SGA House passes bill to allow use of medicinal marijuana campus
Student Government Associate Vice Presidential candidate Maggie Blackmer speaks with Central Michigan students at their meeting on March 30 in Anspach Hall.
A bill for the use of medicinal marijuana on campus for students with chronic illnesses passed Monday night in the House at Student Government Association's weekly meeting.
The bill, which passed earlier in February in 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.
Chuck Mahone, president of SGA, said the “quality of research” that went into making the bill a reality is evident within the legislation.
“I don’t think (the passing of this bill) reflects on CMU an institution but more of the will of the student body,” Mahone said. “If you look at this bill, it hinges on the federal (decriminalization of marijuana).”
Mahone said although there is a slight correlation between this bill and recreational usage of marijuana, both having to do with the using of the drug, this bill would not condone or encourage such.
“As soon as the federal government decriminalizes (marijuana), recreational use will go up,” Mahone said. “It has nothing to do with this bill.”
The bill’s creator, SGA Senator Ian Elliot, said the bill would not allow smoking on campus. 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 and 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 that students with medical marijuana access would be able to smoke in residence halls, fearing what smoking could bring into her residence hall room.
Elliot explained residence halls aren't private spaces.
“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, said 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, edibles and concentrates within a locked container that only the user could access. 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).”
