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A JOINT EFFORT: This special 4/20 edition is a collaboration between The Daily and Oklahoma Gazette, an alternative weekly publication based in Oklahoma City. Both publications’ stories focus on marijuana — issues of legalization and drug use surrounding weed.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTOPHER MICHIE/THE DAILY
THE BLUNT TRUTH A man holds a urine drug test in a bathroom. According to Scott Cecil, an outreach coordinator for Students for Sensible Drug Policy, marijuana can stay in the bloodstream for up to 30 days.
Marijuana can result in positive test for weeks LAUREN MASSING • @LAURENMASSING Editor’s note: Sarah Blightly is a pseudonym for a source who wished to remain anonymous.
A
c r u mp l e d b ox f o r a home drug test sits precariously on the edge of the bathroom counter while two more lie in the trash beside it. Sitting on the edge of the bathtub, Sarah Blightly stares at the tiny box, with her heart pounding, as she waits for the timer to go off. A graduation cap and gown hang on the door inside the tiny apartment bathroom. The timer dings. A sigh of relief: negative. *** With graduation just weeks away, securing her dream internship at a well-respected newspaper in Texas should have been the icing on the cake to her college career — and it was. Until she was asked to take a drug test. As a chronic marijuana smoker, Blightly knew it would take weeks for the drug to get out of her system, so when her internship coordinator asked for a drug test weeks after she completed all of the paperwork, her heart sank. “My heart just dropped, because I’m like, ‘shit, I haven’t stopped smoking at all’ ... and for most chronic smokers, it takes about a month (to get out of your system),” Blightly said. As the deadline to take the drug test approached, the panic began to set in. The home drug tests Blightly used kept yielding the same answer: positive. She tried everything, even niacin — a drug used to treat high cholesterol that has been known to speed
up the detox of weed from the body — but no luck. When the 30-day deadline came around, the cannabis was still showing up in her system. “It was absolutely terrifying. It’s just the worst feeling ever when you go and look (at the drug test) and it shows up positive,” Blightly said.
“It was absolutely terrifying. It’s just the worst feeling ever when you go and look (at the drug test) and it shows up positive.” SARAH BLIGHTLY, OU GRADUATE
Since Blightly had not sent in her official drug test after the initial deadline, she said the newspaper rescinded her internship. After calling her coordinator to ask for a few more days, Blightly took her third home drug test and finally got the results she so desperately needed: the marijuana was out of her system. She sent in the results and saved her internship. “I think it’s really important people know how long (weed) stays in your system ... I just don’t think people realize,” Blightly said. Scott Cecil, an outreach coordinator for Students for Sensible
Drug Policy, a student-run organization dedicated to reforming drug policies, said drug tests that test for marijuana are problematic because of how long it takes the body to process the drug and get rid of it. Even for someone who only uses marijuana once, it can stay in one’s bloodstream for up to 30 days, he said. “Can you imagine what it would be like if you applied for a job that you really want to get, but three weeks ago you tried alcohol for the first time, so you don’t land the job? ... that literally happens to people who use marijuana even just on occasion,” Cecil said. For some employers, drug testing is absolutely necessary due to the nature of the job. According to OU Human Resources, drug testing is mandated prior to employment for ‘sensitive safety employees.’ A sensitive safety employee, according to USLegal Inc., is an employee that holds a position with the responsibility for his or her own safety or others’ safety. It would be especially dangerous for this type of employee to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on the job. Blightly’s advice: if you’re not sure whether your employer will require a drug test, just ask. “It’s your right to know ... they’re not going to assume you’re a drug user just because you a s k ab ou t a d r u g t e s t,” Blightly said. Lauren Massing lmassing@ou.edu
GET IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM
how long marijuana can be detected in urine tests chronic heavy marijuana use 30 days daily marijuana use 10 days moderate use 5 days single use 3 days
These are approximate detection times for the drug in urine. The actual detection time depends on dose, frequency of use and individual metabolism. Source: Mayo Clinic
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• April 18-20, 2016
NEWS
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Selling weed comes with risks Student’s on-again off-again gig relies on word-of-mouth SUPRIYA SRIDHAR @supriyasridhar
E d i t o r ’s n o t e : H e n r y McCallum is a pseudonym for a source who wished to remain anonymous. Bright-eyed and wearing a plaid shirt, Henry McCallum smiles uncomfortably as he explains his business: selling marijuana. McCallum began selling about a year ago with some friends. For his on-again offagain gig, McCallum slowly grew his clientele ranging from college students to professionals. But he doesn’t sell to just anyone, since selling marijuana in Oklahoma is an illegal, underground business. “I always have to make sure I know where they heard of me from,” McCallum said. “If I don’t trust them, it doesn’t happen.” McCallum did not know much about selling marijuana when he began, but he learned his way through friends and online forums. He buys marijuana from a
supplier who buys it from another supplier. Word of mouth is how the chain works, McCallum said. As complex as the process may seem, McCallum works to keep his involvement in the drug business a secret. If he doesn’t, he risks a fine ranging from $20,000 to $500,000 and two years to life in prison. “You’ve just gotta keep things taken care of,” he said about keeping his involvement in the black market concealed. “What you hear is what you go off of.”
“I always have to make sure I know where they heard of me from. If I don’t trust them, it doesn’t happen.” HENRY MCCALLUM, MARIJUANA DEALER, OU STUDENT
Free weed is a motivation to enter the risky business, he said. Understanding the market allows him to adjust prices in order to cover his own costs. “I know how much I have to pay to get it; I know how much I have to come up with when I’m done,” McCallum
said. Legalization could make marijuana use more safe by regulating the product and preventing underage use, McCallum said. He tests his products himself before buying them from his provider. Testing is necessary due to the uncertainty surrounding an unregulated product. Customers have no way of knowing whether the marijuana they are using is pure and not laced with more dangerous substances such as cocaine, crack, PCP or even embalming fluid, according to the University of Maryland’s Center for Substance Abuse Research. “With the legalization of it, it would be a more consistent product,” McCallum said. “You’d be able to know that what you’re getting is what you’re getting.” Legalization could also generate tax revenue and lower incarceration rates, allowing law enforcement to focus on more important issues, McCallum said. “I think civil taxes coming from it could be beneficial, especially to the education system,” he said. OU economics professor Cynthia Rogers said legalizing marijuana isn’t so
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JULIA HARTH/THE DAILY
simple, but she agreed legalization would create tax revenue and lower incarceration rates. In Colorado, the 2.9 percent marijuana sales tax produced $22,225,750, according to the state’s annual report. A potential issue is that the government might need to spend money to regulate the industry. The amount of money spent on this could end up being more than the tax revenue.
