Orange schools approve medical marijuana policy

Orange County students prescribed medical marijuana by a doctor can be given the drug at school by their parents, under a new policy the Orange County School Board approved Tuesday.

Currently, no county parents have requested that their children be able to take medical marijuana on campus, school officials said.

But the new policy makes sure school rules conform with state law and are in place should a request be made.

A Volusia County couple has been pushing for that district to adopt such a policy, so their daughter, who has a rare genetic disorder, can receive medical marijuana while at her school, according to a story by WFTV. The Volusia County School Board on Tuesday voted to advertise its policy — which it will call “Zoe’s Policy” after the child — for adoption, with final approval expected at a later date, the story said.

State law allows students who are prescribed medical marijuana, and complete registration with the state, to be given the medication at school — but only by their certified caregivers, Orange officials said.

The only allowed certified caregivers are parents or legal guardians, they added.

So parents who do need their child to be given the drug on campus will have to come to the school to do it, the policy says. Parents must keep the drug in a “discreet/private manner” out of view of anyone but their child and administer it only in a “designated semi-private area.” They must coordinate a set time to do this with a school nurse or administrator, the policy says.

Florida voters in 2016 approved a constitutional amendment allowing the use of medical marijuana. The Florida Legislature then passed a law making the use of the drug legal, with restrictions.

“We’re simply taking the law and putting it in our policy,” said Woody Rodriguez, Orange’s school board attorney, during a discussion of the new policy earlier this month.

The new policy does not allow school employees to use medical marijuana while at work, however.