Poisonous weeds seen as drugs
■Although not considered
illegal, jimson plants are used
as hallucinogens by some.
BY LINDSEY BAKER
“Smoking weed” may soon
refer not only to marijuana use if a
Nebraska trend continues.
The last two years have seen a
rise in the use of jimson weed for
its hallucinogenic properties.
The poisonous weed, native
to Nebraska, grows annually in
cultivated areas, said University
of Nebraska-Lincoln Agronomy
Professor Alex Martin.
He said the seeds germinate
in late May, and the plant devel
ops large, trumpet-like flowers
and seed pods, or “fruit” that
house the kidney-shaped seeds
used for hallucinogenic purpos
es.
The weed isn't classified as a
noxious weed or one that is highly
invasive to Nebraska fields.
The weed - and consumption
of it-is not illegal
Both UNL police and Lincoln
Police have not had any recent
reports of jimson weed abuse,
though 14 jimson weed poison
ings have been reported to the
Nebraska Posion Control Center
in die last two years.
Madison County resident
Amanda Ann McFarlin, 18, died
last November after taking 25 jim
son weed seeds and using
methamphetamines.
Some UNL students aren't
familiar with die drug.
“I've never heard of it” sopho
more undeclared major Adam
Potratz said. “If someone died
from it obviously there needs to
Jtmson weed, shown here, grows in Nebraska.
Courtesy Photo
be more education.
Junior secondary education
and language arts major Rachel
Beck said the weed sounded
familiar to her, but die had never
heard of anyone using it for recre
ational drug purposes.
Students said prevention of
jimson weed abuse might be diffi
cult without laws prohibiting use.
"I think if it was legal, kids
would probably do it,” junior
exercise science major Travis
Sifting said.
Poison Control Center
spokeswoman Marcia
Rasmussen said jimson weed cap
be smoked or brewed as a tea>
Potentially serious side effects
can occur five to 10 minutes after
consumption.
Those effects could last up to
48 hours, she said.
In small doses, jimson weed
produces dry mouth, thirst and
sweating, Rasmussen said. In
higher doses, blurred vision, light
sensitivity, heart palpitations,
increases in breathing and heart
rates and cardiac irregularities
can occur.
In extreme cases, effects
include urinary retention, consti
pation, an increase in body tem
perature, confusion, agitation,
hyperactivity, visual hallucina
tions, seizures and, in rare cases,
coma or death.
The Nebraska Department of
Agriculture says four grams of
jimson seeds is a fatal dose for
children. Leaf ingestion can also
lead to death.
The Associated Press con
tributed to this report.
Law & Order
Journal Star writer cited for
indecent exposure
Lincoln police cited Jouma
Star sports writer Steven M
Sipple, 34, for indecent expo
sure early Tuesday mornin;
when a dancer at Mataya’i
Babydolls, 5600 Cornhuskei
Highway, removed a towel fron
Sipple's lap and discovered h<
was exposing himself.
The exposure was wit
nessed by the dancer and a
security guard.
I
Teenagers escape train, car
, collision
s Lancaster County sheriff’s
r deputies reported a car and
t train collision Tuesday night at
* 162nd Street and Highway 6
nearWaverly.
The three Lincoln teen
agers involved got out of then
car before the train hit and were
unharmed by the collision.
The teens, ages 16,17 and
18, were in the area to read a
plaque commemorating the
death of another teenager
when a train struck his car sev
eral years ago.
The icy conditions caused
the car to slide off the road and
high-center on the tracks.
The driver of the vehicle, 16
year-old Amy Brock of Lincoln,
saw the train coming, and she
and her two passengers
jumped out of the car before it
was struck by the train.
Brock was taken to the hos
pital for shock and released.
Compiled by Charlie
Kauffman
r
Student government
supports new license
ASUN from page 1
Riley Peterson, first vice presi
dent, said Nebraska licenses,
which are laminated pieces of
paper, are well-known as being
easy to replicate.
"Nebraska’s license is like the
easiest to forge,” he said. "I’ve
heard stories that on the East
Coast, there’s a lot more Nebraska
students than there really are.”
On the other hand, ASUN
voted to lobby against LB582,
which was introduced to the
Legislature by Sen. Gene Tyson of
Norfolk.
Student government is
against the bill because it allows
for presumption of consumption.
In other words, minors could be
charged with MIP simply by look
ing or acting as if they’re drunk at
the discretion of police.
The bill also allows undercov
er minors to go into a party to pro
vide probable cause for police to
enter die party, Echtemacht said.
“It's stepping on the rights of
minors, which make up a signifi
cant number of students on cam
pus,” he said.
In other news:
■ ASUN approved a bill to
endorse a single class ring for
graduating seniors. With this
endorsement, the Nebraska
Alumni Association will move for
ward on selecting a design and a
company of the ring.
