NEW PALTZ – The recreational use of small amounts of cannabis by persons over 21 is now legal in New York, but it remains taboo on SUNY campuses.
The reason: they receive funding from Washington and marijuana is still classified as an illegal substance on the federal level.
While the SUNY New Paltz student handbook includes cannabis as a prohibited illegal substance, that language will be removed, but a new section will still make it illegal at the college, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Robin Cohen-La Valle told the college council on Thursday.
“No student shall use, possess, sell, purchase, cultivate, process, manufacture or give away marijuana/cannabis or its derivatives like tinctures, topicals, edibles, etc., in any form, anywhere, on the college campus,” she said. “This includes SUNY property, public spaces, residence halls, office buildings, university-owned and leased buildings, parking lots and at all SUNY events or while conducting university business except for approved academic research.”
The use of medical marijuana is also prohibited on SUNY campuses.
