Marijuana/drug charge (question)

[Texasgal]

My office has hired a young man to work in our mail room just recently. He came to us down on his luck, recently from Houston...moved up here with his girlfriend he is 21.

Over the last few months I have become fond of him and have become kind of a mentor. He makes coffee for all of us RN's that are there very early in the morning. 5:00 am mon, weds,friday. He has kind of become my little "son" in a way. He runs special errands for me and my group and he generally seems to be a nice kid.

He does have some problems though. Prior to moving to Austin he was arrested down in Houston for drugs. He was in possession of marijuana and he had dozen or so pain killers. He was set a court date and told me in confidence about his problems. He has an attorney and was sentenced to one year probation for his transgressions.

Monday, he seemed out of sorts...went for a walk and he told me that the apartment that he is leasing with his girlfriend just sent a letter stating that since he was not on the lease he had to go. He tried to apply for the lease and they told him that since he had a "drug charge" that they could and would not lease to him. I told him to call an apartment "finder" service and to move. He came to me today and told me that the leasing service could not help him that he is basically "un-lease able" because of his drug charge.

He is pretty upset and has no idea what to do. The apartment management has given him 30 days to move out.

I am absolutely dumbfounded! Am I just gullible or is this true? How do people trying to make good after making mistakes live? How do they lease? How do they live? He is not a child molester or a murderer! He made a mistake with drugs!!

Have any of you heard of this problem before? Is it common? And I am just completely out of the loop?

[usregimechange]

1. I deal with this daily. He has to keep looking and not give up

He has to find someone reasonable, likely someone with personal knowledge of addiction. A good landlord. He might also call transitional housing facilities for addicts. A caseworker at a local treatment center would know all the numbers.

[Texasgal]

2. so... in your opinion

all drug charged are addicts?

[usregimechange]

4. Many of them are but your defending against an argument that wasn't made

I was pointing out that people with personal knowledge of addiction might be more sympathetic of people with drug charges.

[Texasgal]

9. I understand.

Thank you for the clarification.

[pitohui]

5. it doesn't matter what the poster's opinion is

what matters is what common sense suggests, in my generation (high school/college the 70s) EVERYONE tried drugs, ZERO exceptions, but only truly troubled people (yes, addicts or otherwise mentally troubled) would be charged w. a drug crime, because other people would protect themselves

you have to assume if a person has allowed themselves to come to the attention of the law, they either have serious problems w. self protection or they have terrible luck (and you don't want to share their self destruction OR their bad luck)

if you assume that all charged w. drug crimes are either addicts or dealers you may not be 100 percent correct by the science definition of drug addiction...but you won't be making a lot of mistakes about the person's character either

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Nearly 900,000 Americans were arrested for pot last year

So you are raving. And I'm guessing white. Sorry about that. Take a look at arrest stats for New York City marijuana 'offenses' and explain to me your point of view again.

[usregimechange]

13. There are quite a few people with drug problems in this country as well

It isn't all the drug war verses the ethical pot head. A good lot of it is police trying to protect the public from some pretty sick people.

[reggie the dog]

37. quite often they just bust someone

who has 10 or 20 dollars of weed who poses no danger to anyone else

[Th1onein]

28. Good grief.

That's all I can say, in response to this post.

[reggie the dog]

36. you are out of line

anyone can be unlucky and get stopped coming home from their dealer's house.

[reggie the dog]

35. no no and no

most people charged with drug possession simply use marijuana from time to time and have no addiction problem

[pitohui]

3. don't know how common it is but i've heard of it happening before

this is one reason i won't any longer be associated w. anyone who does drugs, one small mistake and everybody in the car (or apartment) has their life forever ruined

if he is truly in recovery, he needs to get a lawyer and get the charge expunged, meanwhile the usual solution is to live w. girlfriends, relatives, etc. which sounds like what he was already trying to do

doesn't he have a mom? i have learned the hard way that if the supposedly former drug user's family won't take him in then it's a big mistake for me to think i know better

be careful and keep your relationship professional, i'm not saying you're gullible but i'm saying your instinct to wonder about all this isn't entirely wrong -- even though YES the law and the various bullshit policies of various agencies etc. are also wrong

[usregimechange]

6. Drug war: if you ruin there lives forever, that'll teach em!

[pitohui]

7. it's stupid ass public policy

but thanks to reagan it's the public policy we've got

[usregimechange]

14. Agreed, lets hope drug courts continue to be remarkably successful and prevent some of that crazines

from casing further harm.

