Our Torrance drug possession criminal defense attorneys were interested to see a report about an unexpected effect of the Transportation Security Administration's new body-scanning machines: drug detection. According to celebrity gossip website E!, old-school hip-hop artist Kurtis Blow was caught carrying a small amount of marijuana Dec. 2 as he passed through Los Angeles International Airport. Blow, 51, is considered a pioneer in rap and was the first rapper signed to a major label. That did not impress the TSA, which saw a suspicious anomaly in his pants as he passed through the body scanner machines. Agents ordered a pat-down, which led to the discovery of marijuana. Because the marijuana was found in California, however, the TSA confiscated it and wrote him a ticket for possession of less than an ounce, then sent him on his way.
This is one of the first high-profile drug possession cases to hit the media after California reduced marijuana possession to a ticketable offense. Prior to October, possessing an ounce of marijuana or less had already been a misdemeanor with no jail time. However, California reduced the penalties still further this fall, moving possession of less than an ounce from a misdemeanor to an infraction, similar to a traffic ticket. This means people cited for possession alone will no longer have a criminal record, may not have to appear in court and do not risk arrest. They will still pay up to $100 per ticket as a fine, however. When the bill was signed, the governor said it made sense to reduce the penalties since prosecuting possession of less than an ounce was a waste of state resources.
As Chino drug possession criminal defense lawyers, we strongly agree. As the Proposition 19 campaign pointed out, marijuana possession crimes cost the state millions of dollars to find, prosecute and penalize. That's far too high for a crime that, in its pure form, doesn't really have a victim. Simple possession of marijuana, like simple possession of beer, does not pose a threat to the people around the accused. In fact, there's nothing to say that Blow was even intoxicated at the time of his arrest. Furthermore, studies have shown (and recently reinforced) that minorities are disproportionately likely to be arrested for possession. Without a demonstrated threat to society, possession alone belongs at the very bottom of police agencies' priority list, if it is on the list at all.
Unfortunately, drugs and narcotics crimes can be very serious, even here in California. With larger amounts of drugs or certain other circumstances, offenders can face years in prison, confiscation of their property and many other very harsh penalties. Howard Law, P.C. aggressively defends clients who are accused of drug crimes. In cases of simple possession, or possession combined with a minor crime, our Perris drug possession criminal defense attorneys help clients get alternative penalties such as Drug Court, which keeps the conviction off their records in exchange for successful completion of probation and related requirements. In more serious cases, or cases with clear police misconduct, we can also fight the charges. Some drug charges grow out of assumptions, such as the assumption that possession more than a certain amount is "possession for sale." We fight these assumptions vigorously, using the physical evidence and the police's own work to show that there's no basis in fact.
Howard Law, P.C. offers free, confidential consultations, so you can talk to us at no further risk or obligation. To set up a meeting, contact us through the Internet or call 1-800-872-5925 today.
