Maine allows the medical use of marijuana by students, and because of this, the federal government has halted $3.3 million in approved federal funding.

According to our information partners at CBS 13, the funds are allocated to support mental health programs for children in Maine. One of those programs is called Maine-AWARE which is funded by a $1.1 million grant aimed at strengthen the social service infrastructure to support student mental health in three districts across the state.

Pender Makin, the state commissioner of education, said federal funding was cut  “because of our state’s medical marijuana law, which requires schools to allow students who have written certification from their medical provider indicating their need for medical marijuana to receive such treatment while at school.”

A state law says that students are allowed to attend school when they need medical marijuana, in a non-smokable form. Makin said, “because of these provisions in Maine law, we are ineligible for participation in the AWARE grant program”

It remains unclear whether these program will survive without the federal funds.