Purdue should keep zero-tolerance marijuana policies

This letter is regarding the article from April 14 about Purdue students voting to lower the penalty for drug use in residence halls.

Lowering the consequences for smoking in the dorms could be dangerous; the policy in place now was implemented following the death of a resident assistant. The fact that a person’s life could be at risk is reason enough to keep the strict policy the way it is. The fact is that both issues being discussed are illegal. Whether they should be legal or illegal is not the issue. While in the dorms, which are generally full of students under the legal drinking age of 21, drinking is an illegal activity. The main activity being discussed, (smoking marijuana) is also illegal, for everyone.

Standards and rules in a college dormitory should not be compromised due to the frequency of use of these substances among college students. If students feel that they can’t possibly refrain from smoking pot, they can easily find a place other than the dorms to do it.

Purdue should keep the current zero-tolerance policy. This policy will either work to keep people from smoking in the dorms or will weed out the people that are doing it and send a message to others.

Jeralyn Bias