In many states your license is suspended regardless of if you were in/around your car when you got busted, thereby degrading your ability to support yourself or your family. Until recently you were automatically barred from federal financial aid for *any* drug offense. Now you're only barred if you were already receiving federal aid when you were busted. In most cities/states, you are arrested which often costs you your job and/or grades. It also makes obtaining jobs in the future harder. I've had about 15 recruiters from medium-big companies call me in the last week. All but two asked about criminal history. Only one who asked about criminal history contacted me again. Could be due in part to my living in the bible-belt but still really sucks ass