CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Sunday afternoon’s session of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, as part of the West Virginia Legislature’s June Interim Committee meetings, saw the discussion and alteration of several state policies, including those pertaining to medical cannabis usage.
Changes in Policy 2422.7 – the Standards for Basic and Specialized Health Care Procedures – pertain to the usage and possession of medical cannabis in schools by students, and states that, while medical cannabis may be administered in schools by a caregiver, students may not possess the substance themselves, and may not store it on school property. School nurses are also unable to administer cannabis, as it is a substance which has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
These changes follow those to Policy 1464, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) Drug-Free Workplace Policy.
The changes state that individuals may not be discriminated against for their status as a cannabis patient, though patients may not be under the influence of cannabis on school property.
These policy changes also pertain to bus drivers and other employees who are required to hold a CDL as part of a job, as well as those who are required to possess a firearm as part of their job duties. It is stated that these individuals may not test positive for cannabis under federal law, due to the nature of their work. As such, they may not partake in the usage of medical cannabis, lest they cease to maintain their job roles.
Policy 2422.2 – the Driver Education Regulations and Restrictions Policy – removes the requirement of the eligibility driving certificate, given its obsolete status upon the introduction of recent legislation.
Exemptions are set forth for the prevention of restrictions relating to absences should the absences occur as a result of circumstances beyond the control of a student, while restrictions are listed for attendance and satisfactory academic progress.
The full 2022 June Interim Committee schedule can be found here, and more information on these sessions can be found at the West Virginia Legislature website here.