Campus Policy:
On July 1, the recreational use of marijuana will become legal for those 21 and over across the state of Oregon, but not at the University of Oregon.
The federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug. Other examples of Schedule I drugs include LSD, heroin and MDMA. Because UO is a federally funded institution, the use of marijuana in buildings owned or operated by the university remains illegal.
This includes resident halls and graduate and family housing, even if you are 21 or over.
“If you receive federal funding, you’re required to comply with federal law,” Rita Radostitz, the director of strategic communication for Student Life said. “Because marijuana is still illegal under federal law, it’s illegal on university property.”
Marijuana use is also illegal at public universities in Colorado and Washington. Both states legalized the recreational use of marijuana before Oregon.
The illegality also applies to students with medical marijuana cards. Although card holders are allowed to use marijuana by the state, it remains a federal sanction.
“Federal government supersedes state,” Radostitz said.
Originally, Radostitz thought the university would have to wait for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to release its rules governing marijuana policies in Oregon before finalizing the university’s policy, but upon closer inspection of the measure, it turned out federal law precluded it regardless.
The university’s policy is not changing, but Radostitz thinks its education on marijuana will.
“I don’t expect that it’s going to be a challenging situation,” Radostitz said. “We have to educate students about alcohol, and it’s probably really not a whole lot different. It’s still prohibited for everyone under the age of 21. And for those 21 and over, they have to comply with the rules.”
Radostitz said that education will come mainly out of university housing. Resident assistants and housing managers for graduate and family housing will communicate the rules to their occupants. Marijuana policies will get added to existing Q&As about the UO, and incoming students and their parents will receive information at events like IntroDUCKtion. Where students and parents were already being informed about alcohol, they will now also receive information about marijuana.
Though the campus will remain unchanged by Measure 91’s implementation, Radostitz recognizes that student life won’t stay the same.
“Nothing has changed on campus,” Radostitz said. “Students who are over the age of 21 and live in an apartment that’s not a university-owned apartment, surely it has changed for them.”
Enforcement:
The Eugene Police Department is awaiting direction from legislation to aid in enforcing the specifics of Measure 91 once the law goes into effect, according to Melinda McLaughlin, their spokesperson.
Since marijuana use will remain illegal on campus, the University of Oregon Police Department does not have all the same concerns.
“It’s much clearer cut on campus,” Kelly McIver, communications director and public information officer for the UOPD, said.
The UOPD enforces marijuana use on campus as police reports come in and behavior is observed.
Students in violation of either the marijuana or alcohol policies on campus are often referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
If a student has committed an offense multiple times, they are more likely to receive a citation or custody arrest.
According to McIver, citations are not given often. The “overwhelming majority” of students caught smoking are referred to Student Conduct.
“We likely will enforce laws against public consumption of marijuana similarly to how we enforce laws against open containers of alcohol,” McLaughlin said.
All use of marijuana will remain illegal in public places.
OLCC:
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is in charge of how Measure 91 is implemented in the state.
It began the process by conducting 11 public hearings around the state to gauge what the public’s major concerns were with the introduction of the measure that legalizes marijuana dispensaries and private consumption for those 21 and over.
Tom Towslee, the communications director for the OLCC, said that about 4,000 people total attended the hearings to speak up about the measure’s implementation.
The OLCC is currently assembling a rules advisory committee to address the regulations.
“We are not in the enforcement business; we are in the regulation business,” Towslee said.
The OLCC is in charge of the application process for licenses for marijuana producers, processors, wholesalers and retailers.
The OLCC is not accepting applications until Jan. 4, 2016. Meaning the first license won’t be given out until “about a year from now,” Towslee said.
The OLCC had an upset with its marijuana program at the end of March, when its appointed program director, Tom Burns, was fired for leaking an internal document and then lying about it.
Will Higlin replaced him as interim director of the program.
“He’s doing a great job,” Towslee said.
Higlin previously served as the liquor licensing director for the OLCC.
The OLCC has not sought to replace Higlin with a permanent director for the program, because it is “more concerned about the rules,” Towslee said.