Two marijuana study fliers were found in the Humanities Building last week that were not authorized to be posted on campus.
According to the flier, a group of researchers from Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles are looking for young adults who smoke marijuana regularly to participate in the study.
It’s unknown who posted the fliers, but they did not follow policy of going to the Student Development Office to get the fliers reviewed, approved, and stamped, so they were removed by student workers.
“It may be legal in two states out of 50 but the United States government still classifies marijuana under their drugs,” Rafeed Kahn, ASO president, said. “It’s still considered an illegal substance and it’s not condoned by EC.”
Acting Director of Student Development Michelle Arthur, who approves fliers that go on campus, didn’t know the flier was posted. Arthur contacted the researchers via email about the posting policy.
“If you’d like for us to repost, to send them (the fliers) to us, and we’ll stamp them. Then we’ll post them if they’d like. But their fliers have been removed,” Arthur said.
The group of researchers did not respond by deadline.
According to the objectives of campus publicity regulations, “El Camino College provides designated areas for general posting and the distribution of literature. All materials to be posted or distributed must conform to the requirements of El Camino College Board Policy #5137.”
Under this policy, the Humanities Building was not a designated area for the flier to be posted.
“That non-profit organization did not come to the Student Development Office and follow policy,” Arthur said. “They probably didn’t know. They thought it’s a college, it’s the public, we’re allowed to be here, we can post anything. That’s not the case.”
Mateo Tenzera, 20, fire and emergency technology major, agreed with Kahn.
“This flier is advocating the use of drugs in general,” Tenzera said. “Not that I care because it’s just pot, but I can’t see any school supporting a study that says it’s for anyone who uses.”
While the researchers didn’t follow policy, Arthur said she sees why the fliers were posted at EC – for the demographic.
“They want young adults. Not necessarily college students, and where else to find young adults other than a college or university?” Arthur said. “So, if they were to come to us, then that would be posted and allowed as long it has gone through the proper channels. They did not go through the proper channels.”
