University of Arkansas Equalizes Marijuana and Alcohol Penalties

The University of Arkansas has announced that it will be the first college in the country to equalize the penalties for alcohol and marijuana possession on campus.

In the past, misdemeanor possession would result in the offender being required to submit to a mental health evaluation, perform 50 hours of community service, suspended parking privileges, one-year probation and a $200 fine.

Under the new policy, the same possession charge will require a drug education class, 15 hours of community service and a $50 fine. The same penalty as a misdemeanor alcohol offense.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy were the main force behind the change in policy. For the last year, they have negotiated with college administrators and collected over 1,700 student signatures.

“The university made a very intelligent decision,” said Rob Pfountz, University of Arkansas Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter president. “They (UA) pioneered the way to a sensible marijuana policy and (are) basically ensuring a safer campus.”

Arkansas may be the first to address this problem, but they are not the only ones being afflicted by the problem. On average, marijuana possession on campus carries a penalty greater than six times that of misdemeanor alcohol charges.

Nearly 700,000 student assaults each year are alcohol related, 90percent of campus rapes occur when either the victim or assailant have been drinking and over 1,5oo students die each year from alcohol related incidents.