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WFTV 9 (Orlando): UCF Committee Fails To Pass Pot Punishment Reduction |
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Written by WFTV 9
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008 |
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There was a controversial vote Tuesday on whether UCF students caught
smoking pot should face less punishment. Currently, suspensions are
more severe for marijuana than for alcohol-related offenses. Tuesday, a
student rules committee voted on whether to change that. UCF communications major Oscar Ramirez wants to be a United States
senator one day. He feels he should be able to enjoy a marijuana
cigarette without losing his academic year.
"If you can drink under 21 and just get a month's probation, why should you have to get two to four months' probation for a joint?" Ramirez questioned.
Student rule makers talked Tuesday about lessening the punishments for marijuana use to those for underage drinking.
"Does this statement advocate legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana?" WFTV reporter Robert Maxwell asked Brendan Rivard, a marijuana student advocate.
"No," he said.
"Does this statement advocate using marijuana?" Maxwell asked.
"No," Rivard said.
The argument is that students would be much less likely to binge drink or drink and drive if they have an equal choice when they party. In a referendum last February, 57% of UCF students supported the rule change. The student newspaper even endorsed the idea.
Critics say softening marijuana punishments will lead to more students experimenting with pot. The fear is that could lead to harder drugs.
One freshman Eyewitness News met suggested, instead, raising the punishments for underage drinking on campus.
"Either way, it's not something you're supposed to do. I think drunk people around here is a really big problem," student Visalakshi Ramashandran said.
In the end, though, lessening the penalty for pot proved too controversial. The student committee deadlocked 3-3, which means it fails for now, but the issue could come up again next year.
Last year, UCF had 459 alcohol-related cases, none of which ended up in expulsion. There were 105 drug-related offenses, which resulted in 10 suspensions and one expulsion.
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