Cannabis policy at Wilfrid Laurier University bans use on campus

Wilfrid Laurier University has released an interim cannabis policy just days before recreational marijuana becomes legal in Canada.

Under the new policy, the use or preparationof recreational cannabis on university property, facilitiesand university vehicles will be prohibited.

Students who live in university residences will not be allowed to use marijuana inside or outside their dorms. Students cannot have recreational cannabis delivered to any locations on campus, nor can they grow the plants.

"You can possess it under certain conditions that it's in a sealed, scent-proof container," said Kevin Crowley, a spokesperson for Wilfrid Laurier. "It's just the use. You can't consume recreational cannabis on the campus after Oct. 17 until we have a full-time policy and we'll see what that policy is."

However, the university willaccommodatethe use of medical cannabiswith proper documentation.

He said the policy will be enforced the way other policies are enforced on campus.

"We have a special constable service and so on," he said. "We'll enforce it through our existing measures."

Crowley said the university has a non-academic student code of conduct with "behaviour expectations" in the classroom.

The university plans toprovide educationand harm reduction programs for staff andstudents who may be considering using cannabis as well.

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The policy will take effectOct. 17 and be in effect until June 30, 2019.

The interim cannabis policy willgive staff six to eight months to consult with government, municipalities and other universities before establishing a permanent policy.

Crowley said the school will look at federal, municipal and commercial pot policies in creating their permanent policy.

They also plan to talk to studentsabout rules they want to see, he said.

"We just want to take our timeameasured approach," said Crowley. "We want to make the best decision."