We have often covered stories of people who are accused of drug crimes in Virginia. In all of those cases, one thing is certain. The person who was accused of the crime has the right to present a defense against the charges. While there are several types of drug crimes that you might have read about, today we are going to give you some information about only one of the charges someone might face — drug paraphernalia charges.
An interesting point about being charged with drug paraphernalia charges is that you don’t have to actually be in possession of drugs to face this charge. You only have to be in possession of items that are related to those drugs.
There are two widely accepted categories in which drug paraphernalia can be classified: items used to ingest or use drugs and items used to sell or distribute drugs. Glass pipes, roach clips, bongs and miniature spoons are listed as drug paraphernalia items under federal law.
Some of the items that can be classified as drug paraphernalia are items that have other uses. These include items like digital scales or kitchen spoons that can be used to prepare drugs to be sold or to use drugs.
The penalties of a drug paraphernalia conviction can be harsh. For this reason, it is vital for anyone who is facing these types of charges to understand what they are up against before making a plea. This can mean scrutinizing evidence and reading through reports. Because it can be difficult to know how various laws pertain to your case, you should get answers to questions before making statements.
Source: FindLaw, “Drug Paraphernalia Charges” Oct. 15, 2014
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