On Wednesday, Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed legislation to expand access to medical marijuana for students in schools. The governor also plans to sign another bill he received recently to double the recreational cannabis possession limit in Colorado.
Currently, the law provides the principle the power to set policies allowing or preventing schools to store and administer cannabis-based medicine. Now, under the new law, the discretion is no longer up to the principle. It requires school boards to create policies on storage for cannabis medicines. It also allows personnel to volunteer to possess and administer it to qualifying students.
“This bill is a long time coming,” the governor said. “It’s also the culmination of communities coming together to make it happen-make change.”
The governor also received a bill from lawmakers that would increase the lawful marijuana possession limit for adults from one to two ounces. Victoria Graham, Polis spokesperson, said the governor does intend to sign the legislation but did not allude to a timeframe.
For now, the governor celebrated the student-based legislation. This bill will ensure school staff does not face discrimination for helping to administer medical cannabis.
“I am pleased to sign this bill, which finally will treat cannabis the same way as other prescribed medicines,” Polis said. “I want to thank all those who put tireless and relentless work into this important step towards building and honoring legislative advocacy of the past —and of course, with so many beneficiaries in the future.”
SB 21-056 will expand cannabis-based medicine at schools, like medical marijuana for students. “The bill imposes a duty on school principals to create a written treatment plan for the administration of cannabis-based medicine and on school boards to adopt policies regarding actual administration,” a section of the bill states.
Expanding the Legal Limit
Although advocates are celebrating the expansion of cannabis medicine in schools. They are also eagerly awaiting the signing of a specific legislation. That will increase the marijuana possession threshold for adults over the age of 21.
Not only will the legislation increase the limit from one to two ounces. It will also require courts to approve requests to have prior records for cannabis possession sealed.
“Passage of this legislation will ensure that many low-level offenders are not saddled with fines they cannot afford. And that law enforcement can focus more of their resources on fighting legitimate crime. Rather than interacting with otherwise law-abiding Coloradans because of a minor, nonviolent marijuana offense, Carly Wolf, state policies manger at NORML, said.
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