Ohio County Board Of Education Reviews Medical Cannabis Policy

The Ohio County Board of Education met Monday to discuss a new medical cannabis policy for its students. 

Last year, the West Virginia Department of Education adopted a policy (Policy No. 2422.7) to establish standards for the possession and use of medical cannabis by students.

During Monday’s meeting, the Ohio County Board of Education discussed the details of that policy and its strict limitations.

Under the policy, applications for cannabis use would be restricted to students who provide a doctor’s certificate and  produce a parent’s signature. Additionally, the guardians or parents of the student must apply for an official medical cannabis card through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). 

The student would also be required to produce a separate identification card from the DHHR. The guidelines also require that a physician must provide written certification the student has a medical condition that requires cannabis.

Ohio County Schools nurse Melissa Soltesz said under the guidelines of the policy, only caregivers or guardians could administer medical cannabis to a student on school property, or at a school-related event. 

“Nurses will not be administering it,” Soltesz said. “It can’t be delegated; it can only be the caregiver or guardian who has the card.”

Students authorized to use medical cannabis could only use gummy drops or pill forms of marijuana but would not be allowed to leave the cannabis or the medical card on school property or with a school official. 

At this time, no students in Ohio County have requested to use the policy. Raleigh County adopted a cannabis policy earlier this year.