“You could end up with more people consuming marijuana,” Rogers said. “Now is that good or bad?” Colorado’s legalization of marijuana could give an indication to the way things may turn out in Oklahoma, but it may be too soon to tell, Rogers said. Whether the legalization of marijuana is a good or bad thing, the drug’s use in the U.S. is on the rise, according to the National Institute
of Drug Abuse. In 2007 there were 14.5 million users ages 12 and up, while in 2013 there were 19.8 million — a 5.3 million increase over six years. Marijuana’s prevalence is the reason it should be legalized, McCallum said. “ I t ’s w h a t t h e p e o ple want,” he said. “It’s a democracy.” Supriya Sridhar
supriyasridhar@ou.edu
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Legality changes attitudes Students from states like Colorado see difference in culture DEREK PETERSON @DrPetey15
E d i t o r ’s n o t e : L a r s Harris and Hannah Jones are pseudonyms for sources who wished to remain anonymous. Students who travel from states where marijuana is legal to states where marijuana is illegal often experience a culture shock and encounter new attitudes toward the controversial drug. Marijuana enthusiasts at universities throughout the country smoke the drug that is outlawed entirely in more than 20 other states. Marijuana is legal for medicinal and recreational use in only Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia. The controversy has even made its way to Norman, where students who come from states whose governments allow pot experience a shift in the popular beliefs associated with the drug. O ne student called it “an entirely different institutional attitude towards marijuana.” Lars Harris lived in Colorado before coming to OU. He said it was a bit of an adjustment to move from a place where marijuana wasn’t seen as a problem to a state where just the phrase “marijuana” carries a hint of criminality. “There seems to be sort of an association with weed and criminality that exists through culture where the people who smoke weed are marked as criminals,” Harris said. “That has kind of shifted. Weed has become something that is more like alcohol — something that everybody does and something that your friends do even if you are an ‘uppity’ person.” Sarah Pitts, a journalism senior at OU and a former Colorado resident, agreed that there is a negative perception surrounding weed in Oklahoma. Pitts said that perception hinders the ability of people to truly learn about it and have meaningful discussions about the drug and whether or not to legalize it. “People are more open-minded, especially in states like Washington and Colorado, to both the pros and cons of legalization. Because it’s really heavily criminalized here, it continues to keep that negative connotation,” she said. “I do wish that people were maybe a little more open to
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LEXIE PATTERSON/THE DAILY
A student smokes a joint. Students from states where recreational marijuana usage is legal sometimes face difficulties adjusting to life in a state like Oklahoma where pot is illegal.
talking about options, because I think if that happens, then more research could be done on marijuana.” Pitts also said if people allowed the conversation to take place and allowed for research on the medicinal and beneficial aspects of weed, more of their concerns would be answered, and they might not be as opposed to weed as before. She said that conversation
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of marijuana as something which is criminal, but also as something which is beneficial, social groups tend to slowly come to that understanding as well,” he said. Another out-of-state student said she has noticed the difference in how people obtain weed, and not necessarily the means by which the drug is acquired, but rather the methods to get it and its prices.
“People are more open-minded, especially in states like Washington and Colorado, to both the pros and cons of legalization. Because it’s really heavily criminalized here, it continues to keep that negative connotation. I do wish that people were maybe a little more open to talking about options, because I think if that happens, then more research could be done on marijuana.” SARAH PITTS, JOURNALISM SENIOR
has already happened in Colorado, and people have accepted marijuana. Harris said in Oklahoma, where weed and criminality are somewhat linked, that “this cultural shift starts with a recognition of marijuana as something that’s not merely a recreational, criminal drug, but also something that has important medicinal uses. I think that the scientific literature is pretty conclusive that there are medicinal uses for marijuana.” “When there is no longer a state understanding
“The price is different here, too,” said Alannah Hobson, a human resources management junior at OU and former Colorado resident. “You’re going to pay more here than you are in (states it is legal). In high school, you could probably get a decent amount for $10, and it wasn’t a big deal. But here you get the same thing for, say $20.” “It was always easily available; I never had to search to find weed, right? Here it’s like ‘Oh, let me text 17 different random people to see how this is going to work
out,’” Harris said. “It’s a completely different world.” Hobson also said she thinks the drug’s more strict regulation in states where it is illegal leads to some of the negative student perceptions about it. She also detailed how she is often greeted by students who discover she’s from Colorado. “Typically the first question people ask is ‘Do you want to bring me some back with you next time you go?’ I understand, I would be curious too; it’s just different,” Hobson said. Pitts said she hears the same kinds of things. “The biggest thing I noticed was that, especially during freshman year, whenever I said I was from Colorado, most p e ople would say ‘Oh, do you smoke a lot of weed?’” she said. “That was just the first thing that everyone asked about, and I thought that was so funny that people cared so much and just automatically assumed that I smoked a lot of weed and wanted to talk about it. It seems just so novel here.” Hannah Jones, an environmental studies senior at Seattle University, moved to Washington from Colorado, and said she didn’t experience the same kind of cultural shifts that Pitts, Hobson or Harris have experienced. “Honestly, I feel like there hasn’t been that great of a shift,” Jones said. “It hasn’t seemed like there’s been this great boom of people smoking weed because it’s legal.
