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.
