cannabisnews.com: Group Pushes for GW To Change Marijuana Policy










  Group Pushes for GW To Change Marijuana Policy

Posted by CN Staff on October 27, 2005 at 14:54:43 PT
By Robert Parker, Hatchet Reporter 
Source: GW Hatchet  

Washington, D.C. -- A new student organization is trying to persuade GW to lessen its penalties for drug violations, particularly for students who lose University housing after being caught with marijuana in their dorm rooms.Students in GW's chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws said they are critical of GW's policy against marijuana use because students can be evicted from campus after one drug offense. Junior Ronald Fisher, GW NORML president, said he thinks drug violations involving marijuana should be treated similarly to an alcohol violation.
"The fact that the University allows several alcohol violations before being kicked out of residence halls but has a zero-tolerance policy for marijuana is ridiculous," he said.GW NORML, whose membership has grown to about 155 students since it began this year, is appealing to the University's top administrators to fuel change and hopes to eliminate the part of the Student Code of Conduct that says students can lose housing after one drug offense."We are currently participating in a letter-writing campaign to convince (University) President (Stephen Joel) Trachtenberg and the Board of Trustees to change the 'one strike and you are out' policy for housing," Fisher said. "NORML isn't asking for marijuana to be allowed on campus. We just want to make marijuana punishments equal to alcohol punishments."Trachtenberg said in an interview with The Hatchet Monday that the University will "probably not" change its drug policies as a result of the group's efforts, adding that many schools have embraced zero tolerance."Universities have become very cautious with these things," Trachtenberg said. "If they are going to make a mistake, it is going to be on the side of caution. We are driven by our sense of responsibility but also by our sense of liability."Trachtenberg is familiar with the fight over marijuana. In 1972 he wrote an article, published in the Federal Bar Journal and co-authored by Lewis J. Paper, concluding that marijuana should be decriminalized."I've moved more to the right since then," Trachtenberg said Monday. "This is because contemporary research suggests that marijuana is more damaging in the long run than I knew when I wrote that article."GW's drug policy seems to be similar to the policies at nearby schools. American and Georgetown universities both employ penalties similar to GW's in response to marijuana violations, and the loss of campus housing is included as a possible ramification at those schools.Students at Boston University also face eviction from housing and possible expulsion if caught using illegal drugs in or near dorms. New York University's drug policy states that consequences of drug violations include everything from expulsion to "removal of privileges" at that university.Fisher said he does not see the organization's request as unreasonable."College kids die nationwide every year because of alcohol," he said. "Not once has anyone died from marijuana."Tara Woolfson, director of Student Judicial Services, said the University fully administers the GW Code of Student Conduct, which prohibits the "possession of illegal drugs or controlled substances." The code also recommends cancellation of a student's housing license agreement as the minimum sanction for students found in violation of possession of illegal drugs, including marijuana. Woolfson said three students have been found in violation of the policy this year, but she couldn't comment on how many have actually lost housing as a result."In the case of drug possession, cancellation of Housing License Agreement is the minimum sanction recommended," she wrote in an e-mail."Depending on the severity of the case and the student's judicial history, a student's sanction may be more or less severe than what is recommended," she added. She had no comment on the NORML movement on campus.There are about 50 NORML chapters on college campuses this year working to combat their colleges' marijuana policies as well as federal and state laws which prohibit marijuana.NORML chapters have also sprung up recently at both American University and the University of Maryland to promote the decriminalization of marijuana. American's NORML began last year as the first college chapter in D.C.GW NORML will also be mailing more than 80 letters encouraging congressional representatives and senators to repeal the Higher Education Act's drug provision, which was added in 1998 and blocks students with drug convictions from federal financial aid, making more than 175,000 college students ineligible for federal loans, grants and work study. Katie Rooney contributed to this report. Source: GW Hatchet (DC Edu)Author: Robert Parker, Hatchet ReporterPublished: October 27, 2005Copyright: 2005 The GW HatchetContact: letters gwhatchet.comWebsite: http://www.gwhatchet.com/NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml

