bad luck and some minor stupidity

[cop an Attitude]

I am a student at a campus in Massachusetts, and I have just been caught for possession of marijuana and alcohol (and maybe fire arms for a firecracker I forgot i had in my desk). I had not drank or smoked at all today and when I do its off-campus but it seemed little to the police officers who searched me.
I was walking back from my friend’s hall on campus when I had the sudden urge to go to the bathroom, so I walked over the tree line and began urinating behind 2 remote trashcans. I turn the corner after I'm done peeing to find a cop car stopped next to me. He rolled down his windows and asked what i was doing. I told him I had just gone to the bathroom (figuring it was the best excuse i had and the truth.) He then asks me to stop and gets out of the car. He then began to search me under "suspicious activity". I carry a pipe on me and had some weed. That then led to a full blown search of my dorm and all my belongings. A bottle of vodka, a grinder, weed and a bowl were found. I have no idea what to do now, this all happening about an hour ago. I just thought that if anyone had any input on this or advice that would be great. I understand that carrying illegal objects on me may be a bit unwise, but it happens. I am no different than most students and I really did not (morally at least) deserve to be searched and have my future distoryed.

[butterfly]

Sorry to hear that mate:(
I had my possessions searched once after failing to wear a helmet and it's infuriating.

[Rascolnikova]

Are you a legal adult?

If you're a minor, they need "reasonable suspicion" to search you, which it sounds like they had. If you aren't, they need probable cause, and I'd get a lawyer.

Edit: by which I mean, get a lawyer Now.

[Das war einmal]

What is the penalty in Massassuchets for possesing weet? Here its legal if you have no more than 5 grams (although the police has the right to take it away). I hope you wont get to much trouble for it.

[Rjevan]

Oh, really bad luck. Sorry to hear that. :(
I can only agree with Rascolnikova, get a lawyer as quick as possible!

[cop an Attitude]

I have little money to get a lawyer but I'll try, maybe there is on on campus. Marajunana was decriminalized this year in MA but I doubt the school has updated their policies. I have no idea on whats happening yet, nobody's conntacted me so I think I might go loook for legal help today.

[#FF0000]

Do not talk to any police. do what you can about a lawyer, and do not talk to the police. Hopefully you haven't already.

[apathy maybe]

What everyone else said about lawyers and don't ever talk to the police.

For everyone, if you piss in an alley and the cops ask, "what were you just doing?", don't answer. In the USA you have the fifth amendment thingy.

Before you get busted for stuff, make sure you know your rights, go talk to your local activist group, student union, legal aid centre, etc. At least one of these groups will have a pamphlet on your rights in your local area.

[Post-Something]

Don't speak to the police whatever you do. Also, I'd take apathy maybe's advice.

[cop an Attitude]

The only major loophole in this is that it happend on a campus. I have found out that people have actully been smoking in that location before and the police where there keeping an eye out for that. When they began to search me i asked under what grounds and if I had any option. He told me no and patted me down. I did talk to them a little but only when needed and only if it was nonincriminating (mainly yes or nos). Its all going throught the schools court and outside I dont even think I have a record, its only on my student information. I have hearings soon and hopfully the RD will more understanding then the cops the night before.

[BPSocialist]

You shouldn't have had drugs on you anyway, you idiot:)

Anyway, this thread should be in chit-chat.

[Plagueround]

You shouldn't have had drugs on you anyway, you idiot:)

Anyway, this thread should be in chit-chat.

This thread has more actual relevance to mutual aid and DIY than wanting to dress up like some sort of pseudo-soviet soldier. If you don't have anything helpful to say, don't bother posting.

[Dóchas]

You shouldn't have had drugs on you anyway, you idiot:)

Anyway, this thread should be in chit-chat.

fuck off if you dont have anything constuctive or helpful to say

i am not familier with these situations but you could talk to people that have gone through the same thing and see what they did and maybe talk to people in unions like someone suggested and see if they have any advice foe you. i really hope it doesnt escalate too much its the last thing students need.

[BPSocialist]

Alright, Alright, just trying to make a point.

What's the legal amount of weed you're allowed to have on you where you live?

[mykittyhasaboner]

The most important thing to do is to not cooperate with the police in any way. Just reiterate the fact that "you have the right to remain silent", because giving any information to the police just makes it easier for them to arrest you. If I was in your position, I wouldn't have let the cop search me, nor would I even have answered the cop like apathy maybe said. "Suspicious activity" is bullshit, no cop has any legal right to search you after you took a piss. Its a shame they found all that neat stuff you had; Ive dealt with shit like this numerous times.

[cop an Attitude]

Yeah, I wish I had been off campus, then this whole thing would only be a $100 fine. I had like a gram, some bags (which they tried to pin with distrubution until they couldnt find any more weed in ym room or a scale), a 50 dollar bubbler, a pipe and some papers. I had a bottle of vodka in my room too. Its really not out of the ordinary to find these types of things when you search a college kid's dorm but still, any marajuna is a major offense on campus. I may be kicked out of housing for it :(. But if thats the case i'm gunna fight it to the end, I did nothing worng and if they want to kick me out over something so petty then I'l just go to school somewhere else.

[BPSocialist]

Can you claim it was for medicanal purposes?

(I'm sorry about before, I scan read your thread and saw the reference to drugs, which were against this forum's rules [along with weapons and explosives] and momentarily lost it:()

[Plagueround]

Can you claim it was for medicanal purposes?

(I'm sorry about before, I scan read your thread and saw the reference to drugs, which were against this forum's rules [along with weapons and explosives] and momentarily lost it:()

To clarify, discussions such as this are fine as it is simply dealing with a social issue that happens to relate to drug usage. What we want to avoid are things like instructions and tips on growing, usage, or distribution.

[BPSocialist]

OH, ok technical misunderstanding. I apologise. My bad.

Can you claim it was for medicanal purposes, though?

[cop an Attitude]

no, mass has no medical usage for it. Its very rare that first time offenders don't lose on-campus housing, so I might have to live at the Good Samaritan for some time. A student kicked out for a unreasonable search and a bloated rule. I honestly think that the rules are so harsh (and bare in mind that this is a state school) becuase they over booked the dorms last year and they have to free up space. I was in a forced triple, which gave me about 6 ft of living space. I heard that most transfers to doubles where taking kicked out student's spots. Its just a hunch of mine. Etheir was there are students that trash the bathrooms and binge drink everyday and nothing happens to them. But for the quite stoner, he has to go; no justice. And as for those cops that busted me, biggest dicks I have ever seen. They took out a luck rabbits foot from my desk, laughed at each other and then tossed it to me, saying "your gunna need this". I guess they get a lot of kids and never give them any break according to others. Well Westfield fuels it I guess, after all, criminal justice is the biggest major here.

[17th November]

Have you now some problems with law?

[cop an Attitude]

not at all, I think i might get fined a bit. It goes on my student record though.