University of Virginia Library

Council Takes Drug Stand

By Tom Adams
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Last night a motion urging "the
Dean of the University to reevaluate
University policy with respect
to hallucinogenic drugs as expressed
in his letter dated Summer,
1967," passed unanimously.

Significant amendments were
made to Jacque; Jones original
motion that was tabled two weeks
ago. Dr. John Buckman, associate
professor of psychiatry came at the
invitation of the Council to clarify
the subject of marijuana to the
councilmen.

"There is a lot of wooded thinking
passed from mouth to mouth,"
he began. Dr. Buckman went on
to say that marijuana was included
in the 1937 federal law
dealing with all drugs because
at that time it was used mainly
by "poor ghetto Negroes" along
with heroin.

But now, Dr. Buckman pointed
out, middle-class America has discovered
it. Anywhere from 10 to
38 per cent of America's present
college population have used marijuana
at one time or another.

He also pointed out that students
are frequently afraid to come
for advice on the subject once
they used marijuana because of
the stiff penalties provided by both
the University administration and
the federal government.

At the last meeting of the Council,
Richard Jenkins had questions
about the apparent differences in
psychiatrists views on the subject
of marijuana. Last night Dr. Buckman
answered his questions.

He said "psychiatrists are in
almost complete agreement that the
average, normal person has no ill
side effects from the drug."

Mr. Jenkins asked if this included
chronic users also.
"Chronic use," Dr. Buckman replied,
"implies a personality defect
to begin with."

He cleared up some more facts
about what he called "a national
hysteria." He stated "that no antisocial
behavior results from taking
marijuana, just the opposite is
true. The vast majority of college
marijuana users stay in school
and eventually forget about the
drug."

After Dr. Buckman spoke there
was a lengthy discussion by Council
members during which many
amendments were presented. Chris
Wilson suggested a ten-minute
recess so that all of the conflicting
opinions could be merged
into one single motion.

Ten minutes later it had been
worked out and Ron Hickman
presented the amended motion to
the Council. It was then passed
unanimously.

In other business Alan Rudlin
reported on the prospects for a
cinematology course in the College
next year. He stated that due to
problems of financing and scheduling
there was little hope for an
official course of such a nature to
be offered until the year after next.

James Brashares said he had
just finished an investigation of
the problems of dust and potholes
in University student parking
lots. He stated that due to the
inefficiency of the Buildings and
Grounds Department it was "impossible
to keep a car clean in
Charlottesville any more." He received
permission to write a letter
to the department of Buildings
and Grounds requesting some
action be taken.

Gordon Calvert presented a
motion calling for a central lost
and found to be established in
Newcomb Hall. He said that he
had received permission from John
Herring, the Director of Newcomb
Hall.