Urrvano Gamez, special top
ics committee chairman, said
that he favors a single-style class
ring because it would serve as an
identifying mark that a student
wenttoUNL
"I think it’s a good idea not
only because it builds tradition -
I-a
it’s nice to be able to spot some
body when you’re old and have a
connection with them,” he said
■ Student government also
decided to enact ASUN Polling
Day on Tuesday.
The survey will poll students
about controversial issues,
including whether they think stu
dent government should lobby
on behalf of the student body for
or against certain legislative mat
ters.
, The polling day was proposed
by Arts and Sciences Sen. Nathan
Fuerst, who is also running for
ASUN president under the Score!
Party ticket
The survey is mote succinct,
Fuerst said, than ASUN
Awareness Day, which was held in
November. During that day, stu
dents were asked simply if they
knew of services that ASUN pro
vides.
“We're not holding anything
back this time. We’re going
straight for the jugular,” he said
ASUN senators will survey
students in the Nebraska Union
and in and around the Nebraska
East Union from 10 am to 6 pm
■ Four new senators were
appointed to represent their
respective colleges - Timothy
Dorn, agricultural sciences and
natural resources; Dan Mauler,
arts and sciences; Michelle
Schrage, business and Cristina
Camacho, journalism.
■ASUN senators also extend
ed a reminder to graduating stu
dents: Seniors who want to grad
uate from the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln need to bring
$25 for a graduation application
to the Canfield Administration
building by Friday.
Citizens, experts and advocates discuss
CS questions and concerns related to promising and
H 0 I C E S ethically challenging cutting-edge medical
research in Nebraska.
LIVE Thursday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. (6 MT) on the
NEBRASKA ETV NETWORK IV
Rebroadcast on Nebraska ETV: Saturday, Feb. 3,12:30 p.m. CT (11:30 MT)
Rebroadcast on NETV2: Saturday, Feb. 3,5 p.m. CT (4 MT);
Tuesday, Feb. 13,8 p.m. CT (7 MT); Monday, Feb. 19,1:30 pm. CT (12:30 MT)
netunl.edu
m LINCOLN
JOURNAL'tSTAR
www.joumalstar.com
t pcrtfe by hr Mite MwMw
nr v
www.kmtv3.com
□□□□□□□□
3 Club Chaos
D 16th a”0” St.
□ THURSDAY
□ COLLEGE
NIGHT
n 19 AND OVER
LI WITH
□ DJ ROMEO
□
□
□
a Boss My
□ $1 Wells
l~l A Draws
□□□□□□□□
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Recycle your
aily Nebraskan
..or else. I
W Attention
May 2001 Graduates
Your Degree Application is Due:
February 2* 2001
Apply at 109 Canfield Admin. Bldg.
! § 5? 1
1
Pregnant Too Soon?
No matter your situation, if you’re
experiencing an unplanned pregnancy,
have choices to make.
Nebraska Children’s Home Society
help you make the best decisions for
and your baby - without obligations.
To speak with us confidentially,
please contact us.
Pregnancy Hotline
(800) 390.6754
(402)483.7879 • www.nchs.org
4700 Valley Road • Lincoln, NE 68510
chudreKhome
• • • I I T V
A private, statawida, non-profit <Mipiecing agency.
You've heard of it.
Now, become part ofat:
If you have a valid student ID you can get
in to the 5 remaining men's basketball
conference games for just $25.
...well even throw in a free t-shirt
Hurry, this offer is only good thru Friday, Feb. 2, 2001.
Athletic Ticket Office, 625 Stadium Drive
Citij Campus Deliver ij
Call Valentino's
13th & Q
475-1501
East Campus Delivery
Valentino's at
35th & Holdrege
467-3611
OFFER EXPIRES 5-31-01
•V&entinoS
| Coupon required. Offer good for coriy-out (and delivery wham
mailable) only. One coupon per person, per visit. Nat good with
| any other offer, Student Value Pot, or Family Value Rada.
i •Vfantino$ i
| Coupon required. Offer good for cnrry-out (and delivery where I
available) only. One coupon per person, per visit. Not good with ■
I any other offer, Student Value Poc. or Family Value Packs. ■
Offer goad only at our 13th&Q and 3SHi & Hoidrege locations. I
•Yaieimnos
Coupon required. Offer good for <nrry-out (and detiwery where
available) only. One coupon per person, per visit. Nat good with
any other offer, Student Value Pot or Family Value Packs.
Offer good only at our 13th & 0 and 35th & Hoktrege locations.
•yihinfliinljg
Coupon required. Offer good for airiy-out (and delivery where
available) only. One coupon per person, per visit. Not good with
any other offer. Student Value Pat or Family Value Pads.
0 and 35lh & Holdrege locations.
