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.