A. Drug and Alcohol Free Campus Policy
1. Introduction
Mitchell Hamline School of Law recognizes drug and alcohol abuse among the major health hazards in our society. It further recognizes the debilitating consequences such abuse can inflict upon students, employees, the legal community, and the community at large. It is the school’s desire to maintain a safe, healthy, and productive work place and learning environment for its students, faculty, and staff.
The abuse of drugs and alcohol represents a serious threat to an individual’s mental, emotional and physical health. Health risks from chemical abuse include drowsiness, disorientation, hallucinations, depression, convulsions, coma and death. Similarly, there are significant health risks associated with the abuse of alcohol. Mitchell Hamline School of Law provides assistance and guidance to individuals who need help. Contact the Dean of Students, or Counseling Services to identify appropriate resources.
2. Policy Statement
Federal law requires that, as a condition of receiving funds or any other form of financial assistance under any Federal program, including student financial aid, an institution of higher education must adopt and implement a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees. In addition, federal contractors and federal grant recipients are required to establish and maintain drug-free awareness programs in the workplace.
This policy shall be enforced consistent with the rights and responsibilities set forth in the Student Code of Conduct and applicable standards and procedures for faculty and staff.
- No student, faculty, or staff member of Mitchell Hamline School of Law may unlawfully manufacture, dispense, possess, use, or distribute alcohol or illicit drugs on school property or as part of any of its activities. In addition, faculty and staff members are prohibited from reporting for work or from working under the influence of controlled substances. As a condition of employment, employees are required to notify the school of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than 5 days after the conviction.
- Disciplinary sanctions shall be imposed on students, faculty, and staff who violate Section 2.a, above. The application of any disciplinary sanction shall be dependent upon the seriousness of the offense and the presence or absence of mitigating factors.
- Sanctions for students include, but are not limited to:
- Expulsion from the school.
- Suspension from the school.
- Record of violation entered into student’s file, which may, in turn, be reported to the applicable State Board of Law Examiners.
- Drug or alcohol dependency treatment and counseling as a condition of remaining in or returning to the school.
- Referral to the State or Federal Government for prosecution.
- Sanctions for faculty and staff members include, but are not limited to:
- Termination of employment with the school.
- Suspension from employment.
- Record of violation entered into faculty or staff member’s file, which may, in turn, be reported to the applicable Board of Professional Responsibility.
- Drug or alcohol dependency treatment and counseling as a condition of continued employment.
- Referral to the State or Federal government for prosecution.
3. Resources
Below is a list of low cost drug or alcohol counseling, treatment, rehabilitation or re-entry programs that are available in the area:
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
Court International Building
2550 University Avenue West
Saint Paul, MN
55114
651-646-5590
First Call for Help
404 South 8th Street East
St. Paul, MN
Call: 211
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
680 Stewart Avenue
St. Paul, MN
55102
1-866-881-1875
Regions Hospital Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs
445 Etna Street
Suite 55
Saint Paul, MN
55106
651-254-4804
Alcoholics Anonymous
608 7th St. W.
Saint Paul, MN
55102
651-227-5502
4. Possible Health Risks of Drug Use/Abuse
Marijuana
Possible Signs of Use/Abuse: Increased heart and pulse rate; bloodshot eyes; increased appetite; dryness in the mouth and throat; hallucinations, paranoia or panic; impaired memory; and altered sense of time; and decreased concentration, reaction time, and coordination.
Possible Health Risks of Use/Abuse: Damage to heart, lungs, brain and nerve cells; lung cancer; memory disorders; interference with psychological maturation; temporary loss of fertility in both women and men; psychological dependence; and bronchitis, infections, colds, and other viruses. For pregnant women: premature birth or low birth weights.
Cocaine/crack
Possible Signs of Use/Abuse: Euphoria; dilated pupils; narrowing of blood vessels; increased blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature; decreased appetite; insomnia; runny nose; violent, erratic, or paranoid behavior; sweating; anxiety; and tremors.
Possible Health Risks of Use/Abuse: Malnutrition, respiratory problems; addiction; stroke; liver problems; seizures; heart and respiratory failure; psychosis; coma; convulsions; and sexual dysfunction. For users who share or use non-sterile needles to inject cocaine: tetanus, hepatitis, or HIV/AIDS.
Steroids
Possible Signs of Use/Abuse: Sudden increase in muscle and weight; increase in aggression and combativeness; violence; hallucinations; depression; jaundice; purple or red spots on body, inside mouth, or nose; swelling of feet or lower legs (edema); tremors; and bad breath. For women: breast reduction, enlarged clitoris, facial hair, baldness, and deepened voice. For men: enlarged nipples and breasts, testicle reduction, enlarged prostate, and baldness.
Possible Health Risks of Use/Abuse: High blood pressure; liver and kidney damage; heart disease; increased risk of injury to ligaments and tendons; bowel and urinary problems; gallstones and kidney stones; and liver cancer. For men: impotence, sterility and prostate cancer. For women: menstrual problems and sterility. For users who share or use non-sterile needles to inject steroids; hepatitis, tetanus, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Hallucinogens
Possible Signs of Use/Abuse: Dilated pupils; increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sweating; loss of appetite; sleeplessness; dry mouth; tremors; hallucinations; disorientation; confusion, paranoia, violence; euphoria; anxiety; panic, and distorted perception of time, space and reality.
