Editor’s note: Arkansas State Univeristy’s police department declined to comment on the charging and handling of on-campus marijuana cases. Thus, information regarding the enforcement of A-State’s drug policy was pulled from previous Campus Crime reports and the student handbook. 

A study released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that in 2020, nearly half of the country’s college-age students consumed marijuana.

While states have their own varying marijuana laws, in college campuses those rules can often be more enforced depending on state laws. 

Since only medical marijuana is legalized in Arkansas, that means students caught with recreational marijuana on the A-State campus are charged accordingly.

In Arkansas law, possessing less than four ounces as a first offense is a Class A Misdemeanor, which can result in up to one year in jail or up to a $2,500 fine. If one possesses more than four ounces, or it is their second offense with less than four ounces, the charges jump up to a Class D Felony, punishable by 6 years or less in prison or up to a $10,000 fine. 

As one accrews more charges or is found in possession of greater amounts of marijuana, their charge can eventually increase to the maximum sentence of a Class A Felony, with a six to 30 year prison sentence or up to a $15,000 fine. 

According to the 2021-2022 A-State student handbook, unless a student has a valid medical prescription, using and/or possessing drugs, as well as using and/or possessing drug paraphernalia such as “pipes, water pipes, bongs, hookahs, roach clips and vials”  is prohibited. 

According to A-State’s University Police Department’s mission statement, UPD seeks to “protect and serve the campus populace by enforcing University rules and regulation, federal and state laws.”

Due to this, when students are charged with possession of marijuana on campus, the charges vary. 

The Oct. 14, 1997 edition of The Herald in an article titled “Twin Towers residents face drug charges,” reported that suspect one was charged with possession of marijuana. 

The police reported they found a bag of a leafy, green substance, as well as other marijuana-related paraphernalia. 

However, suspect one stated the police investigated his room on the basis of an anonymous phone call. According to then-patrolman Brad Felkins, they only began investigating when they saw marijuana in plain view, after the suspect opened the door. 

“Could I call the police station and tell them there’s marijuana in someone else’s room? This is a big joke,” the suspect said.

In the late 90’s and early 2000s, A-State students in possession were often arrested. Moving into the 2010s and beyond, those in possession were sometimes reported to the Office of Student Conduct, arrested or in one instance, tried by the student judicial system. 

However, with the possibility of recreational marijuana appearing on the Arkansas 2022 ballot, it is unknown how charges will change with students caught in possession. 

For an in-depth look at marijuana cases over the years at A-State, see Campus Crime.

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