On Tuesday evening the University of Arkansas student senate voted down the Razorback SAFER Resolution sponsored by the campus NORML chapter.  The campus paper included this scathing editorial of the student un-representatives and their politicized decision, as well as this news story. This is undoubtedly just a small battle in the war for marijuana-alcohol equality at the University of Arkansas, and the students are already planning their next steps. 

After the resolution failed, Charles McClure, vice president of NORML said, "Clearly the Senators are not representing their constituents; we will be petitioning, and the students will have an opportunity to vote on this themselves."

Apparently one of the primary opponents of the measure is the son of a DEA agent. We don't blame him for wanting to keep marijuana illegal and his father in a job. He joined other opponents in making brilliant arguments such as this:

"SAFER is not safe. I don't think alcohol is safe either..."

SAFER may not be safe -- this is a rough business -- but marijuana most certainly is safe, at least when compared to other recreational drugs. Is it entirely safe? Of course not. But, then again, neither are cigarettes, cheeseburgers, mouthwash, spinach, dog food...

As for the editorial, it discusses in depth why many members of student governments are just as opportunistic and weak as most local, state and national politicians. We encourage yout to give it a read to get an understanding of just how ridiculous this particular situation was, as well as how depressing college student governments have become.

Along with all the points where he calls out the opponents for making up excuses to vote against the measure, we particularly enjoyed this:

In terms of what the resolution stated, there were valid arguments as to why it shouldn't be passed. But for me, and I think anybody who bothered to look at the resolution, the basic idea was to acknowledge the less harmful effect of marijuana to alcohol. You know you're in trouble though, when people still "debate" that in earnest.

 

 

Overlooking state and federal laws for a moment, there were two basic arguments against the passage of the bill. The first was whether it is actually safer than alcohol. At this point, it's hard to have a truly eye-opening debate. How do you debate gravity or that girls don't fart?