New Arizona Law Bans Medical Marijuana on Higher Education Campuses

October 05, 2012

New Arizona Law Bans Medical Marijuana on Higher Education Campuses

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer recently signed a new law banning the use of medical marijuana on public university and state college campuses. The law, which imposes criminal drug charges on people who violate the ban, is the latest in a series of recent efforts to scale back the legalization of medical marijuana in Arizona. The new law also prohibits the use of medical marijuana on public school campuses, including child care centers and pre-schools.

Supporters of the Arizona ban include university officials and criminal prosecutors, who claim the new law will help protect the health and safety of students in Arizona, as well as safeguard federal funding for higher education. In a statement quoted by Reuters, State Representative Amanda Reeve, who supported the bill, said that more than $666 million in federal funding could have been at risk if medical marijuana had been permitted on Arizona state college and university campuses.

Others, however, are against the ban. Opponents of the new law include the American Civil Liberties Union and the Arizona Medical Marijuana Association, both of which object to banning the substance on higher education campuses. A spokesman from AMMA told the Associated Press that the validity of the state ban will likely be challenged in court on constitutional grounds.

Another detractor of the ban, Dr. Sue Sisley, an assistant professor of psychology and internal medicine at the University of Arizona, told the Arizona Republic that the law may interfere with her research on the use of medical marijuana to treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Sisley said that the ban could also create obstacles for students who are in need of medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other conditions while living on campus.

Voters in Arizona approved the legalization of medical marijuana under state law in 2010. Although 16 states and Washington, D.C. have legislation that permits medical marijuana use in some form, the substance is still illegal under federal law regardless of how it is used.

Despite the gradual shift toward legalization of marijuana for therapeutic purposes, criminal charges for marijuana-related offenses can still have very serious consequences. People charged with drug crimes in Arizona should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Article provided by Janet Altschuler, Attorney at Law
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