About 20 percent of drug-related incidents reported to the Department of Public Safety this academic year have occurred within the past four weeks — something DPS Associate Director Tom Hicks attributes to several incidents around the “420 holiday” and during the last week of April. However, rumors indicate seasonal harvest may have something to do with it.
Although the directors of Student Judicial Affairs and Residence Life and one local pot dealer disagree on what to expect in the coming weeks, DPS has confirmed that the majority of drug-related reports on campus occurred in the residence halls, and all but three involved possession, growing or sale of less than an ounce of marijuana.
Since April 1, DPS has received 14 reports of drug use on campus — out of 73 total reported incidents since September — but Hicks said the estimate does not specify the number of people involved in each incident, which could be more.
In looking at drug incidents reported to the Student Judicial Affairs program, which receives a substantially higher number of incidents than DPS because of its jurisdiction over the residence halls, Director Chris Loschiavo said the frequency of reports is relatively consistent year-round. However, annual statistics have varied in the past three years.
During the 1999-2000 academic year, the University charged 346 students with violations of possession, growing or selling and distributing marijuana, according to Student Judicial Affairs numbers. The number dropped dramatically the following year with 184 possessions, three growing and two selling charges in 2000-01. The next year, these numbers rose again with 280 possessions, seven selling and no growing reports in 2001-02. During fall and winter terms this year, 181 students were charged with possession, one with growing and none with selling.
Considering that annual statistics vary and the majority of incidents occur in the residence halls, some might suggest the numbers depend on each incoming class, but one pot aficionado said the inexperience of users causes numbers to skew.
“The only ones that get caught are the peeps buying little dub sacks, the rookies,” said a local pot smoker, occasional dealer and University student, who spoke with the Emerald on the condition of anonymity. “DPS doesn’t have a clue about what really goes on.”
Possession aside, DPS has also received seven reports of drug paraphernalia since September, which Hicks said does not necessarily indicate an issued citation.
“A student can possess a pipe,” he said, “but unless a residue is found, it is not considered an offense.” Besides marijuana-related reports, Hicks said only two of the 73 incidents involved mushrooms and one involved methamphetamines.
Frowning on everything but “the chron,” the dealer said he isn’t surprised that marijuana is so popular in Eugene — much of it in the area is super potent and grown outdoors, which he says customers seem to prefer.
“Herb is natural, from the ground,” he said. “It’s just like wine.”
Despite what he called unfounded rumors of certain times of year being “harvest seasons” in Eugene, Loschiavo said he does not expect to see an increase in the remainder of the term. He added the majority of dealing charges are issued in the fall and winter.
In her experience at the University, Residence Life Director Sandy Schoonover said there typically has been an increase in drug-related incidents in spring. She said it’s likely that not all incidents will occur in the residence halls as the weather gets warmer.
“People want to be out in the sunshine,” she said.
The dealer said a harvest is upcoming, but Eugeneans can expect a better quality “product” in the next few weeks rather than a rise in the actual quantity of weed.
“Because marijuana is illegal, it’s circulation will always be unstable,” he said. “But experienced people will know when to get the dank shit.”