by Joan Huston

Created on: March 13, 2009   Last Updated: March 14, 2009

College administrations are faced with a tough question regarding the proper course of action to take when confronted with marijuana usage on their campus. Operating under the assumption that rules and regulations exist on a campus to ensure the safety of the students and to protect the image and property of the university, it would be in the administration's best interest to not punish marijuana users more severely than underage drinkers. Underage drinking on a campus possesses many more negative externalities than dope usage and should not receive the benefit of leniency. Underage drinking on campuses poses major safety threats to students, fosters destruction of campus property, and can have a very negative impact on the image of the college.

Underage drinking poses an enormous safety issue on college campuses. Many times, moving away to college is the first time students have such broad and open access to alcohol. It is not uncommon for many freshmen to severely over imbibe, resulting in too many trips to the emergency room to treat alcohol poisoning. Some students don't survive. Irresponsible drinking is also responsible for a remarkable amount of campus violence. A fight breaking out between partiers is an all too common sight at many universities. These altercations are often fueled by other partiers and can lead to serious injuries and property damage. Sexual assault and rape are much easier to perpetrate when dealing with inebriated individuals, and the disappearance of female students after a night of drinking heavily has been an issue at many universities.

When compared to underage drinking, the use of marijuana creates many less campus safety issues. There is virtually no risk of death from over indulging in unadulterated marijuana. If a person smokes too much weed, they generally consume too many baked goods and fall asleep. Violence is not something that goes hand in hand with smoking pot because is does not affect people in a manner that causes aggression. Sexual assault is an issue whenever someone enters an altered state; however, marijuana usage in not often cited as a contributing factor of campus date rape and assault.

Campuses are constantly doing battle with the destruction and vandalism that has become a party to rowdy gatherings of students over indulging in alcohol. The locations hosting the parties become the recipients of broken doors, holes punched in walls, door ripped off of their hinges, and flooring stained from spilled drinks.

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