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Comment #25 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 20:25:16 PT
One More Thing
I knew that something big and terrible was going to happen up north many months before it did but I only mentioned it to two close e-mail friends and even then I stayed very vague. When it all happened it didn't surprise me. Sometimes being able to check personal stats shows up things you'd rather not see. My worries are legitimate and being sensible is a wise thing for us all during these tough times. Maybe that helps explain why I seem on edge sometimes. CNews is very big and the closer we get to changing the laws the harder they seem to fight against us. I'm trying to use good common sense for my sake and everyones sake.
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 19:47:06 PT

Jim 
Thank you. I never thought it would take this long to change the laws or I never would have jumped in like I did. I thought in a year it will be over. Well soon we will be starting our 8th year. I didn't expect a republican to get elected and do what his administration has done. It's very hard to stay balanced and fair because I feel a responsibility to people who comment here. I don't want anyone to get in trouble for any reason. Maybe it will get easier in a little while. I hope so.
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Comment #23 posted by Jim Lunsford on October 28, 2005 at 19:37:08 PT

FoM
I just wanted to let you know that, while I too, am sometimes confused by your policies, and sometimes irked by your idiosyncracies (sp?); I am okay with it. You have done well with C-News, something that I suspect is very important in this overall spiritual revolution. And you are, who you are. Just as I am just me. Something I'm glad you pointed out. But, I do insist that you have as much freedom as you want. And running this site is quite a good exercise of that freedom. Thanks.Rev Jim LunsfordFirst Cannabist ChurchLife: Play Hamlet, don't be Hamlet 
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 12:11:57 PT

Max Flowers 
I think you are seeing that I'm not a mean bully or anything like that and that makes me happy. I am nothing but a person who because of life has put me here at this time to do CNews. It's a part of my journey. I've been on many different journeys during my life and for all of them I am grateful.
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Comment #21 posted by Max Flowers on October 28, 2005 at 12:09:12 PT

FoM
Of course. Sorry it went this long. Have a good day...! :^)
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Comment #20 posted by Max Flowers on October 28, 2005 at 12:06:43 PT

#17
Fascinating stuff. I agree with that 100%, but interestingly, I almost never view anything that I have a desire to do as being able to hurt anyone else. My desires, anything I would ever want to do, are all so private and mundane they couldn't possibly hurt anyone else. Unless we're talking about things I might say; I do have to watch what I say sometimes to make sure I don't hurt anyone's feelings. I can be unintentionally blunt.
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 11:59:25 PT

Max Flowers 
I really shouldn't have to rein in anyone. Most people check themselves and that is so appreciated. I don't want to debate this issue because I'm not into debating. Typing is hard for me because of my past wrist injury. If I type too much my wrist really starts to hurt.
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Comment #18 posted by Max Flowers on October 28, 2005 at 11:51:23 PT

Now we're getting somewhere
Here we go, your #15 helps me clarify. You said "CNews should be a place where we can talk to one another, share pain and joy." And what I'm saying is, that is all boballen1313 was trying to do when he posted #4. He was sharing his pain!In other words, how can we feel free here to share our joy and pain if we are not supposed to post things about our private lives? Don't you see the conflict there? If you want people to share their joy and pain, it's going to get a little untidy sometimes. You can't really have it both ways---that's my point. I'm saying that maybe at those times that you feel the urge to rein in a member, you should remember that they are probably trying to share their pain in some way.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 11:48:13 PT

Max Flowers 
Thanks for understanding where I'm coming from. Let me see if I can explain free. Just because I want to do something doesn't mean that I am free to do it. That's one thing I meant. I look at how my wish for acting free in a certain way might hurt others so I can never be free to always do what I want to do. Inside I am free because no one can take or control my spirit.
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Comment #16 posted by Max Flowers on October 28, 2005 at 11:42:59 PT

-|~|-
That's interesting what you said about not feeling free. I hope you will elaborate because I'm not sure what you mean. I don't feel completely free either, but it's because of the meddling, moralistic and illegal actions and policies and attitudes of government. I'm curious what you meant.I also was raised to be respectful to elders and others, etc. but that doesn't make me feel less free in any way. For me, it's knowing that "officials" in various authoritarian bodies would think nothing of throwing me in jail for things that are very private, not at all harmful to others, and no business whatsoever of theirs. Until that doesn't happen anymore in this country, I won't feel free.Anyway I know my criticism is unlikely to change anything that you do. I was just pointing out what to me seems an ironic inconsistency. Food for thought, that's all it was. Your way is no doubt better anyway... if I ran this site, I probably would have been shut down already for "fomenting radicalism"!
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 11:37:30 PT

