cannabisnews.com: CNN Transcripts: Connie Chung Tonight CNN Transcripts: Connie Chung Tonight Posted by CN Staff on January 30, 2003 at 08:57:56 PT Program Date: January 29, 2003 Source: CNN.com ANNOUNCER: Still ahead: A 13-year-old student's science project gets banned, why school authorities just said no to a project on medical marijuana -- when CONNIE CHUNG TONIGHT continues. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHUNG: Chances are, if your teenage daughter came home one day and said, I want to do a science project about marijuana, you'd hit the roof, right? Well, not long ago, 13-year-old California eighth-grader Veronica Mouser did just that. She called her study plan "Mary Jane for Pain" and spent two months documenting the effects of medicinal marijuana. Because of federal laws against marijuana, but despite state laws allowing pot's medicinal use, Veronica's school banned her project from the science fair. But Veronica's dad backed her up. And today, the story took another turn. Veronica joins us now from Belmont, California, along with district superintendent Anne Campbell. Thank you both for being with us. Where did you get this idea of doing your science project on medicinal marijuana?VERONICA MOUSER, EIGHTH-GRADER: I had a really close family relative that was sick for a really long time. So, he had to use medical marijuana. So, that's how I got my idea. CHUNG: So, you proceeded with your project. You took three patients. And what did you ask them to do? MOUSER: I asked them to use medical marijuana for one week and record in a log how they felt and how it helped them, and then not use it for a week and record how they felt then. CHUNG: And the result was? MOUSER: All three of them felt better while using the medical marijuana and they had to use less of their other pain medications. CHUNG: All right. So, it was you, actually, who went to the principal and tried to get approval as well. You just wanted to make sure that all of this was OK before you submitted it to the science fair. And when you went to the principal, what happened? MOUSER: I was told that they were going to think about it. So, several times, I was called into the office throughout about a week. And we talked about it. And they asked me questions about my project. And, finally, Friday of last week, they called me in and said no. CHUNG: Were you upset? MOUSER: Yes. I was upset. I was really upset, because I had put all this work into my project and then I was told that I couldn't do it. CHUNG: All right, so, ultimately, the superintendent had to get in on this.And, in fact, Ms. Campbell, what did you decide? ANNE CAMPBELL, SUPERINTENDENT, BELMONT REDWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT: Well, this morning, we met with Veronica and her parents and Jeff Keuscher (ph) from our district office and Gary Nakagiri, who is our science consultant from San Mateo County to review the project.The principal had never actually been able to see the final product. What she was working from was an outline of the project that Veronica had prepared. Veronica did an outstanding job this morning of presenting her data. It was obvious, as she's talked with you about it today, that she had actually performed an experiment, in terms of asking people to not use their medicinal marijuana to study the effects of that. CHUNG: So, now she is able to submit her project results to the science fair. Why did you feel you should overturn the earlier decision? CAMPBELL: I think, when we sat down and looked at it, trying to be as fair as possible as we could, when we looked at the guidelines for the science fair that the kids were given at Ralston and looked at the project that Veronica had done, there really was nothing in the guidelines that kids were operating from that would have restricted this type of a proposal. I think what we've learned from this experience is, we want to be real careful, before students start on their proposals, that the guidelines are very clear. And if there are issues that the school has concerns about, that they express them early on. CHUNG: Veronica, what have you learned from this experience and what do you think the school system has learned through this experience? MOUSER: I think the school system has actually learned that some students will stand up for their rights and they won't just back down when somebody says no. And I've learned just, basically, to stand up for what you believe in and don't get pushed down. CHUNG: Well, good for you, Veronica.One last question to superintendent Campbell: Do you feel that the rules should be revised in some way, based on this problem that you found yourself in?CAMPBELL: I think it's a really interesting question, Connie, because, as we're working with middle school kids, we are working very, very hard to help them understand the ill effects that drugs can have. And yet, on the other hand, as Veronica has shown with her project today, there also may be medicinal effects that are positive. And so that's a real question for us, because we don't want to give a mixed message to our kids. CHUNG: Veronica, based on this, do you think you might want to become a doctor? MOUSER: I actually -- I really want to be a lawyer when I grow up. I love debating things. (LAUGHTER) CHUNG: Well, there you go. I think that's excellent. Thank you, Veronica Mouser and superintendent Campbell. We appreciate your being with us. MOUSER: Thank you, Connie. CAMPBELL: Thank you. Goodbye.CHUNG: Congratulations, Veronica. Snipped: Complete Transcripts: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0301/29/cct.00.htmlSource: CNN (US Web) Show: CNN Connie Chung TonightShow Date: January 29, 2003Copyright: 2003 Cable News Network, Inc. Website: http://www.cnn.com/ Contact: cnn.feedback cnn.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmProject On Pot Gets OKhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15323.shtmlStudent Wins Battle To Allow Pot Project in Fairhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15321.shtmlPot Project Pulled - San Jose Mercury Newshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15301.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by The C-I-R-C-L-E on January 31, 2003 at 02:21:28 PT What a moving response to sincerity & integrity MOUSER: I think the school system has actually learned that some students will stand up for their rights and they won't just back down when somebody says no. And I've learned just, basically, to stand up for what you believe in and don't get pushed down. CHUNG: Well, good for you, Veronica. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by kegan on January 31, 2003 at 02:12:24 PT Smart Kid Nice to see the next generation is a bit smarter. Adults aren't smart enough to discuss this stuff. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment