Legalized marijuana raises concern but federal law would prevail on campuses

Chancellor Mark Hagerott said his email was “lighting up” over a potential vote to legalize marijuana in North Dakota. 

“There are no good outcomes associated with learning and marijuana,” Hagerott said Wednesday during a State Board of Higher Education committee meeting. 

Supporters of legalizing marijuana in North Dakota submit petition for ballot measure

His comments came a day after a North Dakota group filed a petition with the state to put legalizing marijuana on the November ballot. The group will have to gather nearly 16,000 signatures by July 8 to get the measure on the November ballot. 

Katie Fitzsimmons, director of student affairs for the North Dakota University System, noted that regardless of the outcome of the vote, marijuana possession, even medical marijuana, is illegal under the federal Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989.

“We need to make it clear that possession, public use on our campuses still remains illegal. And that is a very hard line. If we want to maintain federal funding, on any level whatsoever, that’s the line you have to hold,” Fitzsimmons said. 

The committee only discussed the legalization proposal and took no action. 

Advocates for legalizing marijuana on Tuesday cited being able to ensure the safety of cannabis products, increased revenue for the state and improvements to the legal system that would come with regulating legalized marijuana.