dropped from 35 in 2009 to 27 in 2010 and zero last year, the last period for which statistics are available. "Before, we could make an arrest if someone had marijuana. Now they all have medical marijuana cards. So by law we can't arrest them," campus interim Police Chief Sally Miller said on Friday. Instead, students found with marijuana were referred for disciplinary measures, which involve drug education classes and can include community service and expulsion from SSU residences. For minor offenses, that is often a more effective approach, Miller said. Numbers were low in all other crime categories, where the most serious crime reported was a rape in a student residence on campus. The case remains open but is not being actively investigated, Miller said, because the victim declined to pursue it. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt