Pubdate: Thu, 29 Nov 2012
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2012 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Nicholas K. Geranios
Page: A9

LEGAL POT COULD STILL GET COLLEGE STUDENTS BOOTED

SPOKANE, Wash. - Young voters helped pass laws legalizing marijuana 
in Washington and Colorado, but many still won't be able to light up.

Most universities have codes of conduct banning marijuana use, and 
they get millions of dollars from the federal government, which still 
considers pot illegal. And it's still not clear how the federal 
government will respond to state legalization off campus as well.

With federal money comes a requirement for a drug-free campus, and 
the threat of expulsion for students using pot in dorms.

"Everything we've seen is that nothing changes for us," said Darin 
Watkins, a spokesman for Washington State University in Pullman.

So despite college cultures that include pot-smoking demonstrations 
each year on "Weed Day," April 20, students who want to use marijuana 
will have to do so off campus.

Voters in November made Washington and Colorado the first states to 
allow adults over 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and exit 
polling showed both measures had significant support from younger people.

At Washington State, students who violate the code face a variety of 
punishments, up to expulsion, Watkins said. The same is true at the 
University of Colorado Boulder, where the student code of conduct 
prohibits possessing, cultivating, or consuming illegal drugs.

Dorms and other campus buildings also tend to be smoke-free zones, 
which would block the smoking of marijuana.

In addition, NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from consuming 
marijuana or other illegal drugs.

With all these complications, it is reasonable to expect that some 
students will be confused by the new laws.

Derrick Skaug, student body vice president at Washington State, said 
he believes most students will understand they cannot consume 
marijuana on campus.

"Most people do understand that just because it is no longer banned 
by state law, it doesn't amount to a get-out-of-jail-free pass," he said.

One thing that will change: Some off-campus police departments have 
said they will no longer arrest or ticket students who are 21 and 
older and using marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom