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Officials report spike in pot busts on campus
Authorities attributed the rise to more marijuana smokers, not to increased DPS patrols
by Lindsay Funston | Pulse Editor
The number of students busted for pot on and around campus has risen since the Department of Public Safety gained the ability last year to issue citations. University officials say more smokers, not increased policing power, are to blame for inflating marijuana-bust statistics.
Typically, marijuana use among students in residence halls soars during the beginning of fall term, but campus police have interrupted smoke sessions more often this fall, said Department of Public Safety Director Tom Hicks.
The number of students smoking pot has even surpassed the number abusing alcohol so far this year, Hicks said.
"The marijuana use is off the charts," he said.
DPS has issued 266 marijuana citations since January 2006, exceeding last year's 229. There have been 46 pot-related occurrences so far this school year, although it is not clear how many individual students were cited in each incident.
Hayward Field and the Hamilton residence hall complex are frequent sites of reported marijuana activity, according to DPS logs.
Officials did not pinpoint reasons for the increasing trend, although they speculated that more students are coming to college having already toyed with the drug.
An overwhelming majority of students caught by campus police get referred to Student Judicial Affairs, which may mandate that a student take a University-sponsored drug class or write a paper about the negative effects of pot. Only six students cited with misdemeanor marijuana charges received Eugene municipal tickets, which can cost hundreds of dollars.
Students trying to buy pot fare better than those trying to purchase alcohol because most dealers won't demand identification, Hicks said.
If toking up with friends becomes habitual in high school, the behavior tends to continue into college, where students live without parents' noses sniffing in their business, University officials said.
Tobacco-fighting efforts geared toward teens may now be escalating teen pot smoking, said Laura Blake Jones, University director of Student Life.
Typically, marijuana use among students in residence halls soars during the beginning of fall term, but campus police have interrupted smoke sessions more often this fall, said Department of Public Safety Director Tom Hicks.
The number of students smoking pot has even surpassed the number abusing alcohol so far this year, Hicks said.
"The marijuana use is off the charts," he said.
DPS has issued 266 marijuana citations since January 2006, exceeding last year's 229. There have been 46 pot-related occurrences so far this school year, although it is not clear how many individual students were cited in each incident.
Hayward Field and the Hamilton residence hall complex are frequent sites of reported marijuana activity, according to DPS logs.
Officials did not pinpoint reasons for the increasing trend, although they speculated that more students are coming to college having already toyed with the drug.
An overwhelming majority of students caught by campus police get referred to Student Judicial Affairs, which may mandate that a student take a University-sponsored drug class or write a paper about the negative effects of pot. Only six students cited with misdemeanor marijuana charges received Eugene municipal tickets, which can cost hundreds of dollars.
Students trying to buy pot fare better than those trying to purchase alcohol because most dealers won't demand identification, Hicks said.
If toking up with friends becomes habitual in high school, the behavior tends to continue into college, where students live without parents' noses sniffing in their business, University officials said.
Tobacco-fighting efforts geared toward teens may now be escalating teen pot smoking, said Laura Blake Jones, University director of Student Life.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
dorothy b.
posted 10/24/06 @ 2:21 AM PST
Hmm...so,its not legal to smoke dope,or drink alchohol in the university's residences.OK.A-hem.um??? But it's not legal to force the guys to open the doors,when pot is leaking out in to the hallways. (Continued…)
Tim Osawa
posted 10/24/06 @ 8:25 PM PST
I started smoking in 8th grade and feel like I outgrew smoking dope by 17 years old.
Alot of the kids who are smoking in college these days are the kids who never ventured outside the square as youths, and then get hooked to dope entering their first year in college. (Continued…)
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