Cannabis on Campus? Some Canadian Schools Say, Why Not?

Cannabis on Campus? Some Canadian Schools Say, Why Not?

For many adolescents, college life is a time for experimentation.

Make new friends, sip some booze, and try different drugs. Including pot. Most parents worry that accessibility to pot can place unnecessary pressure on college kids, who are already prone to peer pressure plus the pressure to keep their grades up. For this reason, there are strict laws in the United States surrounding the use of cannabis on campus, and even keeping dispensaries far away from educational institutions.

But Canadians feel differently about the topic.

By October 17, Canada will be the 2nd country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis, doing away with prohibition completely. Some Canadian schools are more progressive when it comes to cannabis use, as they look to relax their cannabis laws on campus. In fact, research shows that Canadian youth consume cannabis more than any other country in the world. In 2017, a Macleans survey revealed that more than a third of students in Canadian universities smoke cannabis sometimes, and 5% of them report to toking up several times a week at least.

But this won’t mean that all of them will allow kids to toke up after a stressful midterm exam.

Don O’Leary, University of Guelph vice president, disclosed to CTV News that the smoking of pot would be prohibited on his campus but says that edibles may be accepted in some form. Students enrolled at the University of Guelph will be allowed to consume alcohol in their private residences as long as they stay out of the public eye, including their work areas.

In Kingston, Queen’s University will be banning both students and staff from smoking pot, although school administrators admit that there is the possibility they will allow edibles to be consumed in some areas of campus.

Some provinces in Canada, where the existing laws are already more tolerant to cannabis smoking, some schools may change their policies eventually. Some schools are thinking about restricting the consumption of smokable cannabis in certain areas, which will be similar to existing policies with regard to tobacco smoking.

Not All Schools Are Giving Cannabis The Green Light

Not all universities are sold on the idea of higher learning. Quebec’s McGill University will be banning cannabis consumption of all kinds. “Edibles, drinkables, topicals, etc..” will be prohibited, and any student who is caught in possession of these products may face disciplinary action.

According to Kevin Friese from the University of Alberta, a working group from the university suggested that cannabis, in restricted amounts, be allowed in certain areas on campus. However, the decision about that will come from the City of Edmonton’s bylaws, which they will have to watch out for. But Friese adds that consuming cannabis in any kind including edibles won’t be allowed in residence rooms.

Memorial University at St. John’s Newfoundland will also ban smoking throughout campus. A university spokesperson told CTV News that for edibles, “violations will continue to be addressed through law enforcement.” The University of Regina in Saskatchewan recently announced that cannabis smoking will be banned on campus, and growing pot will not be allowed in the residence areas. They still have to make an announcement if they will be allowing edibles later on.

Changing Policies In Universities

This September, schools throughout Canada will be starting a brand new academic year. But some universities may be struggling with what policies to set in place to reflect the new changes in cannabis regulations come October 17.

In a Global News Canada article last year, Jenna Valleriani, strategic adviser for the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy says: “In a legal context, I think it would be important to have some kind of space or designated area where students could use cannabis, much like there is with alcohol.”

Although it sounds ideal to have campus bars set up for cannabis, Valleriani doesn’t think this is a good idea. “People consuming cannabis and drinking alcohol typically don’t realize that the effects of drinking alcohol is quite elevated,” she says.

Canadian universities will have a lot to think about in the coming months, even years. They will have to consider the need of students with medical needs, the ability to grow, or consume cannabis in discreet forms on campus.