ABOR BANS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Despite the allowance of medical marijuana in Arizona, the Arizona
Board of Regents will not be allowing the substance on any state
university campuses.

ABOR's policy is in keeping with the Drug Free Workplace Act and the
Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, which requires places
receiving federal money or financial assistance under federal
programs must prevent the possession or distribution of illegal drugs
or alcohol.

Arizona universities would forfeit any federal money they are
receiving, including grants and scholarships, if they allowed the
possession of medical marijuana on campus.

Air traffic management senior John Burgmeier, like many ASU students,
has received federal grants through the university in the past.

"I know that medical marijuana can be healing for some people, but
it's still in violation of federal law," he said. "I don't want to
lose my money."

Students and staff will be able to access information about the
policy from "normal communication channels" that ASU uses for the
student code of conduct and human resources, said Sharon Keeler,
director of media relations in the Office of Public Affairs.

ASU has communicated the restriction of medical marijuana to ASU
Police, but if a student is caught with it, they will not be in
violation of state law.

For ASU students, the change in policy might not mean much. Burgmeier
said he understood the federal rules that ASU has to follow.

"People who have prescriptions for medical marijuana should just be
able to go off campus," he said. "It's not that far of a walk."

Students who are found in possession or use of medical marijuana on
campus will be in violation of university policy, she said.

"If they have a medical marijuana card then they are not in violation
of state law, should the law hold up in court," she said.

Keeler did not cite specific consequences to students who are found
with medical marijuana, but said that students who are found in
violation of this policy will be handled "on a per student basis."

Students and staff who may have medical marijuana cards are not under
university policy when they are off campus and should be under the
protection of state law.

Current laws regarding zoning and regulations of medical marijuana
are still being finalized. Arizona is currently in the process of
determining whether the medical marijuana law is in conflict with
federal drug statutes or not.