Nationally, the Harvard study found that the number of students who reported having used marijuana in the previous 30 days rose from 12.9 percent in 1993 to 15.7 percent in 1999. Students who reported that they had used marijuana within the last year rose from 24 to 26 percent.
Director of Health Education Denise McGoldrick said that she does not have a conclusive reason for the higher amount of marijuana use at Amherst.
"What you should know about these surveys is that schools in the northeast generally have a higher amount of marijuana use than the national average," said McGoldrick.
But McGoldrick admitted that geography alone could not account for the significantly higher rate of marijuana use at Amherst as compared to other schools.
"It could be more students here are using marijuana than other places. It might be the culture or the type of students who go here," added McGoldrick.
"I think the Amherst area is a very liberal area," said Director of Health Services Dr. Daniel Clapp, citing the recent referendum passed in Town last spring that asked police to deprioritize marijuana-related offenses. "I think even Amherst [Regional] High School students also have a much higher use than the state and national averages. So I guess it's more accessible. I also think college students, when they are away from their parents' restrictions, tend to go overboard."
The rise in Amherst students' marijuana use parallels a similar, but less extreme, rise in drug use nationwide. Marijuana use has risen by nearly 22 percent from 1993 to 1999, according to Harvard's report. More than 14,000 students, selected from 119 four-year colleges in 40 states and the District of Columbia, participated in the study, which was conducted in 1993, 1997 and 1999. The study found that the largest increases occurred between 1993 and 1997.
Although Williams College did not participate in the ACHA survey, the Director of Health Education Donna Denelli-Hess affirmed the increase in marijuana use on campus, which she attributed to students' ability to more effectively cover up marijuana use.
"I have a belief that there is a rise in marijuana smoking," said Denelli-Hess. "Students who are not drinking are smoking because drinking is more visible. Marijuana use is more easily hidden."
The College's administration takes a mild approach to dealing with marijuana use.
"The school doesn't condone the use of marijuana," said Dean of Students Ben Lieber. "Generally on first offense, students are required to attend a session with the health educators. Very few students get caught again, whether because they're more careful or because they quit I can't answer."
"My personal position, which is not very radical, is that the country has overemphasized criminal prosecution," said President Tom Gerety, adding, "I think students are overusing all of these things-liquor particularly."
Both McGoldrick and Clapp agreed that stricter measures than the College's current drug policy would infringe on the rights of Amherst students.
"I think the school gets more involved in the community than in what happens behind closed doors. Marijuana use behind closed doors is less likely to cause dorm damage, for example," said McGoldrick. "The only way the College would be aware of marijuana use is if there's a phone call or if they go into every room, which goes against what this College is about."
"We're not a police state," added Clapp. "I don't think Amherst students would accept such a police state behavior. I think when [the administration] is aware of it, they take action. I wouldn't blame the marijuana use on the administration but on the students who push it."
The researchers behind Harvard University's study said that they believe that the rise in marijuana use among college students may be due to increased drug use reported among adolescents in the early 1990s, as found in a 1999 University of Michigan study.
"In the Harvard study, they're speculation has to do with the increase occurring in high school," said ACHA Research Director Victor Leino. "This initial use carries over into college. More students are starting earlier. The statistics bear out this speculation. But you could say there are a hundred different possible speculations."
Lieber echoed Wechsler's sentiments.
"My impression, and this is only an impression, is that there are more students who come to college using marijuana beforehand," added Lieber.