Drug Laws that Can Turn You from User to Trafficker

Drugs can bear serious offenses and consequences. Some would say that drug laws come with thin lines between them. In fact, those thin lines keep the streets safe and prevent more people from trying drugs – even if they don’t traffic them!

As such, drug trafficking lawyers are often found to represent people who had no idea they’d end up in court and be seen as traffickers. Moreover, in most cases, they really weren’t traffickers – but some laws in place gave them no other chance!

The Issue of Supply

Let’s say that you are not a drug trafficker – only a casual user! The trafficker is the individual you get the drugs from. One day, you’re invited to a social event and are told that, if possible, to bring some of the stuff you have so that some other people can try them.

Be it even a one-time thing or only to provide other people with a new experience, you will be considered a drug trafficker if something happens to that party and the authorities find out.

For example, someone once brought a variety of drugs at an event and got ten people sick and one dead. The result? A murder conviction and a 10-year jail sentence. All he did was offer – not even sell – drugs to his acquaintances.

The Laws of Drugs

Having in mind what we mentioned above, let’s take a look at what the law defines as a trafficker. Keep in mind that while drug laws vary, the following aspects are almost always the same throughout various states and even the world.

The laws governing drug traffic and use state that the distribution or delivery of drugs is illegal and occurs when an individual sells illegal substances to another.

However, the law in effect does not limit the above to the delivery, distribution, or sale of illegal substances!

As such, sharing drugs will still send you to court as a trafficker. The same applies to giving substances away to friends or acquaintances. One doesn’t have to sell drugs to be a drug trafficker.

Last but not least, you are liable and may be considered a trafficker even if someone asks you to buy some drugs from them, and they pay you back what you owe. The fact that there is a monetary transaction involving drugs is enough for the law.

The Accomplice

Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that being friends with a trafficker when they sell illegal substances is enough to make the law look at you.

For example, let’s say that your boyfriend is selling drugs – but you are only using them. You, the user, will easily turn into a trafficker if your boyfriend ever tells you to hold some drugs or bring them to a certain location.

As we mentioned earlier, the line is very thin, and you don’t have to be making money selling drugs in order to traffic them!

The Bottom Line

Drugs are, as you may have heard many times, a bottomless pit. What’s worse than them being that is the fact that someone simply using them may end up being charged with murder if they share with someone who ends up overdosing.

Long story short, stay away from drugs! If you’re a lawyer counseling someone with a drug issue, just let them know what could happen to them if they get in court!

References and Sources

https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/consequences/legal-consequences-of-drug-use

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/25/us/overdoses-murder-crime-police.html