Washington School Districts Compelled to Adjust Policies Regarding Medical Marijuana on Campus

A new state law now gives parents the ability to administer marijuana to their child while at school, provided the student has a qualifying terminal or debilitating condition.

Eastmont Assistant Superintendent David Woods said all school districts in Washington State must now adjust to fall in line with House Bill 1095. For some schools, this can be both much ado about nothing and a major shift in policy.

"Even though it's only going to be a few students, if any, it's not like this huge problem. It's just a few students it affects." explained Woods, "For us to actually be able to have parents come in and administer it on campus, that's a pretty huge change for us."

Eastmont, like many school districts in the state, previously had no way for parents to administer medical marijuana to their children on campus, as policies were in place prohibiting the drug on school grounds.

"(We) have to fit with what the states says as far as requirements." added Woods, "We might tweak them a little bit, we might make them our own, but mainly we're following the RCW and what the state legislature tells us to do."

According to RCW 69.51A.220, only a parent or guardian may administer a marijuana-infused product and the product cannot be administered by smoking. An administrator must also be supervising, and it must be done in a private place.

Both the minor and the minor's parent or guardian must also be entered in the medical marijuana authorization database and hold a recognition card. Students are still prohibited from possessing marijuana products.

Parents or guardians looking to take advantage of the new policy are advised to contact the child's school principal.