Pubdate: Thu, 06 Dec 2012
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: John Ingold
Page: 1

POT STILL AGAINST COLLEGE RULES

The state measure that next month legalizes marijuana use and 
possession for those 21 and over won't fly on campuses.

In about a month, a measure legalizing marijuana use and possession 
for adults will go into effect, but one place it won't have much grip 
on is college campuses.

When it comes to pot, there will be no high in higher education in Colorado.

"In order not to lose federal funds," said University of Colorado at 
Boulder spokeswoman Malinda Hiller-Huey, "we need to comply with federal law."

That means at CU - like at pretty much every other campus, big and 
small, across the state - marijuana use will not be allowed. People 
of all ages smoking pot on campus and those under 21 found possessing 
it will still be issued criminal tickets. Use and possession of 
marijuana in the dorms won't be sanctioned, even for those 21 or 
older, who will be allowed to possess marijuana elsewhere.

And, on at least several campuses, including CU's, students over 21 
or adult faculty and staff members found possessing marijuana could 
still face school disciplinary proceedings.

About the only change the new law will have on CU's enforcement 
against marijuana will be that police officers will no longer issue 
tickets to those 21 or older found with pot.

"We would advise them it's against university policy," said CU police 
spokesman Ryan Huff. "And, if they are an employee or student, it's 
possible they could be referred to their supervisor or the office of 
student conduct."

The new law-passed as Amendment 64 by 55 percent of Colorado voters 
last month - allows people 21 or older to possess up to an ounce of 
marijuana and grow six plants in their homes. About 38 percent of 
undergraduate students at CU- and only 4 percent of students living 
on campus- are 21 or older, Huff said.

In a question-and-answer guide posted on the CU website, the school 
acknowledges the new law means students 21 or older will be able to 
grow, possess and use marijuana legally off campus.

Students 21 and older at CU are allowed to have alcohol in their dorm 
rooms, provided it stays in their rooms and no one under 21 is 
present when they are drinking, Miller-Huey said. Alcohol is allowed 
at other places and events on campus, too.

The difference is that CU and other schools receiving federal funds 
must comply with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, 
which requires schools to ban illicit drugs from campus. Marijuana 
use and possession are illegal under federal law.

Officials at colleges and universities around Colorado say they are 
still studying the legal ramifications of marijuana legalization. But 
they are uniform in saying that marijuana will not have a place on campus.

"The very most likely result is that marijuana is not allowed 
anywhere on the CSU campus," said Colorado State University spokesman 
Mike Hooker, who added that marijuana possession would be considered 
a student conduct code violation. "It doesn't fit in with our mission 
as an academic institution."

Mason Tvert, a leader of the campaign to pass Amendment 64, said the 
schools have the right to keep marijuana off campus but said it is 
unfortunate that the schools would consider pursing discipline 
against people legally possessing marijuana.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom