Northwestern and IL Medical Marijuana

In a column in The Daily Northwestern on Oct. 5, Sai Folmsbee asks many of the same questions asked around the country as medical marijuana programs gain steam: “What are the most reliable uses for medical marijuana?” “What are the risks of medical marijuana?” And signing off with a trite: “Ultimately, we must remember to treat medical marijuana as just that: medicine.”

Despite the article’s Google-like questioning, Folmsbee brings to light an important topic that could become an issue in 2015, as patients are granted licenses to purchase and businesses allowed to sell medical marijuana. According to the Northwestern University Student Handbook, Northwestern will not permit students to use medical marijuana on University property or at any University activities.

This shouldn’t come as much of a shock. Considering that the University adheres to the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 prohibiting students from using IL medical marijuana. Workplaces around the state will adhere to the same rules. In fact, although it is a legal medicine, marijuana still cannot be consumed publicly.

The one place this could become a problem is in student housing. But those with medical conditions warranting the use of medical marijuana should steer clear. As students found in possession of the substance could lose a year or more of federal financial aid. (Remember – it’s still federally against the law.) Somewhat ironically, in this case, convicted students can complete a drug rehabilitation program to reinstate aid.