Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a law Monday that will require Colorado schools to establish medical marijuana policies for students who are licensed to use non-smokeable cannabis products, KKTV reports.
The new law requires Colorado school districts to create a policy allowing qualified students to medicate on school grounds. Districts that would rather opt out of the program must be able to prove they have lost federal funding as a result of the policy. Otherwise, they must update their school district’s website with an “easy to find” explanation for why they are choosing to not offer a compassionate medical cannabis policy. The law also says that if a school district loses federal funding as a result of their medical marijuana policy changes, the state will reimburse any money lost.
“The attitudes are changing and we are so grateful for that because there is no more fear,” said Stacey Linn of Jefferson County, whose son Jack Splitt uses medical cannabis in the treatment of his Cerebral Palsy. “It’s not scary, it’s good. It’s a miracle,” said Linn.
School District 49 in Falcon, Colorado has already changed its policy regarding medical cannabis after a disabled student was suspended last year for inadvertently bringing yogurt mixed with cannabis pills to school in his home-packed lunch. The new policy takes effect at the start of the next school year, and D-49 officials have said they hope other districts will reach out with any questions while drafting their own updated policies.