WKU will not allow medical marijuana on its campuses for those who have legal approval, Dean of Students Martha Sales announced on Wednesday via an email to students.
Sales, along with a separate email sent to faculty and staff by Quenna Thompson, interim assistant vice president for Human Resources, said “WKU policy will continue to prohibit possession and use of marijuana-containing products, including medical cannabis, on its campuses.”
According to Sales, the university is required to comply with federal laws that prohibit drug use on college campuses, like the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (DFSCA) and the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, because it receives federal funding.
“This policy continues to apply to all individuals while on campus, including those who are legally approved to use medical cannabis under Kentucky law,” Sales said.
On Mar. 31, 2023, Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 allowing for the legalization of medical cannabis in the Commonwealth, which opened its application portal on Jan. 1. The law permits eligible people with serious health conditions – like cancer or chronic pain – to buy and use certain forms of marijuana for medical purposes.
According to the Kentucky Revised Statutes, a person is eligible to apply for a medical cannabis registry identification card if they are a resident of Kentucky, has obtained a written certification from their medical practitioner and has not been convicted of a “disqualifying felony offense.”
DFSCA requires all institutions of higher education that receive federal funds or financial assistance to implement a program to “prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees,” the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools wrote in a 2006 guide for university and college administrators.
“A number of court rulings have made clear that, while colleges and universities cannot be expected to control student conduct, they must ensure that their activities, offerings, and programs meet minimum standards of care, and they must take steps to deal with dangerous situations on campus,” the guide stated.
If an institution violates its certification with DFSCA, the guide stated, then the United States secretary of education may “terminate all forms of financial assistance” and “may require repayment of such assistance, including individual students’ federal grants, such as Pell grants.”
Similarly, the Drug-Free Workplace Act requires federal agency contractors and grantees to certify they will provide a drug-free workplace as a pre-condition to receive any federal contracts or grants.
Should students have questions, Sales encouraged them to be sent to [email protected].
Assistant Content Editor Cameron Shaw can be reached at [email protected].