Although recreational marijuana was legalized in Illinois this year, there are still many other drugs that are classified as illegal in the state. These include cocaine, LSD, heroin, Methamphetamines, and Ecstasy. In addition, owning or carrying certain drug paraphernalia can result in serious criminal charges. The consequences of a conviction can be severe, from fines to a lengthy prison sentence, not to mention a stain on your record. Many people may not know that simply having an item that is used to ingest or make a drug is a crime. If you or someone you know is facing any type of drug crime charge, it is essential to seek the legal guidance of an experienced criminal defense attorney.

What Is Paraphernalia?

In Illinois, the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act defines drug paraphernalia as any materials or equipment used in the illegal production, processing, packaging, storing, hiding, testing, or use of drugs. Materials that are used to manufacture Methamphetamine are also illegal, but they are covered under a separate statute.

The law specifically identifies certain items as drug paraphernalia including:

Marijuana will soon be legal for recreational purposes in Illinois, however, there are still specific dispensaries that will sell the drug. Other illegal substances such as opioids and narcotics are not to be sold in the state or brought into Illinois from other states/countries. Selling or trafficking illegal substances is breaking the Illinois Controlled Substance Act, and can lead to a drug crime conviction punishable as a felony. Consequences vary depending on the amount of drugs involved in the violation.

What Is Illinois Controlled Substance Act?

Illinois created the Controlled Substance Act to clearly define what would happen if a drug dealer is caught during a sale or if someone is found trafficking in drugs from other states. The law covers controlled substances, counterfeit substances, and controlled substance analogs.

The Act includes detailed accounts for what type of felony punishments a person can face if they are charged with drug dealing of substances such as cocaine, morphine, methamphetamines, and LSD:

Ten states in the United States plus Washington D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana, but Illinois is not one of them. Though the state may be getting closer to legalizing the substance, it is still considered a drug crime to possess weed. This includes the cultivation of cannabis plants.

There are serious consequences to possession of marijuana charges, but punishments for growing the plants are even worse. According to Illinois law, growing cannabis plants can be a misdemeanor or a felony charge with punishments varying according to the number of plants grown:

• Five or fewer plants: Class A misdemeanor charge, one year in prison and $2,500 in fines.
• Five-20 plants: Class 4 felony charge, up to six years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
• Over 20-50 plants: Class 3 felony charge, 2-10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
• Over 50-200 plants: Class 2 felony charge, 3-14 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.
• Over 200 plants: Class 1 felony charge, 4-30 years in prison and $1000,000 in fines.

Of course, there are more penalties that one may face if the prosecution discovers that the plants were grown with the intent to sell or distribute the cannabis.

A person does not need to have physical drugs on their person to be charged with a drug-related crime. If an individual is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, they may face a fine of up to $2,500 and a misdemeanor charge for a conviction in the state of Illinois. In order to avoid this outcome, a person must know what drug paraphernalia is and what the laws are surrounding it.

What Is Drug Paraphernalia?

Drug paraphernalia can include any item that can be used to inhale or ingest an illegal substance such as pipes, bongs, or cocaine spoons or vials. It also includes kits that can be used in the production of drugs, devices, and equipment that can be used to increase the strength of a controlled substance, adulterants, and diluents, or substances that can alter the potency of a drug.

A study conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that one in four people, between the ages of 18 to 20, had used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes one or more times in their lives. Prescription stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin are one of the most commonly abused types of medication. Students may overestimate the benefits of using prescription stimulants and underestimate the risks, which can lead to negative consequences for the student’s health and personal life.

Reasons Behind Drug Use

College students may believe that using prescription drugs will enhance their academic performance, but research has shown that this may not be the case. In fact, studies have found that college students who misuse prescription stimulant medication received lower grades than their peers.