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A marijuana task force comprised of concerned students, faculty and staff is in the process of being organized to help cut back on instances of cannabis abuse on campus.
The group will act as a specialized offshoot of CARE, a University of Tampa organization already devoted to the resolution of alcohol and drug problems within the student community.
The establishment of such a task force was deemed necessary by organizers like Associate Dean of Students Gina Firth not so much because of a recent rise of drug-related incidents, but because of a continued and unbroken trend of abuse spanning years.
“The marijuana problem at UT isn’t getting any worse, but it isn’t getting any better either,” Firth said, “The silent witness program does a great job allowing people to report on marijuana policy violations safely, but we need more.”
Currently, the project is still in its early stages of planning.
Members are being recruited and information is being gathered to make the project as efficient and successful as possible.
“We’re still in the discovery phase, taking a look at what other schools are doing and gathering information,” explained Firth.
Despite being in its infancy, the plan for a cannabis-free campus is growing rapidly and has already benefited from the support of a number of dedicated students and faculty members.
Any UT community members interested in joining the effort for a marijuana-free campus are encouraged to contact Gina Firth at gfirth@ut.edu for more information.
Ideally, the goal of the task force would be to enforce prevention and intervention of UT marijuana use, establishing a workable plan to nip the problem in the bud and avoid escalation.
Hand in hand with the institution of this plan would be enhanced educational measures to help UT students make informed choices about the drug.
Firth attested to the cyclical nature of substance-related problems at UT and the necessity for patience in such matters.
“In all my years of working with substance abuse issues, my goal has always been to put myself out of business,” she said, “If the problem goes away I’ll be a happy camper, but that probably won’t happen anytime soon.”
Student reactions to the institution of the task force and instances of marijuana abuse on campus remain mixed.
While all those interviewed acknowledged the existence of the drug on campus, some were more adamant that measures be taken to prevent its use than others.
“Marijuana may not be the most dangerous drug out there, but its probably the most common,” said junior Sarah Curran. “Illegal substances are illegal for a reason and I’m glad steps are being taken to eliminate them from college grounds.”
UT sophomore Amber Koski expressed another perspective on the establishment of the task force.
“My opinion is that administration should be less worried about pot and more concerned with the bums and other intruders who creep around Plant Park. That’s more of a threat than weed will ever be.”
Jeffrey Palmer can be reached at jpalmer@ut.ed.
To be honest, this school has a much larger alchohol issue then a cannabis problem. The fact that there is an effort to prey solely upon herb smokers using is quite disheartening to those wishing to make progress from the prohibition that had cost our government billions in wasted taxpayer dollars.
And i think its funny that they want to “nip the problem in the bud”
i smoke weed everyday
WORRY ABOUT IF IM DOING MY WORK. DONT WORRY ABOUT WHAT IM SMOKING. HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT? ITS VERY OBVIOUS THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM ON CAMPUS IS HUGE AND FAR OUTWEIGHS A FEW OF THE “SQUARER” STUDENTS THAT FEEL SO THREATENED BY SIMPLY SMELLING MARIJUANA THAT THEY FEEL THE NEED TO REPORT THEIR CLASSMATES WHO ARE YOUNG AND STRESSED LIKE THEM. NO I DONT CONDONE MARIJUANA ON CAMPUS BUT A TASK FORCE SOUNDS WAY OUT THERE. FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO THAN GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO LOOK FOR STONERS WHO ARE PROBABLY JUST CHILLIN IN PLANT PARK.
These efforts should be redirected towards fixing the alcohol abuse problem which is much more prevalent on campus and affects other students. Drinking is also much more dangerous; our first night in the dorms in September someone already was sent to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. Drinking encourages obnoxious behavior which disturbs many other students trying to study or sleep. Students at UT rarely go out to the clubs sober; we are in a slightly dangerous area and I personally know a few people who have been held at gun point on a drunken walk back from Ybor or from house parties. Cannabis users do not make stupid decisions, do not act belligerent, and are much safer and healthier than alcohol abusers as no recorded marijuana overdoses exist. Cannabis users are harmless and just want to be left alone.
The option for taxing controlling and regulating cannabis (legal for those over 21) IS on the ballot for California in November. This means that cannabis COULD be legal in just 5 months. We need to stop treating it as an illegal substance and start looking at it the same way we look at alcohol. And since alcohol seems to be the more popular choice on campus and has an immediate affect on other students, efforts from the CARE forces should most definitely be redirected.