Background:

Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Under federal law, the manufacture, possession, or distribution of Schedule I substances is a criminal offense.

Since 1998, Washington law has allowed qualifying patients to use limited amounts of marijuana for medicinal purposes. A qualifying patient is a person who is the patient of a health care professional who has diagnosed the patient as having a terminal or debilitating medical condition. The health care professional must have advised the patient about the risks and benefits of using marijuana for medical purposes and advised the patient that he or she may benefit from the medical use of marijuana. In addition, a qualifying patient must either have an authorization from the health care professional or be entered in the Department of Health's medical marijuana authorization database.

In the case of a qualifying patient who is under 18 years old, the minor's parent or guardian must participate in the minor's treatment and agree to the minor's use of marijuana. In addition, the parent or guardian must act as the minor's designated provider and maintain sole control over the minor's marijuana. Prior to authorizing the use of marijuana for a minor, the health care professional must consult with other health care providers involved in the minor's treatment and reexamine the minor at least every six months. A minor who is a qualifying patient must be entered in the Department of Health's medical marijuana database.

Qualifying patients are protected from arrest or prosecution if they meet certain criteria. In addition, there are protections for qualifying patients in the context of organ transplants and parental rights. There are not, however, any requirements that employers accommodate the on-site use of marijuana and they may establish drug-free workplace policies. Schools are not required to accommodate the use of marijuana on school grounds or in a school bus, however, they may permit a student who is a qualifying patient to consume marijuana on school grounds in accordance with policies regarding the use of medications at school.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Upon the request of a parent or guardian of a student who is a qualifying patient, school districts must adopt policies to allow parents and guardians to administer marijuana to a student for medical purposes while the student is on school grounds, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity. The policy must:

require that the student meet the requirements related to the medical use of marijuana by a minor;
require that the parent or guardian be the student's designated provider and assist the student with the consumption of marijuana;
establish protocols to verify that the student is authorized to use marijuana for medical purposes and the parent or guardian is the student's designated provider;
authorize parents or guardians to administer marijuana to a student while on school grounds, in a school bus, or at a school-sponsored event;
identify locations on school grounds where marijuana may be administered for medical purposes; and
prohibit the administration of marijuana to a student by means of smoking or inhalation.

Schools must permit students who are in compliance with the requirements for minors who are qualifying patients to consume marijuana for medical purposes while on school grounds, in a school bus, or at a school-sponsored event.

Civil, criminal, and professional protections are established for school district officials, employees, volunteers, students, parents, and guardians who act in accordance with the school district's policy. If any part of the act is found to conflict with federal requirements, then those conflicting provisions must be declared inoperative.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill eliminates the authority of "primary caregivers" to administer marijuana to a student. The requirement that every school district adopt a policy for the use of marijuana by students on school grounds is removed and only requires a school district to adopt a policy upon the request of a parent or guardian of a student who is a qualified patient. The requirement that the school district verify that a student is registered in the Medical Marijuana Authorization Database is replaced with the requirement that the school verify that the student is authorized to use medical marijuana and that the parent or guardian is acting as the designated provider. If any part of the act is found to conflict with federal requirements, then those conflicting parts must be declared inoperative.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Where other medications have not worked for some children, marijuana has been helpful. Marijuana has helped parents who want to keep their children in school without having to leave school grounds which allows them to grow and thrive. This bill is narrowly written. For children who have been delayed by pharmaceuticals, marijuana may allow them to remain in school. Cannabis is a medicine that works and there should be safe access for children. Cannabis oil has helped children with communication and learning, however, some schools have prohibited the administration of cannabis on school grounds. This bill will allow pediatric cannabis patients to consume cannabis in a nonsmoking form while at school. This bill uses the Colorado and New Jersey laws as a model. A bill like this can make a world of difference for epileptic patients. The National Academies of Science and Medicine recently released a report with nearly 100 benefits of marijuana. The wide benefits of marijuana are based on human biology that has been mapped back over 500 million years to sea squirts. There are children who need safe access to this life-saving and life-changing medication. These kids have enough to deal with without having to worry about whether or not they will get their medication. Patients, caregivers, and medical experts want student access and student normalcy related to medical marijuana. Schools should not wait until there is a student in front of them who needs these policies.

This bill could add to the diversity of students on campus. This can help students receive a fair and equal education regardless of their medical condition. This is about compassion and courage. All marijuana violates federal law, yet the state has found ways around it and should do the same for children. If Washington can stand up for the millions of dollars generated by Initiative 502, then it should stand up for this bill.

There should be an amendment to add "legal" in front of guardian. The term "caregiver" should be changed to "designated provider," so that contract nurses can administer marijuana to a student.

(Opposed) There is a disconnect between the intent behind the bill and the direction of the federal government and its regulation of marijuana. This requires schools to adopt policies that put them in direct conflict with federal law which risks federal funding. The bill does not protect the school district. The bill puts school districts in a difficult place to have to choose which federal law to violate.

(Other) The bill should eliminate caregivers as designated providers. Schools do not have access to the medical marijuana authorization database, so they need another way to verify a student's eligibility. Schools currently have policies in place for administering medications, but this bill would allow parents to come in to administer marijuana which could be problematic. The school bus provision raises a logistical concern. Marijuana should only be administered at home or by a school nurse or an alternate member at school. This should be administered in school just like other prescribed medications. There is a potential conflict between state and federal law and schools could lose federal support. There is a very short turnaround for implementing the bill.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Blake, prime sponsor; John Barclay; Kirk Ludden and John Novak, VIPER Political Action Committee; Meagan Holt; Sharon Wilson; Scott Miller; Michael Scott, Project Positive Change; Bailey Hirschburg, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Political Action Committee; Brian Stone; and Patrick Seifert, Twenty22Many.

(Opposed) Jessica Vavrus, Washington State School Directors' Association.

(Other) Kristi Weeks, Department of Health; and Jerry Bender, Association of School Principals.