Posts tagged "drug possession"

Being charged with possession of marijuana or other drugs can be very scary for many people. Those who have never had any run ins with the law or are unfamiliar with North Carolina laws regarding marijuana possession are often unsure of what to expect during a traffic stop or arrest. They may not expect their vehicle to be searched or to be taken to jail.

However, there are a number of places where a checkpoint is a common presence, so a traffic stop or vehicle inspection could be expected or anticipated. Even in these situations, a person who is suspected of or charged with possession of drugs should be able to expect that his or her rights will not be violated.

As students across North Carolina get back into the swing of school, a dangerous trend has returned. With the mixed messages and increased pressure on students to succeed and graduate, many North Carolina teens and college students are turning to using prescription drugs to improve their performance at school.

While peer pressure is a primary factor in the use of drugs such as marijuana or Ecstasy, people who are feeling internal or familial pressure to achieve are instead turning to drugs like Adderall. Because the prescription drug is widely used by people of all ages, some may believe that using it is no big deal. The widespread acceptance of the drug has blurred the line between illegal and legal drugs for students. Sadly, too many of them end up facing serious drug possession charges.

Drug possession convictions here in North Carolina have very serious consequences--both in the short- and long term. Immediate penalties might include fines and even jail time, but long after these dues are paid, the offender may also struggle with compromised financial aid and educational opportunities, limited employment offers and even reduced child custody rights.

This is why it is very important that Wilmington residents stand up for their rights when it comes to drug charges and ensure that a strong criminal defense goes over all of the evidence in working toward a reasonable outcome. Just this week in Rockingham County, drug paraphernalia possession charges against a man who was running for county commissioner were dropped.

A store in Wilmington allegedly had more than 1,400 packages of the drug known as "Spice" (also referred to as synthetic marijuana) removed. Apparently this was part of an ongoing investigation involving both state and federal law enforcement officers.

It is claimed that the street value of such synthetic marijuana would be in the area of $30,000. No drug trafficking arrests have yet been made concerning this matter, but charges may be pending against the store owners.

The cast members of "Jersey Shore" are probably more familiar with police officers than most residents of North Carolina. Their televised antics have made them very visible personalities, and even their friends have enjoyed fame on some level. This kind of visibility may end up drawing attention to them in situations when they may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

One of the things that people in the public eye understand is what an impact a felony can have on their reputation and career. Many of them understand how important it is to challenge charges, such as drug possession, so that they can protect their future.

Imagine being in your own home and accidentally setting off your burglary alarm. Many people would feel embarrassed that they had set off their own alarm and flustered from dealing with any sounds or neighborhood reactions that often accompany an alarm. In the chaos that may follow, the police show up to your door responding to the alarm. They say that you appear to be "nervous" and ask to come inside. What would you do?

Two young men, one of whom is from North Carolina, recently went though this very same scenario. The whole incident resulted in both of them being charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute and several other numerous possession charges.

For many people, summer is a time for relaxing and getting together with friends. For young people and students, sometimes summer means house parties, late nights and drinking or using marijuana. It's certainly not a new trend, but parents should be reminded that if they are aware of any drinking or drug use at a party in their home, they can face serious consequences.

One North Carolina mother learned this lesson the hard way. After her daughter threw an enormous house party, the mother was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, giving alcohol to minors and other violations.

In many cases when a person ends up facing drug charges or license revocation, the charges are a result of an otherwise routine traffic stop. When an officer pulls someone over for speeding or texting while driving, it can progress into a search of a car which can uncover a small amount of drugs, which then leads to criminal charges. Because of seriousness of these elevated charges, scrutinizing the legalities and fairness of a traffic stop and any subsequent search is important.

Recently, a report was released that suggests that North Carolina officers may be unfairly targeting minority drivers during traffic stops. In fact, a review of the data suggests that black and Hispanic drivers are twice as likely to have their car searched during a routine stop, when compared to white drivers.

Mothers across North Carolina found themselves stunned when doctors claimed they had exposed their newborn child to marijuana. These kinds of accusations and charges can follow a person around for many years. When a new mother is the one being charged with use or possession of marijuana, people can be extremely judgmental. However, it is important to remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

For example, a North Carolina hospital recently claimed to have seen a dramatic increase in newborns testing positive for marijuana. Immediately, people blamed the mothers, suggesting they were creating an unsafe environment for their new baby. Even when the mothers would vehemently deny any instance of exposure to marijuana, many were arrested based on the positive tests. However, these tests were recently found to be quite inaccurate.

People often say that there is safety in numbers. While this may be true in certain situations, members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang are finding out that it may not be true when it comes to drug charges. Nineteen members of the group were recently arrested in North Carolina and South Carolina and charged with drug possession, racketeering, conspiracy and money laundering.

This particular group of bikers has had a reputation for being law-breakers and troublemakers for as long as people can remember. The notion that they commonly skirt the law likely puts members and others associated with the group under increased scrutiny by law enforcement. Being associated with Hells Angels could mean that a person is under the surveillance of the police.

