Campus Cannabis Catastrophe – Is Cannabis Legal on Campus?

KENT, Ohio, When senior sociology major Avery Johnson returned to her off campus apartment after Thanksgiving break, she noticed the familiar smell of marijuana drifting through the hallway. She said the scent itself never bothers her. What bothers her is the immediate shift in rules once she walks onto Kent State University property.

“People know they can buy it legally in Ohio if they are twenty one or older,” Johnson said. “Then they come onto campus and suddenly everything changes. It throws a lot of students off.”

Johnson is one of many Kent State students trying to make sense of the gap between statewide legalization and university prohibition. One year after Ohio voters approved Issue 2, which made recreational marijuana legal for adults twenty one and older, students say the rules feel unclear and inconsistent. A student can legally purchase cannabis at a dispensary in Kent, but the same product becomes prohibited once that student steps onto university grounds.

Many students assumed campus policies would ease after legalization. Others said they were surprised to learn that the rules would not change at all. Kent State administrators have repeatedly reminded the community that marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Because the university receives federal funding, it must comply with federal drug regulations, which still classify marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance. University postings, policy documents and official messages all reiterate the same point. Marijuana is legal in Ohio but remains prohibited on all Kent State property.

For students, the state and federal conflict feels less like a legal issue and more like a daily challenge. They are often unsure where marijuana use is allowed and what consequences they could face. Residence halls, dining areas, academic buildings, athletic venues, parking lots and all university sponsored events remain off limits. Students describe a learning curve that usually begins only after they or someone they know faces disciplinary action.

“It feels like the rules jump back and forth depending on which sidewalk you are standing on,” said junior pre law student Daniel Ramos. “A lot of students honestly thought police would relax after legalization. That is not what happened.”

Kent State Police: “Legalization did not change our responsibilities”

Interviews with Kent State Police show that enforcement practices have remained steady. Lieutenant Carol Simmons said most calls still originate from residence hall staff or students who report strong odors. She said legalization has led to confusion, but not to fewer reports.

“Our role did not change after Issue 2,” Simmons said. “Marijuana is still prohibited on campus. When we receive a complaint, we respond the same way we always have. If we find marijuana or paraphernalia, we complete a report and refer the student to the Office of Student Conduct.”

Simmons said officers emphasize documentation rather than arrests unless other criminal factors are involved.

“The vast majority of these incidents do not involve criminal charges,” she said. “They result in conduct referrals. Our goal is not punishment. Our goal is safety and compliance with federal guidelines.”

Sergeant Malik Turner, who oversees campus patrol shifts on weekends, said officers continue to respond to odor complaints more frequently in older residence halls with limited airflow.

“It is common for someone to claim they did not know campus was still drug free,” Turner said. “We hear that a lot now. Students say they thought legalization meant campus police would leave it alone. That is not how federal requirements work.”

Consequences and conduct trends

Sanctions through the Office of Student Conduct still range from educational courses to probation or suspension, depending on the severity of the situation. Students under twenty one can face parental notification. More serious cases may lead to interim suspension.

Kent State Police provided preliminary information from the past year. Simmons said the number of referrals has been relatively consistent.

“We did not see a major spike after legalization,” she said. “What we saw was confusion. The types of incidents stayed the same, but the explanations students gave us changed.”

Off campus enforcement

The situation shifts again once students step off university property. Kent City Police say they continue to respond to calls involving odor complaints, underage possession and disturbances in shared housing.

Officer Ryan McCall, who patrols neighborhoods near Summit Street, said most cases still involve neighbor complaints rather than street level encounters.

“Marijuana is legal here, but people forget it is not legal everywhere,” McCall said. “We get calls when the smell spreads through shared hallways or when there is public consumption. We handle those like any other disturbance.”

McCall said the department has issued citations for public consumption but noted that overall marijuana related calls have become “less confrontational” since legalization. He said college students still receive citations for possession if they are under twenty one.

“Most of the time it is a simple conversation followed by a citation,” McCall said. “The tone has shifted, but the law still has rules.”

A policy divide that students continue to navigate

For students, the inconsistencies remain a source of frustration. A student can legally smoke inside a rented home on Summit Street but could face disciplinary action for carrying the same product onto campus.

“It is strange that you can legally buy something in Kent and break a rule by walking back to your dorm with it,” Ramos said. “A lot of people do not realize the university is following federal law, not state law. That is where the confusion comes from.”

University officials say they continue to focus on education. Kent State offers substance use prevention modules, health education workshops and campus outreach to help students understand the policies.

Some students say the educational efforts help. Others think the messaging needs to be more practical.

“Students are not going to read long policy documents on their own,” said sophomore business student Tia Roberts. “They need examples that match daily life. Right now people rely on rumors.”

Policy experts say the conflict between state and federal rules places all Ohio universities in the same position. Institutions that receive federal funding must follow federal drug regulations until marijuana is removed from the federal controlled substances list.

As the second year of legalization approaches, students say they hope for more clarity even if the rules themselves do not change.

“It is legal in Ohio but not on campus,” Roberts said. “I understand why, but the way it plays out feels contradictory for students.”

Interviews with Kent State Police and Kent City Police will continue as additional data is provided. Follow up interviews with the Office of Student Conduct will also be included as the university releases updated information.