The people that wanted to do it in the past would find a way to do it, and I think now some people try it out that didn’t smoke before, but it didn’t change that much.” Jones said the popular correlation of criminality and marijuana one would find in Oklahoma doesn’t exist in Washington. “If you’re walking down the street and you smell weed, that’s not uncommon,” she said. Jones said students at her school feel more than comfortable talking about marijuana use in public, even with certain professors. Pitts said that type of conversation isn’t likely in Oklahoma. “In the South, a lot of people seem a little more conservative about it and are pretty adamant that they would never want to see it legalized here,” she said. Both Hobson and Harris talked about the different 4/20 celebrations that occur in states where marijuana has been legalized and said that type of widespread use is so different from what happens in Oklahoma. “It just happens so much (in Colorado). It was just different to come here and have people that have never smoked before,” Hobson said. Derek Peterson
Derek.R.Peterson-1@ou.edu
WHAT’S LEGAL IN COLORADO LEGALIZATION: Colorado has legalized marijuana for personal use.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA: This state has medical marijuana laws enacted. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, and emerging research suggests that marijuana’s medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective.
CONDITIONAL RELEASE: oudaily
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The state allows conditional release or alternative or diversion sentencing for people facing their first prosecution. Usually, conditional release lets a person opt for probation rather than trial. After successfully completing probation, the individual’s criminal record does not reflect the charge.
DECRIMINALIZATION: The state has decriminalized marijuana to some degree. Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation.
Any amount of marijuana possessed for personal use warrants up to one year of incarceration on a first offense. OKLAHOMA
1 ounce or less of marijuana for personal use is legal, and warrants no penalty or incarceration. COLORADO
Source: norml.org ILLUSTRATION BY ABBIE SEARS/THE DAILY
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• April 18-20, 2016
MEDICAL THE BENEFITS
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY
Marijuana, although illegal in Oklahoma, is often used for medicinal purposes. Some organizations advocate for the legalization of the plant for medicinal use in cases like sleep apnea.
Some see pot’s potential Students use cannibis to curb sleep apnea, pain, other ailments DERRIC CUSHMAN @derric_cushman
OPE ADEGBUYI @ope_adegbuyi
Editor’s note: The names Oliver White and Dave Smith are pseudonyms for sources who wished to remain anonymous. Although marijuana is currently illegal in Oklahoma, some students at OU use the plant as a form of medicine to fight different ailments they struggle with on a daily basis. While marijuana has been legalized in the neighboring state of Colorado, a debate still rages in Oklahoma over whether or not to legalize it. Var ious Oklahoma-based groups like Oklahomans for Health have been waging a campaign to have marijuana legalized in the state. Oklahomans for Health wants marijuana to be legalized for medicinal use, giving citizens another choice in how they address their medical issues. The group also filed an initiative petition April 11 to begin obtaining signatures to put the proposal on the November ballot. Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, a physician-scientist and adviser to the Oklahomans for Health initiative, said he believes marijuana has healing properties that can help people with some medical ailments. Aggarwal is a native Oklahoman who also identifies himself as a “cannabinologist” on his website. Aggarwal said he studies the cannabis hemp plant and works to further cannabinology of all kinds, including integrative medical cannabinology. He wants to help people in need of the plant for its healing properties, such as Oliver White, a biology junior at OU.
White said he feels marijuana helps him greatly with his sleep apnea. He said he has been suffering from sleep apnea since his childhood and that marijuana has been the most effective treatment to date. “I felt that marijuana calmed me down better and made me relax a lot more than over-thecounter drugs,” White said. “It was more effective than melatonin or other drugs.” White said he continues to do research on the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and that he has yet to be negatively affected by it. The Drug Enforcement Agency has announced it’s reviewing how to classify marijuana, and a change could loosen restrictions on researchers. In 2013, CNN health reporter Sanjay Gupta found that just 6 percent of marijuana studies in the United States focus on the medical benefits of the substance, with the rest focusing on harm.
“I felt that marijuana calmed me better and made me relax a lot more than overthe-counter drugs.” OLIVER WHITE, BIOLOGY JUNIOR
Economics senior Dave Smith said marijuana is more effective at easing his pain than prescription drugs. “Marijuana helps to numb my pain,” Smith said. “I would really like it to be legalized here. Not for recreational purposes, but for medical purposes, yes. Just like any other drug, it has its uses.” Aggarwal has spoken about how marijuana’s illegality in Oklahoma has impacted the way people perceive it. According to Aggarwal, marijuana has been used medicinally throughout history and has been unfairly
branded with a negative stigma through politics and ignorance of the subject. “Cannabis (or marijuana) is a traditional medicinal plant that’s been around since before recorded history, and we know that people have been using it for medicinal purposes,” Aggarwal said. “I looked into a lot of medicinal history and a lot of geographic history for where it was used and when it was used. I found out was there was a big discovery in the early ‘90s where the endocannabinoid signaling system was discovered.” Aggarwal said the discovery was a breakthrough in understanding how the natural compounds in marijuana interact with the human body. He said the endocannabinoid signaling system plays an important role in regulating physiological functions, including mood, appetite, inflammation and pain perception. Aggarwal said finding out the signaling system’s involvement in so many things helped validate a lot of the traditional understandings of cannabis resin as having medicinal qualities. He said he found cannabis can have a positive effect on some of these functions in helping to treat illnesses like anxiety, depression, nerve pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and a multitude of other ailments. In the end, Aggar wal said he hopes campaigns like Oklahomans for Health achieve their goal of medicinal marijuana legalization to help citizens in need of the plant’s properties. Aggarwal said that with the correct supervision of a physician, marijuana is one of the safer options available to treat certain illnesses and symptoms. Derricw Cushman
derric.cushman@yahoo.com
Ope Adegbuyi ope@ou.edu
NEWS
NEWS
April 18-20, 2016 •
5
MARIJUANA THE EFFORT
Petition drive underway Group looking to get marijuana on ballot LAURA EASTES
Oklahoma Gazette
