COLUMBIA, Mo. — As of today the use of recreational marijuana for those 21 and older will become legal in the state of Missouri under certain conditions following the passage of a constitutional amendment earlier this year.
However, possession and use of marijuana remains subject to many limitations under both constitutional amendment and federal law. Following a review of the federal Drug-Free Schools and Community Act and Drug-Free Workplace Act, the University of Missouri System will continue to prohibit the possession, use and distribution of marijuana on any university property, university-leased property and as part of university-sponsored or university-supervised activities.
The Drug-Free Schools and Community Act requires the university to have policies in place that discipline employees and students for possessing or using illegal drugs. Marijuana remains classified by the federal government as a Schedule 1 controlled substance and is, therefore, illegal for any employee, student or visitor to possess, use, distribute, dispense, sell or manufacture on university property, university-leased property or as part of university-sponsored or university-supervised activities. This includes both recreational and medical marijuana.
Currently, UM System policy HR-508 (Drug/Alcohol Abuse in the Workplace) states that violation of the policy could result in discipline up to and including termination from the university. In the UM System Collected Rules and Regulations, policy 200.010 (Standard of Conduct) states that students could face disciplinary hearings and face discipline up to and including expulsion. Visitors should be aware of these policies as they would be subject to them any time they visit a University of Missouri System property, including for athletic events, concerts, and third-party organizational events.
These regulations include any property owned or controlled by the university, including extension offices and research farms. Students, employees, and visitors should also be aware that Amendment 3 does not legalize public consumption of marijuana; consumption of marijuana in public areas adjacent to a campus will not be permitted. In addition, operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana remains unlawful, and students and employees who operate a vehicle under the influence of marijuana on streets or roadways abutting a campus may also be subject to discipline in accordance with university policy.