diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
index de8eddd0b8..64e947a5a1 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
@@ -276,6 +276,22 @@ class CourseDescriptor(SequenceDescriptor):
         more sensible framework later."""
         return self.metadata.get('discussion_link', None)
 
+    @property
+    def forum_posts_allowed(self):
+        try:
+            blackout_periods = [(parse_time(start), parse_time(end))
+                                for start, end
+                                in self.metadata.get('discussion_blackouts', [])]
+            now = time.gmtime()
+            for start, end in blackout_periods:
+                if start <= now <= end:
+                    return False
+        except:
+            log.exception("Error parsing discussion_blackouts for course {0}".format(self.id))
+            raise
+        
+        return True
+
     @property
     def hide_progress_tab(self):
         """TODO: same as above, intended to let internal CS50 hide the progress tab
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/models.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/models.py
index 605a731517..ff2146afac 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/models.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from django.db import models
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 import logging
 
+from courseware.courses import get_course_by_id
 
 class Role(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=30, null=False, blank=False)
@@ -23,6 +24,12 @@ class Role(models.Model):
         self.permissions.add(Permission.objects.get_or_create(name=permission)[0])
 
     def has_permission(self, permission):
+        course = get_course_by_id(self.course_id)
+        if self.name == "Student" and \
+           (permission.startswith('edit') or permission.startswith('update') or permission.startswith('create')) and \
+           (not course.forum_posts_allowed):
+           return False
+        
         return self.permissions.filter(name=permission).exists()
 
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_course_navigation.html b/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_course_navigation.html
index 13b291196b..d770cacc96 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_course_navigation.html
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_course_navigation.html
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+<%! from django_comment_client.permissions import has_permission %>
 <%inherit file="../courseware/course_navigation.html" />
 
 <%block name="extratabs">
+% if has_permission(user, 'create_thread', course.id):
     <li class="right"><a href="#" class="new-post-btn"><span class="new-post-icon"></span>New Post</a></li>
+% endif
 </%block>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_module.html b/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_module.html
index bb172093f6..8fced92f7f 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_module.html
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_module.html
@@ -3,4 +3,6 @@
 <div class="discussion-module" data-discussion-id="${discussion_id | h}">
     <a class="discussion-show control-button" href="javascript:void(0)" data-discussion-id="${discussion_id | h}"><span class="show-hide-discussion-icon"></span><span class="button-text">Show Discussion</span></a>
     <a href="#" class="new-post-btn"><span class="new-post-icon"></span>New Post</a>
+    
+    
 </div>
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/_underscore_templates.html b/lms/templates/discussion/_underscore_templates.html
index 0a691ac36f..be238811c2 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/_underscore_templates.html
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/_underscore_templates.html
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+<%! from django_comment_client.permissions import has_permission %>
+
 <script type="text/template" id="thread-template">
     <article class="discussion-article" data-id="${'<%- id %>'}">
         <div class="thread-content-wrapper"></div>
@@ -7,6 +9,7 @@
         <div class="post-status-closed bottom-post-status" style="display: none">
           This thread is closed.
         </div>
+        % if course is UNDEFINED or has_permission(user, 'create_comment', course.id):
         <form class="discussion-reply-new" data-id="${'<%- id %>'}">
             <h4>Post a response:</h4>
             <ul class="discussion-errors"></ul>
@@ -15,6 +18,7 @@
                 <a class="discussion-submit-post control-button" href="#">Submit</a>
             </div>
         </form>
+        % endif
     </article>
 </script>
 
@@ -75,6 +79,7 @@
     <div class="discussion-response"></div>
     <ol class="comments">
         <li class="new-comment response-local">
+            % if course is UNDEFINED or has_permission(user, 'create_sub_comment', course.id):
             <form class="comment-form" data-id="${'<%- wmdId %>'}">
                 <ul class="discussion-errors"></ul>
                 <div class="comment-body" data-id="${'<%- wmdId %>'}"
@@ -83,6 +88,7 @@
                     <a class="discussion-submit-comment control-button" href="#">Submit</a>
                 </div>
             </form>
+            % endif
         </li>
     </ol>
 </script>