Chapman conduct code still bans marijuana despite projected legalization

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Although Proposition 64, which legalizes recreational marijuana for people 21 years and older in California passed Nov. 8, it will still be a violation of the Chapman Student Conduct Code to be in possession of the drug.

“The Student Conduct Code applies to students both on and off campus. It doesn’t matter,” Director of Student Conduct Colleen Wood told The Panther in October. “Our definitions of things are different than state law and so just because something is permitted under state law, doesn’t mean it’s permitted under the Student Conduct Code.”

Wood said that while someone could theoretically violate the Student Conduct Code by smoking marijuana off campus, the majority of Student Conduct Code violations involving drugs take place on campus.

“We do have students who are arrested on campus for violating state law about drugs,” Wood said. “They’re taken off in handcuffs and driven away in police cars.”

She also said that the reason the Student Conduct Code will still prohibit the use of marijuana is because the federal government does not allow certain substances on college campuses under the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act.

If the university doesn’t comply with the act, it could lose federal funding, like financial aid, Wood said.

“Federal aid programs include programs such as the Pell Grant program, federal student loans, and work study,” Wood said. “If you look at other states that have legalized marijuana, such as Oregon and Washington, their universities still prohibit marijuana on campus.”

Students who voted for the proposition were concerned that the Student Conduct Code would still prohibit smoking pot, even though it’s now legal in California.

“I voted yes. I think it’ll be great for the economy,” said Jenna Vaccaro, a senior news and documentary major. “I understand that is in violation of the Student Conduct Code, but I also think that it’s now a right of ours, in law, I suppose. I find it questionable. That’s going to be tricky territory. That’s going to be a point of contention.”

According to the annual Jeanne Clery Act report, drug-related arrests at Chapman resulting in judicial referral rose from 115 in 2014 to 127 in 2015. Dean of Students Jerry Price worried that students seem to be dismissive of the effects of marijuana.

“I’m very concerned about student drug habits,” Price told The Panther in October. “Young people in general, they seem to be more cavalier about marijuana. I don’t think it’s as innocuous as some people believe.”

Some students believe that their drug consumption doesn’t affect others, and that it shouldn’t have even required a vote.

“It’s ridiculous that we had to vote,” said Jon Dadgari, a freshman screenwriting major. “If I smoke, it doesn’t affect others who don’t want to smoke as long as I don’t shove a joint in someone’s mouth.”

Price said that punishment for drug use is determined by the severity of the incident.

“It depends on the substance and it depends upon the behavior that’s being exhibited,” Price said. “It really is situational kind of depending upon the drug involved, the student, the student’s prior conduct history. We don’t have a little rubric we go to.”

Sabrina Santoro and Xavier Leong contributed to this report.