Cannabis, confidential? Forum

[T the D]

I'll be applying to a host of schools this week.

A couple of years ago I became a medical marijuana caregiver in CO to help pay the bills while I tried to get a start-up off the ground. I got pretty good at it and ended up managing a commercial op for a while. DO I MENTION THIS?

Otherwise there is a gap in my employment. Also, my parents suffered brutally before this from chemo without MMJ and I am proud of the work I did and could debate any prohibitionist into the ground.

I want to put it in my resume -> Do I need to adress/justify on my PS? -> How do I not take attention away from the rest of "me"?

Has this been covered here before? Help?!?

[rinkrat19]

If you're somewhere where it's legal (I assume you are), then sure, put it on your resume. You can write about it in your PS if you want, but I don't think there's any need to.

[T the D]

Everything was legit and by the book. But I've moved to a state, and will be applying to others, where it is a no-no.

[paratactical]

Have you contacted the bar associations of the states you want to practice in to see if they anticipate it being an issue? While it was "legalized" in some states, it was never allowed under federal law and I would wonder if this could have an impact. I don't think it would mean an outright "FU", but it would certainly be something I would want to look into before applying and/or taking out loans.

[JamMasterJ]

I would also be careful mentioning it in a PS on the same grounds that it is not advised to talk about things like abortion and other political issues. While you may not be dealing with a legal issue, you can run into an application reader, who, at least subconsciously, has trouble putting aside his or her opinions on some of these matters.

[Grizz]

Some convicted murdered got into Tulane, so your lil federal crime is probably no big bro

[T the D]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I was in denial. Stupid Schedule 1 BS. Shouldn't law schools want a student who was actually in the middle of this mess?

On the other hand - the state registry was private and I got out before they strangled things with red tape to where I would have had to put my name on any official doc's. Should I just bury it? This never happened, right?

BTW- Thanks Grizz, but I'm not looking for trouble.

[JamMasterJ]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I was in denial. Stupid Schedule 1 BS.

On the other hand - the state registry was private and I got out before they strangled things with red tape to where I would have had to put my name on any official doc's. Should I just bury it? This never happened, right?

I wouldn't bury it. Things get found. But it's work experience; not all of it has to be included in your application (yeah, I realize this is probably what you mean by "bury").

[Davidbentley]

You didn't run a medical marijuana operation. You ran a "holistic alternative medicine clinic" which provided a range of non-standard options to people suffering from chronic, acute, and degenerative diseases with a primary focus on pain management.

[breadbucket]

it was never allowed under federal law

29,912 posts and you still don't understand the law.

[Grizz]

it was never allowed under federal law

29,912 posts and you still don't understand the law.

[T the D]

it was never allowed under federal law

29,912 posts and you still don't understand the law.

I think he is talking about Anslinger's Tax Act in '37. Before then the stuff was more American than apple pie...or apple jack. But hey, we needed some way to demonize minorities and protect cotton/timber interests. God forbid if we had a free market and equal rights.

[iceicebaby]

it was never allowed under federal law

29,912 posts and you still don't understand the law.

I think he is talking about Anslinger's Tax Act in '37. Before then the stuff was more American than apple pie...or apple jack. But hey, we needed some way to demonize minorities and protect cotton/timber interests. God forbid if we had a free market and equal rights.

THIS!

I feel like your story about how you are a pioneer in a new, legal (as far as the state of CO is concerned) industry/phenomenon could actually be a cool topic for your personal statement. At the same time, however, one might want to think about being conservative and play it safe and don't bring it up in the PS. Maybe a short addendum might be cool to explain what you put for it on your resume?

[T the D]

I think he is talking about Anslinger's Tax Act in '37. Before then the stuff was more American than apple pie...or apple jack. But hey, we needed some way to demonize minorities and protect cotton/timber interests. God forbid if we had a free market and equal rights.

THIS!

I feel like your story about how you are a pioneer in a new, legal (as far as the state of CO is concerned) industry/phenomenon could actually be a cool topic for your personal statement. At the same time, however, one might want to think about being conservative and play it safe and don't bring it up in the PS. Maybe a short addendum might be cool to explain what you put for it on your resume?

Thank you. And that is the same way I feel. There is just no way of knowing what kind of people will be looking at my info. To someone with an open mind my motives were honorable and beyond the direct legal insight were all sorts of things that correlate to being an attorney: attracting clients, building trust with patients, empathy to understand and improve their condition, cultivating a project for months before letting it go and moving on to the next, discretion, etc. etc.

