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 □□□□□□□□ □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 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