SUMMIT SCHOOL BOARD WRESTLES WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA
QUESTIONS

Drug And Alcohol Policy Is Under Revision To Conform To State
Laws

Summit School District board members tabled a Tuesday discussion about
revisions to the drug and alcohol policy because they felt there were
too many unanswered questions.

The policy was meant to address revisions to state laws that address
medical marijuana. Board member Erin Young said state laws prohibit
the possession of medical marijuana on school grounds. Period.

The law states, "A patient or primary caregiver shall not ... Possess
medical marijuana or otherwise engage in the use of medical marijuana
in or on the grounds of a school or in a school bus."

The district's policy is meant to be in conformance with that law, but
board members questioned "under the influence" terminology in the
existing policy and its revisions.

"What do you do if a student legitimately needs the recommendation?"
board president Jon Kreamelmeyer asked. Could it be acceptable for
students to take their medical dose before school?

Board member Alison Casias noted that pain killers and vitamins fall
into the same category as hard drugs in the policy - and asked what it
means to be "under the influence" of such over-the-counter products.

She also asked whether it's necessary to include in the policy
language stating: "The District affirmatively determines that any use
of medical marijuana endangers the health and well-being of students."
It seems to be "picking a fight," she said.

Casias' third concern was about the all-encompassing time frame listed
in the policy - essentially, it applies from August to June, she said.

The policy states that it applies to student behavior "off school
property and/or outside school hours if the behavior is in proximity
to the school, and/or within the school year and/or in proximity to
school hours and/or during school activities."

"Staff is recommending this policy be cleaned up," superintendent
Millie Hamner said. "We should take a hard stance on this."

Board members decided some of their questions needed to be addressed
by the district's legal counsel, so they're holding off on making a
decision until they have more information.

"It doesn't sound like anyone's fired up about this," Kreamelmeyer
said. "If we're going to do this, we should do it right."

He said the bottom line in answering these questions and defining
"under the influence" is to choose whether to be "a little bit
understanding or not at all."

Staff policy approved Similar policy revisions for staff were approved
on initial reading Tuesday night, but board members wanted to further
define what it means to be "under the influence" before they finalize
the policy.

Some suggestions were to monitor job performance. If it declines, the
staff member may be drug tested. However, board members were firm that
marijuana use by those in safety-sensitive jobs such as bus driving
would be prohibited.

Arguments were made for individuals who may function better while
using medical marijuana.

They plan to seek legal advice before final reading of the staff policy.