Two Districts in Central Florida Will Allow Medical Marijuana on School Grounds

While many might associate the phrase “trickle-down effect” with right-wing economic policy, you might now want to re-think that notion, considering what’s happening in the legal marijuana community.

On Wednesday, two school districts in central Florida announced they will be allowing students to bring their medical marijuana on school grounds.

The move comes on the heels of a ruling in California last Friday, where Santa Rosa Judge Charles Marson ruled in favor of 5-year-old medical cannabis patient Brooke Adams, who suffers from intense epileptic seizures. Additionally, a Broward County school district ruled in favor of a similar change in policy just last month.

A trickle-down effect, indeed.

Two Districts in Central Florida Will Allow Medical Marijuana on School Grounds

Following a pair of county meetings on Tuesday night, school districts in Orange and Volusia counties made the executive decision to allow for the medicine on-campus.

The Orange County school board decided that young medical marijuana patients will be allowed to receive the medication from a caregiver—not affiliated with the school in anyway—so long as they have the proper documentation from a medical professional.

In Volusia County, the decision hit closer to home, due to one student’s rare disease that requires on-site medical marijuana.

Zoe Adams, who suffers from Sanfilippo syndrome—a rare disorder similar to Alzheimer’s—is prescribed CBD hemp oil for her illness. Zoe suffers random seizures throughout the day due to her ailment.

Under the new policy—compassionately titled “Zoe’s policy,” medical cannabis can now be administered on-campus by a parent or hired caregiver. The process will be required to be carried out in private, as neither staff nor students are permitted to be in the area.

Zoe’s parents expressed their gratitude following the much-anticipated decision. Zoe’s father, J.J. Adams, says the decision not only directly effects his daughter, but everyone involved throughout the process.

“It’s quality of life, it’s what these kids need, and it helps them, the parents, the teachers, it’s all around beneficial,” Adams said.

Volusia County School Board Chair Linda Cuthbert hopes that Zoe’s case will actually have a “trickle-up” effect. Despite the drug’s lingering Schedule I status, she believes that it’s not crazy to think more cases like this will open the eyes of federal officials.

“She’s always going to live forever because of Zoe’s Policy,” Cuthbert said to Volusia County’s local ABC affiliate. “We know we’re doing the right thing. We hope the federal government will understand what we’re trying to do.”