KSU Students Arrested for Weed Conspiracy

With no medical marijuana laws on the books here in Kansas (and none in the works), getting arrested for marijuana crimes is still fairly common. This month brought us a bust in Manhattan of three KSU students. And the charges against them are an interesting look at just what comes into play in our state.

Student 1: Conspiracy to distribute, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful use of a telecommunications device.

Student 2: Possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy, unlawful use of a telecommunications device, no drug tax stamp, felony possession.

Student 3: Unlawful cultivation, no drug tax stamp, Unlawful use of a telecommunications device.

See anything strange in the mix? Drug paraphernalia as a felony? Tax stamps? Telecommunications device crimes?

That’s not to say the alleged crimes weren’t committed or properly charged. It’s only to point out the variety of interesting felonies that can be levied against someone in our state. If you call or text someone with an offer to sell weed, or communicate with your college buddy about selling… conspiracy and unlawful use of a telecommunications device may ensue.

Ironically, when you look the major of one student, there’s a sense that the operation might get extra credit. He was about to graduate the Senior Entrepreneurship program – arguably a prelude to starting your own business.

A hearing on the case will flesh out the details, but it would be a tragedy on many levels to have extended prison terms (decades if all the charges stick) for three young men, even if they were growing their own weed to sell. On the other hand, if the intent is to warn other budding entrepreneurs still in college about the consequences of illegal activities, this case certainly makes that point.