POT USE SNUFFED OUT ON CAMPUS

CSU Student Moves Off Campus To Medicate

Kayla Schwartz decided not to live in the dorms this year because
she's not allowed to medicate on campus.

"It just makes me so mad," Schwartz, a senior communications major and
medical marijuana, MMJ, cardholder, said. "Students can use
prescription pills in the dorms which have a huge rap sheet for being
addictive and sometimes fatal. Find me one case ever documented where
marijuana use has led to death."

Though it is legal to be an MMJ patient in Fort Collins ---- meaning
that a card holder may use marijuana in any form to ease physical
pain, and may also grow it for medicinal purposes in the privacy of
their homes ---- the possession and use of marijuana in university
housing is strictly prohibited.

According to the Residence Hall Handbook, the possession of a medical
marijuana permit does not allow for the possession or use of marijuana
in the residence halls or the university apartments. Marijuana
obtained for medicinal purposes cannot be stored or used in the
residence halls.

Tonie Miyamoto, Director of Communication for Housing and Dining
Services said there are numerous reasons for not allowing MMJ use on
campus.

"For one, it's illegal federally," Miyamoto said. "There's really no
getting around that."

The federal government regulates drugs through the Controlled
Substances Act (CSA) (21 U.S.C. ' 811), which does not acknowledge a
distinction between medical and recreational use of marijuana.

Under federal law, marijuana is treated like every other controlled
substance, such as cocaine and heroin, which means that the federal
government views marijuana as highly addictive and having no medical
value.

"It's not illegal for students to carry a medicinal marijuana card,
but they have to abide by the policies here," Miyamoto said.

The university has a strict drug use and smoking policy. Though there
are designated smoking areas on campus, students can't smoke MMJ
anywhere on campus. Edible marijuana products are also prohibited.

"I just don't think that's right," Schwartz said. "It means that if
you are a patient, you have to opt out of the dorm experience, which
is really a really valuable experience."

Schwartz is now living in an apartment near campus. She ran into a
similar issue when applying for her new place. One of the questions on
the application asked to state whether or not she was an MMJ patient.

"I feel like I can't win anywhere," said Schwartz who possesses an MMJ
license for chronic pain from a shoulder injury. "If I have to leave
my house or dorm to medicate, then I run the risk of traveling back
home under the influence, and (its effects) will probably be worn off
by the time I get home anyway."

Schwartz works at a local MMJ dispensary and hears the same laments
from many of the patients who are students. She also said students
come in to inquire about medical marijuana and decide against applying
for a license while living in the dorms because it just doesn't seem
worth it.

"They won't even be able to reap the benefits," she
said.

So far, though there is some chatter going on regarding dorm room
policies, there doesn't seem to be any sort of movement in the works
at this time.

Paul Osincup, the associate director of Conflict Resolution and
Student Conduct Services, said he is not aware of any formal
complaints from students in the residence halls regarding medical marijuana.