ORLANDO -- A University of Central Florida committee has shot down a controversial rule change that could have eased the penalties for people caught smoking pot on campus -- at least for now.
Currently students caught smoking marijuana face a more harsh punishment than those caught illegally drinking on campus. But the Golden Rule Review Committee was considering equalizing those punishments.
Supporters say drinking is more harmful than smoking marijuana, so the punishment should fit the crime.
"I think sanctioning students more harshly for marijuana drives them implicitly to use alcohol, which is associated with assault, rape murder, something marijuana is not associated with," said Brandon Rivard, a spokesman for NORML -- the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws.
The vote ended up coming out tied -- which means it will be brought up again next year.
The group NORML says it will continue to push for the change.
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