Penalties
Below are pertinent policies, laws and regulations you may be subject to for alcohol and/or other drug offenses.
As of December 2020, the Department of Education removed penalties that resulted in a loss of federal student aid eligibility for students who had been convicted under federal or state law for possession or sale of illegal drugs if the offense occurred while the student was receiving Title IV aid.
The Department of Justice may place a processing hold on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for some students who have been convicted of possession or sale of illegal drugs based on prior judgments.
To resolve the hold, a student must call the Department of Education at 202-377-3889 or email applicationprocessingdivision@ed.gov. This information is also provided upon submission of the FAFSA if it is applicable to the student.
¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder Student Conduct Code
Possessing, using, providing, manufacturing, distributing, or selling alcoholic beverages in violation of law or university policies are prohibited by the Student Conduct Code. If an underage student is in a Housing and Dining Services facility, this prohibition includes a student who knew, or reasonably should have known, s/he was in the presence of alcoholic beverages, or possessed, displayed, or was in the presence of an alcohol container or containers. In the case of a student who is found responsible via the student conduct process to have endangered the health, safety, or welfare of an individual through the provision of alcohol, the minimum disciplinary sanction shall be suspension.
Possessing, using, providing, manufacturing, distributing, or selling drugs or drug paraphernalia in violation of law or university policies are prohibited by the Student Conduct Code. Use or possession of marijuana, including Medical Marijuana used or possessed under Colorado Constitution Article 18, section 14, is strictly prohibited on campus. Any such use or possession is a violation of the Student Conduct Code. If the violation occurs in a Housing and Dining Services facility, this prohibition includes a student who knew, or reasonably should have known, s/he was in the presence of illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia. In the case of a student who is found responsible via the student conduct process to have endangered the health, safety, or welfare of an individual through the provision of drugs, the minimum disciplinary sanction shall be suspension.
For more information on prohibited student conduct, see section F of the .
For more information on sanctions including up to and including expulsion, see section I of the .
¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy
In compliance with the federal Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the University of Colorado Boulder prohibits the unlawful manufacture, dispensation, possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance (illicit drugs and alcohol) of any kind and of any amount. This prohibition applies even if the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has issued a Medical Marijuana Registry identification card to an individual, permitting that individual to possess a limited amount of marijuana for medicinal purposes; those with medical marijuana cards are not permitted to use medical marijuana on campus. These prohibitions cover any individual's actions which are part of any university activities, including those occurring while on university property or in the conduct of university business away from the campus. It is a violation of university policy for any member of the faculty, staff, or student body to jeopardize the operation or interests of the University of Colorado through the use of alcohol or drugs. Sanctions that will be imposed by the University of Colorado for employees who are found to be in violation of this policy may include expulsion and/or termination of employment. Compliance with this policy is a condition of employment for all employees.
Colorado Laws and Regulations
Below is a partial list of state laws, regulations, and penalties regarding sale and use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Due to the volume of statutes, we are unable to list them all. For a complete listing, please visit the .
Sale and distribution:
Colorado Revised Statute, Title 12: Professions and Occupations
- Fermented malt beverages: CRS 12-46
- Alcohol beverages: CRS 12-47
- Liquors – special event permits: CRS 12-48
- Medical marijuana: CRS 12-43.3
Colorado Revised Statute, Title 18: Criminal Code
- Illegal possession or consumption of ethyl alcohol by an underage person: CRS 18-13-122
- Furnishing cigarettes or tobacco products to minors: CRD 18-13-121
- Unlawful administration of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) or ketamine: CRS 18-13-123
- Uniformed controlled substances act of 1992, offenses and penalties: CRS 18-18-4
- Sentencing in criminal cases: CRS 18-1.3
Colorado Revised Statute, Title 42: Vehicles & Traffic
- Alcohol and other drug offenses: CRS 42-4
- Penalties & procedure: CRS 42-17
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