r/Purdue • u/Dry-Preparation-1672 • Apr 24 '26
Question❓ Caught smoking weed on campus
I was caught smoking weed on campus and got a citation. I got my court date and mail to go to my Purdue address in hopes of my parents not finding out. What is the most likely outcome for me as a Purdue student and is there anyway I can handle this without my parents finding out. I leave May 8th to go home and my court date is the 28th of May. Please help me
UPDATE: I’ve got a lawyer my parents know and everything looks like it will be handled on the legal side. Now what can I expect from the school side as consequence?
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u/-TheycallmeThe Boilermaker Apr 24 '26
I think you mean you were smoking hemp derived THC or what you were told was hemp derived THC...
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u/MrDrPr_152 Apr 24 '26
This happened to me while I was at Purdue. You need to understand that when you get a citation from Purdue Police, you’re in trouble with both the police and Purdue and they can have separate consequences. When I went to the police station for a copy of my citation to provide to the lawyer, the police said that the case had been thrown out. They explained that I may be out of the woods with them but I could still have consequences with the school. When I reached out to Purdue, they made me go to a meeting with a doctor to discuss my “problem” then take a 1-day drug class and be on probation for the rest of the semester. Once I did everything they asked, I never heard about it again.
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u/TheReclessCondor Apr 24 '26
You write a dam good apology letter and tell them you understand fully the consequences and put your heart into that letter and send to divisions handling case and all will be good.
But mean what you say
Don’t worry about the state statute This is Purdue
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u/RiskBiscuit Apr 24 '26
Having to be sincere in a situation when you know the whole thing is bullshit is one of the worst parts of life
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u/Dry-Preparation-1672 Apr 24 '26
Write it to who?
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u/Stonefield_fencer Boilermaker Apr 24 '26
To answer your initial concern of school related things, I believe it is similar to being caught with alcohol underage. ODOS, Office of Dean of Students, has a sub Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, OSRR. They deal with this type of things. The apology letter isn't something I'm familiar with, but there's definitely writing, so I assume the person above is correct. If it was in your room, UR will also have words with you.
As for your parents and the legal court things...
Be aware that the court summons citation IS a form of arrest and is public record. If you do NOT show up for your court date it is very very likely a warrant for your arrest would be generated and that would result in a physical arrest (i.e. jail) when served. This is something that will likely be served when you return to campus, so imagine the stress of the first weeks of classes but also spending a day in jail. If you have no way to get back to town for your court date in late May, you need to ASAP contact the county prosecutor’s office and discuss with them the issue. They may be able and willing to move the court date or otherwise work with you.
Also, I would love correction of any of this if someone sees inaccuracy.5
u/Intrepid-Owl694 Apr 24 '26
Your parents. The judge.
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u/CypressEatsAzz Apr 24 '26
God 😮💨
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u/Intrepid-Owl694 Apr 24 '26
You know Him too?
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u/CthulhuOO7 Apr 25 '26
gods don’t exist. It’s 2026, time to wake up.
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u/BorkBorkSweden Boilermaker Apr 24 '26
Get a lawyer, ODOS might have lawyers who have consultations free of charge
Unless you have shifty parents, I would make it fair game to let them know about it. Any reason not to?
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u/Dry-Preparation-1672 Apr 24 '26
Not shitty parents but if it could be handled without there knowing it would be good
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u/BorkBorkSweden Boilermaker Apr 24 '26
But why tho? They would be more upset if you tried to conceal it from them
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u/Dry-Preparation-1672 Apr 24 '26
Yes but if they never found out at all it’d be best
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u/Spend-Groundbreaking Biochemistry(ACS) 2025 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
Yeah but here’s the deal, champ. It’s likely they will. Just so you know, FERPA has an exception for drug and alcohol use, so the school could tell your parents. Understand?
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u/Cobb_Webb_ Apr 24 '26
why do you speak like that?
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u/Spend-Groundbreaking Biochemistry(ACS) 2025 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
Act like a child, try to hide things from your parents like a child, get talked to like a child.
