Though the legalization of marijuana has brought major changes to Denver and Colorado this past month, policies at DU will remain largely unchanged, according to the Department of Campus Safety (DCS).
“In a nutshell, nothing has changed,” said Sgt. Stephen Banet. “Marijuana has always been illegal on campus, and remains that way.”
Though people over 21 can legally purchase and consume marijuana in Colorado, according to DU policy students will still not be allowed to possess or smoke it on campus. An email sent to DCS staff and personnel by DCS Director Don Enloe this month noted that Denver Health professionals will be contacted for students under the influence of marijuana who “are not in a condition to take care of themselves.”
This is not a new policy, Enloe said, and might be used if students are found in a state of lapsing consciousness or are ill from consumption.
“We would always defer to the medical profession for their sense of the situation,” said Banet.
Otherwise, students cannot expect to see much change regarding the use of marijuana on campus and the response from campus officials. As such, Banet said the department has not gone through any additional training or preparation for the enactment of legalization.
“We did talk about the laws a little bit, but nothing has changed as far as the university or its policy,” said Banet. “We will continue to handle it the way we have always handled it.”
So far, DCS has not seen an uptick in the number of students cited for use of marijuana on campus according to Enloe, a sign students understand the limitations of the new law.
DU’s Honor Code states that “the manufacture or distribution of any drug[…]is prohibited, including Cannabis plants. Marijuana, including medical Marijuana, is prohibited on campus regardless of age.” It also prohibits “any possession or use on university premises of paraphernalia used to facilitate the use of any federally illegal drug or other controlled substance in violation of this policy regardless of age. This includes but is not limited to marijuana pipes, bongs and scales or other measuring devices.”
“We are part of the Drugs Free Schools and Community Act and are governed by the Drugs Free Schools and Community Act,” said Enloe. According to the aforementioned act, universities with federal assistance must “adopt and implement a drug prevention program to prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by all students and employees on school premises.”
DU also stands as a smoke-free campus, meaning there is no use of any smoke-producing product allowed within campus buildings or on campus property, another limitation to anyone smoking marijuana on campus.
