As you may be aware, drug laws are in a period of flux in the United States. For example, two states have actually legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. However, regardless of these changes, being issued charges for a drug crime can still be a very serious problem. This can be especially true for federal drug charges.
Recently, seven Orange County residents were arrested as part of a sweep conducted by federal authorities. The Orange County seven, along with other individuals, were issued charges in a Los Angeles federal court for allegedly manufacturing and distributing a large volume of synthetic cannabinoids that are sometimes referred to as “bath salts” or “spice.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that the synthetic cannabinoids, which are sold under such brand names as “Scooby Snax” and “Crazy Monkey,” are interned to emulate the effects of THC. A U.S. Attorney stated that in spite of being marketed as being safe, the cannabinoids are actually very dangerous.
Clearly, these arrests demonstrate that the federal government is focused on cracking down on the manufacturing and distribution of these synthetic cannabinoids. As we mentioned at the start of this post, marijuana is now legal in some places. It seems that there are mixed signals being sent out regarding the legality of certain kinds of drugs.
The fact is that no matter how confusing drug laws may be at the present time, if the federal government puts its weight behind an arrest, it aims to get a conviction. Penalties for federal drug crime convictions can be quite severe. Therefore, if you are ever arrested on such charges, it is important to have an attorney that has experience handling federal drug cases.
Source: OC Weekly, “Feds’ Sweeping Southern California Bath Salts Bust Snares Seven Orange Countians,” Matt Coker, Oct. 21, 2015