Washington, DC: Legislation that seeks to reduce cannabis possession penalties on campuses so that they are no greater than university-imposed sanctions for alcohol was approved by George Washington University's Student Association Senate this week.

The proposal, which was sponsored by the GWU chapter of NORML, must still be approved by the SA president and the GWU Board of Trustees before it can be enacted.

Under current campus policy, a cannabis possession violation results in at a minimum expulsion from student housing. Students do not face similar sanctions for violating campus alcohol policy until at least their third offense. GW NORML's proposal requests the university to treat pot-related disciplinary matters in a manner similar to alcohol violations. GW NORML obtained 100 student signatures in favor of the proposal to place their resolution before the senate.

Similar equalization proposals have been passed via student initiative at the University of Maryland, Florida State University, and at the University of Texas at Austin. However, school administrators have yet to implement those measures.

Student government at Virginia Tech will also debate the merits of similar legislation this spring. Under current policy, students found in possession of cannabis may be suspended from attending the university.

To listen to an interview with GW NORML President Greg Hersh on NORML's Daily AudioStash, visit:
http://www.norml.org/audio/audio_stash/NORML_Daily_AudioStash_02_07_2007.mp3