2008 Woodie Awards
Marijuana arrests doubled since 2004
Drug convictions affect students' financial aid
By: Alex Piazza
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Marijuana remains prevalent throughout Mount Pleasant and the number of arrests related to the popular narcotic are increasing across the country.
In 2006, someone was arrested every 38 seconds in the United States on marijuana-related charges, according to a report released earlier this month by the Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
Mount Pleasant Police have made 29 drug-related arrests so far this year, according to statistics compiled by Jan Heugel, MPPD records supervisor. Officers were responsible for 53 drug-related arrests in 2006, and 45 in 2005.
"The consequences of an arrest don't end with handcuffs and jail cells," said Kris Krane, executive director of SSDP. "A drug conviction can follow young people for the rest of their lives by taking away their financial aid and making it harder to get jobs."
Marijuana is the second biggest disciplinary problem on Central Michigan University's campus - surpassed only by alcohol.
Many of the referrals coming through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities have some connection to the narcotic.
"A majority of the controlled substance violations on campus are marijuana-related," said Tony Voisin, director of Student Life.
Recently-released statistics show local law enforcement agencies are cracking down on the use of marijuana.
CMU Police recorded 33 drug-related arrests on campus in 2006, more than double the amount in 2004.
Students who get busted for possessing illegal drugs can have other problems beside issues with the law.
According to federal law, students who are found guilty of possessing illegal drugs are ineligible to receive financial aid for one year following their conviction.
Second-time offenders cannot receive financial aid for two years after their conviction and three-time offenders can never again receive financial aid.
Students found guilty of selling drugs can receive even harsher punishment. First-time offenders cannot receive financial aid for two years following their conviction, while second-time offenders can no longer receive financial aid.
The law came when members of Congress decided they did not want to provide funding for those who abuse the law, said Diane Fleming, associate director of client services for scholarships and financial aid.
However, CMU has never taken away a student's financial aid, Fleming said.
The drug conviction policy is based on an honor system, meaning a student must inform the university of their conviction in order to lose their financial aid.
"We would have no way of knowing if a student had a prior drug conviction," Fleming said.
The law was amended for the 2007-08 school year to apply only to those who are currently enrolled in a college or university.
Fleming said the amendment was an improvement because it allowed high school students who were convicted of a drug-related offense to turn their lives around by continuing their education.
"Somebody's past should not be held against them," she said.
news@cm-life.com
In 2006, someone was arrested every 38 seconds in the United States on marijuana-related charges, according to a report released earlier this month by the Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
Mount Pleasant Police have made 29 drug-related arrests so far this year, according to statistics compiled by Jan Heugel, MPPD records supervisor. Officers were responsible for 53 drug-related arrests in 2006, and 45 in 2005.
"The consequences of an arrest don't end with handcuffs and jail cells," said Kris Krane, executive director of SSDP. "A drug conviction can follow young people for the rest of their lives by taking away their financial aid and making it harder to get jobs."
Marijuana is the second biggest disciplinary problem on Central Michigan University's campus - surpassed only by alcohol.
Many of the referrals coming through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities have some connection to the narcotic.
"A majority of the controlled substance violations on campus are marijuana-related," said Tony Voisin, director of Student Life.
Recently-released statistics show local law enforcement agencies are cracking down on the use of marijuana.
CMU Police recorded 33 drug-related arrests on campus in 2006, more than double the amount in 2004.
Students who get busted for possessing illegal drugs can have other problems beside issues with the law.
According to federal law, students who are found guilty of possessing illegal drugs are ineligible to receive financial aid for one year following their conviction.
Second-time offenders cannot receive financial aid for two years after their conviction and three-time offenders can never again receive financial aid.
Students found guilty of selling drugs can receive even harsher punishment. First-time offenders cannot receive financial aid for two years following their conviction, while second-time offenders can no longer receive financial aid.
The law came when members of Congress decided they did not want to provide funding for those who abuse the law, said Diane Fleming, associate director of client services for scholarships and financial aid.
However, CMU has never taken away a student's financial aid, Fleming said.
The drug conviction policy is based on an honor system, meaning a student must inform the university of their conviction in order to lose their financial aid.
"We would have no way of knowing if a student had a prior drug conviction," Fleming said.
The law was amended for the 2007-08 school year to apply only to those who are currently enrolled in a college or university.
Fleming said the amendment was an improvement because it allowed high school students who were convicted of a drug-related offense to turn their lives around by continuing their education.
"Somebody's past should not be held against them," she said.
news@cm-life.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
John
posted 10/17/07 @ 9:36 AM EST
The "war on drugs" is just a sham that destroys lives. It's time for sanity to prevail and for all drugs to be legalized and regulated. This would reduce crime, increase taxes, and provide open treatment for those that need it. (Continued…)
Paul
posted 10/17/07 @ 11:16 AM EST
Marijuana is not actually a narcotic, neither in the chemical or legal sense of the word. "Hallucinogen" would probably be the correct term.
Seth
posted 10/17/07 @ 11:30 AM EST
Marijuana is not a narcotic. Opium derivative drugs or Opioids, are narcotics. Marijuana is a controlled substance. Just putting this out here so hopefully people will stop inaccurately using the term narcotic. (Continued…)
arb
posted 10/17/07 @ 12:47 PM EST
Let's note the most interesting sentence in this article: "Marijuana is the second biggest disciplinary problem on Central Michigan University's campus - surpassed only by alcohol. (Continued…)
ARK
posted 10/17/07 @ 9:04 PM EST
John - You didnt happen to read this month's issue of Foreign Policy by any chance did you?
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