VCU student group advocates for drug law changes

Craig Zirpolo
Contributing Writer

While the results of the presidential election dominated headlines, a small group of VCU students rejoiced at the result of a policy battle won almost 1,500 miles away in the Rockies.

On Nov. 6, voters in Colorado approved Amendment 64, an addition to the state’s constitution legalizing marijuana cultivation, recreational use and sale, with state regulation and taxes similar to alcohol.

Amid the lobbying forces at work before the vote, members of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy at VCU called over 300 Colorado residents as part of a nationwide effort by college chapters of SSDP to promote Amendment 64. Drew Stromberg, a regional outreach coordinator for the group, said that SSDP chapters outside of Colorado made about 17,000 phone calls to voters before the people of Colorado went to the polls.

“Our people on the ground went to college campuses to get out the vote in person. We talked to about 10,000 students in the final week before the election,” Stromberg said.

Phone banking is just one of the efforts the VCU student organization has engaged in. The club holds monthly discussions about drugs in the Student Commons and stages outreach events around campus, including last April’s End the Drug War Rally in Monroe Park.

And this election cycle isn’t the first time they’ve stepped into the political realm — VCU’s SSDP has lobbied and written bills with members of the Virginia General Assembly.

“In the past we’ve lobbied for marijuana decriminalization, as well as meeting with delegates about our medical amnesty campaign,” said Jurriaan Van den Hurk, one of the VCU chapter’s current presidents. “Through next March we will continue to work with delegates in the General Assembly on a statewide medical amnesty policy. Our goal is to introduce a bill in January 2013.”

The group plans to work with members of the General Assembly during the 2013 session in the hopes of bringing a similar policy change to Virginia.

Though VCU’s chapter of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy began only four years ago, support for their medical amnesty bill has come from current and former Virginia state delegates like Todd Gilbert, David Toscano and Charniele Herring in past sessions. The proposed legislation protects citizens from liability in reporting medical emergencies, such as alcohol or substance abuse cases where someone may not call for help for fear of prosecution or arrest. Similar bills have passed at the state and local levels due to student efforts on campuses like Columbia University and the University of Maryland.

The group’s main on-campus outreach at VCU is a series of lectures demystifying drug stigmas and sensationalism entitled Just Say Know, also sponsored by VCU’s Wellness Resource Center.

“There is little drug education for college students other than for punishment, so Just Say Know serves the entire student body by providing factual information,” Van den Hurk said.

The lectures are led by SSDP members and include presentations, guest speakers and Q&A sessions to further educate attendees about a variety of topics including research chemicals, common drugs and new variations. The next Just Say Know event will discuss food as a drug on Monday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Student Commons.

“Our goal is to educate our community, reform harmful policies and promote awareness of the issue of drug policy,” Van den Hurk said.