Max Flowers 
I wanted to mention this too. I understand that not everyone is happy with how I am trying to guide the site but many people are happy. I am a person not a super human. After all these years of doing the news, dealing with issues and making some very hard decisions I have come to certain conclusions. CNews should be a place where we can talk to one another, share pain and joy. A place to follow the progression of Cannabis Reform in America is the news purpose. A forum develops it's own personality and CNews has one. Forums that have been around for years have developed their own personality. That's the wonder of the Internet. If one forum doesn't give us all we feel we need we can go to another one for those needs. I do that as I follw my music interests. I hope this makes sense.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 11:11:01 PT

Max Flowers 
I am who I am and I can't change at this point in my life. I don't know how people feel about how I do CNews but it has been growing and is bigger then it has ever been. I don't know what freedom is. I know it's a word but I've never been free. I have always had to be polite, respect my elders, be kind to animals, be respectful of public morality etc. I am a woman not a man that could be one of the main differences in how I look at things.
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Comment #13 posted by Max Flowers on October 28, 2005 at 10:56:43 PT

FoM
I'm glad you asked, because I do care. I love this site and what it is doing, but I get frustrated (not angry, really) by the inconsistency I see in how you run it with regard to peoples' comments. You operate a site dedicated to changing laws that inhibit people from having freedom (freedom to use cannabis, medicate with cannabis and have autonomy in their private lives without government interference), yet at the same time you hold forth with an on-again, off-again kind of censorship---"please don't talk about hard drugs or general drug policy at all, keep it strictly to cannabis"; "please don't talk about your private life at all"---and then I see many examples of you doing the same thing (I know you don't talk about hard drugs, but I mean you will entertain a round of comments about alcoholism or domestic abuse or something if someone goes there). However on this day or that day, if someone says something that strikes you as weird in some way you want to suppress them saying things. You're suppressing free speech.I'm trying to point out that when that happens, it's like a eerie microcosm of the very government policies we are criticizing every day here. In other words, you're doing the *same thing* that the Bush administration is doing when it controls the press and in effect inhibits what they write. Can't you see the relationship? Freedom to speak/write one's mind (not including flaming and malicious profanity etc) should exist here just like anywhere else. Otherwise you're running your own little cyber-regime.And since I'm getting it all out here, I should point out that the feeling (for me anyway but I supect I'm not alone) that comes across whenever you do this, turns being here suddenly and jarringly from this really progressive political website to something like a junior high school classroom with a sanctimonious teacher. Throwing a wet blanket on anyone's freedom of expression is to me quite antithetical to "American values" and I guess I defend it vigorously because I see it as one of the last few freedoms we still have here.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 10:01:44 PT

Max Flowers 
Why do you seem angry with me and how I want CNews to go? I've noticed that before and I don't understand. 
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on October 28, 2005 at 09:59:58 PT

Max Flowers 
I should have mentioned things that can offend us. That part of our private life. 
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Comment #10 posted by Max Flowers on October 28, 2005 at 09:51:58 PT

FoM I'm confused
 - I'd appreciate it if we didn't have to read about your private life. This web site is read by those who oppose us and I don't believe it is polite to talk about. - Boy there sure can be a funny double standard here sometimes. We have to read about yours, FoM. So I'm confused by the above reprimand. You talk about your private life quite a bit, and you often share discussions with quite a few others about things in their lives, and those can go many rounds of posts... yet I don't ever see you concerned about the opposition reading that. And none of us have a problem with it. This guy boballen makes a quick comment revealing only that he wishes for freedom, that he's a biker, drinks beer, smokes pot and likes Easyriders magazine, and he gets reprimanded...? Is it because he said the "t" word? (if so, why not just ask him not to use off color words?)What are the ground rules here? I thought they were in red at the bottom and I just reviewed them and didn't see anything about not posting facts about one's private life because it's not polite.Some recent random examples of reading about your private life: My husband went for his doctor's visit to the VA. He said to my husband whatever you are doing keep it up. He is so surprised that my husband isn't taking any drugs at all considering he has HepC and B.===========================We had to put a good deal of money in our old tractor this year but we couldn't afford to buy another one. I think it's a 49 and has been good most of the time. I was just looking at some of the pictures we took over the summer while we were real busy building and even though we have a lot of work to do it's nice to see what we did get done. We are stoning our front porch half way up. That is taking a lot of time because they must do it right. After the cement sets up that's the way it will stay forever. I think we will get necessary work done before the weather gets really cold. I wouldn't trade living in the country for anything.===========================This guy got angry with my husband in the middle of a very big truck stop parking lot about some freight that he wanted but was given to my husband. He got in my husband's face and was almost nose to nose and screaming and spitting all over him. Later on the guys were eating in the restaurant and my husband came in and sat down next to him with the other guys and he put his arm around him and said hey I still love you man. Everyone but him laughed.If the moderator can post things like the above, I don't get why boballen got asked not to post things about his private life. Unless the rules change with the moderator's mood... then it's just arbitrary censorship, something I would think should be inconsistent with a freedom-loving website like this one. Very confusing...
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Comment #9 posted by runderwo on October 27, 2005 at 23:45:46 PT

