New Legislation Aims To Allow Medical Cannabis In Michigan Schools

Michigan is one of 23 states in the U.S. where cannabis consumption is legal.

In 2008 Medical use was legalized through the Michigan Compassionate Care Initiative.

Then in December 2019 State-licensed sales of recreational cannabis began.

Now a new bill is being proposed in Michigan that would allow students to consume Medical marijuana on school grounds or on a school bus in the form of edibles, beverages, and other products with low amounts of marijuana.

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This house bill is being proposed again because of a young boy named Jayden Carter.

What Is Jayden's Law?

Jayden's Law is a two-bill package introduced by Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives that aims to permit pediatric medical marijuana patients to use their medication on school grounds.

The law is named after Jayden Carter, a pediatric medical marijuana patient who is restricted from using his medication in Michigan schools.

Currently, a child who is registered with the state as a pediatric medical marijuana patient must be checked out of school and moved 1,000 feet away by their parent or guardian before they can receive any state-approved products containing THC and/or CBD.

Jayden's Law Would Provide Legal Protection

State Rep. Jimmy Wilson Jr. shared how it would help with legal protection.

"Jayden’s Law would also provide protections for the child/student, parents, legal guardians, teachers, nurses, bus drivers, and any other person responsible for administering or supervising which would extend to other school-related activities."

 

What Requirments Would The Law Have

A written treatment plan would have to be provided by the parent/guardian as their caregiver. Students must be supervised by a designated staff member while receiving their prescription. Families must provide proof of students medical marijuana card each year.

Why Is There A Need For Medical Marijuana In Michigan Schools?

State Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr. along with six other state representatives are co-sponsoring the bill.

They said the process leads to the delay in administering prescriptions but also causes students to miss classroom instruction time and extracurricular activities, feel stigma from their peers and faculty, and creates a burden on their parents/guardians.

How Would It Work In Michigan Schools?

According to the bill's language, a student's cannabis would need to be prescribed by a doctor.

The cannabis would also need to be "unsmokable."

"This is normally tinctures, pill form, CBD, things of that nature that they will be able to go up into the office, take their medication, and go back to class, They wouldn't be able to just walk around the school with it." -State Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr

Do Any Other School Already Do This?

Jayden's Law is actually modeled after Ashley’s Law, a bill that was signed by the governor of Illinois in 2018. Ashley Surin, 12, needed to take CBD oil to prevent seizures. She suffered them as a result of chemotherapy treatments for leukemia.

The law allows Ashley to receive her medication at school. Before the law, she would suffer one to three seizures a day at school.