Colorado Gov. Inks Bill to expand student access to medical marijuana

By Jelena Martinovic

Colorado governor Jared Polis signed a bill on Wednesday to expand access to medical cannabis for school children in need by removing administrative barriers.

The new legislation, SB 21-056, removes the discretion of school principals to establish guidelines governing the storage and administration of cannabis-based medicines.

Photo by Green Chameleon via Unsplash

The bill gives school principals the responsibility to “draw up a written treatment plan for the administration of cannabis-based medicine and the school authorities to adopt guidelines for the actual administration”.

School authorities are being asked to establish guidelines for the storage of cannabis medicines.

The governing bodies must also establish rules that enable staff to voluntarily possess medicinal cannabis and administer it to qualified students.

Governor Polis said the move was long overdue, calling it “the culmination of communities coming together to do this – bring about change”.

The governor thanked those who worked on the bill and praised it for removing discrimination against those who use medicinal cannabis and those who need it.

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“I’m excited to sign this bill that will finally treat cannabis in the same way as other prescribed drugs,” said Polis.

Another bill also landed on Polis’ desk, reported Marihuana Moment.

The proposed legislation aims to increase the amount of legal cannabis possession for adults from one ounce to two ounces.

Cannabis advocates are excited about the legislation that will help those previously arrested for cannabis possession.

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Under the law, courts would have to approve requests to seal previous records of marijuana possession without consulting a district attorney.

“Passing these laws will ensure that many low-ranking offenders are not fined with fines they cannot afford and that law enforcement can focus more of their resources on fighting legitimate crime rather than on a minor who is otherwise law abiding Coloradans to interact. non-violent marijuana offenses, ”Carly Wolf, government policy manager at NORML, told Marijuana Moment.

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Colorado legalized recreational cannabis in December 2012. After the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, Denver marijuana sales rose 140%.

Centennial State recently awarded Aurora-based High Country Supply, trading as Colorado Harvest Co., its first permit to supply recreational marijuana.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.