fikusroot
09-13-2007, 06:18 PM
I attend a major, reputable research univeristy that despite it's rigorous academics, has a serious drinking problem (hint: It get's worse around mardi gras.) I drink, but am not a particular fan of a substance that has ruined many members of my family by means of addiction. So instead, I choose to smoke marijuana, which I see as being the responsible choice, albiet an illegal one. I will admit I have overused the plant in the past but, as with all things, responsibilty and moderation are the key to happiness. I smoke on a weekly basis, usually in the privacy of my own home, and rarely drive under the influence.
So now I'm in college. By virtue of culture, I have been drinking a lot more over the past few days than I usually do. I have found almost complete indifference to public underage drinking on the part of the pocile. In fact and I quote "I'd rather see you stumbling around covered in vomit than smoking dope" (New Orleans police officer)
At the start of the month, before classes had even started, I went out and got fairly drunk. I walked back to my dorm when a girl I was asked if I wanted to smoke a bowl with her. To be honest, I wanted to go to bed but everyone in the group was really enthusiastic about it so she ran upstairs and got all of her stuff.
Mistake 1: we smoked fairly close to the dorm. Not as if the smell was a problem but unbeknowst to me it is where the police basically live. I was too tipsy to really care. So we sat down and people start passing the bowl around. It hasn't even gotten to me when two cops in bikes drive up
Cop 1: "Put it out!" (keeps riding)
Cop 2: "What the hell are you kids doing!?"
Cop 1: "Just keep going."
Cop 2: "You kids smoking some dope?"
Cop 1: "Don't do this."
There were only two guys there. He searches me and finds nothing. Keep in mind I have never even touched the weed. He threatens to take us all to prison unless someone fesses up to providing the weed. He is staring at me and not really talking to the group. Since girls never smoke or buy weed it had to be me, so he sat there staring at me.
Mistake 2: I smiled at him
Cop 2: "you think this is funny you little shit? (exact words) You know I could search your room right now if you don't fess up."
Fortunately the girl fessed up. The cop seemed deflated.
He writes us up citation and sends the girl to prison for 4 hours before releasing her. No bond paid, he just decided that a few hours sitting in the corner wearing a dunce cap would be enough. Cop one approaches me later. I talk with him for a while because he's cool. He hates marijuana use and users but says he's looking forward to the day when it's decriminalized and he doesn't have to waste his time dealing with petty possesion cases. I could respect that. He told me "just don't smoke next to the dorm. Go on broadway, we could care less."
So I had to go before the discipline board and I now have 20 hours community service, disciplinary probation, a health evalustion, and parental notification (the worst). I don't disagree that smoking on campus was a stupid decision. I knew the risks and did it anyway. But what really irks me is the fact that I am being punished for being in the presence of an illegal drug, the same as if I had actually possesed it, or it I had illegal possesed alcohol... on 3 seperate occasions.
THE POINT!!!
I want to know how to combat this. I've already given about $50 to NORML and joined the campus NORML group but I believe more must be done. The current group leaders are too lazy to get anything done and I want to hold a protest.
I'm interning as a DJ at the campus radio station and am going to try to broadcast as many facts about marijuana over the airwaves as I can get away with. I'm still pissed off though. What have some of you fine people done as far as activism goes?
So now I'm in college. By virtue of culture, I have been drinking a lot more over the past few days than I usually do. I have found almost complete indifference to public underage drinking on the part of the pocile. In fact and I quote "I'd rather see you stumbling around covered in vomit than smoking dope" (New Orleans police officer)
At the start of the month, before classes had even started, I went out and got fairly drunk. I walked back to my dorm when a girl I was asked if I wanted to smoke a bowl with her. To be honest, I wanted to go to bed but everyone in the group was really enthusiastic about it so she ran upstairs and got all of her stuff.
Mistake 1: we smoked fairly close to the dorm. Not as if the smell was a problem but unbeknowst to me it is where the police basically live. I was too tipsy to really care. So we sat down and people start passing the bowl around. It hasn't even gotten to me when two cops in bikes drive up
Cop 1: "Put it out!" (keeps riding)
Cop 2: "What the hell are you kids doing!?"
Cop 1: "Just keep going."
Cop 2: "You kids smoking some dope?"
Cop 1: "Don't do this."
There were only two guys there. He searches me and finds nothing. Keep in mind I have never even touched the weed. He threatens to take us all to prison unless someone fesses up to providing the weed. He is staring at me and not really talking to the group. Since girls never smoke or buy weed it had to be me, so he sat there staring at me.
Mistake 2: I smiled at him
Cop 2: "you think this is funny you little shit? (exact words) You know I could search your room right now if you don't fess up."
Fortunately the girl fessed up. The cop seemed deflated.
He writes us up citation and sends the girl to prison for 4 hours before releasing her. No bond paid, he just decided that a few hours sitting in the corner wearing a dunce cap would be enough. Cop one approaches me later. I talk with him for a while because he's cool. He hates marijuana use and users but says he's looking forward to the day when it's decriminalized and he doesn't have to waste his time dealing with petty possesion cases. I could respect that. He told me "just don't smoke next to the dorm. Go on broadway, we could care less."
So I had to go before the discipline board and I now have 20 hours community service, disciplinary probation, a health evalustion, and parental notification (the worst). I don't disagree that smoking on campus was a stupid decision. I knew the risks and did it anyway. But what really irks me is the fact that I am being punished for being in the presence of an illegal drug, the same as if I had actually possesed it, or it I had illegal possesed alcohol... on 3 seperate occasions.
THE POINT!!!
I want to know how to combat this. I've already given about $50 to NORML and joined the campus NORML group but I believe more must be done. The current group leaders are too lazy to get anything done and I want to hold a protest.
I'm interning as a DJ at the campus radio station and am going to try to broadcast as many facts about marijuana over the airwaves as I can get away with. I'm still pissed off though. What have some of you fine people done as far as activism goes?