Tennessee is not known for being progressive with its drug laws. While here in Memphis, marijuana possession has been decriminalized to an extent, elsewhere in the state you can face felony charges for possession of more than a half-ounce of marijuana. But there is...
Drug Charges
Can you be arrested for holding drugs for someone else?
There are situations in which you may end up holding illegal drugs that you do not own. For instance, maybe you don’t actually use any illegal substances yourself, but you have friends who do. You could end up carrying a backpack or a bag containing these substances....
What are the consequences of a Tennessee drug conviction?
Social attitudes about drugs have shifted drastically in recent decades. Long gone are the days when the average person assumes that anyone involved with drug use or the drug trade is an inherently bad person. Society has become much more accepting both of casual drug...
How being a “Good Samaritan” can save you from drug charges
Being with someone who suffers a drug overdose can be extremely frightening – whether you know them or not. Some people don’t survive overdoses only because they didn’t get prompt medical attention. However, in too many cases, the people with them when they overdose...
The penalties possible for federal or Tennessee fentanyl charges
Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, have dominated the news about the unregulated drug market in recent years. Fentanyl is of particular concern to police departments and federal regulatory agencies because it is many times stronger than traditional opiate drugs or...
Can you refuse a breathalyzer test in Tennessee?
The police are trained to keep communities safe. And part of their duties involves looking out for and keeping drunk drivers off the roads. If the police have reasonable suspicion that you are operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, they will pull...
How the surge in fentanyl use now affects Tennessee drug charges
Few substances have surged onto the North American recreational drug scene in the way that fentanyl has over the last decade. Once touted as a viable, low-cost alternative to traditional opiate pain management, fentanyl has become the scourge of law enforcement...
What happens if an illegal search leads to drug charges?
There are numerous laws, including portions of the Constitution, that limit the authority of law enforcement professionals when they interact with members of the public. Even when an officer suspects someone of criminal activity, they still need to respect that...
Does claiming it isn’t yours ever help in a drug possession case?
The police pull you over for a traffic stop or show up at your home with a search warrant. They start going through your stuff, only to produce the small package of drugs or maybe a piece of paraphernalia still covered in some kind of drug residue. They quickly...
How do the police define a drug?
When people talk about drug crimes, they understand that they have violated the law in some way, but there can sometimes be confusion over exactly what constitutes an illegal drug. After all, almost anything that impacts your mental or physical state, other than food,...