Board legal counsel told members that Florida statute requires districts to adopt a policy and procedures for allowing qualified students to use medical marijuana on campus, and the board discussed narrow procedural guardrails staff recommended.

"Each district school board shall adopt a policy and procedure for allowing a student who is a qualified patient as defined in 381.986 to use marijuana obtained pursuant to that section," counsel read while explaining statutory obligations. Staff said the draft policy limits school involvement: a qualified patient’s caregiver must be the person to bring and administer authorized medication, the district will require locked, inventoried storage while the product is on campus, and schools will insist on written parent‑provider protocols to prevent accidental student access.

Board members voiced two consistent concerns. First, they asked for tight protections for staff and clear limits on when school employees may be asked to handle administration; counsel confirmed the draft restricts administration to caregivers or approved designees and that school staff will not be required to administer the product. Second, the board discussed a federal‑law complication: marijuana remains illegal under federal law and, in rare circumstances, district leaders warned, aggressive federal enforcement could put federal education funding at risk. "Medical marijuana is still illegal under federal law," one board member said; attorneys advised that the policy include contingency language about federal funding risk and direct staff to consult risk management and the board attorney before broader changes.

Board members asked that the draft policy be coupled with a clear administrative procedure: (1) a required medical documentation and administration plan from the treating provider; (2) secure chain‑of‑custody and storage protocols; (3) caregiver training and onsite administration only; (4) reporting and inventory controls; and (5) a mandatory consult with counsel and risk management if a proposed donation or instruction raises legal or insurance issues. Staff said similar narrow policies have been adopted by other districts and recommended returning the policy language with concrete administrative procedures and required forms for board adoption.

No final vote was taken in the work session; counsel and staff will return with a refined draft that incorporates liability and storage controls and a short procedure manual for school administrators.