Days after Oklahomans for Health filed an initiative petition to ask state voters to legalize medical marijuana, William Patrick Jones was eager to begin. After first working on a California medical marijuana farm — cultivating medicine later used to treat illness and manage medical conditions — the Oklahoma native became a proponent for medical marijuana expanding into other states. In 2013, he returned to Oklahoma after a year in Colorado. Jones saw the benefits of medical marijuana firsthand, as he did when he lived in California. “There is a plethora of illnesses that medical marijuana and its derivatives are helpful in relieving,” Jones said. “There are so many ailments that this plant — which has been proven scientifically over and over again — helps reduce pain and, in some cases, cure diseases, from Crohn’s disease and epilepsy to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and chronic pain.” Jones’ experiences prompted his involvement in Oklahomans for Heath, a statewide grassroots organization that advocates for medical marijuana laws. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use, and four states, along with the District, have legalized marijuana for recreational use, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Oklahomans for Health looks to add the Sooner State to the growing list of states with medical marijuana laws as it pursues a petition to get the issue before voters in November. During the summer of 2014, Oklahomans for Health volunteers collected more than 75,000 valid signatures in support of a medical marijuana question appearing on a statewide ballot. Proposed as a state constitutional question, the group fell short of collecting the necessary
signature amount. Chelsea Marlett-Kennedy collected 700 of the signatures by sharing stories of soldiers battling PTSD and Oklahoma children suffering from Dravet syndrome. Suffering from a connective tissue disease, MarlettKennedy rarely told signers about her own illness or how marijuana offers her options other than chemotherapy drugs. To Marlett-Kennedy, it was important to share personal stories of children with brighter futures and veterans with painless days because of cannabis. “I never once had a negative reaction,” Marlett-Kennedy said about the 2014 petition drive. “The people clearly want it. We just have to work around our state’s petition process.” For the most recent petition, Oklahomans for Health switched tactics to call for statutory change. By seeking statutory reform, the group is required to collect signatures of registered voters equal to 8 percent of the last gubernatorial election. The movement needs exactly 65,987 valid signatures to put it on the Nov. 8 ballot for a public vote. Under the proposal, new laws assert the rights of Oklahomans who wish to use marijuana for medical purposes. The group calls for the Oklahoma State Department of Health to regulate the medical marijuana licenses of patients, dispensaries, growers and transporters. Additionally, medical marijuana would be taxed at 7 percent with proceeds first going to pay for regulations. Excess tax funds benefit the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s general fund at 75 percent and the state Department of Health’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs at 25 percent. Currently, Oklahomans for Health is waiting for state leaders’ approval of the petition. After a petition is filed and published, a petition hearing and determination follows. If approved, the 90-day circulation period can begin. Marlett-Kennedy and Jones predict volunteers will begin collecting signatures in May. In addition to attending
community events across the state, the group’s website will share real-time data on where people can sign. Oklahomans for Health leaders believe they will reach the signature requirement for putting the issue on the ballot. In 2013, SoonerPoll found that 71 percent of Oklahomans supported medical marijuana. Oklahoma Coalition to End Prohibition, along with Oklahomans for Health, hosts a candidate forum and fundraiser for Oklahomans running for state and federal offices to discuss legalizing marijuana 6 p.m. Wednesday, at Oklahoma Democratic Party Headquarters, 4100 N. Lincoln Blvd. Laura Eastes
leastes@okgazette.com
What would be legal? ·Under State Question 778, qualified Oklahomans could possess: ·up to 3 ounces of medical marijuana on their person ·six mature marijuana plants ·six seedling plants ·1 ounce of concentrated marijuana ·72 ounces of edible marijuana ·up to 8 ounces of marijuana in their residence
Candidate forum and fundraiser 6 p.m. Wednesday Oklahoma Democratic Party Headquarters 4100 N. Lincoln Blvd. okforhealth.org $10 suggested donation
“There are so many ailments that this plant — which has been proven scientifically over and over again — helps reduce pain and, in some cases, cure diseases, from Crohn’s disease and epilepsy to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and chronic pain.” WILLIAM PATRICK JONES, MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROPONENT
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NEWS
• April 18-20, 2016
Pot policies impact youth vote
Decriminalization, legalization appeal to some students EMMA KEITH @shakeitha_97
With only 22 primaries and caucuses left and the general election fast approaching, some college students are looking beyond typical candidate platforms to determine their choice for president. Marijuana policy, a topic of national discussion, is affecting some college students’ votes this year as they look at the candidates’ stances on the controversial drug. NORML Sooners for Sensible Drug Policy, an OU chapter of a national organization, is looking for change in this year’s election. NORML advocates for national reformation of marijuana laws, decriminalization and reduction of prison sentences, said Zach Seikel, president of the OU chapter. Seikel said his vote this year is largely influenced by the fact that one candidate aligns with most of NORML’s drug policies. He wore a Bernie Sanders shirt as he spoke on his choice for president. “Obviously, I’m a Bernie fan — that’s who I voted for,” Seikel said. “Bernie essentially wants to legalize marijuana, which is what my organization supports. He wants to decriminalize all other drugs and treat them like a health issue, which is exactly what my organization stands for.” Sanders’ pot policy does have an effect on Seikel’s vote. “It’s a big factor — it is,” Seikel said. Seikel and his chapter stand behind Sanders’ prison reformation ideas, as well as his treatment of marijuana as a medical issue rather than a criminal problem. Seikel said Sanders’ proposed abolition of private prisons and pardoning of non-violent drug offenders would significantly reduce the country’s prison population, and Oklahoma would benefit if the policy made it to the state. “We’d start seeing people get more treatment. It’d lower our tax burden to have to support all these prisons,” Seikel said. “I think it’d be beneficial.” Pot policy may not affect the votes of students who are not as passionate about marijuana reform as
JULIA HARTH/THE DAILY
A Bernie Sanders supporter holds a sign featuring a caricature holding a joint during Sanders’ Feb. 28 address in Oklahoma City. Sanders has gained support from younger voters who traditionally support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Seikel or other supporters of NORML, but other students still remain educated on their candidate’s marijuana stances. Political science freshman Kyle Meyer said that while his vote for John Kasich does not hinge on Kasich’s marijuana policies, he certainly agrees with them. “Drug policy has never really been at the top of my list in priorities. I’m more of a healthcare, economy and national security kind of person,” Meyers said. “But I really like John Kasich’s stance on treating people who have drug addictions instead of making it a more criminal issue. He’s saying that instead of putting these people in jail, we should be treating them because they are addicted.” Regardless of election outcomes, changing nationwide pot policies may have little influence on Oklahoma’s marijuana stance.
