The UCCS chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy protested the
annual fair because members claimed school officials refused to make
available their information about “the relative harm” of marijuana
versus alcohol and instead promoted “responsible alcohol use” at the
event.
“I’ve seen how college students like to have fun, and every study
proves cannabis is far better for you than alcohol. We’d like to
educate students on this safer way of partying,” said senior Stephanie
Morphet, president of the student group, which formed this semester.
Joining the protest at the group’s invitation was Mason Tvert of
Denver, co-founder of the nationwide Safer Alternative for Enjoyable
Recreation, and co-author of the newly released book, “Marijuana is
Safer: So why are we driving people to drink?”
“Marijuana is a much safer substance that’s equally available — but
the school prefers alcohol and accepts the fact that people are going
to get intoxicated. We’re asking that marijuana be given equal time in
the discussion,” Tvert said. “They’re steering students away from
marijuana and toward drinking, saying that people should do it
responsibly, even if they’re 18 to 20.”
Along with booths from the university’s counseling and health
centers and local agencies that address health issues such as domestic
violence and AIDS, campus and city police conducted several alcohol
awareness demonstrations.
“I’d certainly say we’re not promoting alcohol, and while we
encourage free speech and the sharing of ideas, the university does not
endorse the illegal use of either alcohol or marijuana,” said UCCS
spokesman Tom Hutton.
Tvert said it’s as illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol as
it is for them to use marijuana, and penalties under the state’s laws
are greater for alcohol than marijuana use.
“We’re not going to settle for the reason that one’s legal and one’s
not. There’s conclusive evidence that alcohol contributes to domestic
violence, date rape, fighting, property damage — and marijuana does
not,” he said.
Protesters stood outside the fair’s perimeter but in front of a
wrecked vehicle in which a 17-year-old Lakewood woman died in 2007 when
her car was struck by drunk driver, who, ironically, also had smoked
marijuana.
The pro-marijuana groups do not advocate smoking pot and
driving, Tvert said: “This is about college partying, and if an
18-year-old would prefer to sit in their dorm room, use marijuana and
play Halo, that should be perfectly fine.”
Tvert’s organization started five years ago after two students died
from alcohol abuse, one at the University of Colorado at Boulder and
the other at Colorado State University. Tvert said his organization and
groups at the college level are calling for college campuses to “no
longer steer students toward drinking” and pass measures making it
easier for students to choose marijuana over alcohol as the preferred
substance to alter consciousness.
UCCS biology professor Bob Melamede said the public perception of
marijuana seems to be shifting toward a more sympathetic view,
particularly in light of Monday’s announcement from the Obama
administration that medical marijuana users and suppliers will not be
arrested as long as they conform to state laws.
“There’s a fundamental bias against understanding the truth that’s
no longer appropriate and is totally insane. People can benefit from
this natural medicine that taps into the way we work biologically,”
said Melamede.