Maybe I'll make a canna heavy PS and send it to ONE school just for s&g's. Any suggestions?

[Grizz]

29,912 posts and you still don't understand the law.

I think he is talking about Anslinger's Tax Act in '37. Before then the stuff was more American than apple pie...or apple jack. But hey, we needed some way to demonize minorities and protect cotton/timber interests. God forbid if we had a free market and equal rights.

This is silly. You're not talking about selling it to make the best rope money can buy. You're talking about growing it to sell it so people can smoke it, in direct violation of federal law.

I do understand the law. I know it now, not in 1937, which is basically what matters. CSA 1970, Gonzalez v. Raich, and all that. I don't care how you feel about the law, writing a PS about how you broke federal law or highlighting the fact that you're proud of breaking federal law is a risky move, and I wouldn't do it.

[T the D]

This is silly. You're not talking about selling it to make the best rope money can buy. You're talking about growing it to sell it so people can smoke it, in direct violation of federal law.

I do understand the law. I know it now, not in 1937, which is basically what matters. CSA 1970, Gonzalez v. Raich, and all that. I don't care how you feel about the law, writing a PS about how you broke federal law or highlighting the fact that you're proud of breaking federal law is a risky move, and I wouldn't do it.

It's not silly. I am talking about lifting the veil on the most useful agricultural crop in human history. MMJ is the camel's nose under the tent.

But I agree. This is not a fight I wish to wage. Choose your battles and all.

Thanks for input guys. Moving on.

[luthersloan]

The most useful crop in human history is probably corn, as is fulled a global population boom after it was discovered. But yeah, I would avoid it because it is both (1) politically controversial, and (2) illegal under federal law.

[STLMizzou]

Well, ABA just ran an article saying law school professors are a bunch of libs, so I would withhold saying anything until ASW’s, then light up a join in the middle of the tour. They will prob give you a full scholly + stipend

[T the D]

The most useful crop in human history is probably corn, as is fulled a global population boom after it was discovered. But yeah, I would avoid it because it is both (1) politically controversial, and (2) illegal under federal law.

You mean "fueled", right? By that you are correct in that corn requires massive petrochemicals. Fuel has fueled the boom in corn. Also, though it has a higher caloric content, it is far inferior in its content of proteins and omegas. Also it is much less adaptable to varying climates, serves no medicinal purpose, and is weaker as a fuel or fiber. It wasn't corn they wrote the declaration of independence on or used as sails in the Mayflower.

Finally 5000 years>150 years, so yeah, I stand by my assertion.

[moneybagsphd]

Otherwise there is a gap in my employment.

NBD

[Grizz]

Stop talking about hemp and how you want to make sails or whatever. Just admit you want to get high. That's an entirely legitimate position, and people will take you more seriously.

[T the D]

Stop talking about hemp and how you want to make sails or whatever. Just admit you want to get high. That's an entirely legitimate position, and people will take you more seriously.

I agree, on its own that is a legitimate position. But I feel that position discredits the rest of the movement. I am sick of seeing our country crumble because of our needs for + revenue (tax) - expenses (enforcement for gov + incarceration for people) + jobs, yet no politician can stick their neck out to support it because the other side will claim 'people are just trying to get high'.

[Grizz]

By stressing the industrial uses, it actually more implies that just getting high is not a legitimate position in itself, rather than giving credit to what you really want.

[ToTransferOrNot]

As part of the C&F, you're required to list all employment for X years (10 years, in many states). Lack of disclosure at the law school application phase might be problematic for that reason (I stress *might be* here). Is there any way you can list the employment without getting into the federally illegal aspect of it? But even then, the fact that you were breaking federal law is going to come out in the C&F at some point. You might consider getting in touch with a C&F lawyer.

[STLMizzou]

As part of the C&F, you're required to list all employment for X years (10 years, in many states). Lack of disclosure at the law school application phase might be problematic for that reason. Is there any way you can list the employment without getting into the federally illegal aspect of it?

I doubt the company he worked for was called "pot smokers R us". Nobody is going to research the name of the company if he puts it down as his employer if he doesn’t stress it heavily in the rest of his app.

Also, grizz is right. We don’t need a new material to make rope or sails or whatever the fuck else you want to use hemp for. There would be no new jobs created by some emerging hemp-rope industry you dream of. People want to get high, fine, campaign for that. Don’t say it is for any purpose other than that.