cannabisnews.com: Potency of UT Pot Penalty Up for Vote 





Potency of UT Pot Penalty Up for Vote 
Posted by CN Staff on March 01, 2006 at 07:19:44 PT
By Lomi Kriel, Express-News Austin Bureau 
Source: San Antonio Express-News 
Austin, TX -- Should a student caught with alcohol on the University of Texas campus get a lighter punishment than someone caught with marijuana? That's the question students at the campus here are deciding in a nonbinding referendum to reduce campus penalties for those caught with the illegal drug. "I think overall society should change and society should reanalyze their position on marijuana," said Judie Niskala, the campus coordinator of Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER).
"If nothing else, this will spark conversations that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. The main goal is to bring more attention to this issue." Niskala, a UT graduate student, teamed with other students and gathered 1,400 signatures to get Referendum 2 on the UT ballot this semester. Students caught with marijuana can be suspended from classes and dormitory residents can be evicted. Students caught with alcohol do not face those sanctions, according to school rules. The voting, being conducted online, began Tuesday and continues through today. Results will be announced tonight. Architectural engineering senior Kyle Barton said he believes an illegal drug should have graver consequences. "I've got friends that use marijuana, but it never stops there," Barton said. "I think it is OK to use alcohol because adults do, but when you get in the realm of drug use there should be consequences." Bob Harkins, associate vice president for campus safety and security at UT, said officials will look at the legality of the referendum if students approve it. The referendum is nonbinding and the board of regents sets the disciplinary policy for marijuana possession, above and beyond the penalties attached to state or local laws. The board would have to approve any changes. UT board of regents spokesman Michael Warden would not comment on the referendum. Supporters of the initiative point to the alcohol poisoning death in December of UT student Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath and the hospital treatment of a student suffering from alcohol poisoning last month. SAFER lawyer Ann Del Llano argued that there has never been a death from an overdose of marijuana. Llano said Phoummarath died during a drinking game that his fraternity made the freshman play. She said if they had played the game with marijuana, he would be alive today. "At UT, a student can be suspended from class for possession of marijuana, but not for alcohol," Del Llano said. "Alcohol is illegal for most students here because they are under the legal drinking age." While Del Llano said she doesn't encourage students to smoke marijuana, SAFER "just wants to bring an expression of student opinion to the administration." The UT chapter of Young Conservatives of Texas does not support the referendum. "We don't agree with anything that would sidestep a law. We don't want the university to pseudo-condone the use of marijuana," said Ben Fizzell, chairman of the UT chapter. "All the medical points are valid, but we are a society that operates on a rule of law and we need to respect the law." Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)Author: Lomi Kriel, Express-News Austin Bureau Published: March 01, 2006Copyright: 206 San Antonio Express-NewsContact: letters express-news.netWebsite: http://www.mysanantonio.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Safer Choicehttp://www.saferchoice.org/UT Group Fights Pot Penaltyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21591.shtmlLighter Marijuana Punishments Soughthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21573.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on March 02, 2006 at 08:35:44 PT
AP: UT Students Vote For Leveling Rules 
UT Students Vote For Leveling Rules For Alcohol, Pot***Group: Alcohol More Harmful To User, Society Than Marijuana March 2, 2006
 AUSTIN, Texas -- Students at The University of Texas at Austin voted Wednesday in favor of a non-binding referendum to equalize penalties for alcohol and marijuana violations.The Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Referendum passed by 64 percent, The Daily Texan reported.Supporters of the measure argued that students shouldn't face stiffer punishment for marijuana violations than alcohol because alcohol is more likely to cause addiction, violent behavior and death.Judie Niskala, campus coordinator for SAFER Texas, said Wednesday in a news release that the victory "demonstrates that students clearly recognize the truth: Alcohol is simply more harmful -- both to the user and society -- than marijuana." 
