ELIZABETH PRESTON
WESTFIELD – The Board of Trustees at Westfield State University received word from legal counsel at a special meeting last night regarding the legality of a proposed ban of medical marijuana on campus.
In a statement, the University reiterated that it is in compliance with federal laws such as the Controlled Substance Act, the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act.
Although Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that has legalized medical marijuana, the law itself states that it doesn’t require “any accommodation of any on-site medical use of marijuana in any place of employment, school bus or on school grounds, in any youth center, in any correctional facility, or of smoking medical marijuana in any public place.”
Susan Lamontagne, the University’s dean of student affairs, said after the brief meeting that the policy solidifies the school’s stance.
“We’ve always had marijuana prohibited on campus, but with the newness of medical marijuana, we needed to clarify that that is not permitted, as well,” she said. “We still fall under federal law and receive federal financial aid, which we don’t want to risk for our students.”
Lamontagne added that Westfield State’s take is not unique, and that even in Colorado and Washington – states where marijuana has been legalized – colleges and universities are still enforcing bans due to their receiving federal funds, which is the area of most concern to University President Dr. Elizabeth Preston.
“Regardless of how any of us might feel about the use of marijuana to treat a variety of medical conditions, the use of marijuana for any reason remains illegal at the federal level under the Controlled Substances Act,” said Preston. “We cannot allow the use of medical marijuana on university property without jeopardizing our federal funding.”
Preston added that the policy revisions approved yesterday are intended to “eliminate any possible confusion as the state moves to establish dispensaries and register physicians to prescribe marijuana.”
“Ultimately, we chose this route to be consistent with our sister institutions, but I will tell you that we will bird-dog the issue as it continues to roll out over the course of the year,” said new Board Chair and former Northwest District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel. “If changes need to be made, then we’ll come back and make appropriate changes. We want to be flexible, but we want to be compliant and to be consistent. It’s a new issue, but one we’ll hear more about.”