When it comes to pot politics, Oklahoma is far from progressive. According to The Daily Chronic, the state enforces a sentence of up to one year for those found in possession of marijuana, and a two-year sentence for repeat offenders. However, last year’s Katie and Cayman’s Law made strides in medical marijuana access by lifting Oklahoma restrictions on high-CBD cannabis oil (a type of medical marijuana) for minors who suffer from epilepsy or seizure conditions. Recently, there has been more progress in the realm of medical marijuana. The Senate is currently considering House Bill 2835, which has already passed in the House. According to The Daily Chronic, the bill would open medical marijuana access to patients of all ages with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, neuropathic pain, chronic pain and more.
“Currently, I would say that the chance of any marijuana bills passing in the state legislature is not very high — in the near future. Now, 10 years from now, who knows.” SEN. ERVIN YEN, LEGISLATOR AND CARDIAC ANESTHESIOLOGIST
However, neither this bill nor Katie and Cayman’s Law allows for these marijuana products to be manufactured or grown in Oklahoma. O k l a h o ma St at e S e n . Ervin Yen, a legislator and cardiac anesthesiologist, helped author part of the HB 2835 legislation. Although he does not support legalization of recreational marijuana, Yen said that as a physician, he could not argue against increased medical marijuana access. “It’s exciting that we could try this on anybody, any age, (who) is not responsive to other medications,” Yen said in reference to HB 2835. “It’s sort of like another medication you can try. So that’s why it’s exciting.” Even with these recent strides in progress for medical marijuana, student voters and experts alike have little hope for marijuana headway in Oklahoma’s future, no matter who is elected this year. Seikel said the only avenue Oklahoma has for pot progress is a state-wide petition to see marijuana on the ballots. Seikel also said that during a stint working with Oklahomans for Health, he helped lead the push for the organization’s petition in
the Norman and Oklahoma City area. However, he also said it is “going to be pretty difficult” to find any progress through the ballot initiative format. “In this state, it’s really hard to get one of those passed because of all the signatures you need. It’s been close before,” Seikel said. “With these organizations, they didn’t have the funding or the resources to get it done. This is something that requires hundreds of thousands of dollars to do, if not more.” Recent petition results affirm Seikel’s view. Although organizations such as Oklahomans for Health and Green the Vote used ballot initiatives in 2015 and 2014, respectively, to push for increased access to medical marijuana, NewsOK reports that both groups’ efforts fell significantly short of the required petitions. Ye n i s n o t o p t i m i st i c about marijuana legislation’s chances with the state legislature. “Currently, I would say that the chance of any marijuana bill passing in the state legislature is not very high — in the near future,” Yen said. “Now, 10 years from now, who knows.”
“The reason I say it won’t pass — at least in the legislature — is that our legislature is controlled by the Republicans,” Yen said. “Republicans are pretty conservative. We’re certainly not a state like Colorado or California.” Meyers’ opinion about m a r i j u a n a’s f u t u r e i n Oklahoma is similar to Yen’s. “I think Oklahoma will definitely be one of the stricter states when it comes to that, especially because Oklahoma’s already one of the most strict states when it comes to alcohol policy,” Meyers said. “So I think that it’ll pretty much remain the same for a while.” D e s p i t e O k l a h o m a’s seemingly slim chances of marijuana reform, Seikel stands behind Sanders’ pot politics as a driving force for his vote. And if Bernie is not elected, Seikel said he thinks Hillary Clinton’s policies could do as well. “If Hillary or Bernie wins — if a Democrat wins — drug polic y nationwide could be reduced. Which, in turn, would be beneficial to Oklahoma,” Seikel said. Emma Keith
Emma.C.Keith-1@ou.edu
Presidential candidates’ stances on marijuana
Hillary Clinton:
Ted Cruz:
John Kasich:
Bernie Sanders:
Donald Trump:
• Clinton supports the downgrade of the classification of the drug from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2, which would allow for medical research. As for recreational use, however, Clinton would delegate regulation to states as a case-by-case issue.
• Cruz opposes legalizing adult use of marijuana, but supports states’ rights to decide on the issue.
• Kasich is opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana, but he has expressed openness to looking at legalization for medical marijuana.
• Sanders supports state legalization and regulation of marijuana, much like current state regulation of alcohol and tobacco. Sanders also advocates for drug-related sentencing reform, saying too many people see their lives damaged because of marijuana-related charges.
• Trump says adult use of marijuana should be regulated by states, but supports medical usage.
• Clinton also supports research for medical marijuana.
NEWS
April 18-20, 2016 â&#x20AC;˘
7
State by state: where marijuana is legal WHERE WEED IS LEGAL: Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Alaska and the Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana for recreational use. The following states have decriminalized certain marijuana possession offenses: Washington, D.C.
