Drug
Cultivation and Manufacturing
Drug cultivation and
manufacturing laws make it a crime 1) to grow, produce, and
possess certain plants and other naturally occurring elements
used in the production of unlawful controlled substances, such
as cannabis seeds and marijuana plants; or 2) to produce
illegal controlled substances like cocaine, methamphetamine,
LSD, and Ecstasy (MDMA), which require use of certain
chemicals and laboratory equipment in their production.
Federal and state drug cultivation laws vary according to drug
type and the amount produced.
Drug
Distribution/Transportation/Trafficking
Drug distribution/trafficking
laws penalize the selling, transportation, and illegal import
into the United States of unlawful controlled substances such
as marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, "club
drugs," and heroin. Federal and state drug
distribution/trafficking laws and punishments vary according
to drug type, amount, geographic area of distribution, and
whether minors were sold to or targeted. Drug
distribution/trafficking laws can implicate a single
individual or a broad ring of people involved in organized
illegal drug activity.
Drug
Possession
Federal and state drug
possession laws make it a crime to willfully possess illegal
controlled substances such as marijuana, methamphetamine,
cocaine, LSD, "club drugs," and heroin. These laws
also criminalize the possession of "precursor"
chemicals used in drug cultivation and manufacturing, as well
as certain accessories related to drug use. Drug possession
laws vary according to drug type, amount, and geographic area
of the offense. Possession of small quantities may be deemed
"simple" possession, while possession of large
amounts may result in a charge of presumed "possession
with intent to distribute."
Driving
Under the Influence (DUI)/Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
Commonly
called "drunk driving," it refers to operating a
motor vehicle while one's blood alcohol content is above the
legal limit set by statute, which supposedly is the level at
which a person cannot drive safely. State statutes vary as to
what that level is, but it ranges from .08 to .10 for adults,
which means a 8/100ths to one-tenth of one percent by weight
of alcohol to the weight of blood. This is translated into
grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in tests of
blood or urine sample, or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of
air in a "breathalizer" test. A combination of the
use of alchol and narcotics can also be "under the
influence" based on erratic driving. Driving on private
property such as a parking lot is no defense, but sitting in a
non-moving vehicle without the ignition on probably is
(sometimes resulting in a charge of "drunk in and about a
vehicle"). This is a misdemeanor and is variously
referred to as DUI, driving while intoxicated (DWI), drunk
driving, or a "deuce".
Importation
Possession with Intent
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