University Policy on Cannabis
Writing about web page http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4987658.stm
Can we expect any change to the University's policy on cannabis smoking, after two years of campaigning by the Union, now that it has come out that the new 'Minister for drugs', not only admits to smoking cannabis while a student, but presumably while a student at Warwick?
Of course, it has the standard political line of "I took one or two puffs of marijuana but that was it." but still! He got away with it, and is now in control of the country's drug policy. Hmmmm
16 May 2006 19:14
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Tags: Drugs Marijuana Politics
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stoned
Even the fact that some acadamics and even senior administrators are not averse to the odd bit of of cannabis I can't see the university dropping it's zero– tolerance stance, at least publicly, for very good reasons (and some not so good ones).
That is not to say that residential staff could not be encouraged unofficially to use their discretion to some extent. However if a complaint is made the University is duty bound to take action.
16 May 2006, 20:12
However, most of the reasons they give lost a lot of validity after the reclassification of cannabis and the subsequent statement by the local police that even they thought the policy of the University was too harsh and that they didn't want to be bothered except in cases involving dealing
16 May 2006, 21:43
Gareth Herbert
I think the university should be following the lead of the police on this one. It's a very strange state of affairs that it's better to be caught smoking a joint by the boys in blue than by Warwick security.
17 May 2006, 06:12
Lee Davis
Hmm, I do think that for a first offence the university policy is a bit harsh, however their policy is clear and unambiguous.
Regardless of how leniently the police may view such things, as they obviously have far more seroius offences to concentrate their limited resources on, the university still ahs an obloigation not to knowingly allow illegal activities on their premises.
Additionally they have a duty of care towards all students, whilst I believe the risks of cannabis to most people are negligible there is a small number of people for whom that may not be the case.
From a commercial point of view, in recruiting new students the university is to a large extent selling the place to the parents these days as they may well be stumping up a lot of the money to support 3/4 years of their childrens time here. Most of them would probably be less keen to send them to somewhere that has a reputation for being 'soft' on drugs.
Personally I think it's a shame you can't just buy it in costcutter ;–)
17 May 2006, 10:03
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