ASUI talks medical marijuana and sexist comments

ASUI passed resolutions on medical marijuana and Boise State Professor Scott Yenor

ASUI passed a slew of legislation Wednesday and held its first meeting for spring semester senators, including supporting Boise State University countering sexism and legalizing medical marijuana. 

ASUI introduced and passed a resolution supporting Boise State University students and their petition to investigate Professor Scott Yenor for sexist comments. 

The petition comes after a video from the National Conservatism Conference in Florida surfaced in which Yenor commented that women should not be recruited into the fields of engineering, medicine and law as well as trade occupations. 

Following the video’s surfacing, Yenor has since taken to Twitter. saying that there should be no “special efforts to recruit women into fields where they don’t seem to want to be.” 

“BSU students are currently petitioning and protesting actively to have (Yenor) investigated for sexist grading and sexist evaluations of fellow faculty and staff,” Director of Safety, Health and Wellness Abbey Rode said.  

ASUI also introduced and passed a resolution in support of Kind Idaho’s initiative that would legalize marijuana in the state for medical use.  

The resolution, which was authored by Rode, noted that while Yenor retains the first amendment right to express his opinions, the sentiments expressed suggest that female students are being evaluated differently than male students. Boise State students are hoping to open an investigation to resolve this uncertainty. 

Sen. Nguyen, who sponsored the resolution, noted that the FDA has already approved THC-based medications that have shown to be effective in treating chronic pain, nausea as well as individuals undergoing chemotherapy treatment. 

Nguyen also said that the ability to prescribe marijuana in place of opiates would also provide a degree of relief in the opioid crisis. 

“According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 50,000 people passed from opioid-related overdoses in 2019,” Nguyen said.

“And according to the CDC, a fatal marijuana overdose is highly unlikely compared to an over opioid overdose prescribed.” 

Nguyen said the benefits also extend to the economic sector as each state that has legalized medical marijuana has seen higher tax revenues and improved job creation. 

Readdressing legislation discussed in the previous meeting, ASUI passed two previously proposed resolutions. One resolution showed appreciation for those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces as well as veterans. The other resolution called for UI professors to implement an inclusivity statement in course syllabi. 

After the final meeting of the semester’s legislative body, ASUI held its first meeting for the spring semester, including the five newly-inducted senators. 

The short meeting saw Sen. Cassidey Plum made senate pro tempore.