Although Minnesota is starting to come around on medical marijuana and low-grade edibles, smoking or possessing marijuana is illegal and can cause a number of problems for a person’s life, especially if they are considering or in the process of seeking higher education. In today’s blog, we explain why you need a lawyer by your side to contest a drug charge if you are considering additional schooling to further your education.
School And Your Drug Conviction
Below, we look at all the ways that a drug conviction can affect your schooling.
College Acceptance – It is standard for colleges to ask about criminal convictions on their applications. They may say that a conviction will not affect your admission, but if you’re on the fence, a drug conviction could be the nail in your coffin.
College Housing Removal – If you live on campus, a drug conviction could be in violation of your leasing agreement, meaning you may be forced to move out of the dorms or off campus.
Expulsion – Many colleges and universities have honor code guidelines that you agree to when you attend their facilities. It’s unlikely that you’ll be expelled for your first code violation, but you can be placed on disciplinary probation, and multiple offenses could lead to your expulsion from the university.
Financial Aid – A drug conviction will likely affect your ability to receive financial aid for your education, at least for a short time period. You will need to disclose any drug convictions on a financial aid application, and a conviction can make you ineligible unless your complete a government-approved rehabilitation program. Your aid can also be terminated if you are currently receiving financial assistance and are convicted of a drug crime.
Loss of Scholarships – Speaking of ways that a drug conviction can affect your wallet, you can lose any scholarships if you’ve been convicted of a drug-related crime.
Needless to say, a conviction for a drug-related crime can affect your ability to pursue the education you’ve always dreamed of, so it’s imperative that you connect with a lawyer if you find yourself facing criminal charges during this juncture in your life. Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm know how to defend clients against drug charges and we can work with the prosecution in the event that the charge could be reduced to a much less serious crime that won’t have such far-reaching complications for your life.
Don’t let a drug convictions jeopardize your current or future education prospects. Reach out to Appelman Law Firm and let us go to bat for you. For more information, give our team a call today at (952) 224-2277.
