“but I only had one drag…”
Thursday 12 Nov 2009
While at university it is often exciting times and a good opportunity to meet new people, get involved in societies and experiment with new things sometimes this may be alcohol but in some cases students choose to experiment with drugs.
Cannabis
The classic student drug is cannabis. Often some students are exposed to this for the first time at University and find themselves having to make a choice to get involved or to stand back and peer pressure regularly plays a part in this.
Here in the Advice Centre we see the consequences of students experimenting, both in their mental state and it affecting their studies and also the consequences of being punished for using cannabis in halls and on college property.
Cannabis is now classified as a class B drug and of course is an illegal substance. You can be arrested and charged for possession of it so with this in mind College have to have regulations in place to both protect themselves and the welfare of students at the college.
So if you live in halls and choose to smoke cannabis, lets look at the risks you are taking if you are discovered. Apart from being in the embarrassing situation of being caught, you may also face a residences tribunal or a disciplinary committee in the College. Where your department will be informed and it will be noted on your student record.
If the residences tribunal finds you guilty, one or more punishments can be chosen from below:
- A reprimand
- A fine
- College service. This means you would have to do something for the good of college (usually cleaning)
- Expulsion or suspension from any part of residences
- Eviction from the hall you are living in
If your case is passed to a college disciplinary committee you could even be expelled totally from college, also if your drug use leads to a prosecution from the police this could also be taken into consideration when deciding a punishment.
Here to Help
This article not here to preach to you or tell you off but it is informing you of the risks you take when you make a decision to smoke cannabis in your life as a student at Imperial College.
If you would like advice on the college disciplinary code or are concerned about yours or others use of cannabis please feel free to contact the Advice Centre or visit our page on drugs in the information and advice section of the website.
You can of course always contact the Imperial College Health Centre, or the College Counselling Service.