SAFER has been working closely with the NORML chapter at the University of Central Florida, and the school -- the fifth largest in the nation -- has recently emerged as ground zero for the SAFER Campuses Campaign.

Stories about the latest efforts at UCF received extensive local news coverage, including two stories in the Orlando Sentinel, a story on the UPI news wire, segments on virtually every local television news station (see videos here and here , and a piece in the campus newspaper.

Back in February, a majority of UCF student voters approved NORML UCF's SAFER referendum, calling on the University to establish penalties for student marijuana use that are no greater than those for student alcohol use. As a result, a task force of students and administrators was established to look into the issue and develop recommendations for a new marijuana and alcohol policy on campus. The task force  finalized its recommendations in November, at which time they were brought before the University's rulemaking body, the Golden Rule Review Committee. The committee's vote on the new policy ended in a tie --  two members voted against it because they wanted more time to look into it -- and as a result it will be voted on again early next school semester.  

The ongoing campaign at UCF is a great example of how far the SAFER Campuses campaign can go in bringing about changes in policy and -- in some ways more importantly -- public opinion. After all, it as generated widespread campus and local debate regarding our nation's irrational marijuana laws and policies, and many of the stories convey SAFER's argument clearly and repeatedly. Check out some of these excerpts from the coverage:

In November, SAFER co-hosted the first-ever Colorado Marijuana Reform Seminar & Activist Boot Camp. The event was, by all accounts, a huge success. The Drug War Chronicle did a great write-up of the Boot Camp, as did the student newspaper at the University of Colorado-Boulder (which followed several CU students down to the event).

Nearly 300 current and future activists from across the state attended the event at Regis University in Denver, including some who traveled from as far as Durango and Gunnison. The event was co-hosted by Sensible Colorado, several other organizations -- including the ACLU of Colorado, the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC), and the Libertarian Party of Colorado -- signed on as partners, and several businesses lent support as sponsors.

Attendees were provided with a big binder full of resources, and they received basic training in the areas of messaging, citizen lobbying, the media, grassroots activism and organizing, and Colorado's state and local marijuana laws.

Guest speakers  were among the major highlights and included: the Colorado House Majority Leader, Rep. Paul Weissman; Denver City Councilman Chris Nevitt; ACLU Legal Director Mark Silverstein; CCJRC Outreach and Membership Coordinator Pam Clifton; Mike Krause of the Independence Institute's Justice Policy Initiative; conservative commentator and Independence Institute Policy Analyst Jessica Peck Corry; Dr. Robert Melamede of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Department of Biology; communications consultant and Rocky Mountain News media critic Jason Salzman; Denver Daily News reporter/editor Peter Marcus; SquareState.net Editor John Erhardt; Colorado defense attorney Warren Edson of Colorado NORML; Sensible Colorado Executive Director Brian Vicente; and SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert. A full schedule of the event and all the amazing panels is available at the Marijuana Boot Camp Web site. 

This Tuesday is Election Day and there are marijuana-related initiatives on the ballot in four states: California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Arkansas. 

We at SAFER strongly encourage you to:

1) vote YES on the respective initiative should you live in one of these states, and/or

2) urge everyone you know in these states to vote YES on these initiatives and spread the word to others. 

California

Proposition 5 -- also known as the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA) -- would prevent non-violent drug offenders from serving time in jail and increase the availability of treatment services in the state. It would also drop possession of small amounts of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an "infraction." This sweeping reform measure would be a gigantic positive step toward more sensible drug and criminal justice policies, and it goes without saying that SAFER supports the reduction of penalties for simple marijuana possession. This measure is being supported by the Drug Policy Alliance and the Campaign for New Drug Policies. Vote YES on Proposition 5.

Massachusetts

Question 2 would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace them with a $100 civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket. SAFER does not believe adults should be punished for using marijuana responsibly, and this measure is a big step in that direction. This measure is being supported by the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy and the Marijuana Policy Project. Vote YES on Question 2.

Michigan

Proposal 1 would make Michigan the 13th state with a law protecting medical marijuana patients from arrest and prosecution. Although SAFER generally works toward broader marijuana policy reform, we fully support this commonsense and compassionate law that will undoubtedly improve the lives of thousands of Michigan citizens. This measure is being supported by the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care and the Marijuana Policy Project. Vote YES on Proposal 1.

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Voters in the City of Fayetteville are considering a measure that directs the city's police and prosecutors to make private adult marijuana possession their absolute lowest priority. If adopted, it will also require the city clerk to send official letters to state and federal officials informing them of the vote and urging them to change state and federal laws to reflect the new city policy. This measure is being supported by Sensible Fayetteville.

This "lowest law enforcement priority" measure is very similar to SAFER's 2007 initiative in Denver, as well as previous measures adopted in San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Seattle, Missoula, Columbia (Missou.), and Eureka Springs (Ark.).