How do you word school rules on cannabis?

A school rule on cannabis should state in a few sentences where what is prohibited, on which legal basis this rests and where affected persons can turn. The page for teachers on cannabispraevention.de notes that house rules may need to be supplemented with a cannabis consumption ban. This article shows how such a supplement can be worded clearly, factually and in a practicable way.

Step one: Clarify the current situation

Before you write a rule, check what already applies at your school. Many schools have house rules, school regulations or a prevention concept. Read these texts and mark the passages that mention cannabis, addictive substances or drugs in general. An existing wording can often be supplemented with a few sentences, without writing a new rule.

Also clarify who adopts the rule and who communicates it. This is governed by the school law of the federal state and by the organisation of the school. School management knows which body is responsible.

Step two: Name the legal framework

A rule seems more objective if it cites the law. The Cannabis Act (KCanG) prohibits public consumption at schools and within sight of them (§ 5 para. 2 KCanG). At a distance of more than 100 meters from the entrance area, the law holds that there is no longer any line of sight. In addition, consumption is not permitted in the immediate presence of persons under 18.

It is important not to claim more than the law says. A rule that promises more than the school can keep weakens trust in all other rules. If you are unsure, ask the school supervisory authority before you settle on a wording.

Step three: Formulate the rule clearly

Good rules are short, specific and free of threats. They describe what applies, where it applies and what the next step is. The law prohibits public consumption. House rules may go further and generally prohibit consumption on school grounds. Whether and how the school regulates this is determined by the school law of the federal state. An example of such wording:

• „On school grounds and within sight of the school, the consumption of cannabis is not permitted.“
• „Anyone who needs help turns to school social work. The school arranges contact with a counselling service.“

Avoid wording such as “reporting obligation” if the school has not itself set out how reporting works. Every duty needs a procedure. A clear rule states who does what.

Step four: Involve students, parents and teachers

Involve the student council before the rule is adopted. Inform parents through the parent council or a parents’ evening, and discuss the rule with the teaching staff. The page for teachers advises addressing young people objectively and in a differentiated way. This attitude also applies to rules.

Expect follow-up questions. According to the page for teachers, teachers should expect questions, including questions about their own consumption. A rule that anticipates these questions answers part of them already in its text. Write down what the rule means and what it does not mean, without resorting to threats.

Step five: Build help into the rule

A rule should always include an offer of help. Name where affected persons can turn. This includes school social work, school management and a counselling service. For affected persons and families these are the Sucht und Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031 and the DHS addiction help directory. The Nummer gegen Kummer advises parents on 0800 111 0 550.

A reference to prevention also belongs in the rule or in the accompanying material. The BIÖG provides classroom and information materials. The article Which BZgA material is suitable for lessons? compares which material suits which purpose.

A sample text for the notice board

The following text is suitable as an addition to the house rules. It does not replace a legal review by the school supervisory authority:

“At our school and within sight of the school, the consumption of cannabis is not permitted. Under § 5 of the Cannabis Act (KCanG), public consumption is prohibited. Anyone who needs help or is worried about someone turns to school social work. The school arranges contact with counselling services.”

Common mistakes with school rules

A rule often fails because of details. Wording that is too soft leaves room that no one can explain. Threats that are too harsh do not replace an explanation. A rule without an offer of help remains a pure sanction. Unclear responsibilities are a further problem: if it is not clear who informs, everything stalls in an emergency.

A final mistake is failing to publish the rule. A rule that appears only in the conference minutes is known to no one. Publish it in the school planner, on the school website and in every classroom. Each class should have heard the rule once in the school year.

Review and adapt the rule

A school rule needs a date for review. Set it before the rule comes into force. At this review, the school checks whether the wording still fits, whether the offers of help are current and whether incidents have changed. The student council, the parent council and the teaching staff should be involved, because they bring different experiences.

Check the offers of help every year. Telephone numbers and contact points can change. The Sucht und Drogen Hotline can be reached on 01806 313031, and the parents’ phone line of the Nummer gegen Kummer on 0800 111 0 550. The DHS addiction help directory remains the address for counselling services locally. Anyone who maintains this information prevents a rule from pointing to outdated details.

Who knows the rule

A rule only works if students understand it. Explain it in the language of the class, with examples from school life. Ask what is unclear and adjust the explanation. The same rule should also be presented to parents, so that no different picture arises at home.

The teaching staff benefit from a short joint training session. A discussion about examples helps them respond consistently. This gives students a clear signal, and no one is left alone with a situation.

What you can do next

First decide who prepares the rule. Then obtain the approval of school management and, if the rule goes beyond the house rules, a review by the school supervisory authority. Publish the rule in a place everyone knows, and check after one school year whether it still fits. A rule is an ongoing task, not a one-off decision.