â&#x20AC;˘ California â&#x20AC;˘ Connecticut â&#x20AC;˘ Delaware â&#x20AC;˘ Maine â&#x20AC;˘ Maryland â&#x20AC;˘ Minnesota â&#x20AC;˘ Mississippi â&#x20AC;˘ Missouri â&#x20AC;˘ Nebraska â&#x20AC;˘ Nevada â&#x20AC;˘ New York â&#x20AC;˘ North Carolina â&#x20AC;˘ Ohio â&#x20AC;˘ Rhode Island â&#x20AC;˘ Vermont Source: NORML.org
state where recreational marijuana use is legal
CLASSIFIEDS
state where recreational marijuana use is illegal
Medical marijuana by the states
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PLACE A PAID AD Phone: 405-325-2521 E-mail: classifieds@ou.edu state with operational medical marijuana laws
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Previous Solution
Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
Universal Crossword
4/18
45 Delta buildup 46 Hallucination, e.g. 48 Our sun 49 Rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jon __ Jovi 50 Common conjunction 51 The Joker player in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Batman,â&#x20AC;? 1989 57 Muscular woe 58 Widow of Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s King Hussein 59 Son of Henry Ford 62 Make suds 63 Out of the ballpark 64 Ebbets Field great 65 Gets firm 66 Flexible Flyer, e.g. 67 Clay pigeon launchers DOWN 1 Lobbyistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; org. 2 An ex of Frank 3 Hill slot 4 Begin a fall 5 Star-related 6 More than adequate 7 Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lift a finger 8 Cornerstone word 9 Too young 10 Brittany seaport 11 Word in Hope/Crosby titles 12 Pervasive glow
13 Reject as false 21 â&#x20AC;&#x153;__ a boy!â&#x20AC;? 22 Engine displacement unit 23 Cleanses with water 24 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Queen of American folk musicâ&#x20AC;? 28 Off-road buggy, for short 29 Steakhouse order 30 At oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leisure 31 Arm of the Indian Ocean 32 Lowly assistant 33 1 or 2, in 1 + 2 35 Pepper pulverizer 38 Computer printer name
Line Ad .................................................................................. 3 days prior Display Ad ............................................................................3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad
Edited by Fred Piscop April 18, 2016
ACROSS 1 Elbows, but not knees 6 Thicke from Canada 10 Thin nail 14 Says with certainty 15 Like early LPs 16 Licentious sort 17 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shush!â&#x20AC;? 18 Cool off, dog-style 19 Pull down, so to speak 20 Big time for a practical joker 23 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nonsense!â&#x20AC;? 25 Put away, in a way 26 Like a triathlete 27 Things to strive for 29 Chryslerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parent company 31 Org. with a noted journal 34 Fit well together 35 Swarming pest 36 Purge 37 Group that recorded â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Joker,â&#x20AC;? 1973 41 Letter after zeta 42 William who founded CBS 43 Irish Roseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s man 44 Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t budge
DEADLINES Place line ad by 9:00 a.m. 3 business days prior to publication.
Source: NORML.org
WE DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T JUST PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE HOMELESS.
39 Campaign office output 40 Psych majorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; degs. 46 Tennessee athlete, for short 47 What a caret signifies 48 Puts spin on 49 Used an auger 51 The â&#x20AC;&#x153;onesâ&#x20AC;? in one-twos 52 Zoning unit, perhaps 53 Guitar great Atkins 54 Hard to rattle 55 Use a whetstone on 56 River of Silesia 60 Kreskinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gift, supposedly 61 â&#x20AC;&#x153;__ Mizâ&#x20AC;?
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
Place your display, classified display or classified card ads by 5:00 p.m. 3 business days prior to publication.
HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 A positive attitude will go a long way, and an ability to adapt to changing circumstances will result in good results. Solutions will come quickly, and the promise of a stable and secure future is within reach. Embrace new beginnings and eschew regrets. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Take care of your responsibilities and move on to projects or activities that you enjoy doing. A physical update will lead to compliments. Romance will lead to a life-changing promise. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Socialize with people who have experiences to share that will encourage you to follow through with your own plans. A kind gesture will bring results and an opportunity you cannot refuse.
4/17
4/14
Š 2016 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com Š 2016 Universal Uclick
â&#x20AC;&#x153;YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE JOKING!â&#x20AC;? By Fred Piscop
Fax: 405-325-7517 Campus Address: COH 149A
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Being helpful is honorable, but donĘźt offer too much of your time or money. Approach each situation with a suggestion or solution. DonĘźt commit to take on someone elseĘźs responsibilities. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Changes at home should make you more comfortable or give you more space to work on a project that excites you. Someone you encounter will reveal interesting information. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Take the initiative and set up plans to take a short trip or look for an alternative way to bring in more cash. Romance will improve your life. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Think out loud. Sharing your ideas will put you in a leadership position.
Business trips or networking functions will help secure a better future. A partnership proposal looks promising. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Deal with matters concerning friends, relatives or loved ones. YouĘźll be able to bring peace to a situation that is festering. A change of heart will improve your life. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Start up conversations and get involved in whatĘźs going on around you. If you let your voice be heard, you will make a difference. The connections you make will offer new and exciting prospects. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Stick close to home and take care of your residence and the ones you love. Be careful while operating equipment or machinery. Love is on the rise, and nighttime romance looks promising. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- An unexpected turn of events will leave you reeling. Take one step at a time, while taking practical steps to ensure you donĘźt suffer a loss due to someone elseĘźs poor judgment. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- YouĘźll have plenty of great ideas. DonĘźt wait when you need to put your plans in motion before someone beats you at your own game. Romance will lead to a promise from someone special. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- YouĘźll have opportunities galore if you are intent on following through with your creative dreams. DonĘźt let someoneĘźs negativity stifle your plans. Follow your instincts and forge ahead.
8
• April 18-20, 2016
CHAMPS SPORTS
Spenser Davis, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
SOONERS STEAL THE SHOW, NOTCH NATIONAL TITLES IN MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
CHRISTOPHER MICHIE/THE DAILY
The OU women’s gymnastic team poses for photographs Saturday evening after winning the national championship at the Fort Worth Convention Center. This is the team’s second national title.