Jim
I like your sig. Short and sweet. It's a choice. Be a sheep and allow yourself to be led around by self-appointed shepherds - and in return for giving up your free will, you can assign blame to the shepherd for anything bad that happens to you, neatly avoiding any accountability.Or you can instead choose to be your own shepherd, and take your licks while following your dreams. Life is short and you only get one. Follow the herd, live in safety, and die anyway? Or do what makes you happy and satisfied and what makes others who share your values happy and satisfied as well?The tragedy of the modern day is that in the attempt to protect ourselves from every source of harm and misery, we seem to have left the meaning in life behind us somewhere.
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Comment #8 posted by Jim Lunsford on October 27, 2005 at 20:10:19 PT

The Real Reason
the conservative bloc didn't like Miers can be found in this quote of hers:The underlying theme in most of these cases is the insistence of more self-determination. And the more I think about these issues, the more self-determination makes the most sense,"If there really were conservatives in the republican party, this would be their attitude. And, they would not be messing around with our ability to use cannabis. It is a medicine, even when it's recreational. Though I do have to admit it does have one long term side-effect; it causes one to mis-trust their government. And what true conservative government has the right to tell me what I can put into my mouth? I believe Jesus stated that it wasn't what you put into your mouth that was vile, it was what came out of it. Obviously he was talking about the judgers and the false-prophets. And government as well. And he was right.However, I do have to add, that one truly horrible side effect of legalizing cannabis, would be that people all over the world would be healthier. And live longer. And we have already strained the resources of this planet with our insatiable desires. We would have to learn to use restraint in our lives. Nothing is free.I would hope that a repeal of prohibition would lead to an increase in sustaining our balance with nature. If not, then I guess mother nature will have to do the job for us. And that would not be nice. Ultimately, we automatically are self-determining creatures. It is always nothing more than an individual choice to allow anyone to influence your behavior. Even law. Or most especially law. After all, I wouldn't think a real Christian would be overly concerned with whatever any legal body said. But, Christianity never really took on very big in this country. Not the one with Jesus in it anyway.And by the way, for all of you 200,000 visitors a day to this site, I'm stoned! I am completely baked and am merely free-flowing this writing. It's not grammatically perfect, and probably not even close to philosophically perfect either, but I think that it is obvious that the use of Cannabis encourages creative thinking. Something that truly frightens oppressive governments. Ooops! Did I type that outloud?Rev Jim LunsfordFirst Cannabist ChurchLife: Live yours, or theirs?
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 27, 2005 at 19:19:00 PT

College Idea
Jim I agree. When young adults leave home they step into a world of discovery. They decide what they want to do with their life but at the same time they just want to have fun. Activism is born on college campuses. 
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Comment #6 posted by Jim Lunsford on October 27, 2005 at 19:14:22 PT

This college idea
was pure genius! Colleges are always mark the changing of the guard in all important issues. We see it everywhere in the world. When issues begin to erupt on colleges, change is in the air. It's so appropriate as well.On one hand, we "warn" our college kids about the deadly effects of binge drinking, but it is still acceptable to abuse; while on the other, we ban them from higher education because they choose to use a drug that not only is good for you, but it encourages creative thinking. God forbid we have creative thinking going on in our colleges! By the way, I love the new drug policy commercials about "Just tell your grandma you were stoned, she'll understand". The children of the sixties are now grandmothers. I'm sure many a grandmother would understand! Peace out to all, Rev. Jim LunsfordFirst Cannabist ChurchDeath: When it comes, what will You regret with your life?
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 27, 2005 at 18:24:32 PT

boballen1313 
I'd appreciate it if we didn't have to read about your private life. This web site is read by those who oppose us and I don't believe it is polite to talk about.
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Comment #4 posted by boballen1313 on October 27, 2005 at 18:13:22 PT