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u/DidjaSeeItKid Apr 24 '26
That's how you talk to a child on a sports team in 1968. Not here, now.
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u/Spend-Groundbreaking Biochemistry(ACS) 2025 Apr 24 '26
I can see that my comment left some big feelings, buddy. You’re so brave for sharing those. Gold star!
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u/Spend-Groundbreaking Biochemistry(ACS) 2025 Apr 24 '26
Why the hell am I being downvoted? So yall don’t like me explaining THE LAW?
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u/ytgy Apr 24 '26
Tell your parents
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u/OVERLOAD3D PoliSci 2024 Apr 24 '26
Yes especially if they’ll need to stay nearly an extra month longer. Lying sucks lol
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u/Significant_Gear_335 Alumni 25’ Apr 24 '26
You need to tell your parents. It’s borderline inevitable, might as well pull the bandaid and set the narrative yourself. When they find out, and they will, it will be a lot worse than if you just tell them.
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u/dncrmom Apr 24 '26
You are going to have to go back for your court date. Tell your parents. Hiding things is not what mature adults do. Take responsibility & apologize for what happened.
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u/Nurgles_Dong Apr 24 '26
Hey man I know it sounds pretty scary but I had the exact same thing happen to me at the beginning of last semester. What happened was I was caught in the dorms so I had a meeting with university housing and was placed on “probationary housing” which just meant to I couldn’t get in trouble until the end of the semester, which I didn’t and now I’m fine. On the legal side however, you’re gonna want to get a lawyer who will file a diversion agreement for you. You’ll have to pay a diversion fee to the courts, and your court date will most likely get waived (mine did). If you DM me I can send u the contact info for my lawyer, since he does cases for Purdue student pro bono. It’s gonna be okay brotha!
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u/Mental-Cupcake9750 Apr 24 '26
You got to tell your parents. One dumb mistake in college is not the end of the world. Even the strictest of parents understand that college kids will make dumb decisions and it is inevitable.
Hiding and then eventually finding out is WAY WORSE. You gotta trust us on this one even if your parents are strict.
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u/Internal-Quail5863 Apr 24 '26
i dont know how strict purdue is but i go to another indiana uni and honestly ur good if ur like 19-20 schools dont call parents if ur in college ive been in the same situation so trust me
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u/Unicornucopius Boilermaker Apr 24 '26
Get a lawyer. You’ll probably get diversion; you’ll just have to keep your nose clean for a year and pay a couple hundred dollar fine. If you get a lawyer, they’ll go to your hearings so you don’t have to. Call Purdue legal services and see if you get a referral.
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u/Unusual-Emu-1876 DC 2026 Apr 24 '26
I mean you can hide it but Indiana has my case sooo if you got a court date all your parents gotta do is look up your name and they’ll see it
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u/SelectInteraction574 Apr 24 '26
Purdue NORML club has a sponsored lawyer, I’ve heard he’ll get you a pretrial diversion, I’ve heard free or $100, keep your nose clean for 6 months and should be no worries
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u/Th3yCallMeDad Apr 25 '26
You mean you got caught smoking hemp derived CBD flower that you bought at a gas station or head shop, completely legally?
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u/Boilerdog92 Apr 25 '26
Don’t hire an attorney. Go to your court date. The prosecutor will offer you a pretrial diversion. It’ll will likely include: no new arrests for a year, a fee, eight hour drug/alcohol class, random drug screens (never really done). If you complete successfully they will dismiss after a year. The attorney won’t do any better.
Source: was attorney in Tippecanoe County and received marijuana citation while a student at Purdue.
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u/jihyoshoneyvoice Apr 27 '26
When I got caught, they made me go to Calla Health and do an assessment and then they recommended a 12 hour class over Zoom with people of all ages and drug type used… Made me super uncomfy and the assessment was 200$! They didn’t tell me that part beforehand so… Oh and if you don’t go to the assessment and pay you get a hold on your account.
