Cannabis on Campus

On Oct. 17, 2018, the Federal Government legalized cannabis across Canada. It is now legal for individuals who are 19 years of age or older — 18 years of age in Alberta and Quebec — to purchase, grow, and use cannabis. According to the Government of Canada website, cannabis is not allowed in work settings or in motorized vehicles. Those with medical reasons will have exceptions on campus (an email to residents states that “individuals requiring the medical use of cannabis must contact Student Housing Services to discuss the requirement”).

U of G residence policies

Within the next 12 months, the University of Guelph will work hard to develop a cannabis policy across campus. The University has banned the use of cannabis on campus for the duration of this policy formation period. As of now, cannabis will fall under the smoking policy. This means that the consumption of cannabis by vaping, pipe, bong, or blunts is not permitted within residence buildings or anywhere on campus.

Residences will be umbrellaed under this policy, which prohibits growing, distributing, or consuming cannabis on campus. However, students and guests within residences who are over 19 years of age are allowed to possess a maximum of 30 grams of dried cannabis. Edibles, fresh cannabis, oils, seeds, and other forms of consumption will not be allowed in residence. Dried cannabis is to be kept inside students’ rooms and not be carried in the hallways, stairwells, or any form of public setting within the residences — an email sent to students reads: “When transporting from your room to your place of consumption you must do so directly.” Cannabis deliveries to dormitories from the Ontario Cannabis Store website will also not be allowed.

The University of Guelph will later determine what (if any) paraphernalia those on campus will be allowed to use in residence; this determination will be based on documentation compiled by residence staff. Documentation will include strength of odour from dorms, the making or consumption of banned homemade edibles, and the underage consumption of cannabis. Documentation provided will allow the University to come up with a solution that will benefit both the campus and Guelph communities.

Nicole Barkwill, a senior Residence Assistant (RA) at U of G, told The Ontarion that based on the data being documented, RA staff will “have to see how [cannabis …] is going to have a significant impact on residence communities before we determine if dried cannabis can be prepared inside a student’s room,” and noted that “students can use a grinder to prepare their dried cannabis or roll joints in their rooms at the moment, but if we notice that things like the scent are having an impact on other people living in residence communities then limitations may have to be put in place.”

“If it does impact [the] community, students will be required to dispose their cannabis and clean any paraphernalia that is in use,” Barkwill continued. “Management is still looking into exactly how we will go about disposal.”

Pharmaceutical distribution of cannabis on campus

With cannabis being legalized, opportunities for cannabis use in various settings, from restaurants and grocery stores to healthcare arise. Pharmaceutical distribution of cannabis through the UC Pharmacy has not yet been decided, but it is currently not out of the question.

Srdjan Sucevic, pharmacist at the UC Pharmacy, told The Ontarion that “as a pharmacist, I am very cautious in terms of use of cannabis in young population. [The] young population is particularly sensitive to side effects and accumulation of cannabis in their bodies, which makes them prone to different types of psychoses, mainly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.”

Due to a lack of research, the short- and long-term effects of the consumption of cannabis have not been definitively determined. Although some research has shown that long-term use of cannabis can increase the risk of psychosis, the effect is small and shows to have a stronger correlation in individuals with a family history of psychotic disorders.

In comparison, cannabis has proven to reduce seizures by 50 per cent or more in patients with epilepsy according to the following two studies: “Evidence for cannabis and cannabinoids for epilepsy: a systematic review of controlled and observational evidence” and “Meta-Analysis: Cannabis Compound Reduces Seizures in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.”

Additionally, a study conducted by Zach Walsh, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, has found that cannabis can curb anxiety: “In general, people who use cannabis say it helps them relax and reduces anxiety.”

Walsh also expresses his concerns about the consumption of cannabis by individuals with schizophrenia or with a family history of psychotic disorders, believing that “cannabis should be treated the same as other medicines,” and that “it should be held to the same standards and subject to the same risk-versus-benefit evaluations.”

Sucevic also acknowledged an upside to legal cannabis: “[The] only positive change in the society is that cannabis sale is now going to be controlled. The product is going to be clean and [with] proper dosage.”

Regardless, distribution of cannabis on campus for medicinal use remains to be clarified. Sucevic notes that he does not have approval for dispensing cannabis, but if the policy becomes mandated then he will be dispensing for medical purposes only — not for recreational use.

Cannabis culture vs. acceptance

Andrew Hathaway — associate professor in the U of G sociology department — researches cannabis use in marginalized and mainstreams populations.

For Hathaway, the acceptance of cannabis culture and legalization are directly correlated, even causal.

“In some ways, change in law is a reflection of cannabis becoming normalized,” Hathaway told The Ontarion “change in law perhaps led to more mainstream acceptance as well as the fact that [cannabis] has become more increasingly mainstream which probably accounts for the reason behind legalization.”

He further commented that the legalization of cannabis will curb social stigma and explains that we are able to talk about harm reduction more openly than during prohibition.

“You can talk about harm reduction now, as previously when a drug is illegal; it’s a lot harder to talk about harm reduction because it almost seems like it’s condoning it,” Hathaway further explains that legalization allows for “more open discussion of drug education and access to treatment, instead of a just say no approach.”

Cannabis on Campus

Cannabis culture on campus is a contested and controversial issue at the moment, but prohibition has just ended. The possibility clubs and classes that focus on cannabis growth and usage seems inevitable given the same courses and clubs exist for beer and wine. Hathaway mentions that clubs and classes could potentially be formed just like the Grape and Wine Science course (HORT*1120) offered at the University of Guelph, or like the Cannabis growing certificate at Niagara College.

“We’re definitely seeing an expansion in courses being offered,” Hathaway continued. “[There’ll] definitely be a growth of programs to providing certificates for certified growers.”

Hathaway also noted that the administration will ultimately decide if campus businesses will sell cannabis to students, like alcohol, or if it will be barred like tobacco products. When asked if there was a possibility that cannabis culture will be so acceptable that bars and cafés like Brass Taps or Bull Ring would ever sell cannabis, Hathaway emphasizes that our campus policies are undecided and will be for a considerable time, but it ultimately seems unlikely.

“It’s a complicated issue that is being worked through at higher levels,” Hathaway said, “it is highly unlikely that we’re going to see cannabis sales from the Brass Taps any time soon.”

Hathaway also noted that now that cannabis is legalized it will become less taboo and deviant. Much like what happened in the Netherlands when they decriminalized cannabis, Hathaway said legalization may have the effect of making cannabis “boring,” in a counter-cultural sense, and so might make it less appealing to young people.

If this is the case, perhaps the normalization and responsible use of cannabis may see wider acceptance on campus, particularly as those raised at a time when cannabis has been legalized graduate and acquire positions of power. Only time will tell because currently, it’s like prohibition never ended.

Photos by Alora Griffiths/ The Ontarion