There’s a new group out there, SAFER, that is appealing to the same college presidents who signed the Amethyst Initiative to also support an initiative to legalize pot on college campuses. Inside Higher Ed has the story:
SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation) has dubbed its plea to presidents the “Emerald Imitative.” Mason Tvert, executive director of the Denver-based organization, argues that legal restrictions and university disciplinary policies are steering students away from marijuana and toward alcohol, which is arguably a more harmful — albeit legal — drug. If university presidents reduced on-campus penalties for marijuana use, and took up the broader cause of legal reform for marijuana, they might see reductions in drinking-related deaths and violence, according to Tvert.
Now, I’m all for drug legalization, but this seems a little bit ridiculous. Does SAFER really expect college presidents to legalize pot because it would result in a general substitution away from alcohol and toward marijuana? Let’s get real here. Students drink in college to socialize and get drunk, and students smoke marijuana to get high. Perhaps there is a bit of overlap between the two objectives, but in my opinion, they are separate enterprises. It is absurd to believe that lessening the restrictions on marijuana would suddenly transform the campus binge drinkers into “chill dudes” who get high on weekends and watch Chappelle Show while munching down on chicken fingers from Bear Nasties.
Interestingly enough, Tvert admits this himself:
Tvert concedes there’s no evidence that making marijuana more available to college students would reduce binge drinking, but he notes that it’s a “theory” that’s as worthy of exploration as lowering the drinking age.
Great. So, basically, he’s got nothing. Good work, SAFER!