Along with the president’s re-election came the passing of Washington Initiative 502. This new legislation allows for the legalization of marijuana in small amounts to be possessed by adults age 21 years and older. The new possession limitations and legality of marijuana are outlined in Initiative 502 and will be put in place on Dec. 6, 2012.
However, the previous policies regarding marijuana use and possession are still in effect on the Puget Sound campus, even if the offender is of the legal age. Fines and possible imprisonment, as outlined in the school’s Alcohol and Drug policies, are still in effect.
This might seem unreasonable, considering the alcohol policy on campus permits the possession of alcoholic beverages to students of the legal age. But then, it must be remembered that marijuana is considered to be a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law.
Because of this standing, under the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA), allowing marijuana usage on campus would result in the termination of federal funds. Such funding helps students reduce the cost of attending Puget Sound.
This message was sent out to all Puget Sound students, as many questioned whether or not legalization meant permission to use the drug within school grounds. Dean of Students Mike Segawa reminded students and staff of the difference between the state’s regulations and national regulations.
“Given existing federal laws, there is no change to our present policy,” Segawa said.
These types of clashes between state and federal decisions have been happening with several colleges across the state of Washington. Notably, at Washington State University a student with a legal prescription to use marijuana was fined and jailed for delivering the drug to other students with similar prescriptions.
However, it must be noted that the policies are not put in place to punish people with medical conditions. All illegal substances are prohibited by the DFSCA, but marijuana just happens to be legal in some circumstances within the state.
As schools deal with these issues, the question of whether or not marijuana use will increase with the passing of Initiative 502 arises. Crime statistics show that there has been no definitive pattern in drug arrests or disciplinary actions regarding drug use.
But whether or not legalization affects campus, the Puget Sound community is expected to handle substances with common sense. “Any person who chooses to drink alcoholic beverages is expected to do so responsibly,” the Drug and Alcohol policy reads. By extension, that same responsibility can be applied to the use of marijuana for its consumers.
Puget Sound provides its students with several services that can help students experiencing problems with drug use. One such resource is e-TOKE, a test that allows students to see areas of their lives that are affected by marijuana abuse. Counseling, Health and Wellness Services also provide statistics, facts and substance abuse hotlines for several substances.
Use of marijuana on campus is expected to change with the new laws, but whether or not it will increase or decrease is unknown. As of now, use of this drug is fairly common on campus.
“On the average, we probably see two or three cases a week when classes are in session. Complaints from residents about marijuana smell in the residence halls are also common,” Todd Badham, Director of Security Services, said.
Security already deals with these cases and it has been related that more conflicts may arise from Initiative 502.
“I suspect students will test these boundaries,” Badham said. Whether or not this suspicion turns out to be true, the expectation for students will not change. If a student chooses to smoke, that person must take responsibility for his or her actions.