A new bill introduced in Colorado, if passed, would require schools to store cannabis on-site and give cannabis as medicine, if there is a student that has a note from a doctor recommending it.
Senate Bill 21-56 is sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, who stated that this bill is extremely important to him personally. “As a person that comes from a community fairly consistent in being opposed to marijuana legalization in Colorado, I’m willing to put my hand up and say I was wrong about cannabis-based medicine,” said Holbert. “I’m perfectly willing to have conversations with constituents, doubters, to say, ‘You’re wrong. You need to meet these people.’”
Holbert didn’t always support medical cannabis in schools, but his perspective changed when he met parents whose children rely on it just to live normal lives without constant seizures. Hearing the testimony of Colorado students who wanted access to their medicine and to go school, he changed his opinion and dedicated himself to finding a safe way to provide cannabis access in school through legislation. SB 21-56 is the result, and it could be a game-changer for students who need to use medical cannabis but also want to continue their education away from home.
If passed, no one would be forced to administer cannabis if they weren’t comfortable doing so, but schools would at least have to allow on-campus storage so that the student would not have to leave school to take medicine. Then, any willing school staff would administer the medicine to the patient.
“Anyone who is concerned about this, unfamiliar with it, take time to try to connect with people in your community who rely on cannabis-based medicine—especially kids,” Holbert added regarding those who doubt the importance of this legislation. “And what you’ll find is there are next to miraculous things happening, and completely effective medicine can be made from cannabis plants.”
