PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Urge the Department of Education to Respect Medical Marijuana Rights
  1. Signatures
    2,198 out of 2,500
    Petitioning
    1. Secretary, Department of Education (Arne Duncan)
  2. Created By
    Conservo Pez
    Brooklyn, NY
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Medical marijuana is legal in 14 states, but the DEA still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I substance. This discrepancy causes confusion in places where state law and federal law conflict.

Recently, a University of Montana student was censured for growing marijuana on campus, although he believed it was his legal right to do so. The lawyer for the university told a newspaper he was sympathetic to the student's case but was forced to punish him for his possession of marijuana, because the substance is banned federally. "State medical marijuana laws can't override the federal laws," he said.

State laws can indeed override federal laws and, in this case, they should. By signing this petition, you will urge Arne Duncan, the nation's Secretary of Education, to clarify the situation. Secretary Duncan should state publicly and clearly that no school official will lose federal funding for allowing students to use marijuana where it is legal to do so. Such a statement would reduce confusion among students, school officials and law enforcement agents, and would guarantee the medical marijuana rights millions of people have already nominally earned.

Recent Signatures

Clarify a Stance on Medical Marijuana

Dear Mr. Arne Duncan,

Recently, a University of Montana student was censured for growing marijuana on campus, although he believed it was his legal right to do so. The lawyer for the university told a newspaper he was sympathetic to the student's case but was forced to punish him for his possession of marijuana, because the substance is banned federally. "State medical marijuana laws can't override the federal laws," he said.

State laws can indeed override federal laws and, in this case, they should. By signing this petition, you will urge Arne Duncan, the nation's Secretary of Education, to clarify the situation. Secretary Duncan should state publicly and clearly that no school official will lose federal funding for allowing students to use marijuana where it is legal to do so. Such a statement would reduce confusion among students, school officials and law enforcement agents, and would guarantee the medical marijuana rights millions of people have already nominally earned.

Please have the common sense to save university administrators a lot of time and money, and please have the courage to extend this civil right to people in pain.

[Your name]

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