Is The CU Pothead Dead? |
Posted by CN Staff on October 31, 2006 at 21:28:59 PT By Nicole Danna, Colorado Daily Staff Writer Source: Colorado Daily Colorado -- Should the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana be legalized in the state of Colorado? Proponents of Colorado Amendment 44 say “yes.” They believe marijuana should carry a similar relationship to the law that alcohol does, in part because they believe marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. Opponents of Amendment 44 disagree, and worry that legalizing possession of marijuana would make pot more accessible for those under the age of 21. But come Nov. 7, it will be up to voters on the issue that has already been given a big “nay” by members of the University of Colorado Intercampus Student Forum (ICSF). A body composed of student government representatives from each of the University of Colorado's three statewide campuses, the ICSF unanimously drafted an anti-Amendment 44 resolution during an Oct. 16 meeting, and will be addressing the public Thursday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. on the Auraria campus to demonstrate their stance. Rose said that because other statewide constitutional issues have had tangible effects on students, such as the ability to set tuition rates, it is important the student government stand united against Amendment 44. “What we know is that state law has an impact on students, and an impact on our campuses,” said Rose. “Any statewide initiative will have an impact on students, so we drafted this resolution because we realized this amendment would have impacts on the prestige of the flagship university in the state of Colorado.” For Mason Tvert, supporter of Amendment 44 and representative for the Alcohol-MJ Equalization Initiative, the anti-amendment resolution is “disgusting.” Tvert said that a majority of students, 68 percent of CU's student body, voted in favor of the non-profit Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation's (SAFER) initiative that promotes marijuana as a safer alternative to alcohol. SAFER's supporters say marijuana is far less addictive than other narcotics and alcohol, and that is safer for long-term use. “Simply said, [that percentage of students] didn't think that the penalties for marijuana should be any greater than the penalties for alcohol and it's unfortunate to see student representatives acting in direct opposition to their student body,” said Tvert during an interview with the Colorado Daily Tuesday. “Right now our policies are pushing students and adults to drink, and I don't think it makes sense to punish those adults who make the rational, safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol.” Tvert added that despite alcohol-related deaths at both CU-Boulder and Colorado State University in 2004, he doesn't believe the ICSF has done anything to discourage alcohol-abuse on campus. “I know CU-Boulder has been marred recently by alcohol-related incidents and I don't see the student government doing anything to stand up for the student body that voted to address that alcohol problem [by supporting SAFER],”said Tvert. “This appears to be a select group of student body representatives who believe they can sway opinions on this election.” On the other hand, David Evans, executive director of the Drug Free School's Coalition of Colorado, said the ICSF's resolution points to studies that show the majority of young adults are actually against drug use. “Most studies put marijuana use somewhere between 30 to 40 percent of high school and college aged young adults,” said Evans. “Because the people that have been proposing Amendment 44 have been targeting college kids I think it's great [the ICSF] is speaking out against it.” While proponents of Amendment 44 argue pot is safer than alcohol, Evans said marijuana is just as harmful. “There is a clear correlation between marijuana use and schizophrenia,” said Evans, citing a study conducted by Patrick Skosnik of Indiana University that was printed in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Yet, despite the fact that proponents of Amendment 44 are targeting college students to support their initiative, Evans said he remains confident CU students will make the right choice. “I think that [the university students] understand the issue,” said Evans. “Kids that are smoking pot aren't going to do well in school, and [people] don't associate marijuana with academic excellence.” Rose agreed, adding he feels the ICSF's anti-Amendment 44 stance echoes the beliefs held by the majority of the state universities' student body. “I don't know what [percentage of] students are against and what are for [Amendment 44], but I do know the leadership for all the campusesŠis unanimously supporting the resolution, and I think that speaks to the voice of the student body as a whole,” said Rose. Source: Colorado Daily (UC Edu, CO) Related Articles & Web Sites: Safer Choice Safer Colorado Safety at Heart of Pot Debate No Logical Reason To Punish Adults for Marijuana Adults Should Be Allowed To Choose Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #7 posted by Hope on November 01, 2006 at 06:28:08 PT |
"...(people) don't associate marijuana with academic excellence." [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #6 posted by The GCW on November 01, 2006 at 06:23:12 PT |
