Despite the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries in Ohio, many colleges and universities continue to ban any forms of medical marijuana on campus.
College students and faculty might have a doctor鈥檚 recommendation for medical pot, but schools receiving federal funding still have to bar marijuana from campuses or risk jeopardizing that money. The , based in Washington D.C., thinks that's an unhelpful rule.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no reason why marijuana, which is a less harmful substance than most prescription medication, cannot be made available to students and used responsible on campus as long as they鈥檙e not violating the law, much like any other prescription drug,鈥� says Marijuana Policy Project spokesperson Mason Tvert.
The non-profit aims to change state laws to reduce or eliminate penalties for medical and non-medical uses of marijuana.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got students who might be suffering from a medical condition and could benefit from medical marijuana, but they don鈥檛 actually seek access to it because they worry about being punished by their school," Tvert says.
Three federal laws restrict the use of controlled substances: the and the .
All of the Ohio universities contacted by WOSU say they plan to follow federal guidelines. Those include The Ohio State University, Otterbein University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Ohio Dominican University and the Columbus College of Art & Design.
Ohio State referred WOSU to its .
鈥淢arijuana remains a Schedule 1 drug at the federal level, is captured under this policy as such, and is not permitted on campus,鈥� says university spokesman Ben Johnson.
Ohio is among 33 states, as well as Washington, D.C., that have passed legislation legalizing medical marijuana. After months of delays, the first dispensaries in Ohio opened earlier this month, though supplies are still limited.
Tvert says critics who question the safety of marijuana don鈥檛 know all of the facts.
鈥淭here鈥檚 actually been more research on marijuana than many FDA-approved pharmaceutical products,鈥� Tvert says.
Tvert says he sees more setbacks before universities allow marijuana use on campus.
鈥淐omprehensive changes in laws are needed to reassure these institutions that they will not face any sort of significant punishment,鈥� Tvert says.
Copyright 2020 WOSU 89.7 NPR News. To see more, visit . 9(MDAxMzY2MjQ0MDEyMzcyMDQ5MzBhZWU5NA001))