Possible Health Risks of Use/Abuse: Liver damage, convulsions; addiction with sever withdrawal symptoms; coma; death due to overdose.
Narcotics
Possible Signs of Use/Abuse: Euphoria, restlessness and lack of motivation; drowsiness; lethargy, decreased pulse rate; constricted pupils; flushing (skin appears to be reddish); constipation; nausea and vomiting; needle marks on extremities; skin abscesses at injection; shallow breathing; watery eyes; and itching.
Possible Health Risks of Use/Abuse: Pulmonary edema; respiratory arrest; convulsions; addiction; coma; death due to overdose. For users who share or use unsterile needles to inject narcotics: tetanus, hepatitis, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Stimulants
Possible Signs of Use/Abuse: Increased alertness; excessive activity; agitation; euphoria; excitability; increased pulse rate; blood pressure and body temperature; insomnia, loss of appetite; sweating; dry mouth and lips; bad breath; disorientation; apathy; hallucinations; irritability; and nervousness.
Possible Health Risks of Use/Abuse: Headaches; depression; malnutrition; hypertension; psychosis; cardiac arrest; damage to the brain and lungs; convulsions; coma; death.
5. Federal Laws and Penalties
See Title 21 USC Controlled Substance Act – selected provisions
6. Minnesota Laws and Penalties
Examples of Minnesota Drug Laws and Penalties
(Note: Fines and sentences may be higher than stated in the examples below. Check statutes for updated information.)
First Degree Minn. Stat. §152.021
Sale: 17+ grams of cocaine or methamphetamine, 10+ grams of heroin, 50+ grams of other narcotic drug, 200+ doses hallucinogen, or 25+ kilos marijuana.
Possession: 50+ grams cocaine or methamphetamine, 25+ grams of heroin, 500+ grams of other narcotic drug, 500+ doses hallucinogen, 50+ kilos marijuana or 500+ marijuana plants.
Penalty: 0 to 40 years, 4 year mandatory minimum if prior drug felony; up to $1,000,000 fine.
Second Degree Minn. Stat. §152.022
Sale: 3+ grams cocaine or methamphetamine, 10+ grams of a narcotic drug other than heroin, 50+ doses hallucinogen, 10+ kilos marijuana, or sale of a Schedule I or II narcotic drug of 5+ doses hallucinogen or methamphetamine either to a person under 18 or in a school zone, park zone, or public housing zone.
Possession: 25+ grams cocaine or methamphetamine, 6+ grams of heroin, 50+ grams of other narcotic drug, 100+ doses hallucinogen, 25+ kilos marijuana or 100+ marijuana plants.
Penalty: 0 to 40 years, 3 year mandatory minimum if prior drug felony; up to $500,000 fine.
Third Degree Minn. Stat. §152.023
Sale: Narcotic drug, 10+ doses hallucinogen, 5+ kilos marijuana, or sale of any Schedule I, II, or III drug (except a Schedule I or II narcotic drug or marijuana) to a person under 18 or employment of person under 18 to sell the same.
Possession: 3+ grams heroin, 10+ grams of other narcotic drug, 10+ kilos marijuana, and any amount of a Schedule I or II narcotic drug or LSD or methamphetamine or 5+ kilos marijuana in a school zone, park zone, or public housing zone.
Penalty: 0 to 20 years; up to $250,000 fine.
Fourth Degree Minn. Stat. §152.024
Sale: Any Schedule I, II or III drug (except marijuana), or sale of marijuana in a school zone, park zone, or public housing zone or any Schedule IV or V drug to a person under 18 or conspiracy for the same.
Possession: 10 doses hallucinogen, any amount of a Schedule I, II or III drug (except marijuana) with the intent to sell it.
Penalty: 0 to 15 years; up to $100,000 fine.
Fifth Degree Minn. Stat. §152.025
Sale: Marijuana, or any Schedule IV drug.
Possession: All Schedule I, II, III, IV drugs except 42.5 grams or less of marijuana. Any prescription drugs obtained through false pretenses or forgery.
Penalty: 0 to 5 years; up to $10,000 fine.
Examples of Minnesota Alcohol Laws and Penalties:
Driving While Impaired:
1st degree driving while impaired, Minn. Stat. §169A.24
2d degree driving while impaired, Minn. Stat. §169A.25
3d degree driving while impaired, Minn. Stat. §169A.26
4th degree driving while impaired, Minn. Stat. §169A.27
Possession by Persons Under 21:
Minn. Stat. §340A.503
Minn. Stat. §340A.703
Furnishing Alcohol to Persons Under 21:
Minn. Stat. §340A.503
Party Ordinance:
St. Paul Ordinance
B. Alcohol Use
The use of alcoholic beverages on campus is prohibited. Exceptions may be approved for law school- or student group-sponsored activities such as receptions and other special events. When an exception is approved, such beverages are limited to wine and beer, and non-alcoholic beverages also must be available. All requests for exceptions must have a campus sponsor (staff or faculty member) and be approved in writing by the Dean of Students and the Vice President for Finance. To begin the process, obtain an approval form in the Finance Office.
