Out-of-school suspensions or expulsions have long been the way for administrators to deal with students who carry drugs, including marijuana, on campus. In the District, drug-related offenses are the second and third-ranked cause for removing students from school. But as states decriminalize the drug — like DC did last month — what will this mean for schools and their drug-free zones?
Last month, the District voted to allow for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. (Offenders are still given a $25 fine.) This also means that police cannot continue to search someone who concedes up to an ounce of weed, nor can they search someone simply because they smell weed (unless the person in question is on federal land, like the National Mall, or driving a vehicle). These changes mean that people can be high in public; they just can’t smoke a joint in public.
Most important for schools is that these changes apply to people under the age of 18. Even though it is now a small offense in civil court, marijuana remains an exponentially larger crime in the school handbook. So what could D.C. schools do?
Most important for schools is that these changes apply to people under the age of 18. Even though it is now a small offense in civil court, marijuana remains an exponentially larger crime in the school handbook. So what could D.C. schools do?
Although a zero-tolerance stance against drug use in schools gestures that schools won’t tolerate drugs on campus — and is important for overall learning environment and safety — it hasn’t been effective in dissuading students from bringing marijuana to school. Furthermore, because marijuana is generally considered safe by teens, these looser laws surrounding marijuana may contribute to more out-of-school suspensions or expulsions, which largely remain ineffective. Even a recent survey of superintendents across the nation suggests that out-of-school suspensions are not a concerted effort to change students’ behavior, but serve to make students take administration seriously.
The good news is that public health campaigns for similar vices, such as tobacco and alcohol, have been effective at lowering overall teen consumption. Schools should provide more information to students and parents so that everyone is able to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse (and appropriate times of use). By providing more information and addressing marijuana use on campus constructively, (rather than relying on out-of-school suspensions as the go-to punishment), violators could receive more in-school, structured support to address and prevent drug abuse. These programs could also cultivate a better distinction between one-time offenders and repeat offenders, who may need more serious drug intervention or behavior intervention that the school may not be able to provide.
Schools do not have to condone teens smoking marijuana; but schools will have to work with, not against, the changes in marijuana policy to promote positive behaviors that do not alienate kids from campus.
Claire Bocage is a research assistant focusing on workplace psychology. Reach her via email.
The good news is that public health campaigns for similar vices, such as tobacco and alcohol, have been effective at lowering overall teen consumption. Schools should provide more information to students and parents so that everyone is able to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse (and appropriate times of use). By providing more information and addressing marijuana use on campus constructively, (rather than relying on out-of-school suspensions as the go-to punishment), violators could receive more in-school, structured support to address and prevent drug abuse. These programs could also cultivate a better distinction between one-time offenders and repeat offenders, who may need more serious drug intervention or behavior intervention that the school may not be able to provide.
Schools do not have to condone teens smoking marijuana; but schools will have to work with, not against, the changes in marijuana policy to promote positive behaviors that do not alienate kids from campus.
Claire Bocage is a research assistant focusing on workplace psychology. Reach her via email.
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