Wednesday, October 20, 2010

STUDENTS WILL GO TO JAIL AND LOSE FINANCIAL AID UNDER PROP. 19

How would Prop. 19 affect college students?

College students should be particularly wary of Prop. 19.
It takes a very common and currently non-arrestable offense--sharing a joint in a mixed group of adults, some above age 21, and some under age 21--and turns it into an arrestable offense:

Any adult 21 or over who passes a joint to another adult age 18-20 will face 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine if Prop. 19 passes.
(The current penalty is only a $100 fine.) Since Gov. Schwarzenegger recently signed a bill downgrading possession of 1 oz from a misdemeanor to a mere civil infraction (like driving above the speed limit)--which carries with it no criminal-record stigma--right now, students no longer have to face losing their financial aid if they're caught with an ounce. However, Prop. 19 creates a new misdemeanor aimed directly at students:

If Prop. 19 passes, STUDENTS 21 AND OVER WILL FACE 6 MONTHS IN JAIL AND A $1,000 FINE FOR THE "CRIME" OF PASSING A JOINT TO ANOTHER ADULT AGE 20--a misdemeanor which will cause them to lose their financial aid and benefits from other government programs.

THE QUESTION: Is Prop. 19 sensible drug policy? Are students better off with Prop. 19 or without it?


Post your answers as comments below!

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