A graduate student from the criminal justice program will be conducting a random survey on Northern Michigan University students’ perception towards medical marijuana.

The questionnaire is part of Guy LaPlante’s master’s level research project. It will be distributed to 600 NMU student email addresses using the university surveying software called Qualtrics. All individuals will remain anonymous.

“The results will be used for the student’s thesis and will report only summary data,” said Dale Kapla, head of the criminal justice program. “No individual identifiers and no one who completed the survey will or can be identified.”

According to Kapla, the analysis of the data should be complete near the end of this semester.

“The results of the survey will be compiled into my thesis paper and submitted as a project to fulfill requirements,” LaPlante said.

Once an analysis is completed, the result can be made public, Kapla said.

“The class is a criminal justice class and the topic follows that program, however I have been working on the issue for some time and have both professional and personal interest in medical marijuana as it pertains to not only colleges, but the age group as a demographic,” LaPlante said.

On the flyer posted around campus, students are asked to participate in the survey. It also states that student input is important because it may help make policy recommendations to NMU.

“I am enjoying the project as it is now taking life after some time,” LaPlante said. “I am excited to get writing and see the results as well.”