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Central Florida Future: Golden Rule Review Committee doesn't pass marijuana proposal |
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Written by Donald Thomann
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Wednesday, 03 December 2008 |
Vote locks at 3-3As a result of a stalemate vote on Tuesday, the final decision on a
proposal that would equalize university penalties for marijuana and
alcohol offenses has been pushed back to spring 2009.
After a 3-3-1 vote, with one member absent, the Golden Rule Review
Committee scheduled a new discussion and vote for January. The exact
date has yet to be decided, but will be posted on the committee's Web
site when it has been set.
At the meeting Tuesday, Brendon Rivard, spokesman for the UCF National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, presented to the committee a proposal that would change the current Golden Rule statutes regarding university marijuana policy.
The equalization proposal would establish a three-strike policy for marijuana offenders.
The first offense would come with the minimum drug education class and up to one semester of academic probation, the second offense would mandate a drug class and up to two semesters probation and the third offense could result in suspension for two semesters with possibility of expulsion.
"With this proposal we are not trying to promote drug use, but to discourage irresponsible drinking," Rivard said. "Alcohol is more dangerous than weed, and by making the penalties more severe for marijuana offenders, we are implicitly stating that it's OK to use the more dangerous substance."
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