Don't support 44, thinking "state law has an impact on students"??? This is a school; are they not smart enough to realize confronting people for using a plant has "an impact on students?" 44 """Evans said marijuana is just as harmful.""" It's one thing to say that... and another thing to prove it... Evans can not prove it, society has said things like that for years but has yet to prove it.!!! Example, We have dead bodies to show for the harmfulness of booze; but none for cannabis. NONE! 44 schizophrenia? It has been proven schizophrenia is not due to cannabis use... 44 44 44 Evans & Rose, Perhaps inteligence is not Your thing... how about spiritual realities??? 44 44 44 US CO: PUB LTE: Bible Is Clear on Pot Use Pubdate: 9 Oct 2006 Source: Colorado Daily (Boulder, CO) Editor, There's more to, "Pot, Truth and The DEA," ( Sept. 29, 2006 ), where You expose "DEA facts" as an oxymoron. Historically, prohibitionists claim cannabis is the devil weed, but the devil never had any powers of creation. In fact another reason to re-legalize cannabis ( kaneh bosm / marijuana ) that doesn't get mentioned is because it is Biblically correct since Christ God Our Father, indicates He created all the seed-bearing plants saying they are all good, on literally the very first page ( see Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30 ). The only Biblical restriction place on cannabis is that it be accepted with thankfulness ( see 1 Timothy 4:1-5 ). It's time to stop caging humans for using what God says is good. This is one asinine Federal law citizens can stop now. The last day to register to vote is Tuesday October 10; don't hesitate to tell everyone You know. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1395/a05.html?275737 [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 01, 2006 at 06:23:05 PT |
Ad watch: Why should adults be able to use marijuana instead of alcohol? November 1, 2006 Title: Why should adults be able to use marijuana instead of alcohol? Type: TV ad Sponsor: Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, supporters of Amendment 44, which would legalize pot for recreational use. Message: The ad gives statistics about the dangers of alcohol in an attempt to show that marijuana is a safer alternative. A narrator says that two-thirds of all spousal-abuse cases are alcohol-related and that nearly three-quarters of all college rapes occur while a female is intoxicated by alcohol. The commercial continues, "Do we want our daughters growing up in a society where the only legal substance for recreation is alcohol? Not if we love them." Fact: The statistics in the ad are correct, according to reports by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Harvard School of Public Health. However, using marijuana has its own dangers, including adverse affects to the brain, lungs and mental health, according to numerous medical authorities. - Felisa Cardona URL: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_4582977 [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #4 posted by Toker00 on November 01, 2006 at 03:47:56 PT |
Dear Friend: A powerful YES on Amendment 44 commercial began airing on CNN, FOX News and CNBC in Colorado yesterday. The commercial, which is designed to point out the dangers associated with alcohol use and question why we prohibit adults from using the safer alternative, marijuana, is available on YouTube or can be viewed here on our campaign blog. You can also see the script of the commercial below. If you agree with us that this is a commercial that voters should see prior to the election on Tuesday, please go to our campaign site and make a financial conribution today so that we can run this ad as many times as possible. Donations will go to the SAFER Voter Education Fund, of which the Amendment 44 campaign is a project. As you probably know by now, SAFER's goal is to educate the public about the fact that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, and the statistics cited in this commercial are further evidence of this fact. Marijuana use does not increase the likelihood of violent behavior, yet we allow the use of alcohol by adults and punish adults who use marijuana. Thus, there is noubt in our minds that giving adults the option of using marijuana instead of alcohol would truly make Colorado safer. Please consider forwarding this message to others you know in Colorado and around the country who need a wake-up call about the relative harms of marijuana compared to alcohol. We also encourage you to forward this to other supporters of marijuana reform who might be interested in seeing this powerful advertisement. Thank you again for your continued support! Mason Tvert SAFER Campaign Director ==================== Text of the new Amendment 44 television commercial: Why should adults be able to use marijuana instead of alcohol? Two-thirds of all spousal abuse cases are alcohol-related. And nearly three-quarters of all college rapes occur while a female is intoxicated by alcohol. Think about it... Do we want our daughters growing up in a society where the only legal substance for recreation is alcohol? Not if we love them. Help make Colorado safer. Vote YES on Amendment 44. Toke. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #3 posted by unkat27 on November 01, 2006 at 01:39:23 PT |
"Opponents of Amendment 44 disagree, and worry that legalizing possession of marijuana would make pot more accessible for those under the age of 21. " Wrong. Legal, regulated mj would not be easier for kids to get, because it would be dispensed by legal vendors that could go to prison for selling it to minors. Ditto with adults that buy it for kids, just the way it is with alcohol. It was proven a long time ago that illegal drugs are actually easier for kids to get than legal alcohol because of the need for proof of age for purchase. “There is a clear correlation between marijuana use and schizophrenia,” said Evans, citing a study conducted by Patrick Skosnik of Indiana University that was printed in the American Journal of Psychiatry." More BS. Those who were studied were subjected to intentional abuse, whereas, responsible adults have no reason to be so abusive of it. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #2 posted by whig on October 31, 2006 at 23:34:43 PT |
Just wondering whether anyone knows who does the count up there. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 31, 2006 at 22:04:01 PT |
Neil Young has released the video to Let's Impeach The President. You can even download it. Here's the link. Thank you Neil Young! http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/lwwvideos/letsimpeach_wm.html [ Post Comment ] |
Post Comment | |