Marijuana reform group asks Missouri universities to allow medical usage on campuses
Missouri State University student Siciley Wilson was 20 years old when she developed drug-resistant epilepsy. Her seizures, while not frequent, are violent; it often takes two to four days for her to fully recover from the side effects.
During a seizure, Wilson may bite her tongue or hit her head while losing consciousness. To lessen the pain that follows, she uses medical marijuana. Wilson lives off Missouri State's campus, but said she has consumed medical marijuana, in the form of gummies, on campus between classes.
Missouri State's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities prohibits the use of any type of marijuana on campus. Students who use or possess marijuana on campus may be fined or suspended from the university.
Neither Missouri's earlier medical marijuana amendment nor the recently-approved Amendment 3 explicitly address use of medical marijuana on university and college campuses. Federal statutes continue to apply however, meaning medical marijuana remains illegal.
On Nov. 30, the Missouri affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) announced its 2023 legislative agenda, which includes "requiring Missouri colleges and universities to allow medical marijuana use on campus." Missouri NORML is one of the organizations that helped draft and place Amendment 3 on the November ballot.
"At a minimum, the use of edibles and vaporized cannabis should be permitted by residents of university dormitories," Missouri NORML's agenda states. "Students routinely possess and use pharmaceutical medications, which are potentially deadly and addictive. Marijuana is neither one."
Wilson's first epileptic seizure was a grand mal seizure, which includes loss of consciousness and muscle convulsions that may last up to two minutes. While many people only have one grand mal seizure in their lifetime, this is not the case for Wilson. Due to their severity, she has had to give up driving entirely.
Because Wilson's epilepsy is drug resistant, anti-seizure medications do not effect her. She said the only product she has used that has helped reduce her pain is marijuana.
"The only medication prescribed to people with severe pain management is opioids, and opioids come with a slew of side effects, including physical and psychological dependency," Wilson said. "I personally feel as though medical marijuana, or even just using marijuana recreationally, could be an alternative."
Following Amendment 3's passage, universities release statements about medical, recreational marijuana policies
Missouri State is not the only public university in the state that prohibits the use of medical marijuana.
In a statement made on Wednesday, Dec. 7, University of Missouri in Columbia reminded students that the university is bound by the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and Drug Free Workplace Act.
"Even though you might have a medical marijuana identification card, you may still not use or possess marijuana on university property, university-leased property or as part of any university-sponsored or university-supervised activity," Bill Stackman, vice chancellor for student affairs, said in the statement.
Medical and recreational marijuana will remain prohibited on public college and university campuses, as long as this legislation is not outlined specifically in state law.
Missouri NORML's legislative agenda also seeks approval for:
Immediate release of all prisoners convicted of marijuana offenses;
Expansion of marijuana business licenses;
Extension of job discrimination protection to non-medical adult marijuana users; and
Allowance of cannabis to be smoked wherever tobacco smoking is allowed.
Prefiling for bills for the 2023 session began Dec. 1. Missouri NORML said it hopes these topics will be addressed "well before" the legislative session convenes on Jan. 4.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Marijuana activists seek approval of medical usage on college campuses
