The policy would only apply to medical marijuana products provided by parents.
SUMMARY: Proposed New Board Policy 3423 – Parental Administration of Marijuana for Medical Purposes was developed in response to recent legislation. HB 1095 provides parents of a child who is a qualifying patient under Washington’s medical marijuana law to administer marijuana-infused products to their child on school grounds, aboard a school bus, or while attending a school-sponsored event. The policy does not pertain to unqualified students, extend to employees, permit smoking marijuana, or authorize a school nurse’s administering of marijuana.
DRAFT: Parental Administration of Marijuana for Medical Purposes – 3423
The District will permit a student who meets Washington’s statutory requirements for medical marijuana to consume marijuana-infused products for medical purposes on school grounds, aboard a school bus, or while attending a school-sponsored event in accordance with this policy. The District will first verify that the student and parent or guardian meet the statutory requirements by requiring presentation of valid Washington recognition cards for medical marijuana under RCW 69.51A.220.
The District will not store or administer marijuana-infused products for any purpose. Although the school nurse may oversee the process of compliance with this policy, the school nurse will not provide, administer, or assist the student with the consumption of the marijuana-infused product. The parents or guardian of such a student are the only persons who may provide, administer, or assist student with the consumption of the marijuana-infused product. Students will not self-carry or self-administer marijuana for medical purposes or for any other purpose. Administration of a marijuana-infused product by smoking is strictly prohibited.
The Superintendent will consult with building principals to identify a location on school grounds where the parent or guardian can administer a marijuana-infused product to the student, considering feasibility and the needs for privacy, specifically, a location that does not create risk of disruption to the educational environment or exposure to other students. The District discourages parental administration of marijuana-infused products on board a school bus. However, the District acknowledges that there may be circumstances where parental administration of a marijuana infused product on board a school bus is necessary; therefore, the Superintendent will establish procedures to address such circumstances. When a school-sponsored event occurs at another Washington public school, the location identified by that school will serve as the location for parental administration of a marijuana-infused product. The Superintendent will establish procedures to address circumstances where a school-sponsored event occurs in a place of public accommodation in Washington. However, school-sponsored events that occur outside the state of Washington or on federal property are not subject to Washington law and cannot be included in the scope of this policy.
After administering the permissible form of medical marijuana to the qualified student, the parents or guardian will remove any remaining marijuana from school or District grounds, school bus, or school-sponsored event. The District may limit or revoke permission for the parents or guardian of a qualifying student to administer marijuana for medical purposes if the parents or guardian or qualified student violates this policy or demonstrates an inability to follow this policy’s parameters responsibly.
Nothing in this policy requires an accommodation for medical marijuana in the place of employment or diminishes the District’s ability to enforce its Drug-Free Schools policy. Student possession, use, distribution, sale or being under the influence of marijuana inconsistent with this policy may be considered a violation of the District’s drug-free schools and subject to District action.
Cross References:
Board Policy 3416 Medication at School
Board Policy 5258 Drug-Free Schools, Community and Workplace
Legal References:
RCW 28A.210.260 Public and Private Schools-Administration of Medication
RCW 69.51A Medical Cannabis
August 28, 2019
Everett Schools