A Motion to Suppress the Evidence against you in a drug case is often your best opportunity to beat a drug possession charge. If the drugs are entered into evidence at trial, it can be much more difficult to establish that the drugs may not have belonged to the defendant.
However, police officers still regularly and routinely execute illegal searches of either a vehicle or a person.
Annie Dookhan, the former drug lab chemist for the state of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty this week for her role in falsifying drug test results, a scheme that sent innocent people to prison. Now, Dookhan herself will be behind bars as she was sentenced to 3 to 5 years.
When it comes to identifying drugs in the field, law enforcement is always one step behind. With each new method or device, there are problems. The most recent drug detection device, called TruNarc, is actually created by three local Massachusetts…
The relatively recent case of Annie Dookhan bungling an untold number of cases in Massachusetts drug lab where she worked might be shocking, but it’s not new. Over the past several years, crime labs across the country have been under scrutiny for everything from a lack of proper standards to poor hiring practices and little oversight. While the case of Dookhan is serious, to be sure, it is only a symptom of the bigger problem.
American’s changing views about marijuana were recently published in a Pew Research Center study, indicating that the majority of us now favor legalizing the drug. However, most of us are unaware of the questionable way that law enforcement keeps interacting…
A Weymouth couple are currently facing charges for trafficking in oxycodone, distribution of oxycodone and conspiracy. In late May, Massachusetts police went to the Tara Drive apartment in Weymouth of Kevin L. Kessinger, 54, and Joannie C. Myers, 52, after obtaining…
Now that permanent regulations governing the distribution and use of medical marijuana have been adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Health (DOH), all physicians and patients must carefully comply with these guidelines. After all, it’s still a violation of federal law to buy, use or sell marijuana. As part our our continuing series examining the new medical marijuana law as part of changes to Massachusetts drug laws, let’s examine how it affects medical practitioners.
When Massachusetts voters chose to legalize medical marijuana in November 2012, few of them realized how many challenging issues still had to be resolved, including obtaining legal access to the medicine. Under the ballot initiative, and to comply with Massachusetts drug laws, strict procedures to operate nonprofit dispensaries are still being drafted by the state.
Now that the state of Massachusetts has finalized its regulations governing the sale of medical marijuana, it’s important to understand the definitions If you are interested in the use of medical pot, or the legal infrastructure around it’s availability, it requires a bit of reading. The good news is that the state seems to have done a reasonably thorough job of mapping out the path to medical marijuana in Massachusetts.
Doctors are just now realizing that the public is starting to evaluate them based on their willingness to help patients obtain medical marijuana. In fact, many Massachusetts physicians are concerned that they’ll jeopardize their professional status if they make the…
In light of the 2009 law that decriminalized possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, people have felt a bit more free to have pot on them without risking a jail sentence. Still, questions and challenges within the courts were inevitable and a few recent rulings from the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts have served to clear a few things up.
Firstly, it is not against the law to share a joint.
According to a new survey just released by the prestigious Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 52 percent of Americans now believe marijuana should be legalized. Only 45 percent remain clearly opposed to the idea. This is the first time in 40 years of polling that over half of all Americans have favored legalization.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s draft regulations for handling the sale of medical marijuana are now posted on its website. Details addressed include specific medical condition eligibility, which medical professionals can prescribe, defining a legal 60 day medical supply, and when patients have the right to grow their own. Ongoing debate regarding these regulations will continue through April 20th. The Massachusetts Public Health Council still hopes to pass a final draft of these regulations on May 8, 2013. If that occurs, these legal guidelines will take effect on May 24, 2013.
When medical marijuana legislation comes to town, money stands to be made—a whole lot of it. Budding entrepreneurs and existing business success stories are waiting in the wings for the Massachusetts medical marijuana program to be finalized so they can get started in the new territory. From dispensary operators, to edible-manufacturers, consulting firms, and attorneys—there are many opportunities to make some serious money off of the marijuana movement.
Massachusetts senator and newly vocal member of the Senateʼs Banking Committee,
Elizabeth Warren, decried policies and practices that jail non-violent drug offenders but
leave large players in the game of drug distribution with a slap on the wrist.
Many Massachusetts cities are towns are hoping to slow down or stop the medical marijuana ballot initiative passed by Massachusetts voters in November of 2012. The state’s voters legalized, by a wide margin, the dispensing of medical marijuana to ease the pain of those with serious medical conditions like ALS, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. A physician can prescribe marijuana for medical use, and a patient receives a registration card allowing them a 60 day supply. From the start, there is no ‘carte blanche,’ no unlimited access.
The feds have promised to come down on Massachusetts dispensaries as they “pop up” under the new state medical marijuana laws. According to the Boston Herald, special agent in charge of the DEA’s New England Division, John J. Arvanitis said they will do what they need to in order to enforce federal law.
Massachusetts Drug Trafficking Laws, Charges & Penalties Drug trafficking is a very serious charge in Massachusetts, with considerable penalties if found guilty under the Massachusetts drug laws. These are felony charges that typically end up being indicted in Superior court,…
Arrested in Massachusetts for Possession w/Intent to Distribute in a School Zone? Possession of Drugs with Intent to Distribute within a school zone is a very serious charge in Massachusetts, with a mandatory minimum of 2 years in prison if…
Fight a Massachusetts Meth Possession Charge! Methamphetamine is a drug that carries a significant stigma. When you are accused of meth possession, you don’t only have to worry about the legal penalties, but also the potential damage to your reputation…
Don't Let a Massachusetts Marijuana Possession Charge Ruin Your Life! Possession of less than 1 oz of marijuana is now perfectly legal, and up to 10 ounces securely in your home. However, you can still be charged larger quantities than…
Fight a Massachusetts Heroin Possession Charge! Heroin is considered one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs in existence. The public health and safety risks are why penalties can be so severe. In addition, many cops and prosecutors are aggressively…
When you are accused of a criminal charge like cocaine possession, it can be scary to think about the potential outcomes. You could be facing prison time, fines, and a permanent criminal record. In addition to these legal penalties, such…
Arrested in Massachusetts for Drug Dealing? Possession of Drugs with Intent to Distribute is a very serious charge in Massachusetts, with a strong likelihood of jail time if convicted. Drug dealing and distribution charges can be a particularly complicated area…
A man who was released on bail for drug charges due to tainted evidence from the drug lab scandal apparently skipped his court date and is now a fugitive. While the internet commenters may be going crazy, if the evidence held by the state is clearly suspect, this is absolutely how the system has to work.
