When many people get arrested on drug charges, it’s because they were in possession of illegal drugs. Perhaps they had prescription medication without the correct prescription, or maybe they had marijuana products they bought in another state. Perhaps they had illegal drugs on them, such as ecstasy or cocaine.
While all of these things could lead to an arrest, it’s also important for people to remember that they could face charges simply for being in possession of drug paraphernalia. The substances themselves may not be found, but paraphernalia refers to the related items that are often used with drugs. These could be used as evidence in the case or may be enough to warrant misdemeanor charges.
What does paraphernalia look like?
Exactly what type of drug paraphernalia a person has depends on the substances they were using and the unique situation. Some examples include:
- Glass or plastic pipes
- Roach clips
- Cigarette papers
- Bongs
- Miniature spoons
- Water pipes
- Cocaine freebase kits
- Needles and syringes
- Plastic baggies
Many of these items can also be associated with drug sales. For instance, if the police find someone in possession of a small scale for weighing substances, a large amount of cash, and numerous small plastic baggies, they may assume that the person was weighing drugs, sorting them into the bags and then selling them to customers. Even if they don’t technically have the drugs on them at that time, the police may still make an arrest based on this paraphernalia.
These types of cases can be very complex. After all, having a spoon or rolling papers is not illegal in and of itself. Because of these complexities, it’s very important for those facing charges to understand all of their legal defense options.