In Montana
In Montana, it would be real "sweet", in some far away future, to be able to make just ONE stop, coming home from work in a raging blizzard, to purchase a quantity of beer, an ounce of grade AA bud and an Easyriders tit and sickle without breaking any laws or feeling guilty cuz the blue haired babe at the counter is the preacher's sister! AND not be regarded as a biker low-life because i prefer to spend my downtime in winter doing greasy oily things in the living room on my wife's precious carpet. (Okay, i understand the complaint about sickle lube on the tv remote.) IS THAT ASKING TOO MUCH? 
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on October 27, 2005 at 18:06:24 PT

Liar
Trachtenberg is familiar with the fight over marijuana. In 1972 he wrote an article, published in the Federal Bar Journal and co-authored by Lewis J. Paper, concluding that marijuana should be decriminalized."I've moved more to the right since then," Trachtenberg said Monday. "This is because contemporary research suggests that marijuana is more damaging in the long run than I knew when I wrote that article."Actually, modern research has shown cannabis to be less damaging and even more beneficial to our health than previously thought. I don't think Trachtenberg has moved to the right. I think he's moved lower in pursuit of the almighty dollar at the expense of liberty and truth.The kids are organizing all across this land. The truth about cannabis is becoming known to all. The lies exposed by cannabis will connect to all lies regagarding all things as cannabis is relative to everything. These are bad times for the prohibitionists!On an unrelated note, here is yet more proof that the government isn't interested in wiping out those illicit drugs which can kill. They only give that impression to the masses. They make too much money off of these illicit drugs...BUSH RESTORED AFGHAN OPIUM & KILLED 50,000 AMERICANS: 
http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=80890THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Former UN Weapons Inspector: Don't Rule Out Staged Government Terror:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/october2005/241005weaponsinspector.htmHunter asks for probe of Pentagon actions against whistle-blower:
http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=705Streaming video of Lou Dobbs' interview with Rep. Weldon regarding Able Danger:
http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=702George W. Bush Freezes when Asked About Accusations of 9/11 Foreknowledge (video): 
http://images.indymedia.org/imc/washingtondc/media/video/6/9_11laugh.mpgCanadian TV discusses 9/11 conspiracy theories (video):
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/cbc_-_conspiracy_theories.wmv
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Comment #2 posted by runderwo on October 27, 2005 at 17:47:56 PT

smart guy
"Trachtenberg said in an interview with The Hatchet Monday that the University will "probably not" change its drug policies as a result of the group's efforts, adding that many schools have embraced zero tolerance."Right, so let's jump on the bandwagon regardless of whether it is reasonable to do so or not."Universities have become very cautious with these things," Trachtenberg said. "If they are going to make a mistake, it is going to be on the side of caution."What sort of "mistake" could you be referring to?"We are driven by our sense of responsibility but also by our sense of liability."Senses of justice and tolerance sold separately."Trachtenberg is familiar with the fight over marijuana. In 1972 he wrote an article, published in the Federal Bar Journal and co-authored by Lewis J. Paper, concluding that marijuana should be decriminalized. "I've moved more to the right since then," Trachtenberg said Monday."OK, so you've allowed idelogy to trump reason. Good job. This lame statement adds nothing to the discussion and exposes the speaker as biased."This is because contemporary research suggests that marijuana is more damaging in the long run than I knew when I wrote that article."Please provide a single example of permanent harm that results from even the most egregious recreational marijuana abuse. Apparently your recent studies have been sourcing from drug control propaganda rather than the medical and scientific literature.
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Comment #1 posted by siege on October 27, 2005 at 16:27:47 PT

Highter the tuition
with more expulsion, the Highter the tuition is each year, I would think University's would GET smart. I though that they where to make money and teach, From what I see they are government sheep and can't think for them self, and lose all the way around...If recall is right this year was $1,200 more then last year and if from out of state it was 1,600 more.
 
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