A bill for the use of medicinal marijuana on campus for students with chronic illnesses passed Monday night in the House at the Student Government Association’s weekly meeting.
The bill, which had passed earlier in February within the Senate, will now be taken to the Office of Student Conduct in order to see if amendments can be made to current Residence Life policy.
The bill’s creator, SGA Senator Ian Elliot, says through the bill, smoking on campus would not be allowed. However, students who use medicinal marijuana would be able to store their paraphernalia on campus without facing criminal charges.
“Somebody asked that with this bill, would people be allowed to just walk around and smoke joints – the answer is no,” Elliot said. “Not only would you not be allowed to smoke joints after this bill is passed, but you never will be because the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act says that you cannot use your medication, you cannot smoke, on public property or anywhere other than your private residence.”
West Bloomfield freshman Starr Walker raised concerns over whether or not this would mean students with medical marijuana access would be able to smoke in the dorms, fearing what the byproduct of smoking could bring into her dormitory.
“The dormitory is not a private residence,” Elliot said. “For the same reason that you can’t tell an officer or an RA that they cannot come into your residence, you’re not protected the same way you are in (an apartment).”
Elliot, who is both a user of medicinal marijuana and a sufferer of epilepsy, says that the medicine helps him to be able to attend college.
“We have dozens and dozens of patients with epilepsy (on campus), including myself,” Elliot said. “A lot of us could not attend college if it were not for these special treatments, a lot of which are in non-smokeable, capsule or oil forms, no different than any other pills you take for any other ailment.”
The bill would allow for students with conditions such as epilepsy, Dravat Syndrome and other ailments to use edible forms of marijuana to help users maintain their symptoms, particularly seizures.
Marie Sokolosky, a representative for Students for Life, also raised concerns about everything encompassed within the bill.
“When (the bill) says ‘capsule form’ is that only what it’s talking about, or is this (bill) talking about any form (of marijuana)?” Sokolosky asked.
After a resounding no, Elliot further explained the bill would only cover the possession of the marijuana flower itself within a locked container that only the user could access, marijuana edibles and marijuana concentrates. Possession of rolling papers and pipes, Elliot said, would also be protected under this bill.
“This (bill) really should be looked at as a compassionate act,” Elliot said. “This by no means has anything to do with recreational use or anything beyond what is discussed between a doctor and (their) patients. We just want to allow access for those who use (medicinal marijuana).”
EDITORIAL: Why so hazy?
Michigan medical marijuana laws are too ambiguous for students in need
Students at Central Michigan University have voiced their opinions on medical marijuana use loud and clear. The Student Government Association, the representative voice of the student body, passed a bill supporting the possession of medical marijuana by students with chronic illnesses on March 30.
The bill called for university students to be able to carry usable marijuana—in flower, edible and concentrate form—and paraphernalia on campus without fear of punishment. It would not apply to smokable marijuana or its use.
As admirable as SGA’s attempt to accommodate students in need is, its legislation will not be successful as long as marijuana use is illegal in Michigan. As long as public universities are federally funded, the use of marijuana, even for medical reasons, is prohibited.
Medical marijuana laws in Michigan are in dire need of clarification. This is not a call for legalization for recreational use, but rather for clearer legislation that does not act as an obstacle between students and medical treatment.
We support the use of marijuana for medical reasons, and urge the student body to educate themselves on the issue as well as exercise their political rights to affect change in current laws.
The possession and use of marijuana ranges from a misdemeanor to a felony in Michigan.
According to the Michigan Public Health Code: “Marihuana does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks, except the resin extracted from those stalks, fiber, oil, or cake, or any sterilized seed of the plant that is incapable of germination. Marihuana does not include industrial hemp grown or cultivated, or both, for research purposes under the industrial hemp research act.”
Qualified medical marijuana users in the state are allowed to possess up to two and a half ounces of “usable” marijuana to treat a number of medical issues, including chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, nausea, seizures and severe muscle spasms.
These are problems that affect many of our own students, but the fact that concentrates and other edible forms of the drug are left out of the definition of medical marijuana use makes it hard for students to use this treatment.
In 2014, 1 percent of Michigan’s citizens were medical marijuana patients. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs processed 92,652 new medical marijuana applications in fiscal year 2014. With murky laws regarding medical use of marijuana and a system that does not support the operation of dispensaries, these users are faced with large obstacles to getting treated.
In Mount Pleasant, the possession and use of less than one ounce of marijuana on private property by people over 21 was legalized in November.
However, local police officers will still enforce state laws.
Since marijuana is decriminalized in Mount Pleasant, the opportunity to bring in dispensaries exists. However, Michigan as a whole does not allow dispensaries to operate, so those that run do so without state recognition.
Previously, Mount Pleasant had one medical marijuana dispensary. It was shut down in 2013 by a Michigan Supreme Court ruling. Now, students with medical needs must travel to Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids or other cities with operating dispensaries. The closest dispensary to Mount Pleasant is in Bay City.
We encourage students and community members to educate themselves on the laws of a drug that is becoming increasingly prevalent both state and nationwide. Lobbying for the recognition of dispensaries, casting your vote when the opportunity arises and otherwise contributing to the conversation are all ways to help those in need of medical marijuana treatment.
Michigan may not be close to completely legalizing marijuana, and that’s not what students with medical issues need. What they need, and deserve, is a clear path to the treatment that allows them to live their lives to the fullest potential.