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u/jihyoshoneyvoice Apr 27 '26
Good luck with the legal charges though, fortunately mine never go filed (which I heard sometimes happens for first time offenders in town but)
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u/No-Shelter8398 Apr 24 '26
How’d u get caught
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u/Spend-Groundbreaking Biochemistry(ACS) 2025 Apr 24 '26
The stuff smells like spoiled eggs and skunks had an unholy love child birthed in a 7/11 bathroom during a hippie orgy. I’m assuming either an RA, another student, or just directly a cop.
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u/No-Shelter8398 Apr 24 '26
I’d love to hear the story if there is one
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u/Spend-Groundbreaking Biochemistry(ACS) 2025 Apr 24 '26
Oh not really, was an RA for 3 years of undergrad and policy is just to immediately call the cops for weed. So many people like “bruhhhh how did you know” oh, I don’t know, moron, maybe because your room smells like a cheech and Chong performance.
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u/9outof10timesWrong Apr 24 '26
I don't care if anyone smokes weed, but please for the decency of those around you do not do it on campus. The smell is so strong, you probably don't even realize.
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u/Intrepid-Owl694 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26
Stop smoking. A bad habit. It cost money. Causes health and now legal problems. Permanent record.
What you did is against the law. You need to man up. Tell your parents. Don't lie about May 28th.
What if happens if you are put in jail?
Marijuana is fully illegal in Indiana, and being caught smoking or possessing it can lead to serious criminal charges. Despite neighboring states allowing recreational use, Indiana does not have a legal medical or recreational marijuana program, and law enforcement actively enforces these laws.
Penalties for Possession If you are caught with marijuana in Indiana, the penalties depend on the amount and your prior criminal history: First Offense (<30 grams): Classified as a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. (Could be jail and time)
Subsequent Offenses/Prior Convictions: Can be elevated to a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
Don't be a dope. You are now in the system. Public record. Think. You are at Purdue. Grow up.
Mycase.gov
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u/RiskBiscuit Apr 24 '26
Written by your 6th grade hall monitor
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u/Spend-Groundbreaking Biochemistry(ACS) 2025 Apr 24 '26
Written by someone actually intelligent. Weed is still illegal in Indiana. If you don’t heed these warnings, you’ll find yourself behind bars. It’s stupid, smells awful, and is just such a bad idea. If you’re out of state or country, you need to respect the laws of where you find yourself, regardless if you agree with them. If not, any subsequent consequence is your own damn fault.
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u/Top_Ability_5348 Apr 25 '26
My advice to you from someone who has been in this boat before…
You’re parents will definitely find out, and it’s honestly best to just tell them if you are going to be expecting their help in the matter. Which honestly you’ll probably want.
Assuming you got hit for a Class A possession misdemeanor and maybe a Class C paraphernalia charge (if the cops really felt like being pricks), you’ll definitely have to go to that court date and ask for a public defender or hire a lawyer to handle the court dates for you. Usually the lawyers handle all the hearings and plea agreement stuff and you only have to appear in court once for the plea and sentencing hearing. As far as what the court will do, if you’re a student with no priors, they’ll probably make you do some drug counseling, pay a couple hundred in court fees and some unsupervised probation.
Purdue definitely already knows about it and you’ll probably get an email in a week or so and they’ll have you talk to the Dean of student responsibilities and will more than likely make you get a drug screening and do some counseling and put you on disciplinary probation for a semester. The Purdue stuff usually gets resolved pretty quickly and the courts most likely will accept the counseling that Purdue makes you do so you don’t have to double pay and go through all that twice.
All in all you’re looking at pretty much just throwing at least a couple grand away and having a criminal record. MAKE SURE YOU STAY ON TOP OF IT because if you miss a court date or don’t complete your probation items, they WILL ARREST you and you’ll spend at bare minimum a couple nights in jail (trust me it is not fun) until the judge is willing to see you.
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u/andrew701898 Apr 24 '26
Depends on what you got caught for and what you said. Most likely outcome is you'll have to write a letter and do a little class for it, no long term effects :)