There is a delicate balance between proper law enforcement and constitutional rights. Exploring the concept of entrapment highlights this because some police tactics may violate the Fourth Amendment. This balance can be especially true in drug possession cases. By...
Drug Charges
Understanding the root causes of drug addiction
When we think about drug addiction, we focus on the legal aspects of it—the crimes and punishments associated with drugs. However, most resources do not shed enough light on the root causes of addiction—what makes it tick, what science says about its causes and what...
What is a barrier crime in Virginia?
Many jobs in Virginia require a background check before a business hires someone. That means they will search through a candidate's criminal history. Certain ones, known as barrier crimes, can deem you ineligible for various fields. That can limit employment...
Drug charges and probation requirements
One of the most positive outcomes of a drug charge case in Virginia is when probation has been allowed by the court. Judges have the power to place defendants on probation without any plea agreement, but this is not necessarily the final outcome when prosecutors are...
Police dogs often make mistakes
Police departments in Virginia and around the country use dogs that are trained to sniff the air around vehicles and alert their handlers to the presence of illegal drugs, but a growing body of evidence suggests that these K-9 officers may not be all that reliable....
Magic mushrooms following marijuana in decriminalization
Legalization of marijuana has been a major milestone in the United States legal system as opinions in several progressive states regarding the substance have eased. Medical marijuana is actually the model that convinced most state residents that it is a relatively...
What are the changes to Virginia’s marijuana laws?
On July 1, 2020, Virginia enacted new marijuana laws that effectively decriminalized its possession in small amounts. State officials passed two bills in March 2020 that revised former, stricter guidelines. These bills make Virginia the 26th state to overhaul...
Drug dogs not always accurate
When police officers in Virginia suspect that a driver might have drugs in his or her vehicle, they might call for the assistance of K-9 units. These dogs are trained to alert when they detect the smell of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and...
LSD: the effects and penalties
LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide is sold under countless different names. It’s often referred to as acid. LSD often known as a party drug because of its extreme hallucinogenic properties. How is LSD made? Lysergic acid, a fungus that grows in grains, is what LSD is...
Could I face drug charges if I report an overdose?
The past two decades have seen a dramatic rise in overdose fatalities in the U.S., especially deaths related to opioid use. The CDC reports that more than 70,000 Americans died of an overdose in 2017, and there are 192 such fatalities in the U.S. each day. ...