Pubdate: Fri, 05 Sep 2014
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2014 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: http://www.reviewjournal.com/about/print/press/letterstoeditor.html
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Author: Arnold M. Knightly
Page: 1B

PUBLIC COLLEGE SYSTEM MOVES TO ADD MEDICAL POT TO LIST OF BANNED SUBSTANCES

The state's public college system continues to ban pot out of fear of 
losing federal funding even as Nevada is moving toward opening its 
first medical marijuana dispensaries early next year.

The Board of Regents on Thursday gave initial approval to an 
amendment to include medical marijuana to the long-standing policy 
banning controlled substances on all campuses and system facilities. 
The policy update includes possession, use, cultivation, 
manufacturing and delivery.

Marijuana remains an illegal controlled substance under federal law, 
and university system officials are concerned that allowing any 
marijuana use would jeopardize nearly $500 million in annual federal 
funding, including the nearly $370 million in student financial aid.

The policy clarification and code amendment was approved 12-1 at the 
regents' regular meeting in Reno. It will go before them again in 
December for final approval.

The vote comes nearly a week after the University of Nevada, Las 
Vegas issued a policy clarification stating the university will 
continue to enforce its policies regarding controlled substances to 
include medical marijuana. Disciplinary action would include 
expulsion from school for students or termination of employment for 
faculty or staff, and possible criminal action.

Regent Allison Stephens said if the Nevada System of Higher Education 
was to allow participation in medical marijuana, it would put at risk 
federal funding that is critical for the students and institutions.

"This has nothing to do with whether we approve of medical marijuana 
or not, or appreciate this as a new economic driver," Stephens said. 
"It has everything to do with the fact that there are multiple 
federal laws that prohibit this."

Brooke Nielsen, vice chancellor for legal affairs, said two federal 
acts, the Drug Free Workplace Act and the Drug Free Schools Act, 
clarify the federal ban on use and possession of illegal controlled 
substances by students and employees.

Nielsen said she reviewed the policy with "all sectors" of the higher 
education system, including student governments.

"I have not received any objections within (the Nevada System of 
Higher Education)," she said. "It is broadly supported within our 
institutions and our community."

The ban covers UNLV, the University of Nevada, Reno, the College of 
Southern Nevada, Nevada State College, Western Nevada College, Great 
Basin College, Truckee Meadows Community College and the Desert 
Research Institute facilities. It also includes property owned and 
leased by the system, and system-sponsored events.

The "no" vote came from Regent Ron Knecht. He said the need to 
develop the policy reflects the conflict when federal mandates that 
make it hard for the higher education system "to enforce our own 
state laws and be consistent with them."

Ed Uehling, a Libertarian and longtime area political activist 
running for state Senate, was the only person to speak during the 
public comment period. He expressed disappointment at the regents' 
need to rush out a policy.

"No one believes (federal government) is going to enforce (laws on 
medical marijuana)," Uehling said after the hearing. "The university 
people, who think supposedly, are total cowards."

No students attended the hearing in the Nevada System of Higher 
Education's Las Vegas office, which streamed the meeting from Reno.

UNLV spokesman Tony Allen said marijuana arrests or policy violations 
are reported under the drug-related violations along with other 
controlled substances, so it is unknown how many are connected to pot.

Total arrests for drug-related violations on campus, in residential 
facilities, in noncampus buildings or public property in 2012, the 
last full year reported, was 18, up from 11 in 2011. Referrals for 
drug-related violations to the Office of Student Conduct went from 30 
in 2011 to 33 the next year.

Nielsen said the 2013 Legislature's adoption of guidelines regarding 
licensing of medical marijuana establishments caused many inquiries 
from the schools and student organizations about whether state law 
changes the system's policies.

"Because of the change, we realized we needed to clarify for everyone 
that medical marijuana would also remain (prohibited) as it has been 
for many, many years," Nielsen said.

Nielsen added that university systems where medical and recreational 
marijuana have been legalized have emphasized similar policies, using 
Colorado as an example.
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