Sooner women secure second title Nine gymnasts take home AllAmerica honors KELLI STACY @AstacyKelli
The Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team won their second national title in program history with a score of 197.6750 Saturday night. Fo l l o w i n g O k l a h o m a men’s gymnastics’ 10th national championship earlier Saturday night, Oklahoma became the first school in NCAA history to have both teams win the national title in the same season. O k la h o ma c oa ch K . J. Kindler said the team worked harder for this win than they did for their first national title. “What do you say?” Kindler said in a press release. “One of the girls this morning, when she woke up, tweeted, ‘It felt like Christmas Eve last night — I couldn’t go to bed anticipating today.’ It turns out that’s exactly what it was,” she said. “Christmas Day is always a wonderful day when you’re a kid. Today was just an amazing and wonderful day for these ladies and our entire team. They had to fight for it. We learned a lot last year, I think, and they applied it
today.” Oklahoma started the night on vault, where sophomore AJ Jackson posted the teamhigh (9.9) in the anchor spot. Senior Haley Scaman added a score of 9.85, the second highest, to help the team to a 49.225 total on the first rotation. “Vault was not what we’re capable of, but instead of letting it break ‘em down, they came back stronger and fought on bars, beam and floor all the way to the very end,” Kindler said in the release. The Sooners were on a bye in the second round and moved to bars for the third. Bars have been OU’s strongest rotation all season — a group that Kindler has called the one of the best in program history. Ju n i o r C hay s e Cap p s (9.925), freshman Nicole Lehrmann (9.9) and Scaman (9.9) led the team on bars, pushing OU to a 49.4500 event total and placing them in second behind Alabama. On beam, Lehrmann (9.9) and sophomore Natalie Brown (9.925) turned in high scores. Capps anchored the Sooners on beam, posting a 9.9375 to end the rotation on a high note. Oklahoma scored a 49.4250 total on the event and moved into first place ahead of Florida.
Oklahoma had another bye in the fifth rotation, moving them to third behind UCLA and Georgia heading into the sixth and final rotation. Brown started off strong for the Sooners on floor, posting a 9.9. Junior Charity Jones and Capps both added scores of 9.9 or higher, as well. Jackson gave a great performance, and once her score of 9.9125 was announced, the Sooners knew they had secured the national title. The score was posted just as Scaman was starting her routine — the final routine of her collegiate career. Scaman posted a 9.95 to up OU’s final score before running off the mat to celebrate with her team. “It was a fight,” Kindler said in the release. “The meet was super close. I don’t know if they knew or felt how close it was. We certainly did as coaches, and we tried to stay loose and give them the best opportunity to just go free and do what they could do.” The Sooners earned their spot in the finals in the second semifinal session on Friday night with a program-record team total of 197.7875 to take first place. Nine Sooners secured 15 All-America honors Friday night, the most in program history. “(I’m) just so proud of
them,” Kindler said in the release. This is something, obviously, that they’ve wanted, that they’ve worked so hard for. Everyone in that room has worked hard, but this group in particular has a little extra something when it comes to their chemistry that I can’t really describe,” Kindler said. “I’ve always believed that chemistry wins championships. They certainly are technically good. They certainly executed well. But, I really feel like that heart and that chemistry is what put them over the top at the end.” Kelli Stacy
kelliastacy@ou.edu
BREAKING RECORDS • This is the second title in Oklahoma history for women’s gymnastics. • The Sooners earned a program-record score of 197.7875 to take first place in the semifinals. • OU also broke another program-record by having nine Sooners secure 15 All-America honors.
CHRISTOPHER MICHIE/THE DAILY
Sophomore Stefani Catour performs her routine on the beam during the NCAA gymnastics championship April 16. OU won the national title in women’s and men’s gymnastics.
For men, it’s national title No. 10 Moldauer and Van Wicklen claim individual honors KELLI STACY @AstacyKelli
SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY
Freshman Yul Moldauer catches himself on the high bar during the meet against Nebraska Feb. 6. Moldauer who claimed the all-around national title Saturday.
Oklahoma won its 10th men’s gymnastics national championship on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio. The Sooners scored a 443.400 — 9.35 points higher than runner-up Stanford (434.050). Two Sooners also claimed individual national championships. Junior Colin Van Wicklen (15.300) earned the floor national title, and freshman Yul Moldauer (89.100) won the all-around national title. “I am shocked,” Moldauer s a i d i n a p re s s re l e a s e Saturday night. “I came into the meet today with the mindset of the team. I knew if I did that success would come to me. I just went out there and performed. I am still shocked, but I am thankful for all the guys, my coaches and I am thankful for OU. I couldn’t have done it without them.” This is the third time
O k l a h o m a c o a c h Ma r k Williams has coached backto-back national championship teams at OU. Williams’ first back-to-back titles came in 2002-03 and then again in 2005-06. “It feels great,” Williams said in a press release. “The guys hit 100 percent and you can’t ask any more than that. We had a 10-point margin of victory, the largest of any we’ve had, and the guys were awesome all night. I am so excited for them because it’s so hard to repeat.” Oklahoma started out on floor where three Sooners scored above the 15 mark to give OU a 73.600 event total — nearly a full point better than their total on the first day of competition. The score wasn’t good enough to give the Sooners the lead, though, and they trailed Stanford by .45 after the first rotation. From floor, OU moved onto pommel horse. Junior Allan Bower anchored the event and was the only Sooner to score in the 15s (15.100) to give OU a 73.150 event total. The Sooners moved to still rings next, where stuck landings from junior Reese Rickett, sophomore Hunter Justus and senior Kanji
Oyama, pushed OU to a 74.500 total on the event and a 221.250 total on the night. The performance was enough to push Oklahoma past Stanford and into the lead by .6. With their first lead of the night, the Sooners gave everything they had on vault. Oyama (15.200), Moldauer ( 1 5 . 0 0 0 ) , Va n W i c k l e n (15.250) and Bower (15.050) all posted scores above the 15 mark. The rotation was huge for OU, giving them a 75.250 event total and a lead of more than four points over Stanford. Moldauer led the Sooners o n p a ra l l e l b a r s, p o s ting a 15.250 on the event. Oklahoma managed to score an event total (74.100) two full points better than on the first day of competition. Oklahoma headed into their final rotation, high bar, with a lead of more than seven points. Van Wicklen and freshman Levi Anderson both posted 14.800s to help the Sooners to a 72.800 event total and secure the victory. The Sooners earned their spot in the finals in the first semifinal session on Friday, taking the top spot with a score of 441.200 — nearly 15
points higher than runner-up Minnesota (426.400). Three Sooners won individual titles on the first day of competition. Moldauer placed first on floor with a score of 15.450, Bower took first on high bar with a 14.950 and junior Thao Hoang won rings with a 15.550. Kelli Stacy
kelliastacy@ou.edu
BY THE NUMBERS • Oklahoma is the first school in NCAA history to have both teams win the national title in the same year. • Oklahoma men’s gymnastics won its 10th national championship. • The Sooners scored a 443.400, 9.35 points higher than runner-up Stanford, which scored 434.050 • This is the third time coach Mark Williams has coached the OU men to back-to-back national championships.
NEWS
April 18-20, 2016 •
Putting marijuana dangers in context
Cannabis rankings compared to other harmful substances TANNER OSBORNE @tannerosbear
In an article by Time, a study led by Penny Whiting of the University Hospitals Bristol in the U.K. showed that medical cannabinoids, which are drugs based on chemicals in marijuana, are backed by “only moderate-quality evidence.” Whiting’s study showed that the medical use of marijuana can aid a multitude of ailments, among them nausea due to chemotherapy, appetite loss in HIV positive patients, multiple sclerosis spasms, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, psychosis and Tourette syndrome. This study and others have shown that marijuana is most conducive in aiding with chronic pains, and that the medical effects on other ailments were less substantial. Whiting’s study was based on 79 randomized test subjects, some receiving placebo pills and others receiving cannabinoids. An article by the Economist graphs out the harm of common drugs to the user and to others, placing cannabis well under both alcohol and
tobacco on the harm scale. The scale is set from zero to 100, with 100 being the highest possible number. Alcohol placed in the low 70s with a majority of the harm being onto others. Tobacco placed in the upper 20s, and the majority of its harm was to the user. Cannabis landed just below 20, and its harm factor was also slightly more to the user. The study that led to the graph was conducted in Great Britain by 20 drug experts, and the harm ranges were determined by factors such as damage to health, drug dependency, economic costs and crime. Cannabis scored close in both areas with a slight majority toward harm toward user and a overall score of 20. The largest factors were economic cost and drug-related impairment of mental functioning. Alcohol scored highest overall with a majority in harm to others and a harm score of 72. The largest harm factors for alcohol were injury and economic cost. Tobacco was a mix on the harm to others versus harm to self scale, with a slight majority toward self to user and a harm score of 26. The largest factors for tobacco were dependence and drug-related mortality. Ecstasy scored low in harm to others with a majority in
harm to user and an overall score of 9. Its largest factors were drug-specific impairment of mental functioning and drug-related impairment of mental functioning. Mu s h ro o m s a n d L S D scored 0 in the harm to others category, with overall scores of 6 and 7 respectively. Some of its largest contributing factors were once again drug-specific and drug-related impairments of mental functioning. The CDC and the surgeon general classify marijuana as a “major public health problem” and list a number of “chronic effects” that it can cause, including short-term memory impairment and slowness of learning, impaired lung function similar to that found in cigarette smokers. Indications are that more serious effects, such as cancer and other lung disease, follow extended use. Despite health concerns from the CDC and the FDA and marijuana’s illegal status under federal law, 23 states and Washington, D.C. have passed laws which allow for the medical or recreational use of marijuana, according to the White House website on state laws.
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Tanner Osborne
Henry McLeish First Minister of Scotland Her Majesty’s Privy Council
Tannerosborne84@yahoo. com
DRUG HARM SCORES: TO SELF AND OTHERS
THE JOSH LEE LECTURE SERIES
2016
• LSD: 7 harm score, 0 on harm to others. • Mushrooms: 6 harm score, 0 on harm to others. • Cannabis: 20 harm score, slight majority in the harm toward user category.
Great Britain and Europe’s Views of the American Presidential Race & U.S. Politics
• Alcohol: 72 harm score, majority in harm to others category. • Tobacco: 26 harm score, slight majority in harm to user category. • Ecstasy: 9 harm score, majority in harm to user category. Source: economist.com
7PM | FRIDAY | APRIL 22ND AUDITORIUM, GAYLORD HALL
President David Boren
Invites All Students To an open discussion of the University’s budget, including possible impacts related to tuition and fees for the next school year.
3 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 Beaird Lounge Oklahoma Memorial Union For accommodations on the basis of disability, please call the Office of Public Affairs at (405) 325-3784 or email specialevents@ou.edu. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo
9
10
NEWS
• April 18-20, 2016
STANDARD CLASS TIME PROPOSAL
Campus marijuana violations in 2016
12 Marijuana arrests in the residence halls
6 7
A Discussion with the Students, Faculty & Staff
Eight of these arrests occurred in Couch Center have been arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia
have been arrested for possession of marijuana
Drug paraphernalia: any instrument that is used in the manufacturing, consumption of drugs (e.g. bongs, pipes, hookahs)
Monday, April 25 1:00 – 2:00pm HCLC Community Room (Bizzell LL118)
20
have been arrested on charges of both possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia
Possession of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor on the first charge, but a felony on the second charge
Total violations:
33
Proposal 1
Start classes on the hour, from 9:00am–12:00pm, Mon-Wed-Fri.
2
Start Mon and Wed one hour and fifteen minute courses at 1:00pm.
3
First standard class time to start at 9:00am, eliminating the 7:30 and 8:30am time blocks.
Information from OUPD police reports current as of April 11
stdclasstime.teachou.net
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