University of Missouri System to prohibit pot on its campuses
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The University of Missouri System said Wednesday on the eve of recreational marijuana becoming legal in Missouri that pot will still be prohibited on its campuses.
Amendment 3, which legalizes recreational marijuana for adults, takes effect Thursday. However, the university said in a news release that it will still bar pot because of federal law.
"Following a review of the federal Drug-Free Schools and Community Act and Drug-Free Workplace Act, the University of Missouri System will continue to prohibit the possession, use and distribution of marijuana on any university property, university-leased property and as part of university-sponsored or university-supervised activities," the UM System said in a news release.
"I think it's a bit stupid to be honest but I understand the point of the rules," Sam Keller a student at MU said.
Another student on campus held the same view, calling the rule stupid.
"Everyone is already doing it so I don't see the point of the rule," Jake Koenig said.
The Drug-Free Schools and Community Act requires schools to have policies to discipline students and employees caught with drugs. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Punishment for students caught with marijuana could be as severe as expulsion. Employees can be disciplined or fired.
"The punishments vary," Christian Basi a MU spokesman said. "There is a range from a verbal warning all the way to expulsion of a student or termination of an employee."
However, employee's will be allowed to consume marijuana products outside of work as long as they are not bringing it to work.
"When they are preforming their duties as a University of Missouri employee, they will be prohibited from possessing, using or distributing any actions related to marijuana," Basi said. "But that will only be if they are doing so in the context of their job."
According to Basi, the policy hasn't changed at all. According to him, nobody created this new policy with the knowledge of Amendment 3 coming out, they are following the law.
The rules apply to all university properties, the UM System said.
While possession of recreational marijuana becomes legal Thursday, stores won't be able to sell cannabis products until at least February.
The amendment also expunges most non-violent marijuana crimes.
