College Park Campus Drug Offense Lawyer
The most common way a controlled substance-related offense happens on a college campus is possession of an illegal recreation drug. A student could also be in illegal possession of a prescription medication when they do not have a prescription for it. School administrators take these offenses seriously and may levy significant consequences.
If you are facing disciplinary sanctions, consider retaining a student defense attorney. A College Park campus drug offense lawyer could represent you at university administrative hearings and work to preserve your place in the campus community.
Consequences of a Campus Drug Offense
Some of the consequences of a substance-related charge on campus could include expulsion, suspension, or other methods of punishment like participation in a drug education program, rehabilitation, or a probationary period imposed by the university.
Unlike alcohol offenses, the student’s age does not matter in a drug offense case. The age limitations for controlled dangerous substances are not the same as they are for alcohol, where somebody over 21 might not face the same consequences as somebody under 21. As a result, upperclassmen may be more likely to face administrative discipline for a drug offense than an alcohol-based offense.
Common Drug-Related Charges
The most common drug offenses on college campuses are marijuana-related offenses. Marijuana is an interesting subject in Maryland and nationwide because of the debate about the legalization of marijuana. Maryland has even decriminalized marijuana in small amounts under certain circumstances.
College campuses have their own policies for marijuana and take these situations seriously. However, they do not treat them as seriously as some of the other common drug offenses on college campuses such as possession of cocaine or ecstasy, which are considered far more serious, have no likelihood to be legalized and are considered to be dangerous by everybody.
Distribution
Because drugs are used in a recreational capacity, they are usually distributed in small amounts. Sometimes, drug distributors are caught on college campuses, but that is quite rare. Instead, small amounts come on campus and are distributed casually among friends and roommates. There are always efforts by the police department and the campus community to find out where the drugs came from and determine whether there are higher-level drug offenders, but students rarely face university sanctions for drug distribution.
Police Involvement
The police treat drug-related offenses on campus more seriously than alcohol-related offenses. The police have a hierarchy of where their attention and resources are focused. Drug-related offenses are more highly-prioritized than alcohol-related offenses.
A College Park campus drug offense lawyer could help defend a student’s rights if they are facing concurrent university and police investigations.
Hiring a College Park Campus Drug Offense Attorney
A student defense attorney could assist a student in negotiating with the disciplinary board of the school, identifying the best course of action for representation, and gathering evidence to determine whether the campus has the ability to move forward with their investigation. Most importantly, a College Park campus drug offense lawyer could work to maintain their client’s status as a member of the university community and avoid expulsion. Contact an experienced lawyer today.