 Niskala said in a story in Thursday's editions of The Daily Texan that advocates will push to talk to the UT System Board of Regents. She said university officials have not responded to the group's request for a meeting.The non-binding referendum was meant to gauge student support. About 7,570 votes were cast, according to the university's student government elections supervisory board.The student government did not take a position on the referendum, said Danielle Rugoff, student body president elect. The student government has no plans to promote the referendum, she said."It was difficult to understand the language, and I remember several students approached me saying that they had voted 'yes,' but asking what they had voted on," she told the newspaper.SAFER Choice, a national group that promotes "Safer Alternatives for Enjoyable Recreation," has pushed for a similar rule changes at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Niskala said UT was targeted because of its size and "liberal location."The referendum was part of a student government election and included a successful measure to begin construction on a new $51 million student activity center.Copyright: 2006 by The Associated Presshttp://www.nbc5i.com/education/7612116/detail.html
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Comment #8 posted by runderwo on March 01, 2006 at 15:06:50 PT
hypocrite
""We don't agree with anything that would sidestep a law. We don't want the university to pseudo-condone the use of marijuana," said Ben Fizzell, chairman of the UT chapter. "All the medical points are valid, but we are a society that operates on a rule of law and we need to respect the law.""Something tells me he would be singing a different tune if gun ownership or religious expression was against the law and an advocacy group supported it.
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Comment #7 posted by BGreen on March 01, 2006 at 14:19:31 PT
Kyle Barton
Isn't this one of those kids from South Park?It sure sounds like him."Um, it's OK for underage kids to break the law and drink booze 'cause adults drink it, but it's not OK to break the law and smoke cannabis, even though adults smoke it."Some business is going to have a real winner if anybody is stupid enough to hire this cartoon character.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #6 posted by museman on March 01, 2006 at 13:00:50 PT
Hope
No worries, I will despise them for you, with no qualms.Because, as you said 'they are despicable.'
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on March 01, 2006 at 11:34:24 PT
Runruff
I'm trusting that he'll be ok...and very possibly stronger, for this ordeal.Prohibition is dispicable. Prohibitionists are despicable... but I'm trying hard to resist despising them...though they seem worthy of it.Doing this to someone over a plant...over an unjust law about a plant...makes them quite despicable in my book.
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Comment #4 posted by runruffswife on March 01, 2006 at 10:52:43 PT
RunRuffs health
Hi Hope,
Jerry said they are giving him most of his meds. Well most isn't the same as all of them. It concerns me as well. This is where I believe he will be protected. He is not getting the same care as before, not the same anything, different food, no supplements, different meds, so I intend that his health will be sustained and even better. He's smart about healthy food choices and has seemingly no control over the meds. But his intention is there too, to be healthy. He will be okay. He will come home whole. 
He said it's amazing the ways they treat you less than human, not giving you things you ask for, no explanation why. Just control. Whatever, it's all part of the psych. The Truth is stronger than that. He won't let it touch him inside. Boy, do I gain strength from him. sigh.
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on March 01, 2006 at 07:43:34 PT
Runruff's Health
How is that going, Runruff's wife? Is this stint of persecution going to harm his eyesight or heart or is he going to be able to hold on to the health he has? It's very worrisome to think that anyone would do this to him over plants....any plants.I know of people who shot or killed others in anger and spent no time in jail, that I know of. This persecution of our fellow man will someday be thought of as the Plant Based Inquistion or the Horticultural Horror Wars.End Prohibition! Free Runruff!
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on March 01, 2006 at 07:32:24 PT
Huh?
"I've got friends that use marijuana, but it never stops there," Barton said. "I think it is OK to use alcohol because adults do, but when you get in the realm of drug use there should be consequences."Kyle Barton, let us know when you have something to say that makes sense. Until then, please go back to sleep. I'm sure your poor head hurts from thinking so much!
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Comment #1 posted by runruffswife on March 01, 2006 at 07:21:19 PT
RunRuff called!!!!!!
Finally yesterday I was able to speak with my husband. We were able to talk for 15 minutes. He said to say Thank you to all of you for your love and on-going support, letters, money to the commissary, and your energy towards ending prohibition. I told him that his incarceration is bringing more awareness to the atrocities of cannabis prohibition and he said "that's all I wanted". 
He said "being Inside is other-wordly, it's like I stepped through the looking-glass." "But I don't let it touch me on the inside".He said a lot. I'll share more later. Love Love Love, Mrs.RunRuff
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