Cannabis On Campus? Marijuana Activists Push For Universities To Allow Medical Use

The majority of US colleges and universities have substance use policies that prohibit students from using medical marijuana on university property.

But Missouri cannabis activists are seeking to change that.

In November, the Missouri affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) revealed that its 2023 legislative agenda also includes "requiring Missouri colleges and universities to allow medical marijuana use on campus," reported The News Leader.

During this year's mid-terms, Missouri legalized recreational cannabis by approving an initiative known as Amendment 3 and became the first state in the nation where voters approved a program for the automatic expungement of prior marijuana convictions.

John Payne, campaign manager for Legal Missouri 2022, said cannabis sales are only allowed "within the regulated system."

However, like earlier medical marijuana measures, Amendment 3 failed to address the issue of cannabis use on university and college campuses. 

"At a minimum, the use of edibles and vaporized cannabis should be permitted by residents of university dormitories," Missouri NORML's agenda said. "Students routinely possess and use pharmaceutical medications, which are potentially deadly and addictive. Marijuana is neither one."

However, universities are firm in their stance on the issue.

"Even though you might have a medical marijuana identification card, you may still not use or possess marijuana on university property, university-leased property or as part of any university-sponsored or university-supervised activity," Dr. Bill Stackman, vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Missouri said in a recent statement.

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