Students at Kent State University joined 80 colleges and universities in hopes of promoting marijauna use as a safer alternative to alcohol as part of their "day of action" Thursday.

SAFER(Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation) Executive Director Mason Tvert says that students around the country are taking initiatives to change penalties for pot.

"Students around the country are taking action now, just as they did last week in an effort to educate people about marijuana being safer than alcohol."

The KSU students argue that laws and policies on marijuana and around college campuses are stiffer than those for alcohol, which they fell is a more dangerous drug.

Dave Goldshtien of the KSU chapter of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy says that even though he and his group were small in numbers, their message was heard.

"There were about 15 people there, with the rain, not many people stuck around," he said.

"All in all, it went well and we got our message across."

Goldshtein says that objective studies on recreational marijuana use concluded that that it (marijuana) does not contribute to problems at campuses such as deaths, assaults, and rapes.
He said a that there is a stigma attached to smoking pot., and with his research he feels that his group and others can persuade Kent President Lester Lefton to lighten the penalties for students who use marijuana.

Executive Director for the pro-marijuana group SAFER Mason Tvert says that he was proud of the efforts of Kent State to start public debate on this hot button issue.

"We certainly hope that the students of Kent State will continue to pursue this and working with students all over the country to try and promote more safer and effective alcohol and marijuana policies on college campuses."