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Students at Florida State University rallied for the reform of drug laws on March 31, promoting greater legal tolerance for marijuana as a safe alternative to alcohol. The event, hosted by the campus chapters of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), served as a kick-off to Alcohol Awareness Month.

SSDP is currently in talks with the school administration to try to implement Good Samaritan or Medical Amnesty Policy rules, which they say would promote student safety by protecting students who call for emergency assistance in the case of alcohol poisoning or drug overdose.

“We believe it is the fear that they instill in students that prevents students from calling for help or delays the amount of time students take to call for help,” Mola said.

The event was the first of more than 80 rallies planned across the country throughout the month of April.  The rallies are coordinated by the national non-profit organization Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, which seeks to raise awareness about the safety of using marijuana instead of alcohol.

“All objective studies that look at marijuana and alcohol show that marijuana is much safer than alcohol,” said John Mola, the campus SSDP public relations director. “It doesn’t contribute to direct overdose deaths; it doesn’t contribute to sexual assault or to violence.

SSDP members at the event also spoke out about the need for reform in FSU's alcohol rules.

“We are not trying to promote drinking," said SSDP President Lauryn Harris.  "We would actually like to lower the binge drinking on campus as well, but zero tolerance is just like prohibition, it’s not effective."

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