Newsgroups: alt.drugs,talk.politics.drugs
Subject: **READ THIS IMPORTANT PSU NORML POST!!**
From: <NMR103@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 16:53:04 EST
Organization: Penn State University

In February, the University Policy Committee of Penn State (the
administrative people who make all the rules) will listen to the
Undergraduate Student Government Senate's suggestions and
arguments concerning marijuana at Penn State - specifically,
   * putting a maximum cap on the marijuana disciplinary policy
              OR
   * reducing the minimum penalty for marijuana posession
       OR.... Whatever else YOU think we should consider in
              this situation.

This meeting is important because it could change the way the
Penn State administration views marijuana use and posession, and
in effect help educate the community, state, and probably even
nation about marijuana truths. This would be PSU's way of saying
"We've checked out the facts and _we_ don't think that, as a school,
students who use or posess marijuana should be treated as harshly
as they may have been in the past."

*****THIS IS WHERE WE NEED _YOUR_ HELP:

We (PSU NORML) are putting together a comprehensive document in favor of
reducing the marijuana penalties at Penn State. Rob Kampia, USG President
and NORML's unofficial advisor, has outlined what he feels should be
covered in the argument and the information we already have. Please help
us make our argument _better_. If you have anything to add to any of
these topics, PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR REPLY TO PENN STATE NORML (address:
NMR103@psuvm.psu.edu) so we can discuss them and hopefully add them to
our list.


PRELIMINARY LIST OF THINGS TO DO FOR UNIVERSITY POLICY COMMITTEE HEARING.
-Rob Kampia

Overall goal: To convince the University Policy Committee (UPC) during
the USG Senate hearings in February that they should put a maximum cap
on the marijuana disciplinary policy, or will reduce the minimum penalty
for marijuana posession, or _________________.

     *1* First, we must prove to them that MARIJUANA IS LESS HARMFUL
         TO A USER'S HEALTH THAN ALCOHOL.

         (a)  Testimony by Dr. Lester Grinspoon of Harvard Medical
              School, perhaps by telecommunications [Rob knows him]
         (b)  Testimony by Dr. John P. Morgan of City University
              of New York Medical School
         (c)  Testimony by Dr. Tod Mikuriya of Berkeley
         (d)  Check through old newspaper/magazine/scientific document
              files "medicine and health" and "alcohol" at NORML office
         (e) ?????

    *2* We must prove that marijuana is LESS HARMFUL TO _SOCIETY_ than
        alcohol.

         (a)  Testimony from three doctors listed above.
         (b) ???????
                 [Any sociologists out there who can help on this one?]

    *3* We must point out that Penn State's own textbooks agree with
        the above statement, so the UPS should alter its policies
        accordingly.
            [Pretty much an on campus project; we've found examples
        from health, psychology, sociology, administration of justice,
        etc. books]

    *4* **********************************************************
        MOST IMPORTANT POINT: We must prove to them that RATHER
        THAN INCREASING THE ALCOHOL POLICIES, THEY SHOULD REDUCEE
        THE MARIJUANA POLICIES.
        **********************************************************

        (a) ??????

    *5* We should point out that the role of the University is not to
        base its policies around the government's political agenda,
        but to base its policies on "the truth."

        (a) [We've found one essay that deals with this that we could
            use, but need more support.]

    *6* We should point out that PENN STATE'S POLICIES ARE TOO HARSH.

        (a) A survey conducted by a PA NORML Board Member earlier
            this year showed that Penn State's marijuana policies are
            far more severe than ANY other of the Big 10 schools.
        (b) Personal stories from Penn State students who have
            been victimized by these policies and received harsh
            punishment
        (c) ??????

     *7* [This point is sort of a last resort]
        We should allude to what might happen if the policies aren't
        changed by April 1.
        (a) Mass mailing to parents of PSU students.
        (b) Media Interviews (We already have contacts from the
            Associated Press and Lifetime TV)
        (c) ??????

IF ANYONE HAS IDEAS HOW WE MAY BETTER OUR ARGUMENT, PLEASE REPLY
AS SOON AS YOU CAN. We wuold like to print up our supporting
document within the next two weeks. Reiterating the importance
of these hearings and the policy revision, I would like to point
out that this is a potential national news event -- so BE
INVOLVED!!!!

Nicole Radziwill
Penn State NORML
Newsgroups: alt.drugs