All Cal State University campuses are implementing a system-wide zero-tolerance policy for marijuana of any kind in an attempt to avoid losing federal funding.
Zero-tolerance means no accommodations and no exceptions for state-legal medical marijuana.
At other public colleges and universities in California, medical marijuana is “accommodated” on some conditions if proper documentation is provided, but CSU campuses are more strict in regulating drugs on campus, according to SF Weekly, a weekly alternative newspaper from San Francisco.
According to Michael Uhlenkamp, a CSU spokesman, CSU campuses and police follow federal laws on the use and possession of marijuana.
“The reason that we follow federal law is that campuses and students would be at risk of losing federal funding if we chose to conform to state law,” Uhlenkamp said. “Campuses could potentially lose grants, and students would be at risk of losing financial aid as the Higher Education Act denies federal student financial aid eligibility to applicants with any misdemeanor or felony drug conviction.”
According to Uhlenkamp, the CSU is the largest recipient of Federal Pell Grants of any institution in the country.
In 2009-10, the federal government awarded about $550 million to more than 136,000 undergraduate students across the CSU system in Pell Grants.
As part of the system, Cal State Long Beach also conforms to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and the Higher Education Act, meaning all students, faculty and staff are obliged to observe the policy.
“Despite inconveniences for people who use marijuana as medicine, I support the policy because I think that there should not be any drugs on any of the campuses,” said Reyna Jimenez, a senior child development major. “As a child development student, I know that it really affects the cognitive development especially for teenagers who are still in the process.”
To many students, banning all drugs, including medical marijuana, is appropriate.
“If they really need [marijuana] and must take it on campus, they must first prove that they need it for medical purposes,” said Moses See, a senior geography major.
However, students with medical marijuana cards offered differing opinions. To them, the policy is illegitimate despite their misuse of the cards.
“The card, for me, is like an insurance plan just in case there’s a run in with the police,” said Anthony Cobian-Jan, a senior film major. “It’s like drinking. People are going to get it somehow regardless of how difficult it may be. If you want something, you’re going to go get it no matter what. Herb is safer than drinking.”