Across the country, states are debating the issue of whether or not there is a safe amount of marijuana-related impairment for drivers and whether it should be regulated. On one hand, setting a limit similar to blood-alcohol levels may make sense to some people. On the other hand, setting a limit may have no effect on the behavior since most drivers who are suspected of drugged driving will face criminal charges, such as drug possession, anyway.

In North Carolina, driving while impaired is illegal. There is the argument, however, that marijuana takes significantly longer to leave the body's system when compared to alcohol. This means that just because it is present in the body does not mean a driver is still impaired. Other states are addressing this very issue and trying to determine how to fairly judge whether or not a person is too drugged to drive.

After one arrest for drug possession, a person can certainly make matters worse by being charged with similar missteps shortly afterwards. Repeat violations may increase penalties and could turn one small error in judgment into some serious consequences. Recently, well-known rapper Wiz Khalifa was performing in North Carolina when he was cited for possession of marijuana for the second time in only one month.

According to sources, the performer and members of his band were allegedly using marijuana while inside their tour bus outside the Joel Coliseum Annex. Police apparently smelled burning marijuana near the bus and approached it as the source of the smell. The search warrant states that they seized marijuana and paraphernalia on the tour bus and cited the rapper for possession of marijuana.

Marijuana is "decriminalized" to a certain extent in North Carolina, but do not let this fool you. Police put hundreds of hours and dollars into efforts to stop and punish those who possess or distribute marijuana illegally. This means that they want to see results from their efforts. When people are arrested for trafficking marijuana and other drug charges, there is a chance their freedom is in jeopardy.

Recently, a UNC Charlotte student was sentenced for his role in a drug ring that was distributing marijuana throughout North Carolina. He is the final member of the alleged ring to be sentenced. Because the judge in this case decided that the network of distribution was very sophisticated and used banks and the postal service to promote the scheme, the sentence would be significant.

When law enforcement officers spend hundreds of dollars and hours on investigating a suspected drug ring, they may be more inclined to stack charges against as many people as possible. They are eager to show results and charge several people in the process. This can mean that it is not uncommon for a person to get dragged into drug possession charges for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Recently, a group of nine people were arrested in North Carolina and charged with several counts of marijuana possession, intent to sell and distribute, possession of cocaine, maintaining a vehicle for selling crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, among a host of other charges.

Drug paraphernalia charges are the highest-level misdemeanors in North Carolina. Often, though, the charge is added on when a person is facing a list of other misdemeanor charges, such as drug possession. The reason that police officers file several charges when drugs are involved is so that it increases the probability that a person will plead guilty to at least one of them.

For example, during the course of one traffic stop, a person can end up facing a long list of charges if drugs or paraphernalia are found. It may not seem fair that charges can be stacked up like this, but it happens all the time.

Since June of last year, is has been illegal to possess or distribute synthetic marijuana and bath salts in North Carolina. A person who is arrested for these offenses can face a variety of serious drug possession charges.

Bath salts contain chemicals that are categorized as Schedule I drugs, including methylenedioxpyrovalerone. Bath salts produce similar effects to cocaine and can cause a wide variety of damage to a person, both mentally and physically. Because of these risks, the bath salts have been banned. However, state governments are not consistent in which chemicals in the drug are banned so in some cases, bath salts may still be available.

Students across North Carolina find themselves in crunch time during the second half of the school year. College students are feeling the squeeze of finals and graduation. In high school, students are taking college-entrance exams and balancing academics with several other activities. The pressure of all this can be overwhelming to many, and some are turning to using illegal drugs to help them focus and achieve. While rare, it is still possible for a young person to face criminal charges for this behavior.

A recent report by the University of North Carolina reveals that abusing prescription drugs is not unusual among students. Studies show that over 11 percent of high school students have taken drugs for which they do not have a prescription. While this is a decrease from the previous study in 2009, the trend is gaining the attention of law enforcement.

Students who face charges of marijuana possession owe it to themselves to try and resolve the unfortunate situation quickly and effectively. At stake may be a person's record, college scholarships and future opportunities. There may be ways for a young person to challenge the charges or try to have the damage of a conviction minimized.

A young student at North Carolina Central University was recently charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and maintaining a dwelling for drug distribution. The young man's roommate was also included on the charges.

The manager of a North Carolina Domino's Pizza franchise thought he had a clever way of delivering an additional product to his customers. Unfortunately, instead of a big tip, the man was handed a number of criminal charges including drug possession.

The 29-year-old man was allegedly selling marijuana out of his pizza restaurant. The marijuana was packaged in plastic and sold for cash right over the counter at the Domino's. He would seal up the marijuana in empty pizza boxes, which he would then sell to an informant.

A person who has been caught with drugs and charged with drug possession faces a number of serious consequences. From fines to jail sentences, penalties for drug offenses vary widely and depend on many factors. Before a person can be convicted, though, it must be determined that the search that uncovered the drugs was executed properly.

The North Carolina Supreme Court is currently reviewing a case in which a 15-year-old girl was made to pull her bra away from her body in a search at her school. The question they must answer is if the search of the minor girl violated her right to protection against unreasonable searches.