Bay District School Board to Discuss Policy to Allow Medical Marijuana in Schools

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PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Students in Bay County who are registered medical marijuana patients may soon be able to get treated at school. 

With medical marijuana now legal in Florida, a state statute requires school districts to adopt a policy so those students can have access to the treatment they need. 

"It's something that is new to everybody so we are trying to catch up and figure out what works best," said Bay District School Board Attorney Heather Hudson.

Under the proposed policy, it would be up to the principal to designate a spot on campus and only the patients caregiver be allowed to come to campus to administer the drug. Acceptable forms of medical marijuana include ones that can be fully absorbed quickly, like oils, edibles, and lotions, that way preventing exposure to other students.

"It's a balancing act between that students rights and safety and also everyone else's rights and safety,' said Hudson.

Hudson said the district modeled their policy off Broward County as they were one of the first to adopt one back in August. But with medical marijuana still federally illegal, Hudson said the district is put in a unique position. 

"We are either going to be out of compliance with state statute or potentially treading into questionable territory with federal law," said Hudson. 

To read the full policy, click here. 

The school board will discuss the policy and vote on approving it for advertising during the Tuesday, February 11 school board meeting happening at 1 p.m.