[Texasgal]

8. His mother is a meth addict.

I've found out that much.

I'm really sad for this kid. He IS trying to do better ( getting a job ) etc.

I agree with not getting to personal. I was more curious if anything.

I think about the times waaay back in my youth when i was in possession of pot.... or other incidentals. I just cannot imagine not being able to LEASE!

[usregimechange]

11. He can, just has to find a good landlord, that takes time but encourage him to keep trying

It just takes longer for people with drug charges. Unless there are some difference that I am not aware of between states.

[hobbit709]

25. You of course are as pure as the driven snow.

Lots of compassion there.

[reggie the dog]

38. he left houston, where his mom lives

to follow his girlfriend to austin, which is also more hippy friendly.

the only thing wrong this person did was to be a hippy/pot smoker in a state that hates hippies.

smoking marijuana is less bad for ones health than using alcohol or using tobacco


read up on it, ucla has studies to begin your reading

[RainDog]

12. this is crazy

my sister's son experimented with marijuana in high school. she is so right wing she considered calling the cops on him - he was not involved in any other drugs - and he was like many other kids at his high school in Texas. my sister considered ruining her own son's life because of something as ridiculous as this. I was stunned when she told me she was considering this.

then some jocks beat him up, gave him a concussion... sort of like a mini Rand Paul rally, I guess.

So, he moved in with me and my family and lived with us and finished his last year of high school here. he went on to get his college degree while here, too. Now he has his own small business.

Knowing this about the guy you work with makes me think that current laws are the biggest harm to some young people. that and stupid attitudes - since my sister had inhaled herself back in the day.

I hope the guy you work with is able to find a place to live. I think this nation is insane.

[Texasgal]

16. Yeah... I am really confused here

I don't understand why someone would not be able to lease and PAY for a place! I mean, I get shitty renters... But what about people trying to go straight? This kid will be one a year probation which is enough in fines and fees and police officers... should he not be able to fucking lease a place?

I am really dumbfounded here.

[RainDog]

23. since you're in Austin

surely there are people who rent studios or apts over garages and things like that because of the student population - maybe he should look for a place near the U. - tho it's probably more expensive to rent around there.

Austin isn't exactly a right wing town.

maybe craig's list would be a place where he could write about this situation and ask if there's a landlord who will let him rent from them.

[leftstreet]

15. So was he actually convicted?

:shrug: I don't get the 'one year probation for his transgressions'

Seems odd a landlord would randomly do leaseholder checks. Odder still that they'd run a background just fishing for something.

[Texasgal]

18. He was convicted of possession

he will serve a year probation for that.

I agree... seems weird that's why I am inquiring.

[bigtree]

17. yep, it's common

I know a fellow (died unexpectedly from a heart attack before his court date a month or so back) who lost his job because the cops came to work and arrested him on a court violation; lost his home because of inability to pay; lost his rights with his child . . . he faced long time in a Baltimore jail because of a prior.

[Sirveri]

19. He might want to check and see if this is even legal.

You can't decline to rent to someone because they're black, latino, etc(different but potentially related). He might want to call his attorney and ask him since it's related to his conviction.

[TexasObserver]

20. Austin apartment landlords have a tight association.

They are known for closely watching their tenants for credit or other problems.

There is a very active Austin Tenants Association (that may not be the actual name) which can help consumers and tenants evaluate their options.

They may be able to help him, or send him to someone who can help.

[Texasgal]

22. Thanks for the info

I will send along. ;)

[TexasObserver]

26. Here is a link to the organization.

http://www.housing-rights.org/

[bluedigger]

21. Tough one.

If I were him I would look for a non-corporate type complex, if that's where he's at now. A small independent landlord will be easier to work with. I would be more concerned about the painkillers, myself. He's working in a health care environment? Be careful. Lots of users can be very charming.

[Tsiyu]

24. the War on Drugs

has millions of casualties just like this kid. Many can't vote, rent a place, get a job, travel, get student aid...the list of rights you lose is quite impressive.


It's awful, what we are doing to people in this country, in the name of some pathetic war.


But Americans love their discrimination, in whatever fashion they can go about discriminating against "others."

Bigotry is Big Business...

[datan]

27. on the other hand

from a landlord's perspective, how do you prevent someone from renting a place and starting a meth lab?

once started, it's all but impossible to remove the fumes from the carpets, floors, walls, etc.

that's even assuming you can kick out the tenant in the first place...

