Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
UConn's branch of Students for Sensible Drug Policy ( SSDP ) held a conference on Saturday supporting state senate Bill 349, which proposes decriminalizing minor possession of marijuana.
The conference, called "Decrim Makes Cents," went from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., featured a host of guest speakers. They included Micah Daigle, SSDP's field director, and Eric Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and advisor to SSDP.
The event featured panels on decriminalization, group discussions and workshops on organizing groups.
Don Halas, an 8th-semester environmental science and natural resource major and president of UConn's SSDP chapter, was excited by the opportunities the conference presented.
Halas said the conference was a chance to engage students in dialogue about an issue relevant to them.
A common theme echoed by SSDP members was the money spent on the war on drugs, versus the money could be made from decriminalizing marijuana.
Lucien Stroie, a 4th-semester finance and actuarial science major, said that the decriminalization bill would create a $1.3 million surplus for the state. This money would come from the reduction in money spent on the current process of dealing with marijuana offenders, as well as the funds generated by fines for possession.
SSDP members went to Hartfordl last week to support bill 349, where they encountered what they described as a disconnect with the legislature on the idea of legalizing marijuana.
Amanda Stauble, an 8th-semester political science major and member of SSDP, said that a matter of particular concern was their interaction with state representative Chris Coutu, one of the youngest state representatives.
She said that a discrepancy exists with politicians who want to protect children from drugs, but do not say what happens when those children reach the age of majority and are able to make their own decisions.
Stroie compared the accessibility of marijuana and alcohol in high schools, saying that it is easier to procure marijuana because it is illegal.
Decriminalization and eventually legalization would make it harder for minors to procure marijuana because it would be regulated by the state, according to Stroie.
Halas reiterated the economic standpoint that decriminalization and legalization will create funds for the state of Connecticut in hard economic times.
Halas also supported an overall policy of harm reduction. He called to attention the distinction between drug use and drug abuse, and said that education and decriminalization are two effective policies that will reduce harm.
Stroie said that the harder the war on drugs is fought by law enforcement, the harder it is fought by those on the other side. The money spent on current law enforcement procedures could be greatly reduced by decriminalization.
"The harder we fight, the harder it fights," Stroie said.
Halas said that he hoped people who attended the conference would leave educated and motivated. He also hopes that people will push to have public opinion voiced, heard and recognized. Halas wants to use education and motivation to create change.
"Students are responsible for their own interests," Stroie said.
Stroie said that students get kicked out of college for violating drug policy, so the student body needs to work towards correcting the effects of the policies that harm them.
"Decriminalization is the best path Connecticut can take," Halas said.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Daily Campus, The (UConn, CT Edu)
Copyright: 2009 ThesDaily Campus
Contact: opinion@dailycampus.com
Website: The Daily Campus
Author: Perry Robbin
The conference, called "Decrim Makes Cents," went from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., featured a host of guest speakers. They included Micah Daigle, SSDP's field director, and Eric Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and advisor to SSDP.
The event featured panels on decriminalization, group discussions and workshops on organizing groups.
Don Halas, an 8th-semester environmental science and natural resource major and president of UConn's SSDP chapter, was excited by the opportunities the conference presented.
Halas said the conference was a chance to engage students in dialogue about an issue relevant to them.
A common theme echoed by SSDP members was the money spent on the war on drugs, versus the money could be made from decriminalizing marijuana.
Lucien Stroie, a 4th-semester finance and actuarial science major, said that the decriminalization bill would create a $1.3 million surplus for the state. This money would come from the reduction in money spent on the current process of dealing with marijuana offenders, as well as the funds generated by fines for possession.
SSDP members went to Hartfordl last week to support bill 349, where they encountered what they described as a disconnect with the legislature on the idea of legalizing marijuana.
Amanda Stauble, an 8th-semester political science major and member of SSDP, said that a matter of particular concern was their interaction with state representative Chris Coutu, one of the youngest state representatives.
She said that a discrepancy exists with politicians who want to protect children from drugs, but do not say what happens when those children reach the age of majority and are able to make their own decisions.
Stroie compared the accessibility of marijuana and alcohol in high schools, saying that it is easier to procure marijuana because it is illegal.
Decriminalization and eventually legalization would make it harder for minors to procure marijuana because it would be regulated by the state, according to Stroie.
Halas reiterated the economic standpoint that decriminalization and legalization will create funds for the state of Connecticut in hard economic times.
Halas also supported an overall policy of harm reduction. He called to attention the distinction between drug use and drug abuse, and said that education and decriminalization are two effective policies that will reduce harm.
Stroie said that the harder the war on drugs is fought by law enforcement, the harder it is fought by those on the other side. The money spent on current law enforcement procedures could be greatly reduced by decriminalization.
"The harder we fight, the harder it fights," Stroie said.
Halas said that he hoped people who attended the conference would leave educated and motivated. He also hopes that people will push to have public opinion voiced, heard and recognized. Halas wants to use education and motivation to create change.
"Students are responsible for their own interests," Stroie said.
Stroie said that students get kicked out of college for violating drug policy, so the student body needs to work towards correcting the effects of the policies that harm them.
"Decriminalization is the best path Connecticut can take," Halas said.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Daily Campus, The (UConn, CT Edu)
Copyright: 2009 ThesDaily Campus
Contact: opinion@dailycampus.com
Website: The Daily Campus
Author: Perry Robbin
