Editorial: Rowan needs to push for federal legalization of marijuana

Almost instantly after New Jersey legalized recreational marijuana usage, Rowan University introduced a slew of educational programs in business, medicine and chemistry focusing on the integration of cannabis into professional fields. 

In an interview with Rowan Today, Sue Lehrman, Ph.D., the dean of the Rohrer College of Business, states that this is because “There is also strong and growing demand for ancillary businesses that complement and serve the fast-growing cannabis industry in New Jersey and beyond.”

However, possession of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia on Rowan’s campus can result in “arrest, fines, loss of housing without refund, termination of employment, mandatory assignment to substance counseling, suspension and/or expulsion,” according to the Medical Marijuana FAQ from Rowan’s Office of Accessibility Services. 

This means that even if a student is studying the cannabis industry and is surrounded by that culture, or if a student legally uses and obtains medical marijuana via a medical ID under the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, it’s mere presence on campus can completely uproot a student’s life and academic dreams. 

Because Rowan University receives federal grant money, it must follow federal law and is therefore subjected to the Controlled Substances Act, which classifies marijuana as a schedule one drug with “no accepted medical use” and a “high potential” for abuse. Another drug that has the same classification is heroin. 

These discrepancies between federal and New Jersey state law are extremely volatile for Rowan students — especially as Rowan attracts students interested in the cannabis industry, students from out-of-state and international students. 

Not only must students navigate the differences between state and federal law on campus, but also the laws of their home state or country. What may be legal in a student’s home country or state could be grounds for expulsion on campus. Furthermore, while Black and white individuals use marijuana at the same rates, Black people are four times more likely to be incarcerated on marijuana-related charges. 

For Rowan University, the federal legalization of marijuana is not just important to the student body, it is critical to the protection of the student body and their academic futures.

The Whit believes that Rowan University needs to be at the forefront of legislative lobbying to legalize medical and recreational marijuana at a federal level. Other universities such as the University of Colorado, the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the University of Mississippi are all actively lobbying for legalization at the federal level in order to pursue scientific and agricultural-based research. 

All of these universities are classified as R1 Doctoral Universities with extremely high research levels — and it’s no secret that Rowan has been vying for this classification for quite some time. But if Rowan wants to achieve this status, it needs to hold itself to the same standards as other R1 universities.

Lobbying for legislative action will not only help to protect its 20,000 students against discrepancies in marijuana restrictions but also open up avenues for increased research funding within Rowan’s cannabis programs and widen the breadth of research that these programs can pursue. 

If Rowan wants to continue to be a leader in cannabis education across the United States — and protect its sprawling student body — The Whit believes that Rowan needs to lead the charge of legislative change for marijuana usage at the federal level.

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