MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT (Proposition 203)
and UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Recently, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension faculty received a few inquiries from legal growers of medical marijuana for advice on treating pests and fertilizer applications. The following policies have been approved at a recent CALS Executive Council meeting and we are sharing these with you. This policy will be added to our policy and procedures manual.

Arizona voters recently approved the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (Proposition 203) which, under certain circumstances, permits individuals to possess and use limited quantities of marijuana for medical purposes. Because of its obligations under federal law, however, the University of Arizona has and will continue to prohibit marijuana possession and use on campus or on any University facility, to include Cooperative Extension/Tribal/Experiment Station offices for any purpose.

Federal law, entitled The Controlled Substances Act, prohibits the possession, use or production of marijuana, even for medical use. To achieve the policy and objective of providing a drug free environment, the University of Arizona will continue to enforce its current policies prohibiting the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance on its property or as part of any of its activities.

These restrictions apply to all University of Arizona Cooperative Extension faculty and staff members to include Master Gardener volunteers.

• While the use of Medical Marijuana is legal in the state of Arizona, Cannabis spp. remains a Schedule 1 illegal drug under Federal law and as such, Arizona Cooperative Extension cannot be involved with this plant in any form or context—including advice on appropriate applications of pesticides such as insecticides, herbicides and fungicides to control pests or of growth regulators, fertilizers or other substances to improve the growth of Cannabis spp. plants, or advice on appropriate engineering controls or design, growing conditions or environments, and other information used to grow, propagate, manage or enhance production of Cannabis spp.


• Assistance with medical marijuana plant health questions will not be provided by Extension faculty.


• Individuals requesting such information will not be provided referral information.


• Our offices are considered drug free workplaces.


• Cannabis spp. plants and/or plant parts are not permitted in any Extension/Experiment Station office or on University of Arizona property.


• Cannabis spp. plants or plant parts delivered to or left at Extension/Experiment Station offices will be turned over to legal authorities for destruction.


• If Extension employees or volunteers (including Master Gardeners) assist medical marijuana growers, they will be acting outside the scope of their employee/volunteer role and assume personal liability for any legal action that may be taken against them.