MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOT ALLOWED ON CMU'S CAMPUS; LEGAL DISPUTES
MOUNTING THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN

Marijuana is prohibited on Central Michigan University's campus,
despites the state's legalization of the substance for medical purposes.

CMU must abide by federal law, which states the substance, whether
medicinal or recreational, is illegal to use or possess.

"Federal law supersedes state law," said Joan Schmidt, associate
director of Residence Life. "No marijuana is allowed on campus."

Campus Police Chief Bill Yeagley said the university policy forbids
possession, storage and use of medical marijuana.

But he said Residence Life is willing to work with students who need
marijuana for medical purposes.

"If (students) live on campus, they're not going to say, 'We're
kicking you out,'" Yeagley said. "If you have an issue, you need to
move off campus and it's a legit reason to move off campus."

Schmidt said the first offense of possession or use entails a fine of
$100. Second offenses are punished with a possible suspension or $300
fine. She also said police may be involved, though whether to take
legal action is ultimately their decision.

However, they yield to the office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Maura Casey, White Lake sophomore, said marijuana practices on campus
should match the state's law.

"As long as you don't smoke on campus, possession shouldn't be a
problem." Casey said.

Eastern Michigan University recently banned medical marijuana on
their campus, according to reports from the Eastern Echo.

The penalty on EMU's campus for a first offense matches CMU's.

Legal Disputes

Medical marijuana has been a point of contention recently as a Mount
Pleasant establishment, Compassionate Apothecary, was called to court
by Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick to dispute whether the
dispensary is legal. No judgment has been released.

Similarly, in Dryden, the Lapeer County Sheriff seized 50 marijuana
plants, scales and $3,500 from a dispensary called Compassionate Care.

James McCurtis, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of
Community Health, said his department does not regulate dispensaries,
nor do they deal with enforcement of the law; it simply decides who
is able to receive a medical marijuana card.

"Dispensaries aren't even mentioned in the law," McCurtis said. "That
is going to need to be clarified through the legislature or court system."

Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, introduced a bill to stop consumption
of marijuana on the premises of dispensaries.

Jones said the goal of this particular bill is not to make
dispensaries illegal. However, he said medical marijuana should be
treated like a standard pharmaceutical and given from a prescription
by a doctor and brought to a pharmacy for distribution.

"I don't want dispensaries to become places where they smoke the
product and then drive away," Jones said. "The ballot initiative was
written very gray, it's not clear."