Drugs and Narcotics
The use, possession, or distribution of narcotics, amphetamines, barbiturates, marijuana, hallucinogens, and any other dangerous or controlled drugs not prescribed by a physician is prohibited on the college's property or at college-sponsored events.
- Title 20-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated states that any student of a public educational institution who is convicted under the laws of this state, the United States, or any state, of any felony offense involving the manufacture, distribution, sales, possession, or use of marijuana, a controlled substance, or a dangerous drug, shall as of the date of conviction be suspended from the public educational
- Title 20-3-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated specifies that any student organization functioning in conjunction with, incidental to, or at a Technical College System of Georgia Institution, through its officers, agents, or responsible members knowingly permits authorization of the sale, distribution, serving, possession, consumption, or use of marijuana, a controlled substance, or any dangerous drug at any affair, function, or activity of that student organization, social or otherwise, at which such sales, distribution, serving, possession, consumption, or use is not in compliance with the laws of this state, shall be expelled from campus for a minimum of a calendar year from the year of termination of guilt, and shall be prohibited from the use of all property, to be terminated by operation of law for any such knowing, permission, or authorization of the unlawful actions defined in the Code section, subject to the administrative review and hearing procedures set forth in this Code section.
Drugs (The President's Statement)
This statement is designed to emphasize, in fairness to all members of the technical college community, the serious and/or dangerous consequences resulting from the illegal use, possession, or distribution of marijuana, LSD, or other mind-altering drugs, and the unauthorized use of drugs, such as amphetamines, barbiturates, and tranquilizers, which are sometimes prescribed for medical purposes.
Marijuana, LSD, cocaine, or other mind-altering drugs are illegal under both federal and state laws. Although the laws may have been modified on charges of possession of minute amounts, most first offenses are felonies and punishable by incarceration for two to ten years with fines of $2,000 and the loss of certain civil rights. The penalty for subsequent offenses is a felony punishable by imprisonment for a period of not less than ten years, with possible life sentences at the discretion of the judge.
Furthermore, it should be noted that agents of the federal and state government are engaged in intensive and thorough investigations on a continuing basis throughout the state. The law requires that when a felony is committed, the civil authorities shall handle the situation rather than technical college authorities; technically, the law would say that failure to do so would involve compounding a felony.
Under the circumstances, it is clear that the policy of the technical college must be that which is described under Title 20-1 and 20-3-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated stated earlier in this catalog. Recent state and federal legal actions make it clear that the technical college has an important role to play in creating a drug-free campus.
It is hoped that this statement will help our students and the entire technical community recognize the implication of full accountability and responsibility for their actions. Not only are the legal risks grave, but there are extremely dangerous health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol. The technical college, through its Office of Student Affairs, is prepared to offer information to students needing assistance with any drug- or alcohol-related problems. We must have a drug-free environment.