Ithaca College Cornell Lawyer: How a non-criminal marijuana charge in New York could potentially DESTROY your chances to get Federal Student Aid

HOW even a New York

Non-Criminal Marijuana Charge

could POTENTIALLY DESTROY

your ability to get Federal Student Aid

In this video, Attorneys Mike Cyr and Larry Newman explain how even a NON-CRIMINAL marijuana charge in New York can potentially RUIN your chances of getting Federal Student Aid.  

To break it down, even though possessing less than 25 grams of marijuana has been deemed a civil infraction (it is still illegal), where it is a non-criminal offense and you just get a fine. 

What the police or courts do NOT tell you is that if you have any intention of ever applying for Federal Student Loans/Aid for either undergraduate or graduate school, then even a non-criminal conviction could potentially destroy your chances. 

WHY?

Because though New York has de-criminalized a small amount of weed, marijuana is still considered a CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE by the Federal Government.  And you MUST disclose any controlled substance conviction on your FAFSA.  That application must be submitted every year you request student aid and with if you decide to NOT disclose it (and they find out), you will probably lose all of  your federal student aid for both lying and the underlying offense. 

That is why it is so important to treat Unlawful Possession of Marijuana charges seriously so that you do not DESTROY your chances to get federal student loans either now or in the future. 

If you have questions, call us: 607-229-5184

Send me an email: mike.ithacadwi@gmail.com

Find us online:  www.ithacadwi.com

BLOG:  www.ithacadwi2.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/ithacadwi

www.twitter.com/ithacadwi OR @ithacadwi

In this video, Attorneys Mike Cyr and Larry Newman explain how even a NON-CRIMINAL marijuana charge in New York can potentially RUIN your chances of getting Federal Student Aid.  

To break it down, even though possessing less than 25 grams of marijuana has been deemed a civil infraction (it is still illegal), where it is a non-criminal offense and you just get a fine. 

What the police or courts do NOT tell you is that if you have any intention of ever applying for Federal Student Loans/Aid for either undergraduate or graduate school, then even a non-criminal conviction could potentially destroy your chances. 

WHY?

Because though New York has de-criminalized a small amount of weed, marijuana is still considered a CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE by the Federal Government.  And you MUST disclose any controlled substance conviction on your FAFSA.  That application must be submitted every year you request student aid and with if you decide to NOT disclose it (and they find out), you will probably lose all of  your federal student aid for both lying and the underlying offense. 

That is why it is so important to treat Unlawful Possession of Marijuana charges seriously so that you do not DESTROY your chances to get federal student loans either now or in the future. 

If you have questions, call us: 607-229-5184

Send me an email: mike.ithacadwi@gmail.com

Find us online:  www.ithacadwi.com

BLOG:  www.ithacadwi2.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/ithacadwi

www.twitter.com/ithacadwi OR @ithacadwi

*This video is NOT intended as legal advice.  If you are charged with a crime or a non-criminal violation, we strongly urge you to consult with a local, licensed attorney. 


*Attorney advertising

BY MIKE CYR

Ithaca Criminal lawyer explains: Unlawful Possession of Marijuana ("UPM") and LOSING your Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

(image courtesy www.thejointblog.com)

CORNELL AND ITHACA COLLEGE STUDENTS:  DID YOU KNOW THAT A CONVICTION FOR "UPM" can result in possible loss of your FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS???

Well, I imagine that I got your attention... 

College students love weed.  I went to Ithaca College and I know first hand about how prevalent marijuana use is on and off campus --as I imagine it is on every college campus in the USA.  I also have defended plenty of students charged with various “weed-related” crimes. Although some states have legalized marijuana (i.e. Colorado), New York is not one of them.   New York has de-criminalized possessing a small amount of marijuana (less than 25 grams or 7/8 of an ounce), but it is still illegal and subject to a $100 fine. 

 Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (Penal Law, s. 221.05)

[violation not a crime]

            A person is guilty of unlawful possession of marijuana when he knowingly and unlawfully possesses marijuana [less than 25 grams]. 

Penalties:

1. Up to 15 days in jail (for third or more offense ONLY)
2. $0-$100 fine (first offense);  $0-$200 (second offense in 3 yrs);

$0-$250 (third offense in 3 yrs)

3. Court surcharges $120 city court or $125 town court
4. 1 year Conditional Discharge (on 3^rd offense only--no new arrests)

If New York has "de-criminalized" having a small amount of weed, then what's the big deal? 

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HASN'T.

Under Federal Law, Marijuana is considered an illegal CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, and pleading guilty to the lowest marijuana possession charge in New York (i.e. UPM) will have to be disclosed on a FAFSA application for Federal Student Loans.  It may cause loans to be denied for students with possession convictions (even at the NY violation level) or cause federal student aid to be significantly reduced.  

Here's the text from the FAFSA.gov website:  (if you are eligible for federal student aid...)

• Not have a conviction for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans). If you have such a conviction, you must complete the Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet to determine if you are eligible for aid or partially eligible for aid.

Bottom line:

A "UPM" charge is serious if you are dependent on Federal Student Aid (or may be in the future, i.e. graduate school).  It is in your best interests to find a local attorney [whether it be me or somebody else] who knows the challenges you're facing both in a criminal sense --and an educational sense. 

The most important thing is to protect your future. 

BY:  Attorney Mike Cyr 

P:  607-229-5184

E:  mike.ithacadwi@gmail.com

www.ithacadwi.com

www.facebook.com/ithacadwi

Twitter:   @ithacadwi