The Upper Canada District School Board will not allow any cannabis in schools.
Cannabis will be legal in Canada tomorrow and the school board says none is permitted in the schools. Don Lewis is Principal of Safe Schools in the board and says the policy will technically not change for staff and students.
“It is not permissible for students 19 and under to be under the influence of cannabis, alcohol, restricted drugs, or to be in possession of the same when they are at school.”
Lewis adds it’s already in the staff code of conduct as well that they can not be under the influence of cannabis, alcohol or any restricted drugs at work. Lewis explains that there is a Progressive Discipline Policy that is already in place they will use, if students are disciplined for cannabis.
“If it’s something that happens the first time, it might be one level of discipline. Then if it occurs, the consequences would then increase from there in terms of possible suspensions or it’s within the grounds for possible expulsion if the student is caught trafficking a significant amount.”
Lewis says around 30 people have attended each public meeting for cannabis information. He says cannabis legalization will be something the board will continue to monitor.
For more information about non-medical use of cannabis visit the school board’s website here.