One of the things that you should be cautious about is carrying anything that could be considered as drug paraphernalia. Drug paraphernalia can sometimes be common, everyday items, but if they are all together, the police could claim that you’re cooking or using drugs.
Some of the everyday items that could be called drug paraphernalia, including:
- Belt buckles
- Lipstick dispensers
- Makeup bags
- E-cigarettes
- Pill bottles
- Plastic baggies
- Small spoons
- Rolling papers
- Pipes
Of course, if an officer believes that you are in possession of drugs and then finds items that are typically associated with them, you’re more likely to face charges for possessing drug paraphernalia.
The interesting thing is that the majority of items considered to be paraphernalia are completely legal to possess. They may be available for sale at gift shops or tobacco shops, grocery stores, gas stations or convenience stores.
Unfortunately, by law, it is illegal to sell or offer drug paraphernalia. It’s also illegal to mail these items or to use interstate commerce to transport them. You can also be charged for importing or exporting paraphernalia.
What should you do if you’re accused of possessing drug paraphernalia?
Since it’s a serious crime to possess drug paraphernalia, you’ll want to take steps to defend yourself. Your attorney will listen to what you have to say about what happened and gather information from the police report. They will look into the specifics of your case and work with you to come up with a defense that is likely to work for you. Their goal will be to protect your best interests moving forward.