AWC will continue to be smoke and tobacco free after Supreme Court ruling

Arizona Western College will still be holding true to their smoke and tobacco-free policy, even though the Arizona Supreme Court ruled, on Wednesday, that students with medical marijuana cards will not be criminally charged for the possession or the use of their medicine.

“Arizona Western College is a smoke and tobacco free campus. So it’s not really going to affect us too much. We already have policies in place in our student code of conduct.” said Mary Kay Harton, Arizona Western College Dean of Students.

AWC officials said that they will be reviewing their policy along with their campus police department to ensure it aligns with what the Supreme Court ruled.

Administrators will instead be meeting with students on campus to discuss the rules regarding medical marijuana on campus.

“We’d have an educational conversation about what the laws are and what the expectations are for being on campus at Arizona Western College and for living in the residence halls. We would explain the impact of the behavior and give them options about what they can do.” said Harton.

AWC student Ryan Jiacolone thinks that educating students is a much better way to handle the situation.

“Education on the proper use or possession of marijuana will be better for students in the long run because it will keep them out of the laws eyes.” said Jiacolone.

Students will be advised to take their medical marijuana off campus.