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Orlando Sentinel: UCF committee postpones reducing marijuana penalties |
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Written by Caitlin Smith
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Wednesday, 03 December 2008 |
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The University of Central Florida is considering relaxing its penalties for student marijuana use.
The Golden Rule Review Committee, comprised of seven students charged
with making recommendations for updating the student handbook, voted
Tuesday on a proposal to establish equal punishments for alcohol and
marijuana violations. The proposal received a 3-3 vote because one
committee member left early. The proposal will be revisited in January
to break the tie.
At present, the penalties for student alcohol violations are much less severe than that for marijuana. For example, a first-time offender with a drinking violation would be required to write a reflection paper and attend an ethics seminar. On the other hand, a student who is caught with misdemeanor amount of marijuana could face suspension on his or her first offense.
The proposed policy is based on the recommendations of a task force led by students and administrators formed after 57 percent of the student body approved a campus referendum in February on equalizing marijuana and alcohol conduct punishments.
Brendon Rivard, president of the UCF chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said that he will be back with a revised proposal.
"Students should not be steered toward drinking and away from making the safer choice to use marijuana out of fear of a heavier university punishment,'' Rivard said.
Even though the vote was split, opposition to the proposal was based primarily on insufficient time to review it.
Golden Rule Committee member Tommy Oreste, who voted in favor of the proposal, said that he understands why a final decision wasn't reached today.
"The problem with the committee is that it is comprised of students who aren't all experienced with student government policy-making and I think that was reflected in the vote count,'' Oreste said. "I can, however, relate to the other committee members who felt that they weren't prepared to vote because this was the first time that they had seen [the proposal]."
The Golden Rule Review Committee will reconvene in January for a revote. If they approve the new policy, it will be sent to the UCF administration for final approval and implementation or to be vetoed entirely.
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