Possessing recreational marijuana may be legal in Missouri, but not on area college campuses

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – The possession of leisure marijuana is now authorized in Missouri for these age 21 and older.

But it surely’s nonetheless not allowed in sure locations like the world’s faculty campuses.

Missouri State, Drury, Evangel, OTC, and Mizzou have already got insurance policies in place prohibiting narcotics and managed substances. And that won’t change, though Thursday marked the onset of a brand new period in our state’s historical past with the legalization of leisure marijuana possession-and-use in small quantities. The no marijuana coverage additionally extends to all the colleges inside the College of Missouri system.

“It actually has been fairly clear reduce,” stated Drury College Director of Communications Jasmine Cooper concerning the resolution to not change regardless of the brand new regulation. “The coverage’s already been in place at Drury.”

And one cause it’s staying that manner is as a result of Drury, Evangel, and Missouri State are all part of Missouri Companions in Prevention, a coalition of 24 increased schooling faculties that offers with alcohol and drug tips. Many faculties have adopted alcohol-free, tobacco-free, and drug-free guidelines.

“The Companions in Prevention group is devoted to creating wholesome and secure faculty campuses,” Cooper defined. “And that features prohibiting marijuana use. Whatever the state’s adjustments, Drury will proceed to abide by federal regulation. And below federal regulation, marijuana continues to be labeled as a Schedule 1 drug.”

Schedule 1 medication are outlined by federal regulation as medication with no at the moment accepted medical use and excessive potential for abuse.

Whereas Missouri State and Evangel declined interviews to clarify their insurance policies, they did present statements that their present guidelines prohibiting pot utilization or possession is not going to change due to the state’s legalization.

And though they aren’t part of the Companions in Prevention, OTC’s coverage will even keep the identical.

“Marijuana is prohibited to own at Ozarks Technical Neighborhood School,” stated OTC Chief Media Relations Officer Mark Miller. “And actually any faculty or college the place college students obtain federal funding, or any type of federal grants and analysis funding has to stay unlawful. However even when it have been not towards federal regulation, we nonetheless wouldn’t permit it on our campus. Identical to alcohol, it’s an intoxicate, and we don’t need it right here.”

Marijuana is authorized in keeping with state regulation, and unlawful in keeping with federal regulation will proceed to be some extent of competition till the legislature or courts clear up the ambiguities. However the two-faced nature of the issue is one thing college students are noticing.

“I feel Mizzou’s strategy positively exhibits they’re feeding into the stigma on the warfare on medication,” stated College of Missouri scholar Mina Pszonka. “They’re positively framing marijuana as one thing extremely harmful and scary. However let’s be trustworthy. They stunning a lot promote alcohol use by permitting tailgating on the property, which is ok, however let’s be truthful and never demonize one thing else.”

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