[Tsiyu]

29. How do you keep an alcoholic from starting a moonshine still?

how do you keep ANYONE from doing things on your property you don't like?


Big time Meth labs are usually run by those who don't use drugs themselves, but who want to make money off others' addictions, from what I've heard from law enforcement. You can't be a meth addict and stay in business too long before you blow yourself up.

Seriously, anyone who equates Cannabis with meth is just not that knowledgeable about the two substances or about those who use them.

But we do love our bigotry and stereotypes here in the Land of the Free.

[datan]

33. well

to your first point, for what it's worth, if I knew a potential tenant had been convicted for DUI or public intoxication, I wouldn't rent either.

for that matter if it's a smoker either...

or for that matter I wouldn't rent to a bunch of frat boys who are more likely to want to throw parties every weekends and trash the place...

so does that make me a bigot against frat boys? or something trying to get the best possible tenant who will take care of the place and maybe do a little housework once a while?



also, since he was in possession of painkilers, it seems more than likely that he is a drug addict (not casual user)

[Tsiyu]

42. So many people "take drugs"

As a friend in rehab said; "They've got signs all over saying 'Just say no to drugs' at the rehab place but then what do they give you to get off the drugs? A prescription for other drugs!"

We are a highly medicated society, so lots of luck finding a tenant who isn't addicted to something - legal or otherwise.

I personally would not discriminate against a cannabis convict. I would probably discriminate against a heavy alcohol user, though, because alcohol impairs judgment and in my experience leads to violent situations.

I had some frat kids live in my place and yes, they trashed it. They were assholes. But I've also had many "cannabis convicts" over to visit, and they all help out and have done work here for free. YMMV

[Froward69]

32. YOU need to learn to be a better Landlord.

meth labs are easy to spot and root out.
Evictions are easy if you know what you are doing.
it is no less an annoyance than refurbishing or updating an apartment. Hell I had a guy once that took a chainsaw to the inside of one of my units. yes it cost $5000 to repair but that's what insurance and professionalism is for.

oh and those "fumes" are no less difficult to remove than Lead based paint. (EPA certified to work on my Own property)

Go take a class.

[Warren DeMontague]

39. So everyone who ever smoked any pot- what, like 90% of America- is a potential meth manufacturer?

Jesus Fucking Christ; even the friggin' Reagans are alleged to have smoked it, at one point.

People need to get a grip. This isn't about meth labs, this is about a pot arrest.

[TheKentuckian]

40. How the hell do you get from a little weed to a friggin meth lab

Pure absurdity. Might as well exclude cigarette smokers and coffee drinkers then too, they are just as likely to fire up a meth lab as a toker. No, strike that, MORE likely to go from coffee to meth than weed to meth. Certainly more likely to go from Mountain Dew or 5 hour energy to meth.

The logic is deeply flawed and even more uninformed to the point of superstition and fantasy.

A meth lab, really??? A meth lab????????

[krabigirl]

30. Scary. But yes, I do see this as a "useful" way for those in power to disenfranchise people

make a permanent underclass. Now, take the people that use it for medicinal reasons, and it's even sicker. The powers that be only want people using their sanctioned medicines, and will take away your livelihood if you choose cannabis.

[Froward69]

31. As A Landlord

I feed on these. that is I rent to marijuana "convicts" and (All American) Muslims. (my RW neighbor really hates this BTW) It is an element of society that becomes relatively desperate. you can discern if they are gonna work out pretty quick.
Currently I house three dispensary Workers As their employment scares other Landlords into not leasing with them.
Sad this is just another (legal) reason to discriminate.

Anywho I cannot help I am in Colorado.

Really the way to sidestep this is to rent an apartment yourself. If you do not plan to Fire the Guy. See if he can come up with the Deposit/rent and you sign or co sign the lease. look for a single property owner. that is, an owner Operator of a single building. We tend to be more Willing to accommodate if you (he is) are Up front and truthful, pay the rent on time and do not bother other tenants.

[reggie the dog]

34. 1st off yes

they can do this because they dont want to rent to "criminals" but i would have thought austin would not be so bad

2nd off he didnt make a mistake, the law is horrible

[TheKentuckian]

41. Tell him to cast a wide net with individual owners and forget the complex life for now

Newspapers, Craig's list, and word of mouth.

Of course, in some cases the issue may flip and be more about a PO skulking around and/or incomplete probation where is the worse happens you lose the tenant and have to evict, than the charge but such is life.
That is what I think is the biggest obstacle, the probation it's self. A place that offers month to month leases may be more receptive.