OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County students who are registered medical marijuana patients may soon be able to take their medication while in school.
- Osceola school board to decide on medical marijuana measure
- It would allow students to take their medicine on school property
- Public hearing on the issue to be held Dec. 18
Osceola County School Board members will vote on whether to allow students to use medical marijuana on school property.
David Persaud, a father of two high schoolers, doesn't like the idea.
"I am against it," Persaud said. "I am against the marijuana being in the schools, you know."
However, other parents whose children suffer from seizures and different types of illnesses look forward to it.
The school district said there are tight guidelines surrounding the issue.
"There’s really nothing to worry about," school board member Kelvin Soto said. "They could continue with their opinions and whatever moral objections they have. But as far as the school district [is concerned]—this is medicine. And it’s really important that our kids get whatever prescribed medicine that they need."
If the measure is adopted, parents have to submit a written request to their child's principal at least 48 hours in advance. The school principal will have a designated place on campus where the medicine can be taken. This does not include school buses or field trips.
And only parents or caregivers will be responsible for administering the medicine, no nurses or school staff.
It's something Persaud can agree with.
"And if it comes down to that, I would like it to be supervised," he said.
Medical marijuana will not be allowed to be stored on school grounds.
A public hearing on will be held Tuesday, December 18 in the School District of the Osceola County Administrative Center Board Room at 5:30 p.m.