Waterloo Region — Smoking marijuana will not be allowed on university campuses in Waterloo.

Wilfrid Laurier University released on Friday an interim policy covering recreational cannabis that takes effect on Wednesday, when its use becomes legal in Canada.

Any use or preparation of cannabis indoors and outdoors on Laurier's campus is prohibited, no matter how it is consumed. The policy applies to anyone on campus.

"We wanted to make sure our interim policy was simple and clear," said Kevin Crowley, communications director at Laurier. "And to provide ourselves some room to adapt."

The interim policy buys the university some time while rules around recreational marijuana continue to be worked out by the federal and provincial governments, as well as municipalities.

"It's all new territory for all of us," Crowley said.

The University of Waterloo isn't planning to create a cannabis-specific policy, but instead intends to cover recreational marijuana use under its smoking and alcohol policies.

Smoking is not currently allowed in Waterloo's residences, and neither will the smoking of recreational marijuana.

Residences don't allow deliveries of alcohol, and that will extend to cannabis.

The smoking policy will be updated this week to prohibit smoking marijuana outdoors on campus. Smoking tobacco is allowed on the grounds, although not within 10 metres of all buildings, but the university didn't want marijuana affecting those who don't use.

"It's a learning institution. It's a place of work," explained Matthew Grant, director of media relations.

UW has a working group on the issue and will continue to follow recreational marijuana legislation as it appears, including rules around the use of edibles, and it will consider the need for a separate policy on cannabis.

Conestoga College is currently revising its substance use guidelines that regulate the use of alcohol, cannabis, drugs and other substances on campus. It's expected the final revisions will be approved this week and the college will release them publicly then.

Laurier will also put a focus on education, to help students make an informed decision about recreational cannabis.

Laurier is forming a working group to keep an eye on what is happening, do research and consult with the campus community before deciding on a long-term policy. It's expected recommendations will be made to the board of governors in time for the June meeting.

"We're all sort of feeling our way through this and trying to make decisions while things still aren't completely settled," Crowley said.

Medical cannabis is subject to different rules than recreational cannabis and is regulated by the federal government.

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