Submitted by Debbie Barba
The Boulder Camera published an article this week titled “CU-Boulder waives dorm requirement for medical marijuana students”. In short, CU-Boulder has waived the requirement for freshman students to live in dorms if they hold a legal medical marijuana card. A CU student who lives off campus and has his medical marijuana license, as well as holding the position of executive director of CU's chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, is quoted as saying "We want students to enjoy all aspects of college life, we don't want them to miss out on their freshman years.” He suggests that CU offer dorms for students with medical marijuana licenses, like the specialized dorms for engineering students, so students who smoke weed for medicinal purposes aren't deprived of the perks that come with on campus living among their peers. CU’s current policy does not allow marijuana on campus; nor do the policies at CSU and UNC.
It seems legal medical marijuana usage has created a buzz among students and policy makers on Colorado campuses (pun intended). Of course, students who hold medical marijuana cards want to be able to smoke weed on campus. Of course, institution administrators are concerned with enrollment and want their school to be enticing to students. So should the direction that CU-Boulder is taking regarding its waiving of freshman living on campus be followed by other Colorado institutions? Is this the beginning of further policies that could ultimately change the landscape of our campuses?
A few points come to mind immediately. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are not allowed in college dorms so why should smoking pot? The legal age for purchasing cigarettes in Colorado is 18; therefore, a majority of freshman can purchase them without breaking that law. They can be legally purchased but not legally consumed in on campus residences. The legal age for purchasing alcohol in Colorado is 21; therefore, a minority of students living in a residence hall can legally purchase it for consumption. My point is that just because something can legally be purchased does not automatically mean it is legal to consume in all settings. Why shouldn’t that same rule hold for medical marijuana? Isn’t a legal drug and an illegal drug still a drug?
The state of Colorado is in a quandary over the use, purchase and growth of medical marijuana. While state law allows for the legal growing and purchase of medical weed, federal law prohibits the growing and procession of marijuana period – even if it is considered medical. I am sure we all heard of the Denver area man who was busted for growing legal medical marijuana under federal law; until the laws and enforcement of such laws are clearly aligned colleges should tread carefully into these murky waters.
Receiving a medical marijuana card is quite simple. I have friends who obtained cards by simply taking a short ride to Denver, checking symptoms off on a simple form (headaches, anxiety and depression) and handing over a sizeable amount of cash. They now can visit a dispensary of their choice and legally purchase pot at a price roughly twice that of street value. Is this capitalism at its finest? Is this another revenue stream for municipalities thru license fees and taxation? Perhaps the higher education state funding crisis can be resolved; institutions can open dispensaries next to the campus bookstore.
Is CU-Boulder being reactionary to a situation that could potentially increase its desirability and ultimately enrollment? The institution has a reputation of being a ‘party school’ so why not give the fire a little fuel? Could CU-Boulder become the school of choice for every upper economic class pot head high school graduate? This sarcastic question is to emphasize how and what institutions want to be viewed as. Is it a wise move to begin setting precedents through school policies regarding medical marijuana? I think not. What kind of a “higher” education experience do we want student to have?
I had fun writing this blog and hope you chuckled while reading it!
http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14832890#axzz0kjp4g9F2
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I think that it might chase more students away then attract. With the high cost of higher education, parents want a positive learning environment. I am not sure that having students smoking on campus creates a positive learning environment and does nothing to reduce CU's image as a party school. Administrators have been trying to change that image.
ReplyDeleteLocal, state and federal authorities are all in a quandary in how to handle this issue. Decriminalizing pot would free up those resources now being used to pursue offenders and taxation could be a revenue stream. I agree with CU's stand though, not on campus.
Higher Ed. has a new meaning. What if you took it further to people remeber more when they are stoned. They would have to stay stoned to pass thier test. The new tag line for C.U. admisions would be Rocky mountain higher education. C.U. is stuck, even if they rebrand the school as a none party place. The City of Boulder will always have a party attitude with all of the bars that need support. Boulder is also always wanting to be out front on hot topics like legal pot.
ReplyDeleteThis is all good fun until someone sues for a smoke free campus, then we will have to have brownie bars instead.
I agree with CU's stand in terms of allowing students to get out of their housing living requirement if they have a medical marijuana license. If a student wants the "freshman experience" of living on campus, then they can follow the university's policies of not smoking on campus. I agree with Ray in that if they were to go through with some sort of living place on campus for students with medical marijuana licenses it would probably deter a lot of students from attending. It might attract some students as well, but as a whole, I think it would be detrimental for the university.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely something that is creating a buzz in the state and I can only imagine it will continue to make news as time goes on.