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Bay College prohibits marijuana

ESCANABA — While the recreational use of marijuana was recently legalized in Michigan, the drug will continue to be prohibited at Bay College.

The Bay College Board of Trustees approved revisions to its drug-free workplace policy on second reading during its final regular meeting of the year.

Under the updated version of the policy, the use, manufacture, possession and/or distribution of marijuana will still not be allowed at Bay College. This includes the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

In the updated policy, it was stated this is the case because “such use, manufacture possession or distribution of marijuana continues to be a violation of federal law.” Bay College receives multiple federal grants, and must adhere to federal law to continue receiving these grants.

The updated policy applies to Bay students while they are attending classes, attending college-sponsored activities and programs (regardless of their location), on campus and in any vehicle used for college business. It applies to Bay employees while they are reporting for work, on the job or performing job-related functions on or off campus, attending college-related activities, on campus and in any vehicle used for college business.

After the meeting, Bay College President Laura Coleman said the policy was not updated in direct response to Michigan’s general election vote on recreational marijuana use, and that the timing of the update was a coincidence.

“They were updates that our attorney recommended that we make,” she said.

In other business, the board approved its officers for 2019. William Lake will serve as the board’s chair, Thomas Butch will serve as vice-chair, Eric Lundin will serve as secretary and Philip Strom will serve as treasurer. Laura Johnson will continue to serve as assistant board secretary, and Eileen Sparpana will stay in the assistant board treasurer position.

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