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Assertive Representation In State & Federal Court

Are drugs a problem in certain areas more than others?

On Behalf of | May 1, 2020 | Drug Crimes

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world. The “war on drugs” is largely responsible for such a large number of arrests. More than 80% of those individuals who’re arrested for drugs here in Ohio and the country as a whole haven’t been convicted of dealing or trafficking them, but instead simple possession. Most charges are related to marijuana.

Anyone who has suspected of a drug offense can be arrested on either state or federal charges. While the possession of marijuana has been decriminalized in numerous states throughout the country, some still hand out harsh penalties for simple possession.

Southern states tend to have much higher arrest rates for drug possession than northern states do. Border states such as Arizona, California and Texas have particularly high arrest numbers. Many defendants are arrested trying to bring drugs into the U.S. illegally in these states.

Drug use among teenagers has been on a steady decline since the mid-1990s. Marijuana use among teens remains high though. Policymakers tend to believe that teenagers perceive their use of marijuana to be safer than cigarette smoking.

Many jurisdictions tend to lock drug defendants up post-conviction without focusing on getting them the help they need to kick their addiction.

Studies show that the persistent use of marijuana has the same detrimental effects on a person’s health as does alcohol or prescription drugs.

Many law enforcement agencies in this area focus their attention on arresting individuals suspected of possessing marijuana. Police officers in western states focus the majority of their attention on other drugs such as cocaine, meth, heroin and prescription ones.

Most drug crimes carry serious penalties. The amount of prison time that you may face here in Cincinnati depends on the type and amount of drugs that you possessed and whether you have any previous convictions on your record.

While courts are beginning to understand that drug addiction is a serious health issue, incarceration is still the primary result. An experienced drug crimes attorney may be able to help you come up with a defense strategy to help